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Alex Nicholls tipped to be Walsall’s ace card
Thursday 19th January 2012, 10:59AM GMT.
Skipper Andy Butler today tipped Alex Nicholls to become Walsall’s inspiration in their survival fight and insisted he can be “unplayable”.
The defender reckons Nicholls will be the Saddlers’ ace card as they bid to improve their wretched goal record.
They have scored just 25 goals in 26 League One games to sit 20th in the table – a point above the drop zone.
But Butler insisted Nicholls, who has five goals this term, can shoot the Saddlers up the table.
“I don’t think there’s a centre half who can live with him, he can be unplayable. It’s pleasing to see him working his socks off,” he said, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Carlisle.
“It’s that constant threat where he can get in behind which scares defenders and there’s no-one in the league who will keep a high line with him. They’re worried and it gives Macka (Jon Macken) the opportunity to get involved.
“I always tend to try to get someone else to mark him in training so I don’t embarrass myself. He does it every day in training, he’s a direct player and loves to get at defenders.”
Nicholls admitted in the summer he was about to give up on his dreams of sealing a striking spot at the Saddlers.
He was prepared to slug it out on the right wing but has spearheaded the Saddlers with Macken recently and Butler has been impressed.
“He’s done well, from the moment he scored at Wycombe away in October it boosted him and he does cause people problems – his pace always will,” said the 28-year-old.
“Macka’s holdup play is excellent and Nics’ workrate is unbelievable. How many times do we see him sailing past a player? It’s brilliant.
“He gives you that outlet and it’s his pace which makes people drop a little deeper which means Macka can get on the ball. They both complement each other really well.”
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All I can say is Alex will have to improve a hell of a lot to get anywhere in this game, and what he has shown so far falls a long way short…
Sorry AN fans I’m not impressed with him.
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He seems to be a superstar… once every 30-35 games or so. Not good enough.
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In one sense Butler is right, in that he has pace, can be quite tricky and beat defenders. Unfortunately what he isn’t so good at is his finishing, as his goals tally shows. In a lot of the games I have seen at home this season he has just gone for power shots, which have either been straight at the keeper or over the bar. A few of those have come off, hence his goal tally of 5 but he needs to improve the placing of his shots. I can’t see that happening though.
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Yes I imagine defenders up and down the country are quaking in their boots just in case he hasone of his ‘unplayable’ games, which he has managed about 3 times in 200 appearances so far.
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Peter..what planet you on? AN has been by far our most threatening player this season since breaking into the team about 10games into the season! People judging him on past years where he was lumped on the wing..here there and everywhere! On this season alone, nobody can honestly say his performaces havent impresded! If he gets into double figures come the end of this season, feeding on scraps, then AN will be heading to a much bigger club than Walsall.
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I agree I think he is still learning and I think he has great future in the centre. I can remember some outstanding performances from him
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I saw him against Preston in October and he was brilliant – a constant threat with his pace and he scored a very good goal….but at other times he has looked short of what is required as his finishing has been poor. I hope he gets it together and fires us to safety – we’re gonna need someone to do it.
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