Saddlers Social: Walsall fans give their latest views from the Banks's

Tom Miner

Two games in, and it’s far too early to predict what will happen to us come May 2018.

Most bookies, pundits and fans have us struggling to tread water with such a thin squad, but I’ll try and reserve judgement until 10 games in to see what Jon Whitney can get out of them.

Despite Whitney’s style of football occasionally making me smash my head off the seat in front of me, I’m trying to look on the positive side and argue with myself that maybe last season Whitney did not have the team of physical, energetic Duracell bunnies that suit his style.

With a new-look backline and, dare I say it, the potential arrival of a striker in a similar mould, Whitney might just have the tools in his shed to build something solid.

Nick Etheridge

With so much focus throughout the majority of the summer on signing a striker, it’s easy to overlook the defence that has been built. From last season we have lost the likes of Jason McCarthy, Scott Laird and Eoghan O’Connell.

But against Oldham on Saturday we looked more solid than at any stage last season. Given the unexplained exile of James O’Connor, who was again up there for player of the season last year, it came as a huge surprise to see us virtually untroubled.

Although there will be far sterner tests, the team can only beat what’s in front of them.

I’m not sure what he changed in the second half, if anything, but regardless of if we want Jon Whitney in or out, the second half on Saturday shows that he still has the dressing room, which is a big positive in itself.

Richard Kendrick

At half-time on Saturday I thought that I’d have to write about the new red posts holding the nets up being the only sexy thing of note at the game, but no.

At full-time, those stanchions were a mere footnote. By far the sexiest thing on the pitch was a little Turkish man wearing a sports bra. Never thought I’d say that sentence, let alone put it in print!

To be fair, I’m not sure if the ref booked Ozzy (Erhun Oztumer) for taking his shirt off or for what he was wearing underneath it.

But he can wear whatever he likes, he’s brilliant; on a different level to everyone else in the team. Credit to the new players too, they certainly offer a much-needed threat from set-pieces and grew in confidence throughout the game.

Kevin Paddock

Well after a crazy summer we find ourselves with one win and one defeat in the league.

Now don’t get me wrong, we can’t get carried away but it was a result which gave everyone a much-needed boost!

Our second-half performance against Oldham warranted a bigger scoreline. But in the end we had to work hard for all three points against a Latics side that looked very poor. At least we know that’s one team who will finish below us this season!

Special mentions go to Joe Edwards and Nicky Devlin – both players look like they are going to be key to our season.

We still needed attacking additions but I’m sure we will see those before end of the month. A tough few games coming up but at least we head into them with a bit of confidence.

Dan Gilbert

Whilst the Bury game made us look every bit of many fans prediction as relegation candidates, the second half against Oldham gave everybody a little bit of much needed positivity.

I'm not going to pretend I didn't expect us to win, because I did. But to dominate the second half as we did was very pleasing and we more than deserved the win. Oldham couldn't get out of their own half until the very final few minutes.

Devlin looked excellent and it seems he's already a fans favourite and was deservedly man of the match.

Do I think that one home win against Oldham means I think we'll finish any higher in the league than my prediction?

No. Happy to get that first win done and dusted, concerned that it's just papered over cracks that Whitney did want to fill though.