Crewe Alex 0-3 Walsall 25-26 Review - Red Flags

Everything I'm about to recap in this review has been written about at various stages of the last 3 years. Nothing we saw today was new or particularly shocking. Yes, there are still 9 games and 27 points left to play for. But the manner of the defeat last week and especially today's horror show should have everyone waving red flags. This is my attempt to sum up a horrendous home defeat to Walsall:

Outclassed

The Alex being utterly and totally dominated at home is nothing new. We've seen it at various points in the last 3 seasons, including this one. Stockport, Barrow, Forest Green, Wrexham, Grimsby, Wrexham, Chesterfield, Newport, Fleetwood, Swindon and now Walsall. All teams that have come and left with a multi-goal win from Gresty Road since the start of the 23-24 season. I'd be curious if any other side that hasn't been a struggler has a similar record.

Walsall today were excellent. They changed shape and looked completely different from the drab group that lost on Tuesday at Salford. They shut the Alex down easily, were sharp on the attack and fully deserved their 3-0 win. They could have won by more but for some better finishing. And let's be honest, for 75 minutes against Tranmere is was a similar story. Poor attacking play, shaky at the back, incoherent in midfield. Against Fleetwood, a 3-0 defeat wouldn't have been unjust. Against Colchester and Gillingham, the Alex spent the whole game with their backs to the wall and it was only strong defending which stopped those results from going the same way as this one.

Heavy defeats and beyond catastrophic performances at home under Lee Bell continue to be in an issue and it's not getting much better. With Oldham, Salford, MK and Cambridge still to come as well, it's hard to see how many more wins they'll get at Gresty Road between now and the end of the season.

Plan

Yes, the manager deserves credit for his move away from a defensive style to something more attack minded this season. The goals scored record speaks for itself. But far too often, he looks like a competition winner who would be more at home managing Crewe FC on the Georges, not 4th tier football at Gresty Road.

The starting XI today, ok, fine. But what in gods green earth was going on in that 2nd half?! There have been some head scratching changes/tactical plans under him in the last few seasons, but this honestly was the most bizarre set of changes I think I've ever seen from him. Why is Omar Bogle still getting game time? Adrien Thibaut is probably sat there thinking why he even bothers, when he sits on the sidelines 2 games in a row whilst Bogle runs about achieving nothing.

Why on earth did Hutchinson come off and they shift Pond to LB/LWB?! Where was Lankester supposed to be playing when he came on? How many positions did Agius play? What was the plan in terms of build up, patterns, tactics? Well, I'll save you the trouble. There weren't any. Again, this has been a recurring theme. This isn't new.

Ceiling

The Alex have no problem reaching 50 points in a season. They've done it by the 29th, 33rd and 32nd games in each of these last 3 seasons. They don't have too much trouble even reaching 60. They got 58 in 22-23, 72 in 23-24 and 62 last season. They'll almost certainly finish with at least 60 points this season. Under Lee Bell, they will never be in danger of going down, because even at their worst, they have a response and win in them. They find the 15 wins a season they need to finish in mid-table.

But, there is growing evidence to say that under Bell's tenure, the Alex will go no further. They barely made the play-offs in 23-24. They did and that's great, but last season's collapse and the worry that it might be about to happen this season is surely reverberating around the fan base. And hopefully the board room.

I'm willing to let this season play out. After all, they are still in the mix for a play-off spot. But I'm sorry, if they do collapse in these final 9 games and finish well clear of the top 7 for the 2nd season in a row, then I think they do have to look at making a change. Because there will be ample evidence that whilst Bell is a 60 point manager, he's no more than that and he never will be.

No excuses

Whether you are Lee Bell in, Lee Bell out or somewhere in the middle, one thing is beyond question. That today is unacceptable. There are no excuses for it. They have an almost fully fit squad. Do Lunt, Tracey or Tabiner make a difference? No. This isn't a battered and bruised group running on fumes. It's a group with more than enough talent to be doing a lot, lot better. Lawlor, Hutchinson, Demetriou, Sanders, Lankester, March, Tezgel, O'Reilly, Holicek. Heck, throw Pond, Agius, Thomas and Bogle in there as well. This squad isn't a bad one.

But right now, they are not performing optimally and they are not looking like a cohesive, well coached team. Bell has 9 games to disprove all the above narratives. I'm not saying he needs to make the top 7 to save his job. But he needs a hell of a lot better than what we saw today. There is no excuses anymore.

Ref Assessment

Horrendous as usual. Did his far side lino miss an offside on Adomah? Was it a penalty on Lawlor? It didn't look like one. Why did he blow up for any little contact, usually in their favour? He didn't affect the result, but he was atrocious.

Management Assessment

Atrocious. About as bad a 2nd half from them as it's possible to imagine. There is nowhere to hide for them I'm afraid, no excuses to use. They had better hope for something better in the next 2 away games, otherwise the season will be done and dusted before Easter.

Player Assessments

Ian Lawlor MOTM

The only player to emerge with credit. The penalty award looked harsh, but even if he was at fault, he made up for it with a comfy save.

Lewis Billington

Not a full back. O'Reilly doesn't help him granted, but his attacking play is woeful and it's time he got called out for it. He needs to be a CB next season.

Alfie Pond

Possibly the only outfield player not to stink up the place. He was ok.

Mickey Demetriou

Shaky and made some poor mistakes on a number of occasions.

Reece Hutchinson

Not helped by the lack of attacking play down the left hand side and his subbing was baffling, but he wasn't at the races today.

Conor Thomas

His usefulness went out the window 4 minutes in. Against an energetic midfield, he got badly exposed. His inability to pass a football remains his biggest issue. Not ideal for a midfielder.

Jack Powell

He doesn't hide, I'll say that for him. But his actual ball playing abilities have decreased dramatically since he first joined. He needs to be moved on in the summer.

Tommi O'Reilly

Not a lot he could do today, he tried his best and was kicked from pillar to post, but he was also way too predictable in his wing play, then went missing once he moved to the middle.

Matus Holicek

Anonymous, again. Again, people are hyping him up but I'm yet to see it. This is the kind of game he should be flourishing in, but he goes MIA. 2 goals and 0 assists this season is a dreadful return I'm afraid. He needs to be doing a lot better.

Calum Agius

Anonymous, as usual. His goal contribution drought now extends to 8. Is he even a winger given his lack of pace, his lack skill and lack of ability to put a cross in every now and again? It's worth asking the question.

Josh March

I don't put any of today on him that much as he was dealing with an incoherent game plan and spotty service.

Subs:

James Connolly

Poor, as usual. Headers up in the air, picked apart on the counter. Under no circumstances should he have come on today.

Omar Bogle

Under no circumstances should he have come on either.

Max Sanders

Woeful once again. I get being rusty, but 40 yard passes going nowhere near their intended target isn't good enough either.

Jack Lankester

Did he even touch the ball? I can't remember him doing so. Your best player and there was no plan of how to actually get him involved.

Emre Tezgel

Made a difference when he came on. Looked lively and was a menace around the box. Needs getting up to speed quickly.

Overall Verdict

A bad defeat. Arguably worse than last weeks, but that one they threw away. This one, they didn't show up from minute 4 onwards. Now to hope away from Gresty Road against 2 middling opponents in Cheltenham and Shrewsbury, they can find a win or 2 to keep pace with the top 7.