Football Daily - 72+ EFL Pod: West Brom & Walsall woes

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff & Tommy Smith discuss the top stories from the EFL. Hear from Kim Hellberg as Middlesbrough drop points again in the Championship title race. Chris Hall from the Albion Analysis Podcast joins the pod after West Brom sacked Eric Ramsay. Catch up with Bradford boss Graham Alexander, BBC WM’s Mike Taylor drops in to talk about Walsall’s slide from top to 10th, and hear from Joe Hart after he joined the Shrewsbury coaching staff! Messages and voicenotes always welcome on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369.00:45 Jobi has Winter Olympic fever, 03:45 Kim Hellberg as Middlesbrough drop points again! 06:50 Jobi tips Ipswich for second place, 09:25 West Brom sack Eric Ramsay, 18:35 Lincoln & Bradford impressing in League One, 25:05 Tight race for League Two promotion, 26:40 Déjà vu for Walsall? 33:15 Joe Hart in a Shrewsbury tracksuit… 36:25 Redemption for Aaron in 72PLUS 72MINUS, 40:15 Shoutout to Snoop Dogg.5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1500 Liverpool v West Ham, Sat 1500 Newcastle v Everton on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 Leeds v Man City, Sun 1200 Rangers v Celtic, Sun 1400 Man Utd v Crystal Palace, Sun 1400 Fulham v Tottenham on Sports Extra, Sun 1400 Brighton & Hove v Nottingham Forest on Sports Extra 2, Sun 1630 Arsenal v Chelsea.

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And all the bizarre ways people are using. the internet listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts 72 plus the eFL podcast with aran paul and joby mackenough welcome everybody to 72 plus the eFL pod from five live sport great to be alongside you this week after what feels like a real mammoth couple of match days across the football league again back with us like the renegade master joeby mackenough after a week's hiatus And funny, you missed that, Joby. And Jack Rodoney coming back into my fantasy NFL team. It makes you think, I think you're just having a negative energy,

sort of negative sort of effect on my team and how they're doing. I think you just were lucky. I think you just left him from last season. You haven't even put him in recently, and he's finally come good, mate. Do you know what I mean? Coventry City fans been waiting for him as well. Yeah, gutted I missed last week.

I was banging to the Winter Olympics, mate. I've got to say. And that isn't the reason I missed it, though. I wasn't too busy watching curling. But what a brilliant couple of weeks. Great coverage by the BBC. Family got fully, fully involved. Went down to Ali Pali, a bit of ice skating.

And you weren't watching, Colin. You were practising. And we had a little bit in the house. I was going to say, the boys, my two boys, really, really got into it. And then they disappeared out the back room. One comes back with one of these little football sort of shaped things that you can play on, sort of wooden or tiled floor. It's got a little bit of a hover. A hover thing.

And then the other one picks up the broom. Next thing I know. they're sort of lobbing it along the floor with the sweeping and then goes one step further and like, oh, we need to have a house and for anyone who doesn't intercurling that's basically the area that the stones have to get into. Yeah, so we've got these dry wiper markers

all of a sudden I'm getting the clock down off the wall drawing circles on the floor. Mrs wasn't happy, I've got to say, but we had a little bit of fun. So big, big shout to all the Winter Olympic fans out there. Project McEnough 2K30 continues. Will we see a Macanuff at any form of Olympic games? Jamaica the bobsleigh, remember, mate.

Come on, I never forget that, mate. Come on. Feel the ribbon, feel the ride. I mean, actually tell me, when Cool Runnings came out, and obviously your dad, the legendary Mackenough Senior is very much proud. He's very Jamaican. He's an absolute hero. Were you like, Dad, hold him to your bobslayer?

It's down. It's one of those iconic films. Anyone, Jamaica, and listen, it's bigger than just Jamaican. I think Jamaica's got such a great affinity around the world. And that pretty much sums it up. We're always told, you know, it's a small country. You know, you can't do this. But, you know, constantly going out and achieve an amazing thing. So, yeah, we had a rerun of that recently as well. Absolutely classic. John Candy in that film. John Candy in general, just a legendary act. Tommy Smith, alongside us, the Middles Bolognes manager. You and I, we, we have. didn't see each other yesterday. I was slamming it in the press seats at Watford. The press facilities at Watford are salubrious, but not as salubrious as the private box

