Chris Hutchings eyes Walsall January swoops
Thursday 30th December 2010, 2:42PM GMT.
Walsall boss Chris Hutchings today confirmed he is primed for a January transfer raid, but warned new arrivals are not certain.
The Saddlers chief is eager to add to his squad to aid their relegation battle.
The second-bottom Saddlers are five points from safety in League One and need reinforcements but, while ready to swoop, Hutchings is cautious.
“We’re in a position to go into the market so we’ll have to wait and see,” he said today, ahead of Saturday’s visit of Notts County.
“Sometimes when you’re not doing well you’re looking to bring players in to try to change it around but it’s difficult.
“People think you can just go and get them – it’s not that easy.
“You could want a player from a particular club and they could have some injuries and that scuppers it.
“There are lots of scenarios which come into play in signing a player and it’s not always easy.”
The Saddlers run the risk of being priced out of deals by inflated January fees but Hutchings remained philosophical about the window.
He said: “It’s here and we have to deal with it. Do I like it?
“It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other really, but it’s here and if we had five or six injuries it would be a welcome thing.”
Hutchings has to make decisions on the future of Albion loanee and six-goal top scorer Reuben Reid, whose deal expires next week, and also whether to offer Jimmy Walker a new deal.
Keeper Walker is currently out with a hamstring injury and his short-term contract expires at the end of next month.
He will miss the County game and Monday’s Peterborough trip but Hutchings is hopeful of a swift return, with skipper Darren Byfield also recovering from a knee injury.
Hutchings added: “Jimmy is going to do a little work and step up his handling next week and progress from then.
“Darren (Byfield) was training on the grass today and, after the injection he had a couple of weeks ago, it’s about monitoring the day-to-day work.”
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
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“transfer raid, but warned new arrivals are not certain.” what the hell are you woffling on about CH you waste of space. its like doin the hokey cokey,they may be in they be not,, in not in not i think you lost the plot
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I’ve got a good idea, let’s sign lots of short term loan players to replace the players Hutchings signed originally and then replaced with short term loans….. None of the signings have made any impact on the quality of performances for longer than a couple of games, I woner why that is Hutchings?
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The Riddler
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The only thing that should be certain is you going…. the sooner the better, go on get out mr clueless
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this guy should really start doing some stand up this guy is a comedian.
we might sign some one or we might not is that a story then adds we have two injuries so he has an excuse when we lose.
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In Chris’s defence, I think I know where he is coming from. Take Devaney for instance, we might want to sign him from Barnsley, either on a season-long loan or permanently….but Barnsley could decide to keep him if they get injuries. Let’s hope we get 3 points on Saturday vs Notts County and that 2011 is a better year for us, regardless of who is manager.
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Sign Walker now the only decent player you have signed..
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