Dean Smith admits Saddlers are in a League One relegation fight
Wednesday 26th October 2011, 9:59AM BST.
Walsall manager Dean Smith today warned the Saddlers must scrap for their lives and admitted they are in another relegation dogfight.
Smith’s men slipped to their sixth defeat in their last 10 League One games after going down 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers Exeter last night.
The visitors claimed their first away victory – and first away goals – of the season to leave the Saddlers 17th and just a point above the drop zone.
And, for the first time, Smith admitted they are in the middle of another relegation battle.
He said: “We are, at the moment, because we haven’t got enough points to say we are not. Unless we start stringing results together, we are in for a scrap and a similar thing to what happened last season.”
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Relegation is a cert this lot are not as good as last seasons team..
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Not so long ago Mr. Smith stated we would be promotion candidates. His team, his tactic, his fault. Rubbish Walsall
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Trouble is Deano you need the players to watch the DVD!
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Does anyone else feel in a bit of a strange situation ?.
Let me explain…. Walsall have had a bad run and look to be heading into the drop zone normally there would be talk of changing the manager and the need for fresh ideas etc etc.
However we know Dean is Walsall through and through and where other managers in the past have said they feel for the fans we know with Dean when he says it he means it and he does put 100% effort in.
As I have said normally there would be talk of change but with Dean I really don’t think a change would be good that’s why it feels a bit starnge does anyone agree ?.
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Rob, that is rubbish it is a better all round team however we are just not scoring enough. We are not getting hammered and not devoid of ideas as under Numpty but a finish of 17th is what I predicted at the start of the season.
We have no money, we have a chairman who doesn’t give a damn, we have sub 4000 crowds but we do have a team who are giving 100%. If that aint good enough so be it but my expectations are not as high as some but with that knowledge plus the use of loans we will survive and bump along in the bottom third all season.
Saying that we wil probably beat Franchise FC Saturday UTS!
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If we are going to play hoof ball tactics, maybe a 6ft2 striker who can hold the ball up would be useful. Not had one since Jabo.
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Damn right Rob! The board weren’t prepared to offer enough funds for the likes of Gill and Devaney and I knew it would prove costly allowing Richards and Gray to go. Same old story EVERY year. They haven’t recovered their confidence since the comeback defeat at Sheff Utd and I’m afraid the coaching staff have got to take the blame for that. On the field, we’d struggle in League Two at the moment never mind League One!
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Thanks matt a least some people can see it..
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We are basically need a striker who can acore 20-25 goals a season. The missed chances just add pressure and the defence eventually cracks. If only we had James Contstable now. I was amazed we let him go in the first place but many Saddlers fans argued with me he was rubbish.Well he doesn’t look rubbish now ask Oxford.On a positive note how refreshing to see Exeter fans support their team so well despite their even poorer form than Walsall’s. Its a long trip up from Devon but they certainly were the 12th man and lifted their team, if only our fans had that type of enthusiasm it would make a big difference to the lads morale.
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Matt, get real Gill at 31 was given a three year deal, Devaney is err injured again, Richards is overated and Gray wanted to play abroad!
So who do you blame now? it’s simple economics the football club does not generate enough cash, would £400k make a difference, well thats 4 players on two grand a week for one year so possibly but thats where the issue lies. We are drifiting under Captain Pugser and until that is resolved it is the same old arguments we have been having since 2004!
I appreciate it is frustrating but we have a team who are at least giving there all, maybe not good enough, maybe we will scrape along the bottom all season but at least we are getting endevour and heart which has been missing in spades for several seasons! I can live with that as I have done on manay occassions over the years until our day in the sun returns aka 1964,1983,1999,2001 cup runs and heros for players, keep the faith UTS.
P.S My son who is now 4 is a season ticket holder just feel the pain he has in front of him lol
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I only ask one question… We have a young up and coming striker Connor Deards? if derby can play a 15 year old why can’t deano give him a go….
And before any one says it yes I know he’s on loan to reddditch at the moment
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My 6yr old son has defected to Wolves after watching walsall rubbish for the last 2 years. Don’t blame Deano, the players are not good enough with exception of a couple and we haven’t got enough money ti get anything better. Just the way life is.
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we have money to bring players in but we cant find anyone to improve the squad were not bringing in players for the sake of it same drivell different season. every season we get a new manager a new team and the same outcome it will never change as long as jb is at the helm r.i.p walsall f.c
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Was I at a different match last night?
OK Exeter came out of the blocks at pace and deserved to take the lead, but after the equaliser the bar and their Goalie were like glue for the next twenty minutes. It could have been 4-1, if it had been the other way round Super Jim would have had the plaudits.
The problems started with the rain, I don’t think one Walsall player had the right stud it was embarrassing.
The other problem was the form of both Westlake, who I rate highly and Taundry , who I can’t make my mind up about.Neither went into the tackle with any aggression , the latter running about like a lost sheep.
With regards to Dean Smith, don’t kick a man when he he is down he is by far the best man for the job.
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Mal I have to agree with you. The team we have now are at least giving 100% which is more than can be said from last year. We look so close to being good at times then just run out of ideas. We do need a right back as that side seems to be leaking the majority of goals so far & another forward but 20/25 goal a season players are not going to want to come to Walsall…fact. Deano is doing the best he can with what he’s got/can get and that in itself is an improvement on last season. UTS
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Westlake and Taundry total waist of space need two midfielders and one forward
Deano needs to clear out the rubbish
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Sarah there are guys out there scoring goals who would come to Walsall. For example Clarke at Chesterfield has scored 7 goals in 7 games since moving from Swindon. Richards at Burton Albion has scored 9 goals already this season.It wouldn’t take a shed load of money to tempt Burton. We have to get away from the loan player mentality as they basically are players looking for match practice who have no real passion for the Saddlers.Keep the faith.
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Also there are two guys in the Conference who have scored 15 goals already this season. Shaw at Gateshead and Walker at York. Are we scouting these lower leagues looking for talent? Thats the answer not regects from other league clubs. We are actually signing players released from teams in our league so that tells its own story.Actually who is our chief scout? Not sure if we even have one.I remember when we had Ron Jukes as chief scout the likes of Allan Clarke, Phil Parkes,Donn Penn,Dave Kelly, Craig Shalespeare etc came through.
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I am beginning to wonder whether the team is fit? they seem to be able to play for one half only then they collapse
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James, we do scout from the lower leagues a chap name Gnakpa scored 15 in the conference last season! It is really difficult and I would guess our budget is very tight thus the need for cup runs and player sales plus the kids. We have been lucky with two of the three but have faith in a manager who at least has some idea, as I said ealier as we all know Captain Pugser is the issue and will be as long as he is at the helm!
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Gnapka was mentioned to the club by Dickie Dosh..
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