A long time ago, in a Galaxy far away . . . . . . Sorry, got carried away there.

Hardest game in the world, you know, match previews for the first of the season, when you’ve never heard of half the opposition squad and have no idea how your men are likely to perform as a team in a pressure situation. Still, here goes.

Merson’s gone and Walsall fans will, hopefully, be looking at the future with a more optimistic face this year, as the Richard Money revolution takes hold. Out, hopefully, has gone the lax attitude to training, the over emphasis on “social activities”, the lack of tactical nous, forethought and planning, to be replaced by hard work and organisation, the only things that are likely to succeed in this basement division.

As the legacy of the end of last season is still biting, with the suspensions of Roper and Westwood, it is likely that all of Money’s new signings will play, with the exception of the injured Bedeau. The only injury doubts are whether Keates has fully recovered from his knock and if Dobson’s lightweight cast for his broken wrist has arrived from the States (Wrack and Nicholls are still a long way off, of course). If they are OK, expect a 4 4 2, looking something like:

Ince, Pead, Gerrard, Picken. Fox, Wright, Dobson, Kinsella or Keates, Taylor, Butler, Sam.

Several players are likely to be fighting for the bench positions, including Constable, Dann, Demontagnac and Bradley. McKeown will be the reserve goalkeeper, however, as Gilmartin has picked up a “slight” knee problem.

The defence looks a little lightweight to cope with what we are used to, but who knows what the standard is like in this division. If Picken is as good as Newcastle Jets fans think he is, we should be solid enough, but he is, of course, a still unknown quantity.

The midfield is a worry, as it seems to be a little short of creativity, which will have to come down the flanks, methinks, but, up front, the promise, movement and understanding shown by Sam and Butler pre season bodes very well.

Rochdale have a couple of injury problems, centre-back Mark Jackson being out captain Gary Jones doubtful with a knee problem, and will certainly have a new look. Manager Steve Parkin has lost nine players and bought in just three on permanent deals, one being Walsall trialist Nathan Stanton and another former Bradford and Barnsley centre back Lee Crooks. In addition, they have two on loan, one of them being 19 year old Blackpool ‘keeper Lewis Edge until January and the other being Hartlepool midfielder Darrell Clarke. That brings their squad up to just 21 players, an indication of the paucity of resources in the Division as a whole.

Danger man is likely to be ex Mansfield and Kiddie striker Iyseden Christie, who has an average career record of one goal in four, but once managed 26 in 53 starts and 11 sub appearances for the Stags.

Predictions? Ah, now for the crunch.

Rochdale finished last season in 14th place, but, with 56 points, were only seven clear of the last relegation spot. Since then, they have lost two or three key players and have not been able to replace them with the same quality. It’s difficult to see more than a season of struggle for them as they try to avoid being dragged into the relegation scrap.

Despite that, however, and despite the need for us to hit the ground running, the doubts about the defence and the creativity from midfield all make me think that this has score draw written all over it. Still, that’ll do me for an opener.