Carlisle (H) League 1- Saturday 11th August 2007

[We-ARE-Walsall]

We certainly played a lot better than in many games we won last season.

I feel that our defence is now fine - we soaked up a lot of pressure. Our attack is already better than in most games last season.

I feel that midfield is still a weakness. Most of the reason we could not keep possession in the first half was down to the midfield. Our midfielders are better at winning the ball than keeping it or using it well. In the first half our midfielders - all four of them - did not use the ball to any advantage. They either gave it away, kicked it out, passed it to our back line, or played to a forward under a lot of pressure. This was less true in the second half, but I think we need some more quality there.

With careful introduction of some our younger speedier players we could have a pretty reasonable season.

Odd really, because I thought Sonner hardly wasted a ball all afternoon, Agree with a lot of that though

[latviancheese]

We certainly played a lot better than in many games we won last season.

I feel that our defence is now fine - we soaked up a lot of pressure. Our attack is already better than in most games last season.

I feel that midfield is still a weakness. Most of the reason we could not keep possession in the first half was down to the midfield. Our midfielders are better at winning the ball than keeping it or using it well. In the first half our midfielders - all four of them - did not use the ball to any advantage. They either gave it away, kicked it out, passed it to our back line, or played to a forward under a lot of pressure. This was less true in the second half, but I think we need some more quality there.

With careful introduction of some our younger speedier players we could have a pretty reasonable season.

Odd really, because I thought Sonner hardly wasted a ball all afternoon, Agree with a lot of that though

Did anyone else have trouble telling which one was carniero and which was sonner? Sonner's hair even put Carniero to shame.

[WFC_Rob]

We certainly played a lot better than in many games we won last season.

I feel that our defence is now fine - we soaked up a lot of pressure. Our attack is already better than in most games last season.

I feel that midfield is still a weakness. Most of the reason we could not keep possession in the first half was down to the midfield. Our midfielders are better at winning the ball than keeping it or using it well. In the first half our midfielders - all four of them - did not use the ball to any advantage. They either gave it away, kicked it out, passed it to our back line, or played to a forward under a lot of pressure. This was less true in the second half, but I think we need some more quality there.

With careful introduction of some our younger speedier players we could have a pretty reasonable season.

Odd really, because I thought Sonner hardly wasted a ball all afternoon, Agree with a lot of that though

I thought the pace of the game caused it to pass him by for about the first 20-25 minutes, but after that he was good. His balls into Mooneys feet in the second half were particularly effective.
He might not get as many goals as Keates did, but he adds a bit more quality in terms of service, and puts his foot on the ball more often.

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Is that another reason to not like a player :D

Quite a list growing, including , going through Wolverhampton once, (fair enough i guess) to old, to slow, legs are to thin, to ginger, to Welsh (again fair enough)

[We-ARE-Walsall]

We certainly played a lot better than in many games we won last season.

I feel that our defence is now fine - we soaked up a lot of pressure. Our attack is already better than in most games last season.

I feel that midfield is still a weakness. Most of the reason we could not keep possession in the first half was down to the midfield. Our midfielders are better at winning the ball than keeping it or using it well. In the first half our midfielders - all four of them - did not use the ball to any advantage. They either gave it away, kicked it out, passed it to our back line, or played to a forward under a lot of pressure. This was less true in the second half, but I think we need some more quality there.

With careful introduction of some our younger speedier players we could have a pretty reasonable season.

Odd really, because I thought Sonner hardly wasted a ball all afternoon, Agree with a lot of that though

I thought the pace of the game caused it to pass him by for about the first 20-25 minutes, but after that he was good. His balls into Mooneys feet in the second half were particularly effective.
He might not get as many goals as Keates did, but he adds a bit more quality in terms of service, and puts his foot on the ball more often.

Ideally i would have liked him along side Keates, but thats life i guess, we do miss Keates, no doubt about it

[Atomic Rooster]

First half we struggled second half surprised me passed and played the ball better lot of plus points dann proves he is a class above league 1 wrack sonner boertein and mooney played well nicholls looked useful the only minus was the crossing of our wide midfielders. wrack and boertain attacked and crossed better than them i have said before the game carlisle will be in the top 10 and we finished stronger than them

[coxy_saddler]

Well first of all, what a boring match, with suprise ,suprise a knob of a referee.

