Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Chris Hutchings eyes a transfer raid
Tuesday 14th December 2010, 10:55AM GMT.
Walsall boss Chris Hutchings is eyeing a January transfer raid as he looks to rescue the Saddlers season.
The manager is keen to do business next month with the club fighting relegation from League One.
They moved off the bottom of the table with a fine 1-0 win at Charlton on Sunday to ease the pressure on Hutchings before the visit of promotion-chasing Southampton on Saturday.
They then face relegation rivals Bristol Rovers and Dagenham before a clash with Notts County and Hutchings wants some new recruits next month to boost Walsall’s survival hopes.
He said: “There is a bit of room in the budget. We’ve got to look at the situation, we have a few games coming up but it’s something we’re looking at.
“It’s about putting the jigsaw together to get the final piece in place so it’s complete, you get results and look the finished article.
“I’m not going to highlight where because all of a sudden players will be thinking ‘he’s going to get a striker, a defender and a midfielder in.’
“I’ve got three unhappy players here if I mention those three positions.”
The Saddlers have come under-fire for their transfer dealings this season after extensive use of the market saw them sign six loanees.
Only Reuben Reid and Ryan McGivern, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, remain from the temporary players and Reid’s deal from Albion expires next month.
But Hutchings insisted the club needs to call in favours from other teams because they can’t afford to pay big wages.
He said: “We were fortunate to get players like Martin Devaney from Barnsley and Andrew Davies from Stoke but sometimes people need to do you favours because they are on big, big wages.
“We can’t pay the wages those players are on and there are lots of elements, does the player want to come, does the club want to help you out and pay the wages?”
Walsall have confirmed all tickets bought for their postponed game with Oldham on December 4 are valid for the new date of Tuesday January 25.
It includes one adult and two juniors for £10 in connection with the festive fun day.
Sponsored Links
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Microsoft Comes to the University of Wolverhampton
Last week Microsoft visited the University of Wolverhampton to give students the chance to develop their own phone apps that could be published on the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Technology blog
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
“I’m not going to highlight where because all of a sudden players will be thinking ‘he’s going to get a striker, a defender and a midfielder in.’
“I’ve got three unhappy players here if I mention those three positions.”
But when you sign someone in that position Chris..they will be..
Deary me. More Hutchings drivel.
Report abuse
Well done to the lads and Chris and Martin on Sunday – great result and I hope that now gives them the confidence to go on and prove they are a better side than their current position would suggest. I think a lot is down to confidence as we have some very good players. I think we do need to strengthen in central midfield and perhaps upfront….and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Devaney back on a long loan. C’mon you Reds, let’s hope 2011 is better than 2010.
Report abuse
Criticism for the sake of it, Hutchingsoutnow, or what?
If he says he wants a striker, the strikers won’t be happy and that leaves us in a bad position with regard to morale.
If he signs a striker and then one of our current bunch becomes unhappy however, that’s doesn’t really matter because we’ve got the fresh player on board, keen to do a job.
He’s spoken some drivel in the past, granted, but these comments make perfect sense to me.
A refreshing change from the ‘Stand up & be counted’ quotes we saw on repeat for the previous couple of months anyway.
Report abuse
I can’t wait to see another bunch of one month lone signings in January. Or better still some free transfers who haven’t had a team since July and have no match practice. You’ve also got to think if no one wanted these players by now, are they any good?
Report abuse
Under pressure from the fans and the media to say something more than the repetitive drivel that he has been spouting recently, Chris Hutchings comes out with comments that frankly seem unprofessional and naive (even from some bloke down the pub let alone a professional manager!) As pro footballers, the players know how football works, they know that if performances are poor changes will be made. To make abiguous statements in order to not upset the players is an absolute nonsense…it is a managers job to make tough decisions and to communicate those to his players is a way that motivates them and drives them on. If he can’t do this WHY is he a manager? We dont need to make “raids”, we have good enough players to be mid table at least – Every player has a bad run or even a bad season but when the whole team is low on confidence and motivation then that falls squarely at the managers door! Very proud of the team this week vs Charlton but that is one game is a loooong serious of bad performances – as one very apt comment on UTS pointed out this week – “even a stopped clock is right twice a day” – UTS! Hutchings OUT!!!
Report abuse
Lets all make a new year plan, off getting back into supporting the team. We will sometimes over achieve, but never compete with the bigger teams, fact.So instead of, shouting Bonser,and Hutchings out, lets start to support the eleven lads who repesent the club on the field. Lets stop looking for reason,s not turn up at Bescot, but what is stopping me from going to Bescot. We need to put bums on seat,s and get the club moving up the league.
Report abuse