Express & Star

A disappointing end after playing some decent stuff earlier on and the kids showed us glimpses of their raw promise, writes blogger Mark Jones.

Deep down though you could see we lack a bit of quality in midfield and up front. And underlying all this was the frustration and dissatisfaction with the way the club is run.

Yes the 2007/08 season finale was almost a compilation of the previous 9 months compacted into 94 ultimately unsatisfactory minutes.

The major talking point will be the heartfelt protests against Jeff Bonser, which received plenty of support all around the ground. These were not the actions of some disorganised rabble intent on causing trouble for the sake of it, however much some of the powers that be at the club will want to depict things.

The banner, the gathering around the tunnel after the match, the chanting of Richard Money’s name should provoke, at the very least, some sort of self-analysis from Mr. Bonser and the rest of the board.

Just like in the mid-90s after the sale of Martin O’Connor, there is a perception that those in charge are out of touch and taking us fans for granted.

In his programme notes on Saturday, Mr. Bonser talked again about his ambition to return to the Championship. Yet I can’t see how this is going to happen without a huge change in thinking at the top.

In Richard Money we had a manager capable of challenging at the top end of the table, getting the best out of players, bringing youngsters through, getting us organised and being able to keep the points total ticking over. For three months he kept us in the top six and we looked like we could make the play-offs.

His replacement has got to be at least as good and then we’ll have to all cross our fingers and hope that the squad won’t get weakened again.

Jeff’s own figures state that we pulled in £1.15 million from the Fox and Dann sales and he tries to argue that we had no chance of keeping either player. Ok then, in my book that gave us a significant amount of wedge that wouldn’t have been budgeted for to strengthen and push for the play-offs.

According to Mr. Bonser, we actually did this. In reality we brought in Aaron Brown on loan deadline day (he almost lasted a half of Wracky’s testimonial) and N’Dour started a whole three games. 

Stefan Moore was out of contract (and therefore surely in no position to hold the club to ransom over a deal) and turned out to be not exactly what we needed. Kevin Betsy was alright in patches but didn’t deliver enough goals. Technically he was a Championship player on loan from Brizzle City, actually he was a squad player who was playing for Wycombe in League 2 not so long ago.  

If these four were meant to improve the squad then maybe whoever is responsible for identifying and bringing in new players should be named and shamed, shouldn’t they Paul?

And, if my memory serves me correctly, Lee Holmes, who was quality and will be missed next year, arrived before the Coventry Two had gone. This makes things confusing, did we already have the funds to sign Holmes or did we gamble on someone leaving when we brought him in?

Judging by the reaction of the fans on Saturday, very few people are going to be convinced that we actually made a concerted effort to reach the Championship this season or that we will be attempting to do so in 2008/09. 

The new training ground is a step forward and no-one can argue about the investment in youth but the issue of the rent we will never go away until there is some kind of resolution to it.

I’ve no idea to what extent Jeff Bonser is bothered by the criticism that comes his way; but, like it or not, he’s got something to mull over during the summer months. Best of luck.

This is the last regular blog of the season but never fear I’ve been given licence to pop up whenever I want to spout off about all things Walsall F.C. 

So you can look forward to incisive and informative comment about our new boss, all the latest signings, whether next season’s kit can be any worse than the last one and anything interesting Jeff might have to say. 

You could look out for the occasional blogs too.

Have a good summer and remember you’re a Saddler.