Once again fox was anonymous in the first half but did a bit better second half, not that that was hard.

We're in for a very unentertaining season, no pace, nicholls maybe quick but has no footballing brain. Hopefully he can learn that. deeney didnt have much chance to do anything when he came on.

How did wrack win Motm? went on a few mazy runs but was painfully slow, and he cant play anyone offside for the life of him.


Ince- Solid, didnt have alot to do, lucky when he ran the wrong way for a cross, that no one was there.
Wrack- Dodgy right back, can be used on the wing i feel, did more than paul hall in the second half.
Dann - solid kept it tidy, went on a few random runs.
Gerrard - ditto, except for a few lapses of concentration
Boertien- Good, when he stops trying to fart about with the ball
Fox- he went from a bad sunady league footballer, to a good sunday league footballer in the second half. Put some decent crosses in.
Dobson- Tackled well, in the second half.
Sonner - passsed it nicely played well, shame he cant head.
Hall - Average, didnt do alot really. Crossed nicely when he had the chance.
Carneiro- Was trying to the same thing as mooney, when he runs inteligently he gets into space well. Cant win headers, he didnt have a shot all game.
Mooney- Despite being not that tall, wins everything pretty much, controls it, and passes it well. Painfully slow, but still has more footballing ability than the rest of the team put together.

Subs

Nicholls- Cant cross, cant pass, lazy. Can just run, reminds me of Mark Wright, but when he can be arsed nicholls can tackle.
Deeney- Like mooney but with pace.


I thought Carlisle where even worse than us today, should of beaten them.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[liamrowc52]

Is that another reason to not like a player :D

Quite a list growing, including , going through Wolverhampton once, (fair enough i guess) to old, to slow, legs are to thin, to ginger, to Welsh (again fair enough)

If you listen to some of the people that sit by me, this is the sort of team we have....

A clown in goal, a name (Gerrard) a names mate (fox) a long haired gypo (Sonner, Carlos) a slow donkey (Roper) a has been with a big head (hall) A bag of bones (Sonko, Sillah) A player who cant pass or tackle, (Dobson)
But at least we got rid of the midget who runs around like a headless chicken :x :roll:

[Stu]

1st half made me worry of what lay ahead this year as we were 2nd best all the way through and created absolutelty zilch... 2nd half was much better, but once again, bar those early 1st half chances, we created hardly anything clear cut to be honest.

It was so frustrating watching Fox fail completely to exploit the huge amount of space in front of him, he has neither the pace, skill or know how to beat a man and that is obvious to everyone. Demontagnac, or any left sided player capable of running into space and beating his man, would have probably won that game yesterday as they'd have created so much more.

My pre-season concerns about striking still remain as well. Carneiro didn't really show me anything at all to be honest, whilst Nicholls and Deeney looked absolutely lost to be honest, I don't think either are ready to actually make an impact at this level based on yesterday, but we'll see how they cope.

Thought Dobson and Sonner came much more into the game 2nd half and Dann was immense once again. The positive was that if we play a slightly more up-tempo game, which is what I've been wanting for ages, then I think we'll cope at this level. If we continue the first half style of slow predictable play, I think we'll struggle.[/list][/code]

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Is that another reason to not like a player :D

Quite a list growing, including , going through Wolverhampton once, (fair enough i guess) to old, to slow, legs are to thin, to ginger, to Welsh (again fair enough)

If you listen to some of the people that sit by me, this is the sort of team we have....

A clown in goal, a name (Gerrard) a names mate (fox) a long haired gypo (Sonner, Carlos) a slow donkey (Roper) a has been with a big head (hall) A bag of bones (Sonko, Sillah) A player who cant pass or tackle, (Dobson)
But at least we got rid of the midget who runs around like a headless chicken :x :roll:

Got to agree about coco though really haven't you ? :wink:

[YGA Saddler]

Im a bit late but heres my opinion on yesterdays game...

