Blog: Andy Butler won't solve everything
Andy Butler is one of my all-time top five favourite Walsall players, writes blogger Mark Jones.
So am I pleased at the prospect of seeing him in a Saddlers' shirt once more? Well err … sort of.
There's no doubting what 'Buts' brings to the team – the no-nonsense defending, the organisational skills, the leadership qualities, the presence.
That's not to mention the increased possibility that we might be a bit of a threat from a set piece now and again.
The problem I have is that there is a nagging doubt in my mind that maybe we should have drawn a line in the sand last May and moved on.
Adam Chambers is captain now and with his appointment as vice-captain, Paul Downing has clearly been earmarked for the role in the future. They have to be given time to make those roles their own.
I'm not suggesting for one minute that Andy would be any kind of threat or disruptive influence within the dressing room.
But there is always the danger that others could sit back and become over-reliant on him. And he is only here for a month after all.
There is an irony too that one of the few positives from last week's dour draw was that Downing and James O'Connor looked pretty solid together in central defence.
Admittedly, we won't be facing an attack as weak as Colchester's too often, especially as those big old Preston lads are in town this weekend.
Apart from the aforementioned Butler effect in the opposition box, the big problems that have plagued the Saddlers so far this season - and pretty much most of 2014 for that matter - still remain.
We don't score enough goals, we don't create enough chances to score goals and most of our opponents seem content to let us play nicely in front of them, because we don't pose enough of a threat.
When the opportunity to re-sign a known quantity like Andy Butler emerges, it's probably too hard to turn down.
But, for everyone's sake, I hope people don't expect too much. Don't forget he has only played one game so far this season and was reportedly out injured, too.
Having said all that, it's still good to welcome a genuine legend home and there is a special anniversary this coming Wednesday that we can all celebrate together now. BOOM!
PS: The other four were Andy Rammell, Martin O'Connor, Alan Buckley and Jimmy Walker, in case you were wondering.
