Express & Star

Saddlers Social: Walsall fans have their say

Walsall fans have their say on everything going on at the Banks's this week.

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Richard Kendrick

I’m going to ignore the fact that we have only two centre halves and two forwards at the club, ignore the fact that more players and coaching staff have left this month, ignore the protests, the focus meeting, the Venue Birmingham, the chairman, the rent issue…..it’s driving me to despair.

Instead I’ll focus on the positives, even though I can think of only one. Just about the only good thing to happen at the club recently is the performances of a young goalkeeper; take a bow Liam Roberts.

Last week’s home game versus Oxford was easily the best goalkeeping performance at Bescot since Jimmy Walker’s first stint at the club, in fact it was Trevor Wood-esque (fans who started watching WFC after 1995 might need to get on YouTube).

He’s got to be our number one now and we should put our faith in our goalkeeping coach to improve him into a player that the top teams will watch.

Coach….?

Pete Green

With much of the focus being around the ongoing protests against the chairman, the issues on the field continue to cause concern.

Six wins from our remaining games will see us reach the magical 50 point mark and that's the only thing we should be focussing on right now.

With the inevitable loss of Tyler Roberts, Jon Whitney will have his work cut out to replace such a talent.

He has an eye for a player. But again this will be scrutinised in both attack and defensive additions desperately needed.

Putting a consistent run together is something we have struggled with throughout this season. There is no denying there are many questions that need addressing, but for now, lets make sure we secure our League One status.

Then we can turn our attentions to the off the field problems that continue to mount.

Nick Etheridge

The next week or so will be make or break for our season, as it's vital that we get some new blood into the squad.

The manager was quoted in the week as saying he wants to add to the squad sooner rather than later.

Given the fact that the window has been open for over three weeks and we haven't replaced any of the outgoing loans (George Dobson is an addition rather than replacement), I can only assume that we have been knocked back several times, or clubs are reluctant to let players leave without replacing them beforehand.

Either way, without fresh faces through the door, I really do fear the worst.

Tom Miner

Although five departures on the pitch might prove our undoing for the season, the loss of Neil Cutler (everyone's favourite man crush) is probably the most worrying of the lot.

His record of improving every single keeper he’s worked with, from Richard O’Donnell, to Neil Etheridge and now the two week sensation Liam Roberts shows what a fantastic member of the backroom staff he has been.

Trusted with signing and scouting our new keepers by Dean Smith, to being promoted to assistant under Jon Whitney, Cutler deserves his chance at the big time.

If he can stop Alan Pardew’s men conceding goals and rack up some more views on his viral YouTube videos, then I’m sure he’ll have a big future ahead of him. So long, and thanks Big Cuts!

Dan Gilbert

Well here we are entering the final week of the transfer window with just the George Dobson signing to our names.

Meanwhile all five loanees have departed. To say the squad is thin would be an understatement and that was highlighted by the subs bench against Charlton.

Many like myself, screamed at Jon Whitney to make a change.

But with the squad as light as it is, you can understand why he didn't act – there wasn't much he could actually change with the players available to him.

This next week though has become the biggest of our season.

Do nothing at all or get it wrong and it's very realistic that we could find ourselves planning how on earth you get to Forest Green next season whilst wondering just how we fell to this point so quickly.

Kevin Paddock

So since the last column we have had a loud and well attended protest, beat Oxford and showed our inconsistency with a defeat to Charlton....getting too close to that trap door once more!

There is just one week left of the transfer window, our squad was weak in areas despite having five loanees so to see all five leave and only George Dobson come in, it's scary to think what we will have this time next week.

The thought of relegation is frightening given Tranmere and Leyton Orient have gone straight through to non league and still not returned.

We can't afford to be relegated, over to you Walsall FC, show some ambition!

Nathan Briant

There are a lot of ridiculous things in football – take Phil Neville being promoted by the FA to a job he didn’t apply for.

But surely, where League One football is concerned, there are few more ridiculous things than clubs' unwelcome involvement in the Checkatrade Trophy.

As everyone is aware, it was League One and Two clubs’ second-rate route to Wembley. Everyone remembers Walsall’s recent trip there, even if they were outclassed on the day.

But disregard that briefly.

To see Chelsea's reserves (none of this U23 nonsense) beat Oxford United 3-0 surely shows the competition needs to be reassessed once and for all.

Even the most minor victories for Premier League clubs’ reserves are surely a power grab much too far. I note 1,000 away fans watched Oxford at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday – but surely the competition could be reformed to ensure everyone has confidence in it.

Then and only then could this Walsall fan celebrate any progress in it.