Tommy Smith had all to himself yesterday. How were the biscuits, Tom? The biscuits were fantastic. The game you were there as probably wasn't as fantastic. Prong sandwiches, how were they, mate? It wasn't any prone sandwiches for me, Joby. I'll tell you that now. The buffet was distinctly lacking, Joby, to the point where Tommy and I were debating going for a post-match kebab, but he said he'd been thrown a loaf of

bread by someone and just told to make do with it. Cold flask of tea, loaf of bread and some rogue biscuits. All I need for a game of football has is a nice cup of tea, so I was more than happy. Yeah, we'll get onto our main stories of Westphab in the Walsall shortly, but twists and turns

in the championship title race, Middles were dropping more points on Tuesday night. They lost to Coventry, drew with Oxford, and now they've drawn with Lester. Let's quick here from the Baraboss, Kim Helberg. I think we're in very good positions a lot, creating a lot of opportunities. But for us now, the ball is not going into the net to win it. But again, in those performers taking two more points to the tally,

we wanted more, but that's done. You cannot toss it. The game is played, so we have to work from it. And then again, it's for us to keep improving. That's the thing. It will be up and downs. If it would be easy, everyone would do it. So it's just to keep working hard.

For us, we're in a good position. We're an unbelievable good position. And we'll keep growing and work hard to keep it. It feels like that Coventry defeat was a bit of a kick in the proverbials for Middlesbrough. And it hasn't set them back, but it's just it's knocked them back just slightly. Yeah, I was really keen to see how they reacted to that actually because they were in such good form going into that game, playing some brilliant football.

and what you want to do after what was, you know, a disappointing result is just get back on that winning run as quickly as you can. I think particularly with the situation and Ipswich sort of lurking a couple of games in hand and feels a little bit similar. I'm sure Tommy won't mind coming in, but when they went through the little run earlier in the season under Kim Helberg where they probably performance-wise were still more than okay, they just weren't able to take those opportunities that they were creating.

it definitely felt like that against Oxford United, you know, in terms of dominating the game and not being able to get that goal. And then obviously, you know, the Leicester game going a goal behind and getting themselves back in, but not quite able to go and finish the job. So I don't think it's overly worrying,

but you do need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later. They've got a huge game coming up next to against Birmingham, but I'm sure he'll just keep him pressing on, you know, making sure the performance levels are there and hopefully the goals come to. I think back to the little I'm not even going to call it a wobble It was far from a wobble

Where there was three or four games Where we didn't perhaps get the results The performance deserved And it just feels a little bit similar to that At the minute I mean I was at the Coventry game I was at the Oxford game But it just shows

I mean listen Oxford and Lester Are in a position where they're absolutely fighting for absolutely everything at the minute And there's no guarantees of a win in this division There's just not you know Middlesbrough I've been on an unbelievable run The six games on the bounce of wins but that doesn't mean that they're automatically

just going to win every single game between now and the end of the season. Each game throws up different challenges, three-game week challenges, obviously the fatigue on the players, all these types of bits and pieces. And this is not me making excuses, far from it, but it just shows that on any given day,

any team can provide a threat to anyone. And Oxford come, they've done a job, they got a point, and Lester come and done a job last night. So, long way to go. You know, there's five games now between now and the international break. So a real good chance for Millers, but to get back on the horse and pick up as many points as possible.

It's Ips which I worry about, though, because they've got two games in hand over Middlesbrough, and they're six points behind. And if there's one thing, Kieran McKenna's I can do, and I watched it last night, and Tommy weighed in on this, they're not the sign of a couple of years ago. They're not that all-action gung-ho, high-octane stuff. They're so controlled, and they've got the midfield right. Dan Neal, masterclass of a signing. They can do death-by-passing till the cows come home.

And I don't know. I've just got this feeling. If there's one team to mess up that top two, it's going to be them. Yeah, and it should be them, as I've got to be honest, when you look through that squad, you know, you're bringing, you know, George Hurst off the bench, you've got Annes Mehdi. To be able to go and do that in January, get Mehmeti,

you know, get Dan Nill, you know, that is just resources that other clubs don't have at the level. And I just feel that over the course of the whole season, that will come to fruition for them. And again, you talk about the manager, so calm, you know, someone who's been there, he's obviously got promotion from the league

and just in those early stages of the season where there was a little bit of discontent, obviously not quite having the start that they wanted. He's the one that would always come out and front it up and, you know, I think he's going to have a huge part to play and that then also radiate through the dressing room, you know, and I think for him and for Ripswich Town that is what is going to get them over the line.

