I feel like I start each post game piece talking about a draw. It is early in the season, but it feels like a big week ahead for the Saddlers, and one where a few players need to step up to the plate, and drive the team on. I have picked out three players that I feel it is a big week for.
Zak Jules
He started the season very brightly, but has found game time hard to come by with Nurse’s strong run of form, and the settled partnership of Clarke and Scarr. Jules will now be the person that fans would turn to with James Clarke going off with a knock yesterday. Jules has a chance for the potential of an extended run in the team, and to really build up a partnership with Scarr, who has also grown in stature recently. We all have seen Jules has got what it takes, this is the week for him to show it.
Emmanuel Osadebe
Osadebe is in a similar situation to Jules. ‘Paddy’ as he is nicknamed, has shown glimpses to us of what he can do, and I think we have got a good player here, that needs some game time to keep progressing. He may well get that game time, with Rory Holden confirmed with an injury, and Josh Gordon out too. I doubt we will see Holden back on Tuesday, however he may appear on the bench. This is a chance for Osadebe to get minutes under his belt, and get into his rhythm. Holden has been key for us, and it is a big gap to fill, but Osadebe is growing, but this is his time to show us all how good he can be for Walsall.
Liam Roberts
Robbo has had a very mixed week. He looked bright in the game against Bradford, until one rush of blood saw him give away a penalty that let Bradford open the door that they had been knocking on. However, yesterday, he pulled off a few great saves to keep us in the game when Barrow were in the ascendency, and the goals conceded were not really his fault. He needed a good performance after his midweek mishap, and with an attacking threat like Cambridge, who have not found goals hard to come by this season. We need our keeper to make those saves that keep us alive, not one that gifts a goal away.
