Saddlers Social: Walsall's upturn in form welcomed

Pete Green

Although Saturdays 2-1 victory over Northampton was slightly fortuitous, you could really sense the momentum and belief building through the players after the final whistle.

With it being such an inconsistent campaign so far, our recent run of impressive results have certainly raised some eyebrows.

Yes, it will be a tall order to make the play-offs, even though we now sit just four points outside the top six.

But crucially, we are 14 points clear of the drop zone and that may just give us the licence we need to play with a bit more freedom.

Despite having his critics, there is no doubt Jon Whitney can certainly pick a player.

Eoghan O'Connell looks a very solid signing and the hugely impressive Jason McCarthy just gets better and better and making a strong case for the Player of the Season award.

With 16 games left, you just never know.

Tom Miner

After a thrilling few weeks, it's great to see us break into the top half of the table and start to look upwards, with us chasing down some bigger teams with bigger budgets.

One thing we were guilty of last season was not sharing the burden of goals around the team, so it's great to see Jason McCarthy charging into the box at any opportunity with his new found freedom at right wing back.

From all my time supporting the Saddlers, I don't think I can remember a player with more energy than the Southampton loanee, he's a fit as a butcher's dog!

Add to that his unadulterated passion and his enthusiastic fist pumping celebrations and we've got a real fans favourite on our hands.

Nick Etheridge

In alignment with our recent upturn in form, which Jon Whitney must take some of the credit for, there have been a number of outstanding performers.

While it is Jason McCarthy and Isaiah Osbourne who will grab most of the headlines, Matt Preston's improvement has quietly slipped under the radar.

Looking largely out of his depth last season, this year always seemed like it was last chance saloon for the youngster.

Where previously he looked shaky and erratic, he's developed into a solid and commanding centre back.

Rather than trying too hard to impress, he's stuck to the basics and has deservedly played his way into the team, culminating in my opinion, a man of the match performance in the 2-1 victory over Northampton on Saturday.

There are now shades of Ian Roper about him. And that is no bad thing.

Kevin Paddock

I was one of a few at Millwall last Wednesday and I've got to admit I was disappointed with only getting a point - how times have changed!

Our first half against Northampton on Saturday was very similar to Millwall and I felt some looked tired - Jon Whitney noticed this on the hour and when Simeon Jackson came on we showed we are now a much better side going forward.

Special praise to Jason McCarthy. He isn't the most technical of players but he shows sheer grit and determination - exactly what we love at Walsall.

He's my pick for player of the season. He is a joy to watch - move over Demetriou we have another Jase in the Black Country.

I just hope the club can try and persuade him that the Black Country love him more than Hampshire!

Dan Gilbert

Win your home games, draw your away games.

The recipe for success at any level of football and it's just what Jon Whitney has got us doing in this little run.

It's even got people talking about the play-offs including Whitney himself.

I still think it's a little bit early to be talking like that considering our next three fixtures and the fact that it seems the entire league has games in hand on us.

Take five points or more from Bolton, Scunthorpe and Peterborough United and then I will think play-off talk is realistic.

For now though, I'm just going to enjoy this little run which has given absolutely everybody a lift.