I believe they will be in the top two. I genuinely do believe that. Who drops out? I'm going to say, Middlesbrough, as much as performances have been okay, the last couple of games, I do think they have a little bit of an issue, breaking down teams where they sit deep. They've been at their best when teams try and take them on

and their fantastic football team. But I just feel that, you know, I talk about it a lot, but the strength and depth are able to rotate, keep people fresh. We know, you know, we've got loads of games. You're going to have a massive Easter program coming up. so I just feel that they're going to have enough in their locker to muscle into that top two

let me tell you this last 10 to 12 games of the season is going to be an absolute rollercoaster well it's going to be twist and turns as there's going to be a rollercoasters all about from a neutral point of view that is exactly what we want from a millisborough point of view I would definitely rather not be like that but ultimately that's just how it is in the championship yeah but no one wants a boring title race do they or or a scrap for survival what's your favorite roller coaster Tommy roller coaster yeah I don't two roller coasters, mate. You don't know.

The EFR roller coasters enough for me. Good answer. Good answer. So, Burr, picking up a point against Lester, who are still in the relegation places. Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion are one point above the drop zone, but now minus a head coach. Eric Ramsey sacked after 44 days following Tuesday night's draw at home to Charlton. Let's bring in Chris Hall from the Albion Analysis podcast. Chris, great to have you on with us.

Is this one or two games too late? I mean, it seems weird to even say that, Aaron, when he only survived nine games eight in the league. You know, I mean, it's such a short tenure anyway. I think the more important question is should he have been hired in the first place? You know, and this is nothing against Eric Ramsey. I'm probably one of the few people who still sits here, and I'll probably get a laugh for saying this. I don't think what's happened here makes him a terrible manager. I just think it made it made him a terrible fit for our situation.

He wanted to play a completely different style of football. He immediately moved us to a back five when we played with a back four for as long as I can remember. And it didn't work. It was an absolute disaster. It resulted in a 5-0 defeat against Norwich, which I think is the worst home defeat we've ever had in the second tier. It then resulted in a 3-0 spanking at Portsmouth, which, to be honest, should have been 5 or 6. They absolutely mullered us. And then he switched to a back 4, but he just couldn't pull it back from there. he has, since he switched to the back four, he has sort of drawn three out of four.

It hasn't been the absolute horror show that it was. But unfortunately, he's come into a situation that was already tenuous because we were teetering on the brink of the relegation zone. And we're only out of it because Lester have got financials, stuff that has caused a points deduction. And unfortunately, draws just aren't going to wash at the moment. and he's the first Albion manager in history from what I can see as well to go, his first eight games without a win in the second tier as well. So he's broken a lot of unwanted records, and he probably wasn't the right man to begin with.

I was at your game against Stoke, and it was just tedious. It was boring. It was sort of can't score, won't score, and you failed to understand and see sort of like, you know, where the team was going effectively. And we've come to this. and you're back to square one again. To be fair, Aaron, you've got to put that in the context of what had gone before it.

You know, we'd conceded three against Middlesbrough, we'd conceded five against Norwich, and we'd conceded three against Portsmouth. There was an element of back-to-basics with Stoke of, we needed something to build on, we needed to stop conceding goals before we could even think about scoring them. I agree with you, I sat there, and I was as probably comatose as you were watching that.

It wasn't great, but at the same time, look you can't just flip a switch I mean the guys who've played the game will know when you're on a horrible run you can't you can't just go and flip a switch and say well okay we're going to go from losing 5-0 and 3-0 to blowing this team away and winning 2 and 3-0 so I understood

exactly what he was what he was trying to do I feel even from his first interview and actually his last one I listened to it post-match yesterday there's been no sense of sort of urgency even excitement at times when I listen to him. And, you know, West Brom is a fantastic, one of the biggest clubs in the championship. There's no two ways about it.

You know, I used to love going there as a player and the atmosphere and, you know, passion of the fans. Do you think that's been a big problem in probably why he hasn't been able to connect to the fan base, but also that dressing room because, you know, clearly performances

haven't been anywhere near the level. Listen, for an extended period, yes, but they've gone even further back than under Ryan Mason. I'll tell you what, Joe. You imagine how big will be in League one then? But no, I get your point. And I think he's an interesting case, isn't he?