First half could be put down to us "climatising to life in League 1" but I put it more down to how Carlisle came at us. OK we didnt keep possesion first half but if Carlisle had continued to play at the same quality and tempo as they did in the first half we would have lost by a couple.

2nd Half- I was impressed with Carneiro he seemed to run after balls more in the second half and held the ball up well. Do we really need Butler when this man seems to do what he does,but dives for free kicks aswell? :P Mooney he was superb, Wycombe fans said he will score alot early on and go off the boil but he doesnt seem to be a player that will jsut mope around and wait for things to happen. Even in the 93rd minute the bloke was chasing what seemed, lost causes.

Fox wasnt "useless" like some people have said. I thought him and Boertien complimented each other well, Boertien likes to attack which means Foxy would need to cover- I dont like the idea of both Ishy and Boertien attacking, it might leave us open (abit like Wracky and Hall yesterday!)

Wracky was playing in a position he hasnt really been used to and he has had to adjust his game in the last 4 or 5 weeks. I think he coped well with a very attacking minded left side from Carlisle.


Ince- Didnt fill us with confidence with his first kick of the game, but after that he was more than comfortable. Had no chance with the goal.
Wrack- IMHO he played well. He got forward when asked and made a few good tackles, OK his positioning was poor sometimes but he made up for it.
Boertien- Class above, some of his running and passing was superb, I just hope he can improve his crossing.
Dann- We wont keep him until the end of his three year contract unless we can get promoted in that time. Class.
Gerrard- Seemed at fault for a couple of balls over the top but got more confident as the game went on.
Hall- Did he play?
Fox- Seemed to compliment Boertien well and will be a good option to have away from home.
Sonner & Dobson- Both had inconsistent moments when looking for a pass but the "diamond" formation in the second half seemed to work with both of them taking it in turns to support the strikers.
Mooney- This man oozes commitment. Certainly reminded me of Rambo. We have got to stop looking for him everytime though.
Carneiro- I was impressed with him, considering it was his first league game in England. He seems a confidence player and I hope he gets his first goal very soon,

All in all im happy with a point against a decent Carlisle side. Bring on Orient.

[Duke]

1st half made me worry of what lay ahead this year as we were 2nd best all the way through and created absolutelty zilch... 2nd half was much better, but once again, bar those early 1st half chances, we created hardly anything clear cut to be honest.

It was so frustrating watching Fox fail completely to exploit the huge amount of space in front of him, he has neither the pace, skill or know how to beat a man and that is obvious to everyone. Demontagnac, or any left sided player capable of running into space and beating his man, would have probably won that game yesterday as they'd have created so much more.

My pre-season concerns about striking still remain as well. Carneiro didn't really show me anything at all to be honest, whilst Nicholls and Deeney looked absolutely lost to be honest, I don't think either are ready to actually make an impact at this level based on yesterday, but we'll see how they cope.

Thought Dobson and Sonner came much more into the game 2nd half and Dann was immense once again. The positive was that if we play a slightly more up-tempo game, which is what I've been wanting for ages, then I think we'll cope at this level. If we continue the first half style of slow predictable play, I think we'll struggle.[/list][/code]

Agreed about Fox , One briiliant bit of football , Mooney brilliantly brought the ball down , hit a super cross field pass to Fox in acres of space , what did Fox do , stood still just hit an hopefull ball into no mans land so bloody frustraiting

[We-ARE-Walsall]

YGA, how can you say Ince had no chance with the goal ?

He started coming, if he had continued, at the very least the bloke would have had less goal to shoot at, if you ask me he would have got there, but either way, if you go, you go, not go back and leave the goal wide open. I dunno if some people are just scared to say anything about him, the same as Butler last season, Open your eyes.

Fox didn't do that badly, he just doesn't know how to play his role, it is as simple as that. Ishy would have been on with half an hour left yesterday, as we were having some good play down that side, which makes his suspension even more frustrating i guess.

