Reports tonight, confirmed by Saddlers boss Paul Merson, indicate that striker Matt Fryatt and defender Julian Bennett will be leaving Bescot on Monday for Leicester City and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Exactly how much money will change hands is the subject of differing speculation, with reports indicating Leicester’s offer is worth in the region of £400,000 spread over several payments.

A Merson move for ex-Blues striker Paul Devlin has apparently fallen through.

It’s make or break for the Saddlers tomorrow – genuinely, as this is the FA Cup and a chance at a money spinning fourth round tie.

It’s been a whirlwind and confusing week at Walsall football club, as word slowly got out of the manager being willing to release four players to make room for more loanees and the mystery bid for Julian Bennett. Certainly Merson’s comments after the Bristol City game suggested that he has “lost” at least some elements of the dressing room, which made it all the more surprising that the scapegoats included only one player involved in Monday’s debacle.

Tomorrow’s tie at Barnsley will see loads of changes, however. Oakes will be back in goal, with Gilmartin on the bench, as Sunderland are still not allowing Murphy to be cup tied. At the back, Pead and Gerrard should be joined by the returning Roper and either Fox or Bennett. Bennett is most likely, as we seem to be lacking a left winger otherwise.

Midfield is likely to consists of newcomers Keith James and Michael Leary, with Osborn and Fox, as Demontagnac is being left out for “disciplinary” reasons. Timm and Nicholls are likely to lead the line, with Constable being cup tied.

Barnsley have a fully fit squad to chose from, other than full back Bobby Hassell, who is out and one player needing a late fitness test. That player is, of course, ex Saddler Matt “Sicknote” Carbon.

Predictions? I really haven’t got a clue. We lost there fairly narrowly in October, following our usual abject first half away performance, with McPhail running the show:

Link: http://upthesaddlers.com/wp/archives/2005/10/

This was, of course, the game where Craig Pead was stupidly sent off, wrecking what chances we had of getting a point.

With the new faces in the side and the players maybe reacting positively to this week’s happenings, a draw or even a win could be on the cards, but, equally, the players could easily go the other way. This is one I’m just not sticking my neck out on!

Paul Merson has strengthened his squad this morning with the addition of two loan players.

Dane Madds Timm, a striker or attacking midfielder has joined from Manchester United. He has been out of the picture for a while at United, following a spell in gaol for dangerous driving in February this year, as a result of an incident near the United training ground, when he and a fellow reserve were arrested when a team mate was seriously injured.

The other is Luton Town youngster Michael Leary, a central midfielder, who has made some 15 or so appearances this season, 14 of them whilst on loan at Bristol Rovers, picking up no less than 7 yellow cards.

Taylor Off

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Daryl Taylor has been loaned out to Hereford United for the rest of the season.

We will bring you more news when we can.

Barnsley, as a Saddler what can you say? Rotherham’s terrible twin?

The typically styled “good news/bad news” half-time phone call home can often begin with “ at least you’re not here, now for the bad news”.

Unless you alight the train with a tongue like Ghandi’s flip-flop then don’t bother with the town centre, life’s too short to start with, and can get potentially shorter wandering around the pubs near the station. Don’t get me wrong, there are a couple of good pubs in Barnsley but they are out of the way in the “old town”, and as you are faced with a 20 minute walk anyway just don’t bother is my advice.

If you must, then the Courthouse Station is at least adjacent but there the good news ends.

I’m afraid it doesn’t get much better! Near the ground, especially if parking at the leisure centre, you would be well advised just to go in Rigby’s bar in the Britas Empire style centre itself. It’s away friendly and serves a good selection of beer (including Stella and Kronie) provided you don’t mind paying slightly high prices and the smell of chlorine.

The staff are really nice, but real beauty is as you walk out, down a hill two minutes to the away end.

“Tip” do not walk immediate left upon exiting as you need to walk straight out and left where you see the service road; it’s very embarrassing if you don’t!

If you fancy a trip back in time then walk to the home end and try The Mount on the corner of Pontefract Road. Unsurprisingly it’s very home orientated, but not exclusively home fans as a couple of years ago.

I went in before and after the match last season and had no problems, the beer is incredibly cheap (dark Magnet and Sam Smiths) and the locals were what I would describe as “curiously” friendly. Their curiosity seemed to centre on the fact that I wasn’t bald or at least 20 stone in weight. I felt a bit like Richard Dreyfus in the landing scene of Close Encounters. Thankfully none of the occupants got round to actually feeling my hair, Sky-Sports proving an adequate distraction (just).

Rather annoyingly last season beer was not available in the away end, despite the existence of a bar, but hopefully a rethink may have occurred, as the way we usually play at Oakwell demands a half-time slurp.