The Clayton Ince Superclasico - Crewe vs Walsall

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Let us remember the great man who inspired my username by devoting this thread to him. We salute thee, Trinidads Number One.

Anyway to the game, unchanged side to last week as is the norm when we win (or even draw) games. Very annoyed that our dear leader thinks the out of their depths, constantly injured and grossly overpaid duo Harry Davis and George Ray deserve yet another chance to cock up our good work defensively and this will probably be the penultimate time Semi Ajayi appears at Gresty Road which is a shame.

I think this will be a scrappy and tight game, going for a 1-1 draw with us to score first, sit back and then get punished by our nemesis Tom Bradshaw who just loves scoring against us.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Been to Gresty Road quite a few times now but have still never been to that famous chip shop. I imagine the line is huge?

As for the game I think we will nick it 2-1. Bradshaw brace as he is due a couple of goals (if he passes a late fitness test that is - looks likely he will though) with Haber scoring a header to make it a nervy end to the game. I actually think playing us on the back of a loss this season is by far the worst time to play us as we have consistently bounced back from losses this season, however our ability to do so may depend on SOD's team selection. If he plays Rico LB and Lalkovic at LW then I'm happy, that left side is lethal, pacey, direct and full of ability. However if he stubbornly sticks with Taylor at LB then I fear for us a lot more.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Well I was hopeful that SOD's recent experiment would be ending and we would go back to playing our best team, in their best positions.

Looks like I was over-expectant of his intelligence though..http://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/article/odriscoll-2949063.aspx

I don't want to be harsh on him, but the whole 'I'm new to this role' really isn't applicable in this scenario. You simply, need to win each and every week to stick with the top 3 and at the moment, this entire experiment with Henry playing wide, Sawyers playing deeper and not utilising our best attacking players is wearing extremely thin. There is no time for experiments. Just pick the best side, in their best positions.

Best away record in the country, vs one of the worst home records? Should set us up nicely? But to put it simply, if we have any remote aspirations of going up, especially automatically, we need to win this game. Even if it's off MacGillivray's arse cheek in the 98th minute. We simply have to win. I've seen us win once at GR, littered in between have been some awful performance, some better ones and one decent one where we deserved to win, but Peter Sweeney hit the post and we settled for a 0-0.

I'll go with a dour 1-1 draw if SOD is insistent on leaving Milan/Morris out...a late fitness test for Bradshaw and Taylor at left back over Rico.

1,201 Saddlers.

 

[JJ1532]

If Walsalls movement was anywhere near as good as it was when we played them in September, we'll be in trouble. That said, we weren't great in that game and still got a 1-1. Would be pretty annoyed if we lost this. Even though we have 2 away games next up, I'd probably take a point from this one.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Fairly confident about today, which is weird. Seems most fans are but just hope it doesn't bite us on the bum. Walsall are still second and no doubt still better than most we'll play this season and fans are falling into a false sense of security, such as our defence being "solid" (lol).

Got a feeling we could actually scrape a win but well aware there's a chance we'll get a Coventry style drubbing.

 

[Saddlerrad]

O'connor injured - atrocious news. Player of the season so far. Henry benched. Clueless.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

O'connor injured - atrocious news. Player of the season so far. Henry benched. Clueless.

It's alright, you're up against Turton, even your U9 left back would give him a hard day.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Should be 2 up and out of sight already.

 

[Saddlerrad]

3-0 and game over already.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Walsall should be 4 up. This is fucking shocking.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

The only positive (if there are any) about this game is at least we're not on a long unbeaten run before the fans forum. Imagine how Davis would mask our negative style of play as good form.

Sounds absolutely dire at Gresty Road today. Can't say I'm surprised though.

 

[Saddlerrad]

What's the odds Crewe equalise with their first chance?

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Inman, hero. Shame it's taken him 2 and a half years to do this though.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Inman amazing. Garratt amazing. We haven't done too bad this half. Another good point with hint of fortune to it but hey Ho. We could shitehouse survival again lol

 

[Saddlerrad]

Too frustrated to comment on that game. Game should be over 99 times out of 100. SOD is looking a worse appointment by the week.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Good to come from behind but wins at Rochdale and Chesterfield now are vital.

 

[WFC]

Wank

 

[Crewelad87]

5 unbeaten is very good but far too many draws. Need to win atleast one of Chesterfield and Rochdale away next. Inman is on fire which is typical given her out of contract in the summer. And Garratt is just far too good for us.

Sounded like Walsall should have scored about 6 though. That's twice that have been wasteful infront of goal vs us this season.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Semi Ajayi Man of the Match today, absolutely guts me inside that Ray, Davis or even worse both of them will undo all his and the two Ben's good work these last few weeks.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

How have we not won that unbelievable. So fucking frustrating that game, Bradshaw should of had a hat trick. Garratt should have won the MOTM.

What was even more annoying was that ZERO people on the car park wanted to let me in to leave, so frustrating.

 

[dannyc5]

Not going to see many better saves than Garret's in the second half.

Oh, and Walsall weren't that good. Had spells when you battered us, but we had our own spells when we were on top.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Semi Ajayi Man of the Match today, absolutely guts me inside that Ray, Davis or even worse both of them will undo all his and the two Ben's good work these last few weeks.

I don't rate Ajayi, certainly no better than Ray or Davis. And not picking on him, the entire back four needs disposing of in the summer (I say, for the 10th year running).

