Mat Sadler outlines "ambitious" but "sustainable" Walsall approach as deadline day looms
Mat Sadler says Walsall will operate with "ambition" but remain sustainable in their approach towards recruitment.
Home form is threatening to derail the Saddlers' promotion push and back-to-back goalless stalemates against Accrington Stanley and Crawley Town at Bescot has not helped improve matters.
However, Walsall have been much strong on the road. They boast the joint-best away record - level with League Two leaders Bromley on 24 points - and have collected four wins from six games on their travels (drawing once, losing once).
The past two performances in particular have increased calls for more signings to be added before the 7pm deadline on Monday, but Sadler has stressed that the club won't jeopardize its future by replicating the division's big spenders.
"It can be for every team because it is kind of a season without a season, and the halfway point becomes a stage where everything can change again," boss Sadler said.
"You've seen that with a few clubs in our division. Salford and MK Dons have, and are still going to spend, numbers that are crazy.
"We would never do that because it makes no sense for our football club. We just need to make sure that we do what is right for us in these moments and that will remain to be seen at the end of it all.
"We'll do that with the ambition, but also with the sense of looking after it. Of course, we want to move it forward, which we have and will continue to do.
"And we want to compete at the top of the league all the time, but do that with the mentality of looking after this club because we want it here for another 100 years.
"We don't want to ruin it, so it's always that balancing act."
Goals have been at a premium. Besides from the past two score-less draws, Walsall also lost 2-0 at Cambridge United on New Year's Day.
As a result, the Saddlers have failed to score in three of their four league games in 2026, although they did emerge 3-1 victors at Tranmere Rovers on their last road trip.
Barnsley loanee Kacper Lopata is unlikely to be involved at Chesterfield due to a thigh issue, which could keep him out for up to two weeks.
Jake Hollman (hamstring) was ruled out for the rest of the season earlier this week, while Harry Williams (Achilles) also remains a long-term absentee.
Vincent Harper was not in the squad against Crawley on Tuesday, but Sadler has confirmed his omission was purely tactical.
Sadler insists he is attempting to strike a balance between rotation and rhythm as he navigates his squad through the upcoming games, and that that sometimes leads to selection calls that are unpopular.
"It's so tough because every single player just wants to play every minute of every game," he added.
"And the reality is that it's pretty impossible for everybody to maintain the levels that we all need to be at.
"That's the point of having a squad. I know sometimes it can feel frustrating and people think: what is he doing come off, or why aren't we playing him today?
"Trust me, that's what we all feel all of the time, but we have to have that long-term outlook. There are 19 games still to go, we know we want these guys there and we just have to be mindful of that."
