jr
1st team skipper
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Post by jr on Mar 13, 2022 16:15:10 GMT
Can't say I have the best record this season! P2 L2. That was a truly dismal game and Walsall would have got nothing out of it but for the soft pen. I can't say it was 'never a pen' - Wilkinson made the most of it and then some - but it was clumsy and gave the referee a decision to make. We'd've been clamouring for a pen all day long. Not the world's greatest location and the "banter" from the Walsall fans at the station matched the dismal backdrop. I am rather concerned that the big lad who made a show of hopping up the overpass to "bring it on" may have had a heart attack at the top! Two biggies next up. The table is going to be quite fluid and take a while to sort out. We could be anywhere from 2nd to 9th come Wednesday morning! He got stopped by the Old Bill and had a talking too. What a contrast a few days make between the Wigan fans and Walsall fans. |
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Post by Amber Aleman on Mar 13, 2022 16:53:29 GMT
Just to add a bit of balance on the Walsall fans, I chatted to some in town pubs after the game and they were fine. Unfortunately every club at this level has a minority of idiot supporters.
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markf
Top Performer
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Post by markf on Mar 13, 2022 17:40:40 GMT
Not sure the need for the neagtive assessment of certain players. I think some people need to remember what this squad has achieved this season. The success has been because of the squad Matt G put together for the season. It should be remembered that Ricky K has had a difficult time with injuries and illness and has had few opportunities. I thought he started the match really well and the lack of game time only started to show later on.
Everything that could go wrong did yesterday. Losing Dean B before ko and then Harry B and Donovan W before h-t. The two in-play injuries thus limited what tactical changes Matt could make and also meant the attempt to rest Omar B and Rob M was prevented.
The match wasn't great but had enough in it to maintain interest. Of course, in the end it was one decision that made the difference. I haven't seen it played back yet but it was dead in front of me. Bearing in mind the ref's performance up to that point it was perhaps not advisable to show a bit of strength, especially with the home crowd screaming a foul for any contact on their players. And this was a ref, who, yesterday at least, did appear to be influenced by that.
Wilkinson's celebrations afterwards were I am afraid a disgrace to Walsall FC. He had three sides of home fans to go to but he couldn't get close enough to the away fans. Of course, he has previous for this with U's. The stewards did their job but the inept Mr Oldham had buggered off to the halway line and wasn't even looking. He should have shown Wilkinson a yellow card. Can you imagine what would have happened if any Sutton fan had reacted? I am glad he went that side of the goal for sure.
And that summed out up Mr O. Another who at times appeared to have forgotten what sport he was offciating, which way the teams were playing - the decision to give Sutton a f-k when the Walsall player was fouled from behind by Enzio B in the second half was unbelievable - and tbh, why he was there in the first place. He gave Walsall a foul late in the match when the fella was falling over before a Sutton player got near him. The aerial challenge on Richie B in the first half was overly aggressive and dangerous but no card. Then having watched the hosts waste time on a frequent basis and the keeper taking two minutes to extracate himself from the netting (Steve McQueen was quicker and he was stuck in barbed wire after being shot at by German soldiers) he added just four minutes extra at the end. Astonishingly inept but the good old FLP gave him 7. My, they must have seen some bad officiating at Walsall if that was a 7!
U's kept going though. Stuart Nelson, early second half ball at his feet aside (what a fantstic tackle by Coby R), made some decent saves and considering he hasn't played much anywhere recently he did well to answer the call that close to kick-off. On another day U's might have nicked a point and remained competitive throughout.
I do hope Easty picked up his yellow for calling him what I was calling him. Well worth it. That's Mr O's third match with U's this season. All away, all lost. Can't say I noticed him much at Orient and certainly not Exeter so christ knows what was wrong with him yesterday.
A great ground the Banks Stadium. Stewards were very good. Access to the station was as good as West Sutton is for the VBS. The train back to Brum was delayed and allowed for some posturing by some of the two sets of fans across the platforms (with two railway lines in between as a comfort zone). It was hilarious; a fat Walsall fan calling a fat Sutton fat.
On to Swindon, still the best team I have seen U's play in L2 this season. We will need some bodies back for this.
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Post by cheshire on Mar 13, 2022 18:43:22 GMT
Well, I felt that we were going to struggle at Walsall after the exertions and excitement at the DW in the week and so it proved. Whilst they were very ordinary yesterday, the home fans must have been scratching their heads, wondering how lil ol' Sutton can be in the PO positions, cos we were very poor. (Then again most opposing supporters only see other teams once a season!!)
Matt, in his interview was upbeat and positive as ever, and said that he felt we deserved a draw. My personal opinion, Im sorry to say, is that we deserved nothing; (and yes Tuesday plus the injuries were all contributing factors). We were second best in the tackle, struggled to pass the ball and looked way off the pace. Defensively we were pretty sound but had really nothing going forward. Penalty award was a shocking decision of course.
And goading oppo supporters is one of my pet hates...I called it out after our last minute winner at home to Vale and said that it shows a total lack of class - but this Wilkinson took it to another level! Total tw*t in my book.
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Post by shaneaib on Mar 13, 2022 20:48:42 GMT
My blog post from the Walsall game is up on Medium it's called 'High and lows with nothing at the end of the Sutton Rainbow'. Features a Black Country special called Grey Peas, Swifty the Walsall mascot, a Sutton rainbow, some pictures of Walsall and a bit of football. I have a busy week coming up so it will be Saturday when I am next down the Gander. Have a great week all and hoping the bounce back on Tuesday. Have a great week all. Here is a link to the blog post shanepdillon.medium.com/highs-and-lows-with-nothing-at-the-end-of-a-sutton-rainbow-839345ac6ce4 |
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Post by is4 on Mar 14, 2022 12:19:43 GMT
Just to let you know.
Walsall's No 9 Wilkinson has done a video interview on his goal on Saturday.
It's on U TUBE. If you want to see??
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trev
1st team skipper
In Matt We Trust
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Post by trev on Mar 14, 2022 13:51:29 GMT
Just to let you know. Walsall's No 9 Wilkinson has done a video interview on his goal on Saturday. It's on U TUBE. If you want to see?? Does it come with a trigger warning? |
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trev
1st team skipper
In Matt We Trust
Posts: 2,477
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Post by trev on Mar 14, 2022 17:24:07 GMT
Just to let you know. Walsall's No 9 Wilkinson has done a video interview on his goal on Saturday. It's on U TUBE. If you want to see?? Does it come with a trigger warning? I checked for myself and the answer is "no". Wilkinson doesn't mention anything during the interview about his goading of away fans after his goal, and the interviewer understandably chose not to go there. Clearly there was no excuse or justification for his embarrassing conduct, or he would have provided one during the interview. |
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