Interview with an Opposition Fan

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Interview with an Opposition Fan

#18 - Walsall

 

Welcome to this week’s edition of Interview with an Opposition Fan. Each week, myself and Razza699 scour for opposition fans to answer the questions we put toward them in the build up to the subsequent fixture.

 

On Tuesday night, Latics face Walsall at the Banks Stadium. As such, we asked some friendly Saddlers fans to answer a selection of our questions...

 

1) In January 2009, Chris Hutchings was appointed Walsall manager. What are your opinions of him and what is his general style of play?

- My general opinion of Hutch is that he's a good manager in that he's positive, doesn’t focus on negatives, and he's been trying to bring some kids on. Tactically he's naive for a manager who's got experience higher up. We often make things hard for ourselves by playing poorly in the first half and we've never really seen Hutchings change a game with substitutions - but this may be because our funds mean we have very little in reserve. Overall marks out of ten for Hutch is 6.5 - could do better.

- About what we can expect, being a small club in limbo. Appears to be grasping the nettle of managing with no money quite well.

- I think he is a decent manager that's doing quite well considering the budget we have. Like many have said he is a bit naive tactically but it does seem we are picking up a few points away which is a good sign.

- I'm starting to come round to the guy, as I think a lot of our fans are. He seems like a nice chap but needs to learn how to change games with substitutions. I'm quite happy with him as he's doing an alright job for what he has to work with, namely nothing. I'd have had him strung up at half time against Wycombe though regardless of the fact we were to come back to win the game!

- I think Mr. Hutchings was another cheap but viable option. Wouldn’t have been my first choice but in all fairness there’s not many managers would come for pittance wages with a budget as big as my 9 year olds money box.

 

2) Have you made any signings to your squad this season so far? If so, how have they been?

- Almost our entire squad is new, but the best new signings have been Steve Jones, Darren Byfield and Mark Hughes, who all seem solid performers at this level. Matt Richards, Josh O'keefe and Sam Parkin however, are all not good enough for League 1.

- Signings are the usual mishmash of freebies and castoffs. Some have worked (Byfield, Jones) others aren't yet quite so successful (Parkin, O'Keefe).

- We have made a few signings this season and besides Parkin and Till they have all done quite well. Byfield and Jones have been superb signings, Hughes is decent, Richards is ok sometimes.

- As with many lower league teams it's been very hit and miss. Byfield, Jones and our new captain Hughes are all vital to the first team. Parkin and in particular O'Keefe, I can’t see them ever making a name for themselves here.

- We have made a few free signings that are run of the mill league 1 league 2 standard. Best player is Steve Jones not all because of his goals more due to determination and skill. Richards probably our worse signing but as I said earlier you pay peanuts....

 

3) Last season, you finished 13th in League One. How do you think you will do in League One this season?

- The same. We have an owner who has spent 20 years doing his level best to dampen the ambitions of the fans. If we ever start to look like we're going to achieve anything, further investment isn’t forthcoming and we are pathetically weak when it comes to negotiating good fees for our players. eg. Scott Dann left on deadline day for around £1m, just over a year later he joined Birmingham for over £4m. We got £250k for Anthony Gerrard who is now first choice at Cardiff. We got £400k for Danny Fox, who just over a year later joined Celtic. We got around £200k for Matty Fryatt, who is now being linked with a move to WBA for £2m+.

- Top half would be nice. Realistically, 12th is an improvement!

- I know we won’t go down and I still think we have a shout at the play offs but our best bet would probably be similar to where we are right know which is 10th.

- Anywhere between 10th and 16th.

- Any higher position will be an improvement. I’m sure that if we have any chance come end of January our chairman will soon see to that and sell our talented players for washers.

 

4) Are there any teams in particular you are looking forward to playing? What has been your most entertaining match of the season?

- Not really, we don’t have any local derbies this season.

- It's always nice to rain on Leeds' parade, or upset the Franchise. Most entertaining match so far was All Whites vs Bahrain.

- I always seem to enjoy playing MK Dons for some reason, as for this season probably Huddersfield at home so far.

- There is nothing about this league that excites me!

- I’m personally looking forward to going to Southampton away as its one of the few grounds I haven’t been to.

 

5) What tactics are you likely to employ and have played with this season?

- Standard 4-4-2. Quite weak in central midfield. We try to play football, but we don’t have the quality to move the ball quickly enough, or with any accuracy, so we end up playing hoof ball.