Because he's not you traditional manager. He's very young. He's from an academic background. And he speaks like an academic rather than a football manager at times. He speaks almost like a psychologist at times rather than a football manager. And I can see how that wouldn't necessarily always connect with with players. I personally don't dislike it. I understood what he was trying to say the majority of the time. Whereas under Ryan Mason, I didn't, he said some bizarre things like putting injured players on the

bench for morale. I didn't understand that. Putting two goalkeepers on the bench because he didn't want to put young outfield players on there if they hadn't earned it. I didn't really understand that. So at least I got where Eric Ramsey was coming from to a certain degree. I think the bigger problem for me is the squad of players that it seems like they decide almost when they're not having a manager. They've chewed managers up and spat them out. I mean, let's, you know, Eric Ramsey's lasted nine games, 44 days. But Ryan Mason only managed 27 games and Tony Mowbrie before him only managed 17 days. Let's not narrow this problem down and say this is just a problem with Eric Ramsey. We're going through managers at a rate where most people have hot dinners and

you've got to ask yourself, what does that say about this group of players? Well, Chris, I mean, listen, there's 14 games to go. I'm sure there really is now a serious realisation of this football club can be relegated. Where do they go next? Because I genuinely do believe they are really, really banging trouble at the minute. God, yeah. Without a shadow of a doubt, we're, I mean, look, I'd have us, I personally would have us favorites to go down at this stage because everybody else is showing signs of life down there. Blackburn have had a couple of wins. Okay, Leicester probably haven't had the results that they wanted, but at least they're scoring a few goals. You know, Pompey have had a really good run. And even Oxford have ground out a really good drawer at

Middlesbrough of late. So there's signs of life from everybody down there, except for us. As for where they go next, I don't know. Because you've got James Morrison in charge for now. I mean, the mad thing is this is Mazzar's third interim spell in nine months, which is absolutely crazy, by the way. Do they try and find an experienced head to try and guide the ship? But they will probably have to go and find somebody who is out of work and not being paid off by a club as well,

because obviously most clubs put people on gardening leave nowadays, and that would mean them walking away from a lucrative amount of money, which they're not going to do to come and join our situation. But the other side of it is our financial position because the club's been very open about this. We've been very, very close to the PSR wire and very close to potentially incurring a points deduction, which we've managed to avoid up to now.

But in a best case scenario is we've paid off three managers in the last nine months. A more likely scenario is that we are still paying, three managers to not manage us, which leaves us with very little financial wiggle room to go and get whoever it is that we would want. I think the most likely scenario is probably James Morris until the end of the season, but maybe just maybe there's somebody floating around out of work there who has a love and affiliation for the club, maybe a Gary Megson, a Darren Moore or something like that who wants to come and help out. I don't know is the simple answer to

to your question. The fans want Billage, don't they? I don't see it with Slav. I mean, Slav's always had kind of quite well-paid jobs, and we haven't got money to chuck at someone like Slav. Also, Slav's football is kind of, it's quite idealistic. I'm not necessarily sure that's what we need in this situation. We need to, I would genuinely, if we were talking ex-Albium managers,

I would be leaning more towards a Gary Megson, or even, you know, and some fans won't thank me for saying this, a Tony Puleist type, who might be able to just grind out a few 1-0s between now and the end of the season. Best of luck, Chris, good speaking to you. That's Chris All from Albin analysis with us here on 72 Plus, the home of the EFL from Five Live Sport, and let the plot will thicken,

and we will follow it every single step of the way. If you want to contribute, you can message your voice note the Football Daily podcast on WhatsApp 08,000, 289-3936. Hello, this is Matt Chawley's urgent questions, your daily dose of political mayhem from the heart of Westminster. order I call Matt Chorley. I'm a supporter of flags. It turns out time is finite.

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interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. 72 plus the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Job. McEnough. We'll have another chat coming up as we taught Walsall sliding down from top to 10th in league two, but a couple of bits in league one, first of all. Lincoln City in second, just a point behind

the leaders, Cardiff, and a whopping 10 points ahead of Bolton in third. And listen to this, Lincoln, unbeaten in league one since November, 16 games unbeaten. They've added well as well in January. Scoobes has got them going. I think that's what people call him, Jove. scobs scoos yeah yeah decent listen call him whatever he wants you to call him

he's doing such a good job isn't he I mean it is one of the stories of the whole EFL you know to think you know what they've got in and around them you know some of those teams that they're up against and you know just nothing seems to phase them they're getting better as well as you know I think they are probably one of those teams earlier in the season

that we thought could they potentially have a little bit of a drop off at the second half of the season and they are having none of it and I think a lot of what he does sometimes goes under the radar because they have a little bit of a reputation if you look at possession stats which are obviously very low compared to anyone else in the league

but they're effective but they also do play really good football they score goals so that for me doesn't wash they are just a very very good football team big experience at the back which I'm a huge advocate for which has been a major part of their success in terms of being

defensively solid and organised but also not making any apologies for that as, you know, we hear a lot of jargon, we hear a lot of newer coaches, younger coaches, you know, sound in the park, but actually does that marry up to going to win football matches and actually what it requires to win football matches at time, being horrible, being hard to be, going away from home and being able to dig results out, but also having the quality and scoring goals. And, you know, they are the all-round package. They've been absolutely outstanding. As a football club, though, I remember going on watching them under Danny Cowley

and thinking something good is happening here and they take their time with things, they do things organically. That is the word to describe how they do it. Going to see some improvements at the ground as well at Central Bank. What's going to be interesting to see is if they do follow this through, there's no reason why they shouldn't. How do you level up?

