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Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Reports and reaction from the 2014-2015 season as Walsall finished 3rd in League 1
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reedswood sadler
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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 1:09 pm

A point gained or 2 lost that sort of game depending how you saw it.Swindon came with a game plan and it worked looking most likely to win it at end.
Lots of players looked tired and pressure seemed to get to them, after Swindon scored looked like we started to panic but good subs and goal by Morris.
Still in own hands but need to improve automatic depends on a least 3 wins unfortunetly still got 2 home games.

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WFC_Rob
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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 1:40 pm

Difficult to complain too much about a draw last night. As Whitney said after the game, they looked very good technically and you do wonder why they've been on such a horrible run of form recently. I thought Doughty was the best player on the pitch over the 90 minutes - he was really good at finding the space between our lines, which helped them to keep the ball in our half.

I must admit, I thought we got things wrong tactically in the first half. Playing an isolated one up front allowed them to bring the ball out from the back under no pressure until they reached the halfway line. Had Sawyers pushed right up alongside Hiwula, we'd have been able to stop that. Our line-up played into their hands in the end - they needed a point and needed to take the wind out of our sails, which they did really well once they'd stood firm for the first 10 minutes.

What didn't help - and what I fear is the weakness that could cost us a place in the top two - is how little support Mantom offered Chambers in terms of picking the ball up from our centre halves. All too often they had little option but to go for a long ball forward, which tended to result in the opposition being given the ball. And it's been quite a common occurrence at home this season. I'm a fan of Mantom, but I thought he hid a few times too many last night and we struggled as a result. We had an extra man in the middle of the park, but you wouldn't have known it.

Second half was much better because we played with a tempo and pushed them back towards their own goal. I've said it before, but Morris provides the biggest goal threat of the three wide men, so why he doesn't start is beyond me. Hopefully he's given Whitney food for thought after his last two cameos.

As others have said, there's no real change to the challenge in hand - just that we now have to overcome Burton with one less game to play. Saturday becomes a 'must not lose' and then next Tuesday becomes a 'must win' - possibly for both sides unless Shrewsbury win at Gillingham on Saturday. Either way, I'll be very surprised if this doesn't go to the last game of the season at Vale. Anyone admit to preferring it when we were in mid-table with nothing to play for? :lol:

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 2:23 pm

WFC_Rob wrote:Difficult to complain too much about a draw last night. As Whitney said after the game, they looked very good technically and you do wonder why they've been on such a horrible run of form recently. I thought Doughty was the best player on the pitch over the 90 minutes - he was really good at finding the space between our lines, which helped them to keep the ball in our half.

I must admit, I thought we got things wrong tactically in the first half. Playing an isolated one up front allowed them to bring the ball out from the back under no pressure until they reached the halfway line. Had Sawyers pushed right up alongside Hiwula, we'd have been able to stop that. Our line-up played into their hands in the end - they needed a point and needed to take the wind out of our sails, which they did really well once they'd stood firm for the first 10 minutes.

What didn't help - and what I fear is the weakness that could cost us a place in the top two - is how little support Mantom offered Chambers in terms of picking the ball up from our centre halves. All too often they had little option but to go for a long ball forward, which tended to result in the opposition being given the ball. And it's been quite a common occurrence at home this season. I'm a fan of Mantom, but I thought he hid a few times too many last night and we struggled as a result. We had an extra man in the middle of the park, but you wouldn't have known it.

Second half was much better because we played with a tempo and pushed them back towards their own goal. I've said it before, but Morris provides the biggest goal threat of the three wide men, so why he doesn't start is beyond me. Hopefully he's given Whitney food for thought after his last two cameos.

As others have said, there's no real change to the challenge in hand - just that we now have to overcome Burton with one less game to play. Saturday becomes a 'must not lose' and then next Tuesday becomes a 'must win' - possibly for both sides unless Shrewsbury win at Gillingham on Saturday. Either way, I'll be very surprised if this doesn't go to the last game of the season at Vale. Anyone admit to preferring it when we were in mid-table with nothing to play for? :lol:


Agree with the comments about Mantom, the fact he had no influence on the game created problems all over the pitch. You can't afford that from a central midfielder.

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scott_powell
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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 2:27 pm

If we still had Evans we'd have won the title by now.

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 3:05 pm

scott_powell wrote:If we still had Evans we'd have won the title by now.

Exactly what I said to my mate last night!
Hey ho, where's the fun in that?! :lol:

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kshammer
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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 4:57 pm

Mazza01 wrote:
WFC_Rob wrote:Difficult to complain too much about a draw last night. As Whitney said after the game, they looked very good technically and you do wonder why they've been on such a horrible run of form recently. I thought Doughty was the best player on the pitch over the 90 minutes - he was really good at finding the space between our lines, which helped them to keep the ball in our half.

I must admit, I thought we got things wrong tactically in the first half. Playing an isolated one up front allowed them to bring the ball out from the back under no pressure until they reached the halfway line. Had Sawyers pushed right up alongside Hiwula, we'd have been able to stop that. Our line-up played into their hands in the end - they needed a point and needed to take the wind out of our sails, which they did really well once they'd stood firm for the first 10 minutes.

