Saturday 14th August

[valefan16]

You are right about Spearing, but I would say our midfield is stronger across the board than yours, with Feeney and Foley, plus MacManaman and Watson who were on only on the bench yesterday. It is not just about Spearing.

Our central midfield is up there as one of the best in the league with Pett, Conlon and Walker. Conlon is on another level these days (just hope we don’t lose him even if it would have to be a big figure to see us sell) I wouldn’t swap those three for any other in the league (not saying it’s better but on a par with the best)

Add in Wozza on the wing just need another winger or Amoo to get fit!

After the years of Tonge, Kay and Pugh plodding around like a veterans midfield getting over run it’s finally fully sorted in there now! Shudder just thinking of those Michael Brown days!

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Managed to seal the win at the third attempt. In typical fashion each of our strikers scored after worrying that we were light up top. Dimitri Sea went off late on with concussion.

It wasn‘t a concussion though was it.
His hamstring had clearly gone & when he realised he couldn’t continue,he was involved in a ‘clash of heads’,otherwise you’d have been down to ten men as you’d made all your subs.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Just watched our goals back, fuck me that third one, sheer jammy bollocks or what, scruffy shot, ricocheted off their own player, falls right into the strikers feet, even he doesn't think he's onside when he scores (Liddle seemingly plays him on) eugh!

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Just watched our goals back, fuck me that third one, sheer jammy bollocks or what, scruffy shot, ricocheted off their own player, falls right into the strikers feet, even he doesn't think he's onside when he scores (Liddle seemingly plays him on) eugh!

It was a mental game yesterday,officiated by a buffoon.
Barrows first goal was a foul on Liddle, our second was offside & we should have had a pen when Ellis dragged Lawlor back by his shirt.

 

[Chief Rocka]

It was a mental game yesterday,officiated by a buffoon.
Barrows first goal was a foul on Liddle, our second was offside & we should have had a pen when Ellis dragged Lawlor back by his shirt.

Good game for a neutral, frustrating as fuck for us, both sides with some rotten defending, hopefully Cullen or Olomola are back fit for Saturday, think Goodwin might be decent player for us this season with a regular striker in next to him.

 

[Vanni]

I'm really missing the match threads on the L2 forum, the L1 section on here is dead. But hopefully our stay in L1 will be a short one and we'll be back to reclaim our rightful place in the good ol' 4th division

 

[EricSabin]

Col U chairman has issued a statement defending the match permit system and says its here to stay

 

[RLC]

Our central midfield is up there as one of the best in the league with Pett, Conlon and Walker. Conlon is on another level these days (just hope we don’t lose him even if it would have to be a big figure to see us sell) I wouldn’t swap those three for any other in the league (not saying it’s better but on a par with the best)

Add in Wozza on the wing just need another winger or Amoo to get fit!

After the years of Tonge, Kay and Pugh plodding around like a veterans midfield getting over run it’s finally fully sorted in there now! Shudder just thinking of those Michael Brown days!

I would not swap our central midfield for any at this level, and I think the degree of control we had yesterday just emphasises the quality we have in that area.

 

[shoddycollins]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1426571568830947337

1460 at Salford yesterday

You've got to hand it to those Salford fans, how they managed to get across the city from Old Trafford in only half an hour I don't know.

 

[shoddycollins]

It wasn‘t a concussion though was it.
His hamstring had clearly gone & when he realised he couldn’t continue,he was involved in a ‘clash of heads’,otherwise you’d have been down to ten men as you’d made all your subs.

What do you mean 'otherwise' they'd have been down to ten men.

Unless the rules have changed I don't think they let you make an extra sub if you lose a player through a head injury.

 

[Chief Rocka]

What do you mean 'otherwise' they'd have been down to ten men.

Unless the rules have changed I don't think they let you make an extra sub if you lose a player through a head injury.

You've got the regular three subs then supposedly two 'concussion subs' I'm sure clubs won't take the piss out of this new 'concussion sub' rule, no, not at all, not one bit, nope.

 

[valefan16]

I would not swap our central midfield for any at this level, and I think the degree of control we had yesterday just emphasises the quality we have in that area.

