EFL League Two Preview 2020/21

Saddlers fans will be looking for a better performance this season from their team after finishing 12th last season in League Two.

It was very much a season of two halves for the Saddlers as they returned to League Two, after a lengthy spell in League One. The first half of the season was tough to watch for fans, who were concerned that the team looked disjointed and like a team that would be battling near the bottom, rather than at the top, like fans were hoping for.

They suffered a losing run of six straight games, which fans refer to as ‘that October’. However, in December, something clicked and the team showed form worthy of the top seven. In the form tables, they were second in the last five games and this is what gives fans hope for the season to come.

They enjoyed some entertaining matches, which despite a season where they finished 12th, gave fans something to savour. A good away day at Salford, where they treated the 1300 travelling fans to an impressive 2-1 win, a dramatic 3-2 home win against Northampton, after being 2-0 down at half time and two solid displays against local(ish) rivals Port Vale are just some of the games that will be looked back on with joy for anyone who is a Saddler.

The team is pretty much the same as last season, with those leaving either failing to make an impact or barely featuring at all. Top scorer Josh Gordon, netted 12 in all competitions and will be hoping to better it this time out. Embed from Getty Images

Transfers

It has been a very different transfer season for the Saddlers compared to that of last summer. It is well documented that they had the biggest turnover of playing staff last season and with a new manager, coaching staff and owner, they will be thankful for a calmer summer.

In terms of departures, Gary Liddle was let go after failing to live up to the level he was known for, Shay Facey was released after an injury-hit season and Kory Roberts left the club after failing to reach his potential after a double leg break two years ago. The other players to go, Mitch Candlin and James Hardy didn’t hit the heights that their early potential suggested they could reach, however, both barely featured last season.

In terms of players coming in, Walsall have found players with much promise and some League Two experience too. Rory Holden summed up the Saddlers season whilst on loan last year. Awful first half, but then rose to show his quality, and talents.

After a shaky start to his loan spell, he really did thrive in the new year and hit a wave of form before the season ended with many of the Saddlers faithful calling for his return, they got their wish, as he signed on a permanent deal.

Another player fans wanted back was loanee goalkeeper, Jack Rose. Rose was very much the number two keeper last term but, in the matches, he played he looked a very good keeper at this level and fans will be expecting to see him and Liam Roberts pushing each other to be first choice.

Left-back George Nurse has joined on loan from Bristol City. Nurse seems a similar player to Cameron Pring (on loan last season), who was an attacking full-back. Another attacking full-back has joined too. Hayden White came in on a free from Mansfield. If he can recapture the form that he had before his injury last year, then the Saddlers could have a real quality player on their hands.

Finally, Walsall have picked up free agent Emmanuel Osadebe. Osadebe is an attacking midfielder who can play in a number of roles, something manager Darrell Clarke is keen for his players to be able to do. He’s had a disrupted time after a torrid time at Macclesfield and then a failed move to Southend saw him without a club from January. He will certainly be looking to make Walsall his home, and the club will be hoping that this will help him thrive.

Targets

The club has been very vocal, they do not want to be a League Two club and they want to kick on and be one of the teams in the mix for promotion. Can they do it? That remains to be seen. Having the players who were churning out results in the second half of the season, all still at the club is a big plus.

They know each other, they know the way the manager and coaches work and it is a case of ‘pick up where we left off’. However, the lack of incomings so far has to be a slight concern. Can the Saddlers finish above last season’s 12th place finish? That is the real question in all conversations between Walsall fans.

It seems as though Clarke will be switching between 4-2-3-1, and 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 dependant on your view of it), which were the two systems that gave the Saddlers joy at the end of last season. One thing that will need to change to see them shooting up the league is goals.

It took them time to get going in front of goal and although that changed with the emergence of Adebayo and others helping out Gordon and Lavery, they only scored 40 league goals which was joint 6th lowest. Defensively, they went through spells, they were either solid or very leaky, something that will no doubt be addressed. They also drew the third least amount of games. One thing that was said to the Saddlers from some of the Gas faithful when Clarke became manager was that you will either win or lose, there is no draw and they were right.

Key Player

The attacking threat will mainly be carried by Josh Gordon, who enjoyed his best-ever scoring record last time out. His energy and work ethic is second to none add in his speed and pressing skills and he can be a real catalyst in this team.

Last season, he went through spells where he was unstoppable and had a knack of being in the right place at the right time. He is a confidence player, rather than a natural goalscorer and a player that is a firm fans favourite. ‘Flash’ as he is known to fans, would be one of, if not, the first name on many fans’ team sheets and he was voted player of the season, which was set-up by the fans’ trust. He will be hoping to score more goals, and fans look to Flash to be the one to try and fire them out the league.
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Youth Prospect

All Saddlers fans are excited by the talents of the youth academy right now. After a bad spell in recent years, the appointment of Miguel Llera has been one of pure genius. He has nurtured some great players that fans are looking forward to seeing in the next couple of seasons.

However, young Alfie Bates has already shown how good he can be when he stepped into the team last year. His displays were that of someone beyond his years and as a more creative central midfielder, he was exciting to watch. Bates will be wanting to play more games this time around and really push the more senior midfielders. If he can chip in with one or two more goals and assists, he will be a valuable asset to any team and it is already rumoured that clubs higher up the leagues are keeping tabs on him.
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