Pressure

What is worth taking into account is that in our last 10 games we have only managed 9 points, however of those 10 games only 4 of them were at home and of the home form we have picked up 7 of those 9 points.

Our home form hasn't deserted us, it's just our away form has been dire throughout.

This is it though, if we don't beat Fleetwood on Saturday then promotion is gone, if we can't beat a mid table team at home who are already on the beach and recently were beaten 3-1 by Harrogate, then there is no way we are winning the play offs, especially with our form away from Valley Parade. It simply is a must win on Saturday, but we should have nothing to fear at home infront of near on 25k.

 

I think the ones who’ve bottled it are the defenders and not the attacking side of the team. Even with the injuries we’ve managed to score, but schoolboy defending and poor substitutions have cost us massively. The constant chopping and changing in defence and shoe horning Kelly and Byrne into the side because they hadn’t been playing was rediculous. Adaramola and Khela have been guilty of switching off, which is to be expected given their age and experience. We were strongest when we used Baldwin, Sheperd, Crichlow and Huntington. Alexander should have gone back to these 4 once they’d been rested after the heavy program in March.

 

Smallwood's absence has simply left the defence exposed to something they've not had to deal with before.

Let's remember we've conceded 10 goals in the 2 3/4 away matches since Smallwood got sent off.

Since the away defeat at Notts County, we'd conceded less than a goal a game, up to that point.

Smallwood is simply a massive miss and I personally thought our auto hopes were over when he got sent off.

 

He couldn't. Due to injuries, illness and / or loss of form. Critchlow has looked shaky at times - although I'd always play him befroe Byrne.

In reality, Baldwin and Shepherd have the been the outstanding CB's of this season - pity the former had to spoil it all!!

If Shepherd is unfit. I'd have Johnson, Huntingdon (Shepherd) and Critchlow. Johnson, might not have played much - but looks class and above this level. Certainly, if he'd over his fitness problems I'd keep him for next season.

 

You could try emailing the Executive Ryan Sparks, he will need to approve payment in any event.

 

Baldwin played on the right and was moved to accommodate Byrne. That was the end of the strength down the right hand side.

 

Baldwins had 10 starts are the central CB, we've won 4, lost 4 and drew 3. His 10 starts prior to that at RCB, we won 8, lost 1 and drew 1. I know many many things come into place for a team to win or have runs of form, but that right centre back slot was very much a "if it ain't broke" situation. Since Byrne moved there, the back 3 has looked out of sorts because he isn't a wide CB and Baldwin isn't a central CB in a back 3/5.

 

Talking of pressure, I've just seen this. Jump to 12min 20seconds to hear the boos and dogs abuse aimed at Walsall and their manager by their own fans. It's utterly toxic there at the moment.

In their last 4 games they have been in the lead for a total of 6min, and that was following an own goal from Harrogate Town. Our recent form looks bad due to the stacking of away games in that run, 6 from 10. There is still no excuse for that records but we still pick up wins at home, Walsall haven't done anything for months.

Walsall 0-1 Accrington matchday vlog with more pain

 

Huntingdon has done well in all but one of his appearances I would have him rather than Byrne but it won’t happen

 

I think you're doing a bit of a disservice to Kelly there. I posted yesterday that over the course of the season, we've had 19 different combinations at the back. Kelly has been involved in the 2 most successful ones, which have been Baldwin, Shepherd and Kelly (played together as a back 3 five times - 12 points from those 5 games), and Baldwin, Byrne and Kelly (played together as a back 3 five times - 10 points from those 5 games). Baldwin, Huntington and Shepherd played together 5 times resulting in 8 points, Baldwin, Shepherd and Crich played together twice picking up a maximum 6 points.

 

Thank you @Onside, I have done that. If you don't ask, you don't find out!

 

I just thought it didn’t make sense to put him in from the off when he could, if needed come off the bench. Kelly needed time to get up to speed, unfortunately we didn’t have that time.

 

Because Byrne is shite. I said he was a shite signing all summer. I still maintain he is shite. And hopefully doesnt see a minute in a City shirt next season.

 

I'm not a fan of his either, looks really ropey in all situations. Looking through the squad stats, Byrne has the worst points per game output of any of our squad who have played over 30 times. Teams average is 1.64 ppg across all competitions, when Byrne plays we average 1.48. We dont look as settled with him in the defence, no matter who they pair him with.

 

Even if GA is as anti stat as you can get surely this type of figure makes u think twice about constantly selecting him. I do agree with someone on here, selecting him purely out of stubbornness now. Would of cost us if it wasn’t for Walsalls complete collapse

 

It's a mystery why GA can't see this when so many of us can. Why take Baldwin out of a position where he was doing well and move him to a position where he'd be usually marking their biggest striker, something he's not good at? Everyone can see that the defence has struggled since he moved there. And if you play Byrne it has to be in the middle as a big lump to head the ball away. Absolutely mystifying.

 

100%

 

Are you sure Sergio?

 

He was moved, because his ball playing skills could have more of an impact in the middle. Worked very well in some matches. Can't really appraise it when Smallwood isn't there - because the whole style of playing is so different

However, we've probably lost more than we've gained - because Byrne, whilst not as bad as made out, is definitely our weakest defender.

I'd have no problem him playing centrally, if he was alongside Johnson and Shepherd