I doesn’t seem right to me. Super Sunday? Football was meant to be played at 3.00 pm on a Saturday afternoon, wasn’t it? Ah well, I suppose times change, so we’re forced to watch a game against an artificially created Franchised football club on a Sunday in a twopenny halfpenny, uncomfortable hockey stadium. I never liked Wimbledon very much, but certainly don’t like the monster that’s replaced them! Nothing would give me greater pleasure than three points on Sunday, even though it’s the home games that will count on the final run in.

Into the squad, presumably, will come the newly signed loanee Trevor Benjamin, but the make up of the other fifteen is anybody’s guess. Ian Roper is the only long term absentee, but the picture is further clouded by the fact that promising youngsters Sansara and Deeney have been given squad numbers, which means they can’t be far off a place on the bench at least. Benjamin’s arrival and Deeney’s promotion do seem to not bode well for Par Cederqvist, however, and Sansara moving up the pecking order puts pressure on Kris Taylor especially. Whatever happens, I think there will be a lot of changes in the Summer.

I would expect a starting line up of:

Ince, Westwood, Gerrard, Dann, Fox, Harper, Dobson, Keates, Cooper, Butler, Sam or Wrack, but the make up of the five on the bench is very problematical. Bossu, of course, then Pead, Lyall, Bradley, Demontagnac, Benjamin, Cederqvist and Deeney should all come into the reckoning.

As for the Franchise, they bought in Watford winger Albert Jarrett on loan yesterday. The youngster had only just returned to Watford from a loan spell at Boston, playing, of course, alongside Trevor Benjamin. They also bought in central midfielder/defender Dominic Blizzard from Watford, as cover for some long term injuries, with Paul Mitchell out long term and Jamie Smith doubtful.

Dangermen for the Franchise are, of course, former Saddler Clive Platt, the diving Izale McCleod (no, I’m not going to forget his cheating performance at Derby) and Leon Knight, but, whilst they do score goals, their recent performances have shown that they have a tendency to let them in as well! Another former Saddler, Keith Andrews, will also be turning out in midfield.

Predictions?

Since the arrival of Cooper and Harper, the Saddlers little blip seems to have steadied, with two wins and two draws from the last four games, but this one is a very different kettle of fish. The Dongles will be desperate for the win, with a capacity crowd and their recent up and down form meaning that they can ill afford a loss. A Walsall win would see them 5 points behind, with just seven games to go and Lincoln and Swindon breathing down their necks. It could go either way, with that desperation meaning a good performance, or a nervy one that stops them playing completely, but I think that this is likely to be a narrow home win.