How do you scale an operation like that up into the championship? Last week, Andy Woodman, who's on the pod with us, I was saying that it was all about this, us against the world mentality. and I think with respect to Bromley and with respect to Lincoln, when you're up against some of these bigger clubs in the league,

I think you've got to have that and it seems like Lincoln have got that. I mean, the biggest compliment I can pay them is this 16 game unbeaten run that they've been on. I mean, that in any league, in any country is absolutely unbelievable. Shout out, Jez George, again. I think at Cambridge United,

they called it the Jesolution. And I'm going to say the Jesolution, or the Jesurrection, Not the resurrection, the Jesurrection is happening. And, look, Jez, George has done a magnificent job there and continues to do so. Let's look at the situation in the playoffs right now. Bolton on 58 points, Bradford on 58 points, Stockport on 56 points, Huddersfield on 52. But the race of the playoffs is, it's just wild.

No one had stopped port losing 3-0 at Burton on Tuesday night. Bradford, though, the standout team, fourth, despite it being their first season back in league, one after six seasons in league two. Let's hear from there, boss Graham Alexander. I think the lead table shows what we are as a team. I think things can get overblown sometimes. I believe in this squad. And performance night is why I trust them.

I think I'm right in saying now, since the start of last season, tonight was your 40th league game, and that's your 30th league win. So that's a 75% win percentage. What is it about playing here? What have you done to this team that makes them such a winning beast at home?

we just talked about enjoying the experience and actually what do you think of when you're eight years old, playing in front of big stadiums in front of big crowds and so here it is that's it really we would all choose this

if we had the choice do you want to play in front of 2000 or 20 I think everyone would choose 20 so there is it's right on your doorstep that's how I see it really and I think slowly but surely we've built up

a faith and a support and the patience from the support. And yeah, I think it's a great venue. I love the atmosphere we create here. I love the way we play here. 30 wins out of 40 is phenomenal, really, to be fair. Yeah, if we could do it away from home, then across the mind we've been in the Premier League already,

so let's keep working on that. But look, wherever you win games, it doesn't matter as long as you win. And we've won a lot of games. Graeme Alexander waxing lyrical about the power of Valley parade and 20,000 fans after his side's won. sides one-noe win over Rodham. Now, they went to Wimbledon at the weekend.

They were beaten 3-1. And his comments post-match were fascinating. When he turns out, he goes, we're used to playing in front of 20,000 people. Is that a cop-out? Because he made so many changes to his 11. He left arguably some of their best players. I don't know. It was just weird.

It was really weird. Poor excuse, that's really, really poor. You know, and listen, I know he also did mention. They made five changes. He's obviously spoken about having. to try and keep the squad fresh. And there is a different feel to the home games. You know, they've been absolutely fantastic.

And again, I just want to shout out everyone at that football club. You know, they've run some brilliant initiatives to get people through the door. And it is a factor the cost of football and making it affordable so that people can go and watch your team. Again, as a player, of course, you want to play in front of the biggest crowds. And, you know, for Bradford City, we know they've always had that size stadium, but it hasn't always been for. I've been up there numerous times. and it feels emptier because, you know, it is so big. So to have that sort of many people in there,

the energy it gives to them, but that could be the real key for them, that home versus away form, home as good as anyone, apart from Cardiff so far, away, you know, not being good enough, lost six or the seven last away games. So that is definitely something to rectify. That is more of a mentality.

And yes, you might be playing in front of less fans or, you know, it might be a ground that isn't quite Valley Parade. but you've got to be able to go and perform and dig out a result. At the moment, they're not doing that and that is what potentially could it be a factor in them making sure those playoff places. In League 2, we mentioned

having Bromley boss, Sandy Woodman on last week's episode of 72 Plus, you can still catch that over on BBC Sounds, but at the top end, Cambridge and MK currently joined Bromley in the League 2 automatic spots. MK level on point of Knott County in 4th and Swindon in 5th.

It's going to be 3 from 5 at the top. Cambridge aiming for the playoffs. Neil Harris's target was 60 points. That's according to Pelly, Rudder Canaanzu. Joby, how do you see the top end of the league too? Oh, spicy, isn't it? You've got obviously Bromley who have done great, but they've had a few draws recently.

