Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Walsall host Middlesbrough in cup
Thursday 16th June 2011, 10:00AM BST.
Walsall will host Championship outfit Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup after being handed a plum first round tie.
The Saddlers will take on Tony Mowbray’s side in the week commencing August 8, just days after the start of the League One season.
Manager Dean Smith said: “It’s a very exciting draw. Middlesbrough are a big club, who have spent a number of seasons in the Premier League.
“It will be a tough game but one that we’re already looking forward to.
“You can’t really ask for much more than a home draw in a cup competition and we’ve got that.”
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Omly need a team now deano…
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I don’t know why everyone is worrying about players not coming yet, players aren’t allowed to officially sign for clubs until July 1st anyway.
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At least we won’t be going out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle to lower league opposition this season as we have down over the previous few years. Should be a good game and hopefully Dean will be able to sign some decent players between now and then. A left-back, two central midfielders, two wide players and a striker should do for starters.
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Give us a team then Deano that might give em a game…
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Thanks Alex. Someone with a sensible perspective. I see already that Deano is on the way from hero to zero before we’ve entered pre-season?? I am just as anxious as any Saddlers fan to get players in but we can’t expect them to come flooding in. I’m sure Deano has put some offers on tables and made contact with several but players (not least ones who are out of contract with us) have time yet to decide which options to take. Deano did an exceptional job with a totally demoralised squad in the second half of last season, we are very fortunate to still be in league one so let’s give him the chance and time he deserves to build his own squad.
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Nice one Matt..
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Good news for Walsall fans Westwood has signed for Wrexham…
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Spot on Alex & Matt.
Players just aren’t going to sign a contract with the first offer they get. Any player with sense is going to see what else materialises.
The job Smith has got to do is identify his top targets and if they stall too long on offers then look elsewhere. While players will obviosuly try to hang on for better offers it’s up to us not to be taken for mugs.
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Kevin Phillips is a free agent he would be brilliant for us a proven goal scorer and in return we could give him 80 to 90 mins of football he eould be such a star in out division !
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he wants payin..
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If players cannot officially sign until July 1st does that mean Matt Gill is not yet a Bristol player ?
No one is blaming Dean but we do need to get a settled team together and training together well before the season starts. Part of this problem has been allowing good players to be released instead of under contract. Even a bunch of mediocre players with potential can possibly be moulded into a team by good management and coaching but when players are signed too late the season can be over before this is possible, and scrabbling around for loan players only adds to the problem.
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