- Hit and hope. Sometimes we keep the ball on the deck, but that's the exception, not the rule.

- I think we try to pass the ball around a bit unless Weston is on the ball that is and we have to very hard working strikers which no doubt will cause a few problems.

- Bypass our weaker midfield. Although it's been getting better recently...

- We basically try and play a bit of football then when we’re outskilled we hoof it long. Anyone that man marks our team will stifle us and we will not create any fluid chances. Thank god we’ve got Byfield until January.

 

6) Walsall have earned 24 points so far this season, finding themselves in 10th place. What are Walsall’s strengths and weakness both on and off the pitch?

- On the pitch we have a great finisher in Byfield, a great winger in Jones and two solid centre halves in Smith and Hughes/McDonald. Our weaknesses are central midfield, and Richards who plays on the left and our wing backs. Off the field we have the most comically bad PR, our owner specialises in insulting the fans by refusing to answer questions asked of him, refusing to turn up to the AGM and telling fans through the local media that they are a bit thick, and should go and support other clubs because they are financially worse off than us, thus implying we are well run and refuting accusations that his tenure has been less than positive for WFC.

- Strengths - two decent keepers, two decent forwards. Weaknesses - Massive lack of direction, belief and plan from those in charge of the club.

- I think we are quite solid at the back and like I said before we are a hard working side, our weakness is probably in the centre of midfield.

- Forwards, whichever wing Jones is on, central defence pairing are all pretty strong. Our weakness' are the opposite wing, if our right back is playing against a pacey winger and the fact we don't start playing football until the 48th minute of games. Our other major weakness?! The chairman and his right hand man. Please get out of our club.

- I’m amazed were so high just think how well we could do with another couple of quality midfielders but no Walsall fan will expect any miracles just grateful to get to 50 points and hope we’ve got some games left to stay mid-table.

 

7) Who is Walsall’s key player who we should look out for ahead of Tuesday’s fixture and for the rest of the season?

- Steve Jones, he's scored 5 in the last 6.

- Parkin. He’s bound to find form at some stage, and when he does, everyone had better watch out!

- EASILY Byfield and Jones will cause a few problems; Deeney and Bradley are very good on their day too.

- Steve Jones and Darren Byfield are a class above. When Jones gets the ball he can scare the living daylights out of full backs. Byfield's control and first touch is superb. Manny Smith will play at a higher level at some point. He's brilliant despite being only 7 years old.

- I think Byfield and Jones will give you a bit of a handful but nothing else should really scare you to be honest.

 

8) Who do you think will win League One this season? Any outsiders or surprises?

- Unfortunately Leeds.

- Got to say Leeds - they've been here long enough to know what's going on by now, and shouldn't be in danger of imploding this time round.

- I think Leeds have already won the league. Hartlepool seem to be going quite well this season and we should be an outsider as well hopefully.

- Leeds. No question. They're brilliant. Now Grayson's in charge i have no real bitterness towards them. It seems like they're going about things a little better than they used to. Beckford's still a cheat though.

- I always thought Charlton would win the league before a ball was kicked but Leeds do look class this year.

 

9) How do you think Oldham will do this season?

- Flatter to deceive, like usual. Mid table like us. Too good to go down, not good enough to threaten the top half.

- You'll be around about our position, give or take two spots.

- If I remember right you lot always seem to finish quite close to the playoffs but just don't get in there so maybe you'll finish in a similar place.

- 12th - ish.

- I hope you have a good season. I personally have nothing against your team and be great if we met in playoffs but doubt it as well both be mid-table at best.

 

10) And finally, what score do you think the game will be on Tuesday?

- Walsall 2 Oldham 1.

- 2-0 us.

- I think it will be a tough game but I’ll go 2-1 to us with Byfield and Mattis getting them.

- 2-0 to us.

- We have some momentum going with 3 wins and a draw albeit a 1 win against non league Stourbridge. I think we should press home the advantage but I don’t expect a goal glut. I’d take 1-0 saddlers wouldn’t be surprised if it was a goalless draw.

 

 

Many thanks to those Walsall fans who took part this week. They seem confident of a win over the Latics and seem largely impressed with Darren Byfield's performances so far for them. But can Oldham capitalise on a somewhat promising result against Colchester at weekend this Tuesday?....