Nicholls n Deeney, looked frightened to death the pair of them, but at least DD gave them a go, no way he would have done that last season, they will come good i am sure. Nicholls could be particually useful away from home i think

[derbysaddler]

Mixed fortunes yesterday,

First half Carlisle fully exploited our teams nerves, we were slow on the ball, they closed us down so quickly and in attack nothing of real merit was created. But, I feel it will take a litltle time for the side to fully settle down, but they will. Their number 7 Gall in his well YGA boots was a real threat for half an hour, beating Wrack constantly. Portugese bloke upfront just didn't adjust to he type of game bee played, but he'll need a bit of time to get used the game here.

Second half, we used he wings, passed more effectively and competed well with Carlisle, personally I thought Fox was lost in his position, but Boertien was useful. Hall was okay, Dobson fairly composed and as others have said Dann looks very promising. Pleased that DD is prepared to throw in the likes of Nicholls and Deeney.

A solid start, but in an ideal world a forward of real quality is needed.

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Mixed fortunes yesterday,


A solid start, but in an ideal world a forward of real quality is needed.

You never know :D

[Barren Flak]

I enjoyed the game yesterday.

We made, and paid for, a common defensive error. And by that I don't mean we make a lot of defensive errors, but when we do it seems to be the diagonal run/ball and keeper caught out.

I didn't think that Paul Hall was at the races, but thought everyone else was good and definatley up to this league. Foxy will struggle in left midfield, but his touch and control was excellent, and he didn't give the ball away a lot.

Second half was much better than most of the performances at home during 2007.

With the players to become available and those potentially to come in, I'm still excited about this season.

Good work, points on the board. Avoiding a defeat at Orient would be gucci.

[Geordiesaddler]

Well the usual negative comments from the usual suspects.

I don't know what game some people watch, or what they expect, but to me the positives far oustripped the negatives yesterday. I thouroughly enjoyed the game, far more enjoyable than most of last season.

For a team that has just been promoted playing the a team that just failed to reach the play-offs last season I think over 90 minutes we more than matched them, and thoroughly deservd a point. That to me was very encouraging.

We looked fitter than them in the searlng heat, and considering we were missing four or five players that would normally have figured in the 15 it was a decent effort.

As for the "dads army" well what a surprise Tommy Mooney scores and was a total nuisance to the opposition. The Carlisle fans I spoke to after the game said he was just the kind of player they are lacking and wished they had signed him, so compliment indeed.

Danny Sonner and Paul Hall both lookd like what they are good footballers, with brains and the ability to use the ball and pick out a pass, and for me Dobson looks far more comfortable alongside Sonner than he did Keates.

Its obvious what we need to improve on yesterday and become a real force at this level, Ishy - who will of course be back next week, and Byfield up front with Mooney. Get that and I think we will be an excellent side rather than what we were yesterday, a tidy league one team.

[WFC_Rob]

Fox wasnt "useless" like some people have said. I thought him and Boertien complimented each other well, Boertien likes to attack which means Foxy would need to cover- I dont like the idea of both Ishy and Boertien attacking, it might leave us open (abit like Wracky and Hall yesterday!)

Finally, someone willing to give credit where it's due.

[Stu]

Agree on the whole Geordie, but where are the negative comments, I don't really see anyone making overly negative comments, then again I've not the entire thread, just those whose posts I usually read. The general consensus seems to be it was a typical game of two halves, Carlisle were clearly the better team in the first half, we were clearly the better team in the 2nd half.

If the "Dads Army" thing is a dig at the zine cover, then it was just a bleedin joke. Nobody ever said Mooney was a bad signing at all, they just questioned whether he'll last a full season, which I think is probably fair comment to be honest, 40-odd games at his age and maintaining yesterdays level of performance cannot be expected.

The only thing I'd disagree with is the 4/5 missing players... I think Butler aside, that was probably Dickie's first choice team to be honest.

Wrack is in the team because he took his chance, competition for places and all that, and I don't think Weston will walk back in when he is fit. Gerrard is ahead of Roper on merit based on pre-season performances, and I'll be a tad surprised if DD drops last seasons most used player just because Ishmel is available again, espeically in a match away from home where DD is more naturally defensive.

The only possible first choice XI player missing was Butler, and even that could be up for discussion to be honest as he hasn't set the world alight in pre-season.

That was pretty much a first choice team based on competition for places in my view.