That aside, Garratt was clearly our MOTM despite sponsors opinion. Five or six crucial saves, two of them absolutely top, top class.

 

[Geosaddler]

Couldn't agree more Jonny. That was one of the most frustrating games ive watched in a long time. We've battered Crewe for 180 minutes this season and come away with a pathetic 2 points. Wasteful finishing + an outstanding garrett the reason. And just what is Sean o' dismal thinking!!?? Rico Henry on the bench and our 1st sub after 86mins!!! Such a soft side we are. Crewe score with 1 of their only 2 chances. Just knew it would happen at only 0-1 at HT. Just feels like we are losing momentum week after week since Smith left. Going to be a battle to get a play off spot!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Simple fact is, that game should have been 3-0 after 15 minutes, over, done and dusted. Instead. We contrived to miss more chances and come up against some excellent goalkeeping and in the end needed a rather lucky penalty to ensure we took a point home with us. 99 times out of 100 that game is completely over after 15 minutes. You cannot continue to keep missing chances as today shows, when we miss our chances, we get punished, whereas other teams still go on to win 3-0. Bradshaw should have buried the chance that hit the bar and Sawyers should have just laced his chance.

Crewe woke up a little in the second half and defended as a unit much better, had a much better strucure to the entire team, we had to work much harder for second balls and space around the edge of the area. Inman looked quite lively on the break too, but other than the headed goal and 1 half chance late header, I don't, and the Crewe fans on Radio Stoke didn't remember a single shot on target. We huffed and puffed, but wasted chances or openings by not having the composure or quality to put the ball in the net. It's one of those, where on this side of the coin you simply cannot believe how that hasn't ended up being a 3/4/5-1 drubbing and on the other side you say 'we defended well, stuck in and got a deserved point'.

My biggest issue of the day is Sean O'Fucking dismal. What on earth is he thinking/playing at? It was blindingly obvious too any man with one single braincell in their head that Lalkovic and Forde were running out of ideas after an hour, on a heavy February pitch. Yet he sits and keeps Henry/Morris on the bench until the 85TH - EITGHY FIFTH fucking minute. The amount of times we got 3 vs 3 throughout the game but Forde cut back or Mantom had no pace and we needed some proper electric pace and the ability to take the ball forward with some cutting edge. YET, both of our properly quick players were on the bench until the 85TH MINUTE?! What is this man on. I hate to be one of these deluded fans, but it's live or die at the moment and he is fucking around with a system/team that worked perfectly? Honestly, he can leave tomorrow. Stick whitney in charge - if this is his plan for the next 3 months, we are totally fucked.

Simple, we are a sinking ship, not because we aren't good value or can't stick it at the top, but because we miss chances, can't win when we are on top and we simply are not clinical enough in the final third, despite creating 10 chances per game. Momentum, confidence and now managerial incompetence are fucking costing us.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Simple fact is, that game should have been 3-0 after 15 minutes, over, done and dusted. Instead. We contrived to miss more chances and come up against some excellent goalkeeping and in the end needed a rather lucky penalty to ensure we took a point home with us. 99 times out of 100 that game is completely over after 15 minutes. You cannot continue to keep missing chances as today shows, when we miss our chances, we get punished, whereas other teams still go on to win 3-0. Bradshaw should have buried the chance that hit the bar and Sawyers should have just laced his chance.

Crewe woke up a little in the second half and defended as a unit much better, had a much better strucure to the entire team, we had to work much harder for second balls and space around the edge of the area. Inman looked quite lively on the break too, but other than the headed goal and 1 half chance late header, I don't, and the Crewe fans on Radio Stoke didn't remember a single shot on target. We huffed and puffed, but wasted chances or openings by not having the composure or quality to put the ball in the net. It's one of those, where on this side of the coin you simply cannot believe how that hasn't ended up being a 3/4/5-1 drubbing and on the other side you say 'we defended well, stuck in and got a deserved point'.

This kind of sums up our entire recent form. It's half Ben Garratt and half a mass League One match fixing scandal where other clubs have money invested on us staying up. Never seen so many teams miss so many clear cut chances.

 

[Saddlerrad]

http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...titions/league-one/10166681/crewe-1-1-walsall

Some very angering viewing there. Sawyers should just lash his chance in. Some good saves from Garratt. Bradshaw simply has to bury the chance that hits the bar. You can't miss them.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I don't rate Ajayi, certainly no better than Ray or Davis. And not picking on him, the entire back four needs disposing of in the summer (I say, for the 10th year running).

That aside, Garratt was clearly our MOTM despite sponsors opinion. Five or six crucial saves, two of them absolutely top, top class.

Long as Sir Steve is here though Harry and Ray will receive annual wage rises and biennial contract renewals. It's never their fault, it's the other defenders (except Turton)/Ben Garratt/The Midfield/The Strikers/Neil Baker's fault.

Ben Garratt has kept Davis in a job for two years, Davis should be ever so indebted to such an absolute talent.

 

[Gerald Hattrick]

Walsall should've been out of sight in the first 20 mins or so but thought we had managed to get into the game after that a bit. George Cooper what were you doing today, bloody awful. Looked a fairly standard goal from a free kick, pick the big guy out and Bradders makes it one all. Ben G, what a superstar. Special mention for Bradshaw for becoming the new Joe Garner, stay on your feet. Oh and whoever was number 15, you are in division 3 not at the top of the Premier.