Barnet v Walsall: Mat Sadler says busy first month a big help to new-look Saddlers
Mat Sadler has declared “the more games the merrier” as Walsall prepare for a quick return to action at Barnet on Saturday.
The first competitive meeting of the clubs in more than 18 years comes in the middle of a typically busy August with the Saddlers, knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties at Stoke in midweek, are then again in action at home to Grimsby next Tuesday.
But you won’t hear Sadler complaining about the schedule as he looks to bring his new-look squad fully up to speed.
A hectic summer window has seen 11 players leave and the same number arrive, with several currently living together in club-owned houses, something the boss believes helps to engender a tight-knit team spirit.
Yet when it comes to on the pitch, Sadler knows nothing builds bonds quicker than playing matches.
He said: “The season is relentless. This is the first Tuesday-Saturday week, heading into another Tuesday-Saturday week, so we have to take that into account.
“But right now it is about the growth of the team and you only get that through playing, so for us it is a case of the more games the merrier.
“It’s a chance to test ourselves in different games. It’s a great opportunity. On Tuesday we made 10 changes to the team and it means we have players itching to get involved and show what they are about.”
Saturday is Walsall’s first trip to Barnet since a Dean Keates equaliser earned a 1-1 draw in September, 2006, while it is the first-ever time they have visited the Bees’ at The Hive, their home since 2013.
Last season’s National League champions are yet to register a point or score a goal on their return to the EFL.
But Sadler warned: “Having watched their games, you can see exactly why they stormed their league last season.
“They are a very good possession team, who look to overload you in certain areas of the pitch, look to get the ball wide and cause problems from there.
“We are under no illusions to how tough the challenge is going to be. They stormed a league last year of ridiculously high budgets.
“It will be up to us to get on top of things and play the game we want to play.”
