Chesterfield (A) League One Mar 12, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

An eventful week ends with our 4th game of the season against the Spireites, and we've yet to get the better of them over 90 minutes. It's perhaps unfortunate that (as with Barnsley) we will be up against a team in form - since Danny Wilson was appointed manager on Christmas Eve following the sacking of Dean Saunders they've certainly progressed, and are currently unbeaten in their last five League One games. More significantly that recent form has included wins at Gillingham and Southend, although it should be noted that their home form (like ours!) is sometimes poor - if you discount the 7-1 thrashing they handed out to the Sloppies!!

Top scorer Lee Novak has 13 goals to his name, and is closely followed by Sylvain Ebanks-Blake who watched last Saturday's game from the bench........shades of O'Dismal's treatment of Rico Henry?? Chesterfield's most recent League One games:

12 Feb Burton Albion (A) Lost 1-0
16 Feb Colchester United (A) Drew 1-1
20 Feb Crewe Alexandra (H) Won 3-1
27 Feb Gillingham (A) Won 1-2
1 Mar Blackpool (H) Drew 1-1
5 Mar Southend United (A) Won 0-1

WCW should be familiar with the opposition, having been in caretaker control for our two F.A. Cup games with them after Dean Smith's departure. Team selection??? The only certainty is that a different Saddlers side will take the field from the last one to play Chesterfield - Tom Bradshaw was injured then and will hopefully be fit for Saturday, George Evans has gone, and so has sallian favourite James Baxendale (used as a substitute). I would hope to see Henry re-introduced to a full game (he didn't figure at all in the Cup-tie replay), and Romaine Sawyers encouraged to use his talents upfield, if picked.

Prediction time, and it's very tempting to think that we can come away with one of our old-fashioned 0-1 wins. However, it's very early days yet, and the legacy of Sean O'Dismal may take more than a game or two to be cleansed from the system. Nevertheless, it would be a major achievement if the players respond to the encouragement from WCW to "enjoy yourselves" and it will be fascinating to see whether anything significant can be observed. I'll still go for the 0-1, and 3 points nearer the top two (hopefully). :D

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

I think if the Shrewsbury away attitude prevails with both the team & supporters a close win is on the cards 2-1.

[WFC_Rob]

This really is a massive game. Win and it'll be a case of putting the O'Driscoll saga firmly behind us. Lose and if results don't quite go in our favour, we'll start looking over our shoulders.

[firreblade]

If Rico is introduced back into the starting line up and Hiwula is fitted along side Bradshaw in whatever formation and Sawyer's getting back to form pulling the strings like we no he can then I will predict a 3-0 win. and a start of something really wonderful.

[coop63]

Great post as usual Welsh - muchas... You even managed to get a mention in for everyone's favourite contributor this week :roll:

Whilst all games at this stage seem huge, due to the monumental events of the past few days, this one really does feel like a defining game (sorry to exaggerate the obvious!!)

I for one am more interested in focusing on the new regime than dwelling on the past so for me WCW will give the guys license to express themselves and I'm being eternally optimistic for a 1-2 reverse for the Saddlers

968 reds in attendance

UTS

[Mazza01]

Great post as usual Welsh - muchas... You even managed to get a mention in for everyone's favourite contributor this week :roll:

Whilst all games at this stage seem huge, due to the monumental events of the past few days, this one really does feel like a defining game (sorry to exaggerate the obvious!!)

I for one am more interested in focusing on the new regime than dwelling on the past so for me WCW will give the guys license to express themselves and I'm being eternally optimistic for a 1-2 reverse for the Saddlers

968 reds in attendance

UTS

Only 295 tickets sold so far , ill go for a cracking 3-1 away win with 600 Saddlers in attendance.

UTS!

[hullsaddler]

I was already going anyway, regardless of O'Dismal, but now I am looking forward to it and going with a spring in my step. A positive approach & we can still reach the promised land (well Championship anyway) & even if we don't, I just want us to give it a bloody good go!

[Cheesebag]

Only 295 tickets sold so far

UTS!

The O Driscoll factor... expect many more!

[Mazza01]

Only 295 tickets sold so far

UTS!

The O Driscoll factor... expect many more!

Lets hope so , this all of a sudden feels like another big match.

[scott_powell]

Must win to keep automatic promotion alive.

2-0 Chesterfield.

[bangsection]

Quick reminder that the Derby Tup (a bit further up the main road from the ground) is a cracking old fashioned match day boozer.

[Walsall Wise]

Hard fought, gritty 1-0 win

[JonnyOwen]

I think he will play a 3.