And then behind them, you know, to have sort of MK, well, Cambridge, MK, Nott's County and Swindon. That's 61 points. I mean, it's going to be a really interesting end to the season. Again, I would have gone MK earlier in the season. There's nothing that I've sort of seen. that's changed my mind. I do think they have that ability to dig out results.

They've got obviously good resources. They've bought well. And they've got real quality for the level. So I can certainly see them getting in the automatic places. And again, other than that, can Cambridge maintain it? That's going to be the big question. You're going to ask me for free. I'm going to go for Brumlee, Cambridge and Knox County.

No, M.K. You just said, yeah. Sorry, did I not say MK? Sorry, let me do that again. It's all right. That's fine. I didn't ask him through anyway. No, you're going to keep in.

You've got to keep that in. You can't. No, you can't rewrite it, Jovi. If you're going to push me now, I'm going to go Bromley, MK, and Knott's County is a top three. I was going to say, Joby, bottling it. Anyway, we've got to push on. Amazing to see some of the falls from Grace in League 2. Salford, four defeats in a row, and their series on YouTube is becoming more and more interesting to watch.

Just seeing our irate car Robinson gets. They're down to 8. They were chasing the automatics now. They've dropped out the playoff picture, but you know what it's like. Walsall, though, were four points. clear at the top in December and now 10th with one win since Boxing Day is happening again. With us now. Mike Taylor from BBC Radio WM, Mike, how are you, pal?

Where has it gone wrong for Matt Sadler this time? Seven games of that win. Yeah, they're suffering. They really are suffering. It was quite a sad place to be on Monday night with the atmosphere. I mean, the fans were tolerant, but you could sense the disappointment coming in the stadium and everybody knew what was coming. they went one down.

And I think it is, much as Matt Sather has been at pains to point out since the first day of the season, that it's a fresh start and what happened to them last season, which was really tough, and everybody saw it, that it was a complete fresh start. They'd refresh the squad. Half of them had changed. And it wasn't connected to this season. But it is impossible to divorce this season from last season. The fans are feeling it, even when they were still top at Christmas,

but they had one or two dodgy results. You could hear the first murmurings of, is it happening again? And they just haven't shaken it. Is this a mentality issue? I mean, I look back at last season, and you look at how far ahead they were. I mean, Ben Sadler, I've met him a couple of times.

He was very impressive on the other vision for the football club under the ownership and what they want to achieve, and they've got Matt Sadler. Really weird that how they're the Saddlers and their CEOs, Ben Sadler, and their managers, Matt Sadler. Anyway, I digress.

But, you know, with Matt Sadler, But it felt like they were this machine. And I watched them at Colchrist and I'll be honest of you, I was like, these lot aren't very good. And then to take it all the way to the very last game of the season and get sort of dumped out in the playoffs at Wembley, it's the biggest kick in the proverbials. And then you think how strong is the fight in the dog?

How is Matt Sadler going to, you know, sort of like eject this season and go again? then you thought, yeah, he's done it. But the complaints on social media from Warsaw fans are wild. Everyone is just not having it now. Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of things at play. They have a style that has developed under Matt, which is great when you're winning. So they have a really small share of possession.

I'll be the first to say that, you know, possession statistics are not everything. And for most of the last 18 months, Worsal's results have proved that. So I think at one point they were, they had less of the ball. anybody else in lead to and we're churning out win after win. And that method is absolutely fine so long as the winning. Nobody's bothered about your style of play as long as the team is winning. But as soon as you're not winning and you're not creating and taking chances, that becomes really difficult, I think, for fans to tolerate, especially at home. So I think it is really awkward to take a decision on where we think paris for Warsaw as a club now. And recently Matt

has pointed out, and I think it's fair for him to point out, although it never sounds good when you're on this sort of run, that they are not the best resource clubbing lead to. So to be where they were for most of last season and the first half of this season was well ahead of where their budget is and their wage billies and the resources thereafter. But the problem is they've been there

and fans have seen them there and they were that close to being promoted, which also haven't been promoted for nearly 20 years now. So having taken people that close, you can't then go back and say, well, actually, nine to tenth the table is probably about par for our budget now. It might be true, but it's a really hard pill to swallow. I think the defensive side of things has been a strength at times,

but recent weeks that's gone out the window, you know, conceding goals for fun. I think in their last five games, it's at least two goals every game. You know, what do you put that down to and how hard is that going to be for him to turn around for a team that this year isn't scoring anywhere near enough when you look at some of the teams they're up against. There's a sort of psychological feeling.

