Well, someone has to try and put together a preview after a day of frenzied activity on deadline day that makes tomorrow’s team selection almost a matter of guesswork. Still, it’s a vital home game for the Saddlers to keep a comfort margin above the bottom and take revenge for a beating early on in the season.

Despite being likely relegation candidates for a great deal of the season, Oldham’s prospects have improved since the arrival of former Rotherham Manger Ronnie Moore. Since he took over until the end of the 2004/05, they have played three, won one, drawn one, lost one. The draw was only courtesy of League leaders Luton grabbing a very late equaliser.

For them, long serving midfielder Danny Boshell has moved to Bury and they acquired Delroy Facey yesterday (we all remember his hatrick against us for Burnley), but too late for the deadline to be able to play this weekend. Their most significant move, however, was a couple of weeks ago, when they took the ever dangerous Luke Beckett on loan, scorer of two goals at Bescot already this season for Huddersfield. Manchester United loanee Kenny Cooper has, in the meantime, headed back to Old Trafford.

As for the Saddlers? Kinsella may be fit for this weekend, but one would imagine he’d start on the bench after such a long lay off, even if risked, whereas the five new signings of Pead, Gerrard, Joachim, Perpetuini and Oakes will be all hoping to make their home debuts. Gerrard is the one most likely to miss out, if any. Perpetuini is almost certain to start, with the departure of Aranalde, and Pead may replace either Wright or Osborn, as his injury needs some rest at some point. Joachim, one would assume, will be up front in place of either Fryatt or Leitao. It’s all guesswork, though, really!

Oldham’s away record is abysmal:

Played 19, Won 3 Drawn 3 Lost 13 Points 12.

(Mind you, that’s better than ours!) and they have lost the last six on the bounce away from home.

Predictions? Every time we’ve had a mare, the players have come up trumps for Merson and, despite the problems of trying to gel so many new players in a game, I can see nothing else but a win. 3 – 1 to the Saddlers (Beckett is bound to get one!).

Paul Merson has managed to get his man in the shape of Julian Joachim, on loan until the end of the season.

The former Leicester, Villa, Coventry and Leeds forward is bound to be a welcome addition to the squad, with his undoubted pedigree and it will be interesting to see if he can hit the back of the net with some regularity, even without a big target man alongside him.

Joachim’s main problem has always been his injury record, having made only 46 appearances in three years for Coventry, but his pace and trickery should be an invaluable asset in getting out of the current predicament.

His complete League record since signing for Leicester in 1992 is:-

League 218 appearances (105 as sub) 77 Goals. This is an average of 0.23 goals per game.

Wycombe Wanderers David Perpetuini has joined the Saddlers on loan until the end of the season.

The 24 year old former Gillingham left back has only made one appearance for the Chairboys since joining them on a free transfer in January, a win at Rushden.

He started his career at Watford, before joining the Gills, where he made 64 appearances in three and a half years. He’s 5 foot nine and left footed.

Paul Merson has said on WM that Marvin Robinson may be the next player to leave Walsall.

Robinson has been lined up to go to rivals Stockport County until the end of the season, as long as Walsall get a replacement in before the deadline.

Robinson has not figured at all recently, despite a goalscoring start to his Walsall career and must be counted as a failure as a signing.

Walsall have taken on loan Everton youngster Anthony Gerrard until the end of the season.

The promising under 18 Irish International centre back is the cousin of England and Liverpool midfielder Steve. He played youth football for the Republic, but has been unable to find the paperwork giving him the proof of being eligible for them, so is now classed as English!

Gerrard is a member of the Everton first team squad and spent a month on loan at non league Accrington Stanley late last year.

Date of birth: 6th February, 1986
Nationality: English
Position: Defender
Height: 1.88

Meanwhile, Zigor Aranalde has joined Sheffield Wednesday until the end of the season.

Manager Paul Sturrock said:- “Zigor is a big boy, with a long throw, and he wants to put crosses into the box. He’s played in the Championship for four seasons at Walsall and has a point to prove. He’s here until the end of the season and, if he does well, we will offer him a new contract - it’s up to him.”

There was a shock announcement from Bescot Stadium this evening, as long serving Spanish full back Zigor Aranalde has been allowed to depart “by mutual consent”.

