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Dean Smith fails in Mark Wilson swoop
Wednesday 1st February 2012, 10:57AM GMT.
Boss Dean Smith today revealed he failed in a deadline-busting move for ex-Walsall loanee Mark Wilson.
The Saddlers failed to agree personal terms with the midfielder who joined League Two Oxford yesterday after being released by Doncaster.
Wilson made six appearances for the Saddlers, scoring once, in November and was believed to be keen on a Walsall return after being frozen out at Rovers.
But, after last night’s 1-0 home defeat to Notts County, Smith admitted defeat in his hunt for the ex-Manchester United man.
“I spoke to his agent but unfortunately it couldn’t be done in the way of what personal terms he was after,” he said, after the close of the transfer window. “I saw him at Scunthorpe’s game last week, had a chat with him and knew he was trying to sort himself out. I spoke to his agent but we couldn’t get the terms he wanted.
“We’re disappointed but it wasn’t for the lack of trying. That’s the way it goes. I’m speaking to clubs all the time to get players in and it’s whether the right deal can be done.”
The loan and free transfer window re-opens next week with Smith eager for reinforcements with the Saddlers out of the League One relegation zone on goal difference.
He did sign Stoke midfielder Florent Cuvelier for a month and he impressed during a second-half debut.
But the Saddlers still slipped to their 11th defeat of the season after Lee Hughes’ third-minute winner.
George Bowerman had a goal harshly disallowed after Manny Smith fouled keeper Stuart Nelson and, despite a wretched first half, boss Smith insisted they should have snatched a point.
“I didn’t know where the first half came from. The performances have been decent and when Flo (Cuvelier) came on we should have got something out of the game,” he said.
“I saw the goal and there was nothing wrong with it, it should have been given. We had a clear goal chalked off and you can always tell from the reaction of the goalkeeper. He’d accepted he made a mistake.
“But I’m still disappointed because the performance in the first half was no-where near the standards we’ve set. The players will feel let down with their display in the first half.”
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Wow we really are a club transformed!
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what chance have we got of getting players when a league two club pays better wages?
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Failing to sign Wilson, a player who’d fill a desperate hole in our team, further illustrates the lack of ambition of Walsall FC. The fact we can’t offer personal terms that League 2 Oxford can confirms that we are a club who is heading in one direction, down.
I hate that the club I’ve loved for so many years has become a shambles both on and off the pitch.
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Dean how can he not get the terms he wanted? Gnakpas gone, gamble said there would be money to bring in players and weve signed 1 player flo from stoke there should still be the budget there to bring in a better players that dont cost a fee. After the dross i witnessed last night i cant see that we will stay in league 1.
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“wasn’t for the lack of trying”??? when he went to an average league 2 side???? says it all really.
We’re going down with the Wanderers i’m afraid.
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Totally embarrassing the club needs new direction from the top to the bottom
Dean Smith nice guy but clearly he has gone as far has he can, someone said Hutchings was poor yet the current managers win rate is worse.
Port Vale here we come oh well theres always the oatcakes to look forward to.
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Smithy tell us about players you av brought in not the ones you nearly did thats no good to any one..
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smith has got to go.
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“We deserved a point” No we didn’t…we got what we deserved….nothing. Dean Smith has got to go. He has no clue on team selection. To select Peterlin, who is by far the worse midfielder I have ever seen in a Walsall shirt, ahead of the new lad is baffling.
I’ve got a good idea, lets play Macken and Nicholls, who have a combined hight of 4′ 6″, up front and hoof the ball up to them and hope they can been 2 central defenders who are both 6′ plus. Tactical genius Dean Smith is.
RIP Walsall FC
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That`s it,enough is enough.
I can`t take this anymore.33 years of support and i thought it could`nt get any worse then Mark Wilson joins L2 oxford.What is wrong with this club.Dean you have got to go.All this hype about unleashing unknown florent cuvelier and he did`nt start the game.Dean Smith out.
who do we want has our new manager?
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what a joke! can get outbid by a league 2 club in wages!!!!
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i agree smith must go he is the only manager who can not find loan free transfer out of contract players he always got loads of irons in the fire but i think someone should tell him the fire has never been alight he let gnapka go to free money well what about jarvis and hurst what a waste of wages they should have gone as well mind you gamble and the board don’t help previous managers they have backed not this time they have decided that the fans deserve leauge 2 football we must give thanks to the board and Mr Smith.
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Didn’t Matt Gill join Bristol Rovers over us as well? Either we’re not offering good enough terms, or the management team is not able to ‘sell’ their vision. Or both. Worrying times. Deano has made bad signings and has so far escaped the personal insults that were thrown at Hutchings, despite a worse record. Was hoping he’d do some wheeling and dealing in Jan, but one out and one loan in… just not enough movement. Fleetwood away next season anyone?
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We have the side that the current regime deserves. You can make Dean the scapegoat if you want but a new boss would just be re-arranging deckchairs on a sinking ship.
The club’s dying … time to go Jeff.
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have not won since god knows when, and keeping the same starting line up for the 4th game in a row! same players same system same results mate, its not rocket science.
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Wilson has joined Oxford because they could offer better terms because they have more money behind them. It’s not that long ago that they had a new stadium built. You can’t be surprised that Walsall are falling short of clubs like that. I can see why everyone wants Deano out but I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do at this stage. Hutchings wasn’t sacked until after the new year so that he recieved less of a pay out and I’m guessing it’s going to be the same with Deano depending on the terms of his contract. I think he’s going to be charged with keeping us up so we all might aswell get behind him, if we end up going down sobeit. It opens the door for someone new to come in and start from scratch like Dicky Dosh did. UTS.
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Last season we had some loan signings who helped. Its often the case that a new Manager has connections or favours owed which enable him to sign some players. Maybe this season its not just money (though we still cant afford a new clock if not a scoreboard !) but perhaps Dean has used all his connections. Maybe an experienced Manager with the right connections would help and it could lift the existing players and encourage the fans back.
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we should be venting our anger at the board of Directors Mr Gamble should come out of hiding and inform the Manager,Team, and Supporters what money is available to sign at least three good players 2xmidfield and 1xforward
The board of Directors should not allow this situation to carry on I am concerned that since Bowman and Paterson have signed a 2and half year deal they have both gone of the boil tuesday night was dreadful to watch and supports who attended should be given their hard earned money back also due to the disgraceful commentry from BBc WM they should be banned from the ground
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