If you know you're struggling to score, then that in itself puts pressure on you not to concede. So I do think it's snowballed now. And what I would say is that going to the Warsaw's a training ground, you know what it's like when you go in training grounds. The last two or three years now, you can really feel that when players say we've got a great team spirit here, they really mean it.

And I've spoken to hundreds of footballers over the years. And you kind of get a feeling, and I'm sure you do, Aaron, And every player says, we've got a great team spirit here, and it's a great bunch of lads. But you can tell when they really mean it. And it is true at Warsaw. They have had it. But it is coming under strain now. Just by the results there.

And you can see them suffering. And it's very tough. The expectations have been raised by how well they did that maybe have got ahead of their budgets. People are now looking at the owners and saying, well, you know, I know you said incremental progress, but they're also investing in other clubs. where's the investment in us to get us up to match teams like Milkenes and others with bigger budgeting

league too. So there's disappointment all around now and the focus inevitably comes on the team and Matt Sadoe. Mike I want to turn your attention to this sort of this statement released by the supporters trust and it was very, very weird and then the ownership have come out

and there's been sort of like a right to reply effectively but they've turned around and said that hey you know we think you need to potentially change the head coach because the experiment after two years has failed. They've written off the season effectively already, or they think it's salvage a boy if someone else comes in. Is the fan base fully split? Is there a fault line in there that we can see? Yes, I think there is a difference. I think there are some that would be content to stay with Matt Sadler to the end of

the season. But it's also true that there have been some that didn't want to carry on into this season. And in a way, the easier decision in the summer would have been for the club to say, we're starting afresh, they replaced half the squad, and we're going to start with a new coach. There were a lot of disaffected Worsal fans with Matt Sadler, even before the end of last season, once it started to get away from them. My hunch is that the majority want to change now, but that is, it's not, I don't think it's 100%. Mike, thank you very much for joining us. I really appreciate the insight, the legendary. Mike Taylor from BBC at WM with us talking all things. Walsall and, I mean, by the way, we're also going to Shrewsbury.

And what a run they're on under Gavin County. He's coming and breathe fresh air into Shrews. I mean, just sort of looking at it from afar, well probably the most miserable football club to support over the past couple of seasons. And he brought his own celebrity into town. last night. Joe Hart back at the Meadow as Shrewsbury's goalkeeping coach for one night only born in the town, started his career there, and he's been saying what it was like to put the Shrewsbury Town track suit back on. No, it was a lot of fun. It was really, really nice to help out. I know with the goalkeeper coach situation at the moment, obviously very close with Gab, Jamie and Dave, so I said if I could help, I would, and tonight it worked out perfect. I know you still follow

Shrewsby Town's fortunes very closely as a local lad. What have you made of what's been happening these last few weeks with Gavin Cowan? I'm delighted, you know, because obviously to come out of League 1 and then League 2, you want just a nice, steady year where potentially think about rebuilding and to be struggling like they did at the start the season.

It's tough. It's tough for everyone. I've got friends that come to the games and falling out of love a little bit, so to bring Gavin with the commitment that he's got and the qualities that he's got, put it all on the line. I'm delighted for him. Absolutely delighted. He's doing a brilliant job. Jamie and Dave, it feels like a real connection now

and that's the most important thing for me as a huge retirement person a connection between the players and the club and the people that they're representing and you can really feel like the moment Joe B, ever thought of going back to one of your former clubs as a coach just helping out, you know? Yeah, 100%

I think specifically the positional stuff I love that, I'd love to go back in and maybe work with some of the wide players stroke forwards, though you don't really have traditional wingers anymore, do you as it's a sort of wide forward which was never my thing? back to 4-4-2, get it wide, get the ball in the box, and McEnough definitely delivering on that, man.

Spongege, defensive coach? Do you know what? I mean, I know I'm only recently retired as, but I just feel like the game's constantly moving, isn't it? I mean, Jobie's just said there about, you know, when he was playing. It was more direct. No, Joe B, no. Just let me finish.

Do you know what it is, Jopes? I think with Tommy, I think he's had a taste for the boardroom, now he enjoys being a tie he enjoys his pastel colors when he's going out there you know sort of getting all done up and wearing some things to drink a lot of coffee he would fancy like joe hart man no way doesn't want to be back on the grass am i am i able to finish your yeah of course okay so as i was saying before i got rudely interrupted um yeah i feel like the game just moves on and joby's right in the sense of you know a few years back it was a little bit more direct it was get the ball wide crosses into the box and i don't know i just feel like me going in now

Would I, call myself a dinosaur here, Joby. Would I have the same ideas as the game now? But listen, I would do it, of course. But I'll tell you what, I'd have to get me the Achilles right first, wouldn't I? You know what I'm still not over the old Achilles injury. Can you imagine me on the grass? I'd be like Bambion ice. Mate, absolutely, absolutely.