[Geordiesaddler]

Agree on the whole Geordie, but where are the negative comments, I don't really see anyone making overly negative comments, then again I've not the entire thread, just those whose posts I usually read.

If the "Dads Army" thing is a dig at the zine cover, then it was just a bleedin joke. Nobody ever said Mooney was a bad signing at all, they just questioned whether he'll last a full season, which I think is probably fair comment to be honest, 40-odd games at his age and maintaining yesterdays level of performance cannot be expected.

The only thing I'd disagree with is the 4/5 missing players... I think Butler aside, that was probably Dickie's first choice team to be honest.

Wrack is in the team on merit pre-season and I don't think Weston will walk back in when he is fit. Gerrard is ahead of Roper on merit based on pre-season performances, and I'll be a tad surprised if DD drops last seasons most used player just because Ishmel is available again, espeically in a match away from home where DD is more naturally defensive.

The only possible first choice XI player missing was Butler, and even that could be up for discussion to be honest as he hasn't set the world alight in pre-season.

That was pretty much a first choice team based on competition for places in my view.

Never seen the zine Stu, I'm, talking about the repeated negative references on here over the summer.

The comments are there, I've just read them. Certain people just don't seem to be able to put things into context, OR understand that a game of football is about what happens over 90 minutes and what the score is at the end as a result of everything that happens, not just the bits they want to see. I firmly believe that has Ishmel been available to bring on for the final 20 minutes, or half-hour yesterday as DD prefers to use him, he would have destroyed Carlisle the way they were wilting in the second half.

As for missing players, I said the 15 which is important because what people keep missing when they bay for this player to start or that is that these days it is about the 15 - that is very much DD's philosophy.

From the 15 yesterday we were missing Ishy, Weston, Butler, and Sonko. That forced us to play Wrack at full-back and robbed us of the opportunity to implement what seems to be our game plan of going for teams in the second half using our superior fitness and the raw pace of Ishmel.

I feel therefore that yesterday's result and performance was not only a case of us doing in well against a decent team, but doing so in the face of having players missing. I am very optimistic that when these players become available we will be even better than we were yesterday which was impressive enough to suggest we will be good enough at the higher level.

And that's before we sign Byfield which is a very real possibility.

[WFC_Rob]

I firmly believe that has Ishmel been available to bring on for the final 20 minutes, or half-hour yesterday as DD prefers to use him, he would have destroyed Carlisle the way they were wilting in the second half.

With all respect though Geordie, as King Crimson said to someone during the game yesterday, Ishmel wasn't available because he got himself suspended. People seem to think it was a shame he wasn't available yesterday, myself included, but they have to look at things realistically - he hasn't played as much as he should have because he doesn't give the manager chance to give him an extended run in the team. I really think this is going to be Ishmel's season and we'll be a better side for it, but he's got to learn to behave. Hopefully, having the likes of Hall and Mooney around him will help him to learn.

[Stu]

Fair enough, its just that the cover of the zine was a "Dads Army" picture containing Mooney, Ince, Money, Sonner and Hall...

Mis-read the bit about the squad, I read it too quickly and thought you said we were missing 4/5 from the first XI, not the 15.

[Bernie]

[With all respect though Geordie, as King Crimson said to someone during the game yesterday, Ishmel wasn't available because he got himself suspended. People seem to think it was a shame he wasn't available yesterday, myself included, but they have to look at things realistically - he hasn't played as much as he should have because he doesn't give the manager chance to give him an extended run in the team. I really think this is going to be Ishmel's season and we'll be a better side for it, but he's got to learn to behave. Hopefully, having the likes of Hall and Mooney around him will help him to learn.

Ishmel was fit, available, and not suspended for the first 49 matches last season, but was not selected by the manager.

[Geordiesaddler]

I firmly believe that has Ishmel been available to bring on for the final 20 minutes, or half-hour yesterday as DD prefers to use him, he would have destroyed Carlisle the way they were wilting in the second half.