What didn't help - and what I fear is the weakness that could cost us a place in the top two - is how little support Mantom offered Chambers in terms of picking the ball up from our centre halves. All too often they had little option but to go for a long ball forward, which tended to result in the opposition being given the ball. And it's been quite a common occurrence at home this season. I'm a fan of Mantom, but I thought he hid a few times too many last night and we struggled as a result. We had an extra man in the middle of the park, but you wouldn't have known it.

Second half was much better because we played with a tempo and pushed them back towards their own goal. I've said it before, but Morris provides the biggest goal threat of the three wide men, so why he doesn't start is beyond me. Hopefully he's given Whitney food for thought after his last two cameos.

As others have said, there's no real change to the challenge in hand - just that we now have to overcome Burton with one less game to play. Saturday becomes a 'must not lose' and then next Tuesday becomes a 'must win' - possibly for both sides unless Shrewsbury win at Gillingham on Saturday. Either way, I'll be very surprised if this doesn't go to the last game of the season at Vale. Anyone admit to preferring it when we were in mid-table with nothing to play for? :lol:


Agree with the comments about Mantom, the fact he had no influence on the game created problems all over the pitch. You can't afford that from a central midfielder.


He's a cop out player and too happy to not make a mistake and get a 6 out of 10 every week. Don't get me wrong, there's a player in there but too often he only starts to play on the front foot when we're behind. Just wish he'd put himself about a bit more and look to attack a bit more from the first whistle.

How he seems to escape criticism baffles me. As I say, there is talent there, but I fear injury has taken something from him.

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 6:01 pm

As someone pointed out, mathematically we need to match Burton's results and win our game in hand. Last night we matched their draw, so in my opinion a point for us isn't bad at all. Obviously there would be less pressure going into the final 4 games if we had won, but its not the end of our automatic promotion hopes at all.

Good to see Morris get a goal, hopefully he starts on Saturday!

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 6:41 pm

One thing I'd like to add to this, for all the people who slate sawyers and yes I go mad when he jumps out of a tackle, one thing he never does is go hiding he always wants the ball and looks to make things happen.

Sam Manton has for me all season coasted through games, he's not tackling he's not helping chambers and he doesn't add drive going forward. He flapped it last night and I can't respect him for it, pissed off with him more than needing a draw. Drop him bring joc back in defence and put Pennington in midfield or even Preston for me I'm. Sick of him!!!

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 6:52 pm

Big Dave wfc wrote:One thing I'd like to add to this, for all the people who slate sawyers and yes I go mad when he jumps out of a tackle, one thing he never does is go hiding he always wants the ball and looks to make things happen.

Sam Manton has for me all season coasted through games, he's not tackling he's not helping chambers and he doesn't add drive going forward. He flapped it last night and I can't respect him for it, pissed off with him more than needing a draw. Drop him bring joc back in defence and put Pennington in midfield or even Preston for me I'm. Sick of him!!!



From what I've seen on tv, he does look a "lazy" player, a bit like Craig Shakespeare in a way without the specialist free kicks. Other clubs will notice his "can't be bothered today" attitude if he's had a few agents whispering knackers in his earholes.

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WFC_Rob
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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:25 pm

Big Dave wfc wrote:Drop him bring joc back in defence and put Pennington in midfield or even Preston for me I'm. Sick of him!!!

That won't happen though, realistically. What we could have done last night was replace Mantom with Bradshaw, drop Sawyers into a conventional midfield two alongside Chambers, and go for it with two up front.

I think Mantom suits away games much better. It's in the home games where he should be taking more responsibility to affect the game and make things happen - which was why it was so frustrating to watch last night.

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 7:37 pm

Mantom is always in the team as he pops up with goals from time to time...who else in central midfield can do that? Chambers does a brilliant job for his age but goalscorer he ain't and Romaine underachieves every season with his goalscoring tally.

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kshammer
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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:26 pm

SoccerHQ wrote:Mantom is always in the team as he pops up with goals from time to time...who else in central midfield can do that? Chambers does a brilliant job for his age but goalscorer he ain't and Romaine underachieves every season with his goalscoring tally.


Mantom is a lot like Lalko - superb one game in ten, get a goal and then completely ineffective for the other 9.

When Chambers is running past him to get forward it is a joke and it happens alot.

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:06 pm

Better result than at Swindon where we absolutely murdered them and contrived to lose the game (not for the first time this season but, to be fair, we have also got out of jail a few times, so maybe it does even itself up).
Still in the box seat. Go get 'em, Saddlers :D

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:19 pm

SoccerHQ wrote:Mantom is always in the team as he pops up with goals from time to time...who else in central midfield can do that?

It doesn't matter where the goals come from though - and I'd argue that if he got on the ball more and affected games, him and his teammates would score more goals collectively.

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Re: Swindon Town (H) Tuesday 19th April, 7.45pm

Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:27 pm

thanks coventry for two cracking wins against millwall and bradford, cracking wins for us anyway :lol: :lol:

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