Aranalde’s is a name that has always sparked debate amongst Saddlers fans, as he has always been seen as a “love him or loath him” figure, on the pitch at least. What cannot be denied, however, is that he has always been a 100% player and it was something of a surprise announcement, when the club has no natural replacement and is still in an uncomfortable league position. One can only assume there may be a loan arriving tomorrow in time for the transfer deadline.

Aranalde joined the club in 200/2001 and made 224 appearances for the Saddlers.

Leroy Williams and Daryl Taylor have, in the meantime, been allowed to join Hereford United on-loan for the rest of the season. This can only be seen as a valuable part of Leroy Williams’ football education, although Daryl Taylor is a little more surprising, having figured in the first team squad regularly lately.

Walsall have signed Coventry City right back Craig Pead on loan until the end of the season.

The 23 year old former England Youth International made his debut for the Sky Blues in 2000 and had been a regular in the side at one time, but made only a few appearances last season and none this.

Pead is primarily a right back, but can play in central midfield as well. He’s Bromsgrove born, 5 foot 9 and 11 stones. He has made a total of 27 starts for Coventry since signing professional terms and 5 for Notts County earlier this season on loan.

West Bromwich Albion have sent Lloyd “the flyer” Dyer out on loan - but not to Paul Merson’s Walsall.

The player manager had been believed to be in competition with Gary Megson and Nottingham Forest for the services of the flying left winger, but he’s now off to Coventry on loan. This must count as a bitter disappointment in the attempts to strengthen the squad before the deadline on Thursday.

Even more than that, of course, it is a huge snub for former Manager Megson, who has seen a player he wanted loaned out to one of his relegation rivals.

Walsall player-manager Paul Merson has said in a Radio WM interview that there are players at the club who do not deserve to have a career in football.

Merson had said something similar after the defeat at Port Vale on Saturday, but this time, he does not seem to be talking about the senior players.

He said that some of the squad had let him down and did not seem to want to progress their careers. All they want to do he said, was “hang around in bars” trying to impress girls by saying “I’m a footballer”. He finished by saying that, if another club were to make an enquiry about them, he would have to tell the truth.

The assumption has to be that there are problems with some of the younger squad members, as this obviously cannot apply to the more senior players who are family men.

Report courtesy of WM, Saddlers World and the Fat Controller!

Paul Merson decided to ring the changes yet again at Vale Park this afternoon, with no fewer than five changes. The Saddlers lined up:

Oakes, Wright, Roper, Bennett, Aranalde, Taylor (D), Osborn, Wrack, Surman, Merson, Fryatt, with Emblen, Standing, Leitao, Kris Taylor and Coleman on the bench. Former Saddler Danny Sonner started in midfield for Vale.

The first half, however, was almost instantly forgettable, with Vale looking a very poor side and Walsall sinking to their level, despite being obviously better man for man. Chances were very few and far between, with Walsall’s best effort being a volley from Simon Osborn and a shot from Daryl Taylor brilliantly saved by Goodlad. Vale’s best (and, in fact, only) chance came from a bad error from Merson losing possession in midfield, but new goalkeeper Oakes did well to prevent a goal.

Overall, the first half had been so poor that someone on Saddlers World commentary was heard to remark in the background “Have I really got to watch another 45 minutes of this?”.

Disaster struck in the 51st minute, however, when some awful marking by Walsall from a set piece let Micky Cummins in for a free header, which he duly planted home, giving Oakes no chance at all.

Worse was to follow when a miskick from Ian Roper let in Vale for a second and the Walsall performance just got worse from there.

Oakes performed well on his debut, making a couple of saves to prevent the Saddlers falling even further behind, while Walsall somehow managed to contrive to hit the woodwork, but it’s hard to figure out how and Darren Wrack should certainly have scored on the second occasion.

This was a very poor performance against what was a very poor side. Port Vale now overtake the Saddlers and we slip even closer to the bottom four, especially as Oldham and Franchise picked up points from Luton and Barnsley (away) respectively. With Oldham the visitors to Bescot next week, drastic action is needed. It may be fortunate that the bottom of the Division is so poor.