With all respect though Geordie, as King Crimson said to someone during the game yesterday, Ishmel wasn't available because he got himself suspended. People seem to think it was a shame he wasn't available yesterday, myself included, but they have to look at things realistically - he hasn't played as much as he should have because he doesn't give the manager chance to give him an extended run in the team. I really think this is going to be Ishmel's season and we'll be a better side for it, but he's got to learn to behave. Hopefully, having the likes of Hall and Mooney around him will help him to learn.

I know, that's why he's playing for us!!!

DD has obviously got his hands full with Ishy but unlike others I think he is handling him very well. I honestly see Ishy's role as being a regular sub to bring on and create that impact for us to go on and step up a gear.

I think with the solidity we have in defence and midfield that is a very legitimate tactic for us this season and something that could have been used to good effect yesterday, if as you say Ishy hadn't stupidly got himself suspended.

[WFC_Rob]

[With all respect though Geordie, as King Crimson said to someone during the game yesterday, Ishmel wasn't available because he got himself suspended. People seem to think it was a shame he wasn't available yesterday, myself included, but they have to look at things realistically - he hasn't played as much as he should have because he doesn't give the manager chance to give him an extended run in the team. I really think this is going to be Ishmel's season and we'll be a better side for it, but he's got to learn to behave. Hopefully, having the likes of Hall and Mooney around him will help him to learn.

Ishmel was fit, available, and not suspended for the first 49 matches last season, but was not selected by the manager.

Arguably because the manager didn't fully trust him, which was the point I was implying.

[Geordiesaddler]

[With all respect though Geordie, as King Crimson said to someone during the game yesterday, Ishmel wasn't available because he got himself suspended. People seem to think it was a shame he wasn't available yesterday, myself included, but they have to look at things realistically - he hasn't played as much as he should have because he doesn't give the manager chance to give him an extended run in the team. I really think this is going to be Ishmel's season and we'll be a better side for it, but he's got to learn to behave. Hopefully, having the likes of Hall and Mooney around him will help him to learn.

Ishmel was fit, available, and not suspended for the first 49 matches last season, but was not selected by the manager.

Here we go!!!

The manager thought that was the best way to use his resources, and the best way to develop Ishy. To-date as the League Two trophy sits gleaming in Walsall's trophy cabinet, and the ink drys on Ishy's new contract there isn't one shred of evidence to suggest that wasn't the best thing for both parties.

That's the past dealt with for the umpteenth time.

Now talking about the present and the future, its obvious from what has transpired pre-season, and from what has been said by the manager that he regards Ishy as having a role to play this season. The extent of that role is entirely dependant on how Ishmel conducts himself and how he preforms when played. So far this season we havn't seen him because of the very stupidity that has dogged his career. There is absolutely no doubt after his performance against Villa that Ishy would have figured at some point yesterday, and that his availabilty would have been an asset in our efforts to beat Carlisle. His non-availability must have been a massive frustration for the manager when midway through the second half with Walsall bossing the game we had to bring on a teenage striker fresh from a broken leg and play him on the wing.

[Bernie]

The usual suspects have arrived with their Stop Moaning and Get Behind the Lads baloney.

All the so called "negative" posts I have read have simply reflected what was a very mixed perfomance. For the first forty-five minutes of the season we had very little possession of the ball in the opposition half.

Those people who dared to mention that have obviously commited some sort of crime against humanity.

Nicholls played 14 first team games for Burton from February onwards - it is a bit odd to say that he is "fresh" from a broken leg. Incidentally almost all those appearances for Burton were on the wing.

It is simply silly to say that there is no evidence to suggest that it was not the best thing for Ishmel and Walsall to leave him out for 49 matches last season. What sort of evidence could there be? There are strong arguments that it was a bad thing for Walsall - based on the Ishmel's proven ability and the way those chosen ahead of him performed. Also, talented young players improve by being tested against the best opposition possible - so it could be that Ishmel has missed out during a vital year of his football education. Those arguments are not evidence of course, and nobody will ever know who was right.

[Geordiesaddler]

The usual suspects have arrived with their Stop Moaning and Get Behind the Lads baloney.

All the so called "negative" posts I have read have simply reflected what was a very mixed perfomance. For the first forty-five minutes of the season we had very little possession of the ball in the opposition half.

