Port Vale - League One (a) 9th August 3pm

[saddla]

This is it!
3:00pm this afternoon I get to see the first game of my 50th season supporting the saddlers! :D

A win will make it a double celebration! :lol:

[Ancient Moaner]

This is it!
3:00pm this afternoon I get to see the first game of my 50th season supporting the saddlers! :D

A win will make it a double celebration! :lol:

These kids Eh! about 55 years for me, proper leather balls with laces, and proper football boots with toe caps and murderous studs, not like the carpet slippers they wear today! All the adults wore hats and used to give us a clip round the ear for using our rattles and banging on the hoardings around Fellows Park....2/6 to get in I seem to recall......Ah those were the days... :)

[BarnsleySaddler]

This is it!
3:00pm this afternoon I get to see the first game of my 50th season supporting the saddlers! :D

A win will make it a double celebration! :lol:

These kids Eh! about 55 years for me, proper leather balls with laces, and proper football boots with toe caps and murderous studs, not like the carpet slippers they wear today! All the adults wore hats and used to give us a clip round the ear for using our rattles and banging on the hoardings around Fellows Park....2/6 to get in I seem to recall......Ah those were the days... :)

It`s around 55 years for me as well, walking down from Palfrey with my parents and brother. Being allowed to go in front of the adults down to the wall so we could see. Those were the days. :) :)

[JonnyOwen]

50th season?

This will be my first season where I am legally able to drink! :lol:

[LancsSaddler]

Watching Vales goals against Albion the first two were predictably from crosses and the third from a hoof forward by the keeper. Watching the blind panic in our box every time a corner/cross/set peice came in yesterday and to an extent vs lemington I just can not see us beating Vale.

At the Meet the Manager evening Smith said that he had every faith in the players we have coping with the aerial threat posed by teams in League One, as not that many teams play that way anymore. He may be correct that not as many teams 'plan A' is to get the ball into the box early. However i fear that he has failed to grasp that other teams have something called a 'plan B', normally a 6ft something brick outhouse that they can bring off the bench when needed and who will eat our defence for breakfast. I think we will at the very best have a few late goals conceded to worry about.

He was also asked about our tactics defending corners. He said that we mark semi zonal. Basically everyone marks other than a man at the front post, and then Andy Butler attacking every ball. What he failed to mention was who would be doing the Butler role this season. It seemed to be James Chambers vs Villa... We are going to get battered!

He needs to rethink this blind faith in his players and get a strong CB in who will be able to compete in the air, otherwise all of our good play going forward will be undone every set piece or cross. Matt preston looks the build to become this player but he certainly isnt ready yet.

Unfortunatley I predict a 3v1 loss.

I do loff when people go on about James Chambers at centre half. They clearly didn't go to Leyton Orient last season when he replaced Butler in his early sending off. It was one of the best centre half performances of the season, against two of the highest scorers in the league.

Would I like a Roper like commanding centre half in the squad? Yes. I am fretting that we haven't got one yet? No. I'd be more concerned at the other end at the moment. Our squad, as ever will continue to be shaped as the season goes on, with astute loan signings.

1-1 Pope and Benning. 6,918

If you care to have a read I didn't say I had an issue with James Chambers playing CB, however I do have an issue with him playing with Downing as neither of them is good in the air. All good CB's need a complementary partner. Butler played best with a CB who read the game well and swept up behind him ala downing. Downing plays best with a commanding CB who will win most in the air letting him sweep up. It may work for a game or two but not for a whole season unless you are very lucky as teams will work you out

And you can go on all you want saying he will cover up the squads deficiencies with loan signings, but you shouldn't really be bringing a CB in as a stop gap other than to cover injury. Surely they should be the bedrock that the rest of team is built upon, ever heard of having a good spine and building around it?

[belgiansaddler]

Here we go again, fortunately have left it too late to walk so will have the luxury of driving this year :D

[Exile]

1-1 opening day draw.

First 'Smith out' call at 3.14pm after 47 passes leave the ball at the feet of Chambers, who decides row Z need a closer look at it.

[mosaddler]

not too confident

2-1 loss

[Cully]

1-1 opening day draw.

First 'Smith out' call at 3.14pm after 47 passes leave the ball at the feet of Chambers, who decides row Z need a closer look at it.

1.00pm - SMITH OUT!

[Welsh_Saddler]

1-1 opening day draw.

First 'Smith out' call at 3.14pm after 47 passes leave the ball at the feet of Chambers, who decides row Z need a closer look at it.

1.00pm - SMITH OUT!

Is the famous Cully jumper clean and presentable for the new season? :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

In the entree game, it's Sheffield United 1 Bristol City 2 at full time.

[Enniskillen]

the team's in - every senior pro is playing with Holden and Clifford on the bench

O'Donnell
O'Connor, Chambers, Downing, Taylor

Baxendale, Chambers, Sawyer, Benning

Bradshaw, Grimes

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting XI against Port Vale:

O'Donnell

O'Connor
Taylor

Sawyers
Chambers
Downing
Benning

Chambers
Bradshaw
Grimes
Baxendale

Substitutes: Holden, McGillivray, Flanagan, Morris, Bakayoko, Kinsella, Clifford.

[TheSwift]

Sheffield United now at the bottom of the table.

The grass isn't always greener Andy... :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

Sheffield United now at the bottom of the table.

The grass isn't always greener Andy... :D

No, but the pay's probably a lot better!!! :wink:

[hullsaddler]

New season... same old Sadworld. Having to listen to Vale commentary.

[TheSwift]

Swindon 1-0 Scunthorpe
Yeovil 0-1 Doncaster

[jeffsmate]

New season... same old Sadworld. Having to listen to Vale commentary.

yes i dont know why we bother.

[TheSwift]

Colchester 1-0 Oldham

[Welsh_Saddler]

Colchester 1 Oldham Athletic 0 ----- which sees us climb out of the bottom four!!!! :D

[dobbster71]

Game is live on Radio Stoke

[TheSwift]

Mk Mongs© 0-1 Gillingham
Orient 0-1 Chesterfield :shock:

Lots of goals in L1

[Welsh_Saddler]

MK Dongs 0 Gillingham 1 ---- much mirth

Leyton Orient 0 Chesterfield 1

[Norfolk_Saddler]

Saddlersworld, you really are a complete bag of poo.

[OperationYesUr]

the team's in - every senior pro is playing with Holden and Clifford on the bench

O'Donnell
O'Connor, Chambers, Downing, Taylor

Baxendale, Chambers, Sawyer, Benning

Bradshaw, Grimes

Thanks Enniskillen, let's see how they go. Fancy a couple of half-time changes according to the above.

[TheSwift]

Swindon now 2 up.

BBC Sport has conked out on me now .

Sloppies 1 up as well.

[TheSwift]

Forte scores for Oldham, 1-1.

Must be his first goal in at least a decade.

[hullsaddler]

Vale commentary "Walsall have had a lot of the ball in their own half."

[TheSwift]

Deeney scores :D

Money, money, money.

Must be funny

[Welsh_Saddler]

Elsewhere, Troy Deeney scores to put Watford 1-0 up against Bolton, 16min.

Walsall currently 19th in the table (or joint 6th, if you prefer!!)

BBC have got their stats rolling now, and Port Vale are winning 7-0 (in fouls)