I didn’t overly think it controlled it, not until Walker went off as he dealt with Spearing very effectively and we started losing control of it when he went off and we ended up 2 v 3 in there. Big change from last season when we went got bullied and controlled by Spearing was Walker dealing with that problem but the gamble which worked against Sunderland didn’t as much as we got out numbered.

Did miss Conlon though certainly with the ball and creatively, any promotion hopes at the moment rely on us not losing him to a L1 big club or Championship side. Hopefully the three year contract keeps them at bay.

 

[GTFCfish]

I'm really missing the match threads on the L2 forum, the L1 section on here is dead. But hopefully our stay in L1 will be a short one and we'll be back to reclaim our rightful place in the good ol' 4th division

Ideally you’d be looking at back to back relegations as the non league section is where all the cool cats post now mucker.

 

[Robshep]

I didn’t overly think it controlled it, not until Walker went off as he dealt with Spearing very effectively and we started losing control of it when he went off and we ended up 2 v 3 in there. Big change from last season when we went got bullied and controlled by Spearing was Walker dealing with that problem but the gamble which worked against Sunderland didn’t as much as we got out numbered.

Did miss Conlon though certainly with the ball and creatively, any promotion hopes at the moment rely on us not losing him to a L1 big club or Championship side. Hopefully the three year contract keeps them at bay.

We had more accurate passes in your half than you had on the entire pitch.

 

[FGR Stroud]

This reply appeared on the BBC website 'Comments' at base of match report:

Blooming 'eckers like, it was a terrific game and Walsall were unlucky to be facing one of the better teams in League who were in top form.
In fact this was FGR's best performance since promotion in 2017.
Walsall will recover and FGR will probably be unable to maintain such a high standard for duration of season.

 

[shoddycollins]

You've got the regular three subs then supposedly two 'concussion subs' I'm sure clubs won't take the piss out of this new 'concussion sub' rule, no, not at all, not one bit, nope.

I'd expect it to be honest, maybe players wouldn't get away with going down with mysterious head injuries but certainly if a player has gone down injured and the ref wants to know if it's their head. You're giving clubs far too easy an opportunity to expect them not to take it.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

It was a mental game yesterday,officiated by a buffoon.
Barrows first goal was a foul on Liddle, our second was offside & we should have had a pen when Ellis dragged Lawlor back by his shirt.

You seen the highlights? Zanzala breezed past Liddle. If Challinor hadn't mentioned it, you'd not have noticed. And your second was onside! Never saw anything resembling a penalty, unless you mean Liddle with his arms around Zanzala every time a ball came near the box.

 

[BarraMatt]

It wasn‘t a concussion though was it.
His hamstring had clearly gone & when he realised he couldn’t continue,he was involved in a ‘clash of heads’,otherwise you’d have been down to ten men as you’d made all your subs.

I wouldn't know, I wasn't there and I'm not the physio. Commentators said we've lost him for at least a week through the head injury protocol.

 

[Chief Rocka]

You seen the highlights? Zanzala breezed past Liddle. If Challinor hadn't mentioned it, you'd not have noticed. And your second was onside! Never saw anything resembling a penalty, unless you mean Liddle with his arms around Zanzala every time a ball came near the box.

Not much of a brag, half this forum would breeze past him, looked like a pull on his arm and Liddle tried to make the most of it and it didn't get given, Zanala still had a lot to do and finished well.

 

[Gassy]

It would probably completely take the edge off the sport but I think the vast majority of football fans take stupid things like this way too seriously. I myself in my younger years used to let things rile me but life's too short to waste time arguing with strangers on a football forum about whether taking 400 fans to Forest Green on a Tuesday night is a poor following or not, or if the ref was biased towards one team or another.

But that's just me.

How long do you think Barton has by the way? Given statistically he's worse than Garner he must be on borrowed time a bit? Although it must be quite concerning your last 3 managers have all really struggled. I'm sure you'll be good enough to turn things around. I guess the off field stuff with Barton can't be helping?

I think he will have until the court case tbh, unless we lose every game. Garners issue was that he had a brilliant squad, made them fail and then recruited even worse.

