By Neil Ravenscroft
September 10 2002

Seven games gone, seven points in the bag and only six goals scored. Relegation form. This from a team which finished third in the current form tables at the back end of last season and which, on paper, has a stronger squad than it did then.

I know that the league tables don’t start meaning much until October time, but any Saddlers fan has to start wondering why.  I think that one of the main reasons can be put in two simple words, Steve and Corica.

Colin Lee obviously rates the little Australian very highly and he is, without doubt, one of the most gifted players in the squad.  However, he causes exactly the same problems for Lee as the equally, if not more, gifted Ronnie Ekelund did for Ray Graydon.  Where do you play him?

He is no striker and, if you play him in the middle four, he leaves the central midfield weak.  When at Wolves, Lee experimented with playing him both up front and on the right wing and neither worked well.  At the end of last season, we were playing a 4 3 2 1 formation and it worked, in that it kept the team in the Division, but the opposition have worked that one out and the lone striker role certainly doesn’t suit Jorge Leitao and I don’t think Zdrilic, Junior or Birch would fair any better.

Given that we are not overly blessed with creative midfielders, I think that we only have one option left, and that is to build the team around Corica.  The obvious answer is to move to a 3 5 2 formation, or, more accurately, a 3 4 1 2.  Lee has already hinted that the wanted to go three at the back and experimented with it at Watford.  Trouble is, he left Corica as the second forward and that does not work.  To me, the answer is a team that looks more like this:-

 

Walker

Roper, Hay, Carbon

Baseley, O’Connor, Sonner, Aranalde

Corica

Leitao, Dzrillic or Junior

  That way, you have Wright or Wrack as cover for right wing back, Simpson or Matias as cover for left wing back and Martinez as central midfield cover.

  The side looks good to me, the only problems being cover for the three central defenders and, of course, Corica if he gets a knock.  Herivelto or Wrack, anyone?