You said it, though. You said it. I did not say that. You were thinking it. Hey, potentially. Okay, let's finish with this. 72 plus, 72 minus. Yeah, it's time for Jobi's best and worst moments of the week from across the football league.

Job's where are we starting this week? Well, I'm going to start on my 702 minus and Stopport goalkeeper Ben Hinchliff has had a very, very lucky escape this week. I'm going to leave the goalkeepers and I'm going to focus, unfortunately, on Sheffield Wednesday. Obviously been a tough season, off-field issues, points deductions, which has now resulted in the earliest ever relegation from the EFL. And to make matters worse, it comes against them. biggest rivals Sheffield United. Let's hear it. Sheffield United,

Victors in the Steel City Derby, in the brutal arena that is football. It's an outcome that confirms the relegation of Sheffield Wednesday from the championship. The elves, the first ever team in football league history to be relegated in February. God, bit arsh that one. Jobes, you two footed them right down to League One.

well I'm sorry but more than an asterisk next to it it's just because it was Sheffield United you mean like the misery that they've had this season Sheffield Wednesday and then to cap it all off Sheffield United are the team that effectively send you down Yeah not good not good

Let's have you 72 plus jokes Well on a much more positive note that man Jack Rudoney What a stunning strike His first goal since November But it's been a long way, but I'm sure it was well worth. It picks the ball up on the halfway line, glides into the West Bromwich Albion half,

and then unleashes an absolute rocket from about 25 yards, left foot, top corner. Thank you very much. It was such a good goal. The commentary cut out on BBC CWR. Well, here comes Jack Rodoney on a break. He's traveled a long way with the ball. Rodoney!

What a go! Since August. ran and ran and ran and then let fly into the top corner what a strike right everyone in three to one come on rudy reudet rudy why are you buzzing well that's because he got me 13 points in my fantasy afl team patience very much paying off job you still got Josh sergeant I'm hoping you'll make a late comeback to to the end of the season he's my captain's a skipper Aaron Aaron you have not got Sergeant in your team. I've been honest,

Sudge, I've forgotten the password to make. Mate, mate, it's better than my fantasy Premier League team. That's completely gone out of the window. I mean, I'm not even in any league in, but I'm non-league in there. But yeah, I'm hoping that,

I'm hoping that Josh Sergeant, you're late sort of bursts for Norwich, potentially for the playoffs, you never know, you never know, maybe on the Philippe Clamont anyway. Yeah. Has it just been sold, mate? I'm like, Josh Sargent.

A big money moved to the MLS now. I've seen the agreed of fear, yeah. Has he gone through? Oh no, do you know what? Toronto of agreed a fee of 27 million. Oh, do you. You need to go on your show out. Far behind these here, as.

You need to reset your password, As, come on, mate. Got agree. I will do. At the time of recording, Renaud in brackets, O, with the highest score of the game week. Coat to join his 72 EFL pod. What is it, Jobes? 72 EFL POD

Thank you very much Where are we this weekend gentlemen I am in the studio Friday Doing Watford actually my former club So looking forward to that Also we got to give a shout out to Snoop Dog Who we haven't covered yet Oh yeah

Were they words we ever thought we would be Muttering on this podcast Not only in the EFL but rocking up To Swansea I mean incredible and he really got into it I've got to say you see some of these sort of big sort of owners and you know celebrities and it's like are they really that involved he comes gets the place rocking i would have loved to have been down there i'm not like they're commemorative teattowels made yeah mate they're commemorative tea towels and everyone's waving them around when swooped dog cons in it's like okay this is the most random it is the most random thing since i think probably sylvester stalone pitched up at everton michael jackson at fulham um yeah any other random people that you've seen paraded at an EFL game,

maybe even a Premier League game, people, things, animals, 0,000, 289, 369. Get involved with us on the WhatsApp. Tommy weekend this weekend? I'm going to Derby Blackburn, early kickoff. Yep, back to the day job as. Nice one.

Until I'm next called up for the pod. Back to Barbados. Getting Chowton Saturday, which is going to be fun, charting Rexham. and then Fulham on Sunday to watch the Spurs. So, yeah, really looking forward to it. That is it with this episode of the Football Daily.

Thank you to Joby and to Tommy. As for us on 72 Plus, the AFL podcast. We'll be back next week. Catch you then. Oh, spicy. I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night. The story of one man's mission to conquer the...

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