Barton inherited that awful squad and is rebuilding it after getting rid of most, having to reset the reset

I’ll be giving him 10 games as I would any manager, he deserves (personal reasons aside) to get this squad together or at least be given the chance. He needs some wins very quick though as he will lose the fan base if we’re winless after 5 IMO.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Not much of a brag, half this forum would breeze past him, looked like a pull on his arm and Liddle tried to make the most of it and it didn't get given, Zanala still had a lot to do and finished well.

Yeah, that's exactly it. A defender needs to be stronger there. If the ref blew for everything that minor, it'd be a terrible spectacle.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

You've got the regular three subs then supposedly two 'concussion subs' I'm sure clubs won't take the piss out of this new 'concussion sub' rule, no, not at all, not one bit, nope.

If they have claimed he was subbed for concussion, then he,s going to be missing for some time.
Think its about 2-3 weeks out for rehabilitation, But not certain.
Hope someone is keeing check.
Don,t know wheather its just me or not but Killips position for the first goal looked woeful.

 

[chipmunx]

If they have claimed he was subbed for concussion, then he,s going to be missing for some time.
Think its about 2-3 weeks out for rehabilitation, But not certain.
Hope someone is keeing check.
Don,t know wheather its just me or not but Killips position for the first goal looked woeful.

it will depend what the doctor says when he examines him. The player has to go off as a precaution if it's suspected - he'll be out for 7 days minimum straight away - but if the doctor confirms concussion then it's 17 days before he can play again.

 

[Robshep]

How many did you score la?

Same as you. Doesn't alter the fact that we had twice as many, at least, accurate passes than you did and have a virtually new team.

 

[valefan16]

Same as you. Doesn't alter the fact that we had twice as many, at least, accurate passes than you did and have a virtually new team.

But again. Pinging five yard passes around half way and the back four doesn’t really matter, we played more direct so a difference in style. Possession is often over rated. Morecambe beat us with about 30% possession last season!

 

[BlackCountrySaddler]

A very poor Walsall performance to say the least. We started well. but its so obvious that we're a new team & its going to take us a while to gel. Im glad to see us get our first goal of the campaign, even if it was just a consolation.

As for FGR, they're a decent enough team. I can see them being top 10.

The worst thing for us was the match day experience, 18 months on and the problems we had 18 months ago have not been resolved. The toilets being flooded, running out of food & beer before HT.

The best of it, we only had two members of staff working the bar as the third chap was sent on his break during HT!

A shambolic day, both on and off the pitch. Hopefully an improvement on tuesday evening at home to Scunthorpe.

 

[RLC]

But again. Pinging five yard passes around half way and the back four doesn’t really matter, we played more direct so a difference in style. Possession is often over rated. Morecambe beat us with about 30% possession last season!

We had a lot of possession in your half, as the possession stats demonstrate. I also don't think the way the game developed is anything to do with a conscious playing style on behalf of either team. The side with the superior technical players in midfield generally controls possession, which we had in Spearing and Feeney, irrespective of how effective our strikers were, or how often we tested the keeper (which we admittedly did not do enough).

 

[RiftHouseLad]

it will depend what the doctor says when he examines him. The player has to go off as a precaution if it's suspected - he'll be out for 7 days minimum straight away - but if the doctor confirms concussion then it's 17 days before he can play again.

From the FA.
Just to concur with the above.
---------------------------------
Returning to play after a concussion


The graduated return to play (GRTP) protocol should be followed in all cases.


This staged programme starts at midnight on the day of injury and stage 1 (initial rest period) is 14 days in all players – unless they're in an enhanced care setting. In all cases, progression to stage 2 of the GRTP can only occur if the player has no symptoms

 

[Big Bird]

Carlisle deserved to beat us yesterday I thought. We weren't very good especially first half.

We really struggled to build moves in the first 45 with Carlisle pinning us back. Not enough movement from our centre mids or Simpson up front.

Second half was just wasteful. Got into some brilliant positions especially late on but decision making and finishing was poor.

Quite an entertaining game overall. Clearly need another striker and the new side will take time to gel. Tranmere on Tuesday will be tough.

 

[Robshep]

But again. Pinging five yard passes around half way and the back four doesn’t really matter, we played more direct so a difference in style. Possession is often over rated. Morecambe beat us with about 30% possession last season!

Most of our passes were in the opposition half. Hardly pinging 5 yard passes around halfway and the back four is it.