This will mean we can have Tom Bradshaw and Jordi up top, Romaine Sawyers in behind with Demetriou and Rico bombing up and down the wings.

Scary looking attack that.

[Wragbyred]

I think he will play a 3.

This will mean we can have Tom Bradshaw and Jordi up top, Romaine Sawyers in behind with Demetriou and Rico bombing up and down the wings.

Scary looking attack that.

What you mean Jonny, quick, free flowing attacking football?
Can't see it catching on....

[chunkster]

don't know what the result will be. but what i do think is that we will be back to the team playing with confidence and attacking flair :wink:

[chriss5471]

Shakey start will mean we go 1-0 but the fans will stick behind the lads due to the Three Wisemen effect meaning we will score 2, question is 1-2 or 2-2 final score? Hmmm I am going 1-2 to us.

[sallian]

I was already going anyway, regardless of O'Dismal, but now I am looking forward to it and going with a spring in my step. A positive approach & we can still reach the promised land (well Championship anyway) & even if we don't, I just want us to give it a bloody good go!

I feel the opposite, depressed and sad SOD has gone....and feel sick about who we the club has become in terms of the board and supporters...maybe the players too

Even if we win 5-0 today, I was still feel like that

Football is not just about winning for me

It has to have some foundations more important than that

Would we be happy with a team that wins games much but does so by fouling, time wasting, goading opposition players into fouls, play-acting, intimidating opposition goal keepers, bribing officials etc?

[boringteacher]

The good news for those not going is that it seems to be live on Dingle95.6 this afternoon - good to see their continued support for us (or could it also be that no other team is playing?).

Having only discovered (with great joy that Bonser had actually shown ambition by ditching SOD to my amazement) on Tuesday, I reckon a positive performance and result today. 2-1, Jordi + Sawyers for us.

[funk_hits_the_fan]

A close 1-0 or 2-1 win...been warming up my vocal chords for this!

If there's any negativity, booing our players, general whining you may see me being wrestled out by stewards :lol:

Hoping for 800-900 of us at least

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

The good news for those not going is that it seems to be live on Dingle95.6 this afternoon - good to see their continued support for us (or could it also be that no other team is playing?).

Having only discovered (with great joy that Bonser had actually shown ambition by ditching SOD to my amazement) on Tuesday, I reckon a positive performance and result today. 2-1, Jordi + Sawyers for us.

Yes it is on WM.And Franksy is doing it,perhaps the lads who go can give him some stick.

[sallian]

Due to the club's now corrupted soul, I expect a 1-2 loss

However, I feel a victory will even further the solidification of triumphalism in iniquity and further us down the road of darkness and misguidance.

Walsall f.c humanity died 6th March 2016

Now we are the undead

[BESCOTIAN]

So nobody bit the first time so you have to try again. What a Scunthorpe

I reckon a tough match attacking formation leaving us slightly vulnerable at the back 3-1 to the saddlers

Hiwula with a brace

[Welsh_Saddler]

Due to the club's now corrupted soul, I expect a 1-2 loss

However, I feel a victory will even further the solidification of triumphalism in iniquity and further us down the road of darkness and misguidance.

Walsall f.c humanity died 6th March 2016

Now we are the undead

Give over.....you're becoming more of an embarrassment every time you post :roll:

[Guest]

I think we will start well, and create plenty of opportunities. Will we take them? That is the question. If we do manage to score, then we should win 2-0 or 3-1.If we don't and Chesterfield score first, then it could be the same old story.

I just hope we avoid hitting the woodwork, which we seem to have been doing a lot recently. The curse of SOD? If some of those efforts had gone in, he could still have been in a job...

[Guest]

To sallian.

Sean O'Driscoll has gone. Get over it.

(I'm sure he is happy enough with two pay-offs this season.)

[SuperDon]

Etheridge; Demetriou, O'Connor, Downing, Taylor, Henry; Chambers, Mantom; Sawyers; Hiwula, Bradshaw

Subs
MacGillivray; Preston; Kinsella, B.Morris, Flanagan, Forde, Lalkovic

[SuperDon]

Wonder what happened to Ricos niggling ankle injury :)

[Guest]

K. Morris?

[chestersaddler]

Wonder what happened to Ricos niggling ankle injury :)

And would you believe it. Flanagan and Kinsella have reappeared.

Good positive line up that :D

[SaddlerDave]

Buzzing with that starting eleven! Butterfly's in my stomach. Rico back and a return to the wing back system which heralded so much success pre Xmas. With Jordy up top as well now. C'mon you Saddlers!