Those people who dared to mention that have obviously commited some sort of crime against humanity.

Not at all Bernie, no need to spit your dummy.

The fact that the irony of "stop moaning and get behind the lads", (something that actually dates back to the CL era) escapes you, says a lot.

You read the message board your way and I'll read it mine thanks.

On this thread I've read the usual stuff about "what pace can do", well whoopadeedo isn't it rocket science??. We have a pacey player but he was unavailable!!!

I also read from Philthesaddler that he thinks yesterday's starting line-up was weaker than the starting line-up at Swindon. Hmmm, well Phil's entitled to his opinion of course but I found that comment laughable.

Clayton Ince was superb yesterday yet there are as many if not more negative comments about him on this thread which is incredible IMO.

Darren Wrack did his best at right-back, actually won MOM to boos from certain sections of the crowd, and has been slated on here by certain posters.

Oh and by the way Bernie, I don't know when we the last time a manager signed three players over their "pensionable age" but I'm glad that ours did based on yesterday's showing. The oldest of the lot was frankly, superb. I expect many more performances like that from Mr. Mooney because he is a class act and a very fit player as he showed in those conditions yesterday - a superb signing. Maybe certain people will have to re-visit their quasi-scientific analysis of footballers and start paying attention to what actually happens on the park, yesterday of course being the first time that any of us has anything to base a proper judgement on.

[Geordiesaddler]

The usual suspects have arrived with their Stop Moaning and Get Behind the Lads baloney.

All the so called "negative" posts I have read have simply reflected what was a very mixed perfomance. For the first forty-five minutes of the season we had very little possession of the ball in the opposition half.

Those people who dared to mention that have obviously commited some sort of crime against humanity.

Nicholls played 14 first team games for Burton from February onwards - it is a bit odd to say that he is "fresh" from a broken leg. Incidentally almost all those appearances for Burton were on the wing.

It is simply silly to say that there is no evidence to suggest that it was not the best thing for Ishmel and Walsall to leave him out for 49 matches last season. What sort of evidence could there be? There are strong arguments that it was a bad thing for Walsall - based on the Ishmel's proven ability and the way those chosen ahead of him performed. Also, talented young players improve by being tested against the best opposition possible - so it could be that Ishmel has missed out during a vital year of his football education. Those arguments are not evidence of course, and nobody will ever know who was right.

Absolute tosh, already answered by the winning of the league and the fact that Ishy has signed a new deal. Show me one shred of evidence that our selection policy last season including that relating to Ishy had 1) A detrimental effect on our league position, or 2) Ishy's footballing development at Walsall FC.

[We-ARE-Walsall]

The usual suspects have arrived with their Stop Moaning and Get Behind the Lads baloney.

All the so called "negative" posts I have read have simply reflected what was a very mixed perfomance. For the first forty-five minutes of the season we had very little possession of the ball in the opposition half.

Those people who dared to mention that have obviously commited some sort of crime against humanity.

Nicholls played 14 first team games for Burton from February onwards - it is a bit odd to say that he is "fresh" from a broken leg. Incidentally almost all those appearances for Burton were on the wing.

It is simply silly to say that there is no evidence to suggest that it was not the best thing for Ishmel and Walsall to leave him out for 49 matches last season. What sort of evidence could there be? There are strong arguments that it was a bad thing for Walsall - based on the Ishmel's proven ability and the way those chosen ahead of him performed. Also, talented young players improve by being tested against the best opposition possible - so it could be that Ishmel has missed out during a vital year of his football education. Those arguments are not evidence of course, and nobody will ever know who was right.

Absolute tosh, already answered by the winning of the league and the fact that Ishy has signed a new deal. Show me one shred of evidence that our selection policy last season including that relating to Ishy had 1) A detrimental effect on our league position, or 2) Ishy's footballing development at Walsall FC.

I think the fact Nicholls, and Deeney came on yesterday shows DD's intent this season, he would have used Ishmel saturday no doubt at some point, but that is neither here nor there as it happens.

The main aim last season was promotion, we had a good start, and it became achievable, which is why Money played it safe.
Will be different this time, unless of course we are nearer the top than we expect