Saddlers Social: Walsall on the up!

Richard Kendrick

This season's been a case of one step forward and two steps back, but dare I say in the last fortnight, we've made progress in the right direction. The last two home games have shown all the things we have been missing this season.

We have found a formation that suits the players and gives us more attacking intent. We have also seen a fit (and now colossal) Isaiah Osbourne, a fitter, much-improved Flo Cuvelier and a young loanee in Eoghan O'Connell at centre-half looking as assured as our most experienced defenders. Sometimes teams just 'click' at one point in a season, with players and staff suddenly looking confident where before they seemingly looked lost. I may be speaking too soon, but we really look like we've reached that point.

Kevin Paddock

Another week, another comprehensive win – dare I say it but we are actually looking like a team capable of challenging.

I missed the first goal on Saturday as I was making the most of the chip sales in the upper (don't normally reside up there) but we got the goal on stroke of half-time which is the best time to score. In the second half, we were superb again and it was good to see Simeon Jackson get a much-needed goal.

We now have two away games against Bury and Millwall. A few weeks ago I'd have taken a point for both those games. But now I believe we can win them.

January has, so far, turned out to be a very good one for Walsall Football Club.

Nick Etheridge

Of many bright points to take away from Saturday, possibly the most pleasing was seeing Simeon Jackson back among the goals. Having been on a real baron spell, it's easy to forget his contribution earlier in the season. Had it not been for his goals at the start of the campaign, then we might not be sitting as comfortably in mid-table as we are. Even when the goals dried up, he still lead the lone striker role well, even though in my opinion, he'd be much more suited in a pair. Even when feeding off scraps, he continued to work hard off the ball, and he can't be blamed for the poor service served up to him. Although Amadou Bakayoko is probably just ahead of him in the pecking order, if Jackson is used right then he can still be a big asset.

Dan Gilbert

Two weeks in a row I'm here praising Walsall performances... What has happened?!

Another good performance from the Saddlers on Saturday, and in my opinion it was even better than the one against Sheffield United. We were the better side for the majority of the game and thoroughly deserved the three points. It seems that since Christmas, if you exclude the Rochdale performance, the players seem to be playing with more confidence, belief, understanding and an edge to them that I hadn't seen all season. They all seem to be that little bit tougher in the tackle, just as I expected a Jon Whitney team to be! I noticed it most of all in Joe Edwards in the last game, he's definitely hitting his best Walsall form, I can't leave out Flo Cuvelier either who is hopefully putting his injury nightmares behind him as he looks to be getting better and better with every game he plays. Even the atmosphere in the ground is finally improving and has felt more like last season in these past two games. There's a stronger connection between players and fans after the performances too, and hopefully that can continue with a win over Bury before a tough February schedule which sees us face Millwall, Bolton and Scunthorpe but who really knows, we all thought Sheffield United would be tough.