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Tinkerman No2?

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It has been four games since Brian Dutton took the reigns as Walsall Head Coach. The initial optimism, after a change of tactic, has quickly disappeared, and Dutton appears to be tinkering more than Darrell. Fans are worried, and the side looks devoid of that winning instinct.

Too many highs and lows

Each game seems to have followed a similar trend. The Saddlers start brightly, look sharp and up for the game. However as the first half progresses, they fade away. In the first two games, early leads have slipped away. In the games against Newport and Bradford, the side have ended up chasing late on to salvage points. The red card, and draw against Stevenage feels like a big negative. A win there would really have lifted the side, however they were left with a solitary point, which feels like a loss.

There are spells where the side looks good, but there are too many times where they are ineffective, and Dutton knows this. The lack of shots is apparent, and out of these, the majority don’t test the keeper. Once again, the side feels like they can’t outscore their opponents. The defence is still making basic errors. The most concerning element, is that the team are being outplayed. and having too many lows in a game.

Clear-out ahead?

This is the side that Darrell built, and it is clear that there are too many players who don’t fit the system that Dutton wants to play. Whether it is Dutton, or someone else in charge ready for the 21/22 season, a clear out is needed. It has been evident this season, that too many players aren’t able to play consistently at this level, which is why the side have not been able to string together a good run of form.

Dutton has to evaluate the squad, and evaluate them playing the system he wants. This is where it could be a slow end to the season for Walsall. Players will be tested, and formations will be too. With so many players out of contract at the end of the season, Dutton will have the opportunity to clear out a lot of the ineffective players, and hit the reset button on the side.

The question is, will Leigh Pomlett see Dutton as the man to lead the inevitable rebuild. If not, then whoever comes in will be in a situation where they are starting from scratch, with a team they do not know. This means that for the second time in League Two, Walsall will be starting out with a new side, and a new manager.

What to do?

Leigh Pomlett has a few big decisions to make. The more losses, and the more Walsall cement themselves in the bottom half of the table, the more difficult it will be to attract players. It also makes it difficult to keep hold of the players that the management do want to keep hold of, if the side is not looking like it will be going up. Jules and Adebayo moving up the leagues was inevitable, but some of the core of the team at the moment, could easily be picked up by other teams that may seem more ambitious.

Dutton seems to have big ideas, but a long term decision is needed sooner rather than later. If the board decide that Dutton is the man, then they need to get support in the coaching team to help him. Mat Sadler stepping up is not the ideal solution, given that he is having to play every game. A proven assistant manager, who can aide the rebuild, and support Dutton is desperately needed.

Fans have spoken in the last couple of days that they feel the club is sleepwalking to relegation. Although it is unlikely that the side will be relegated, it is a growing concern that the lower they fall, the more they become an average League Two side, rather than aspiring to League One.

Leigh Pomlett has had a challenging time as the owner, my hope, is that the fans don’t start seeing him, and his repeated comments about getting the side back to League One, the way we all saw Bonser, and his comments about a return to the Championship.

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