There have been, not unnaturally, a lot of posts of the message board along the lines of “why are we letting him go” and even a few “why Colchester?”.

I think we need to get a couple of things in perspective here.

Fox is out of contract in the Summer. At the moment, he shows absolutely no inclination to sign a new one. That means that, in June, he could walk away from the club and leave us with nothing. The amount we would receive from a tribunal would likely be very little, as his formative years were spent at Everton, not the Banks’s. If we have received a bid in the region of that reputedly offered and turned down from Leeds, 250,000 to 300,000. then we would be mad not to take it.

There is also the question of which clubs would be interested,

If he is out of contract in the Summer, then not many clubs will be bidding cash for a player they might be able to get for nothing. The only teams bidding will be those who need him now - ie, the likes of Colchester, fighting to stay up, or Leeds, fighting to go up. I’d rather it be Colchester than a rival.

No, our concerns here shouldn’t be the possible departure of the player, but whether Dicky Dosh is going to be given any of the money to strengthen the squad. As for Fox, if he does go, I wish him well, but it his choice and we do have adequate replacements in Boertien, Taundry and Sansara.

Dicky Dosh finally got his man this morning, as Walsall have taken on loan until the end of the season long time target Lee Holmes from Derby County.

The exciting winger has not been able to force his way into the Derby squad in the Premiership so far, although he has been a regular for them in the Championship.

He has been given the squad number 16 ans will go straight into the squad for the game tomorrow, as long as permission is recieved from the Premier League.

Discovered by George Burley a former Derby County and Ipswich Town manager, Holmes made his debut for Derby on Boxing Day 2002 against Grimsby Town and broke the record for the youngest ever Derby player to pull on the famous white shirt. Aged 15 years and 267 days. That season (2002-2003), he also became the youngest player ever to play in the proper rounds of the FA Cup, a record since broken by Luke Freeman of Gillingham.

A loan move to Swindon Town provided him with first team experience inLeague One, with fifteen appearances and one goal.

Holmes has played internationally (for England) up to Under-20 level and signed a three year contract with the Rams. In the summer of 2007 he was invited by the Dutch club NAC Breda for a trial, however the Dutch side didn’t follow up their interest in the midfielder.

Swindon Town – now there’s a team I have mixed feelings about. Once upon a time, of course, they meant little more than one of our regular rivals in the old third and fourth Divisions. They did have a slightly more raised profile when they beat Arsenal in that League Cup Final, before achieving the pinnacle of their success under Glen Hoddle, when they reached the top flight. As far as we are concerned, their biggest impact then, though, was the fact that they were the team we got legend Ade Viveash from.

Then came the last game of last season. The way that both sets of fans celebrated the Championship and promotion respectively on a great day for both clubs mean that a connection was made and some sympathy generated. That has been tempered somewhat, however, as they have struggled yet again through financial problems and skirting with administration, through having chased the dream too far. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for clubs that overspend – ask Leeds fans.

Still, let’s concentrate on that end of the season game last year, which meant so much to both teams, especially as there are a lot of connections tomorrow.

Tommy Mooney played 49 times and scored 20 goals for Swindon in 2003/04 for starters, but is unlikely to figure, as he recovers from that hamstring problem. Michael Ricketts should be back, however, despite having limped off on Tuesday

Ishy is another facing a fitness test, as he gets over that knock he took against Millwall in the FA Cup, while Michael Dobson missed his chance to get a reserve game in against Coventry, as he was ill, so he won’t be considered. Paul Boertien, however, did get another 90 minutes in, so, although he’s unlikely to be considered for a start, he might be on the bench.

That tends to suggest a team something like:

Ince, Weston, Gerrard, Dann, Fox or Taundry, Sonko or Hall or Deeney or Brittain, Wrack, Bradley, Demontagnac or Fox or Brittain, Nicholls, Ricketts.

The fact that our problem areas are the wings is amply demonstrated by the number of possible choices there!

There are Walsall connections on the other side too. Joint Caretaker Manager (they are in the process of being taken over, which, if it happens, will mean Maurice Malpas will take over) David Byrne played for us on loan back in 1994. I have to be honest and say I have no recollection of his as a player whatsoever!

Another ex loanee of ours is left back Jamie Vincent, who should feature, as he has come back from injury, as has Paul Merscum target Lee Peacock (oh, My God, to be reminded of that fiasco again).

Their main goal threat has been Reading’s Simon Cox, but he has finished his spell there, so they will miss his nine goals, and Barry Corr, scorer of five, is suspended. They did have the dangerous Christian Roberts returning to the squad last week, but that may have been tempered by losing the young star of the show, Ben Tozer, to Newcastle United.
Predictions?

Swindon are on a reasonable run of form, but a lot of that has to do with the scoring exploits of Cox, now back at Reading and Ben Tozer, now departed for Newcastle. Even with the return to the fold od some of their injured players, I think we will just about have too much for them at home.

The club will also on Saturday celebrate the 75th Anniversary of “that” FA Cup third round victory over Arsenal in 1933. The 2-0 win over Herbert Chapman’s team, who were regarded as the best club side in the world at the time, is still regarded as the greatest FA Cup giant-killing act of all time.

The club has invited a number of supporters who were present on that memorable day along to Saturday’s game as guests of the club. They will also be naming Executive Box 1 after legend Gilbert Alsop, scorer that day. It’s a pity they haven’t commemorated his name by renaming one of the suites, rather than an Executive Box, considering he used to have a whole stand, but, at least it’s something.

The Saddlers moved up to fifth in the table last night, with a superb win at Yeovil, makng it 17 games without defeat. While the Fat Controller didn’t report in with his match report, presumably because he’d either been washed away, or his mobile was waterlogged, I don’t hink he could have done better than Registered Saddler’s comments on the message board:

I’ve thought for a while this season that there has scarcely been a time when I have been more proud of the team I support. I don’t know if it is the long unbeaten run, my unshaken faith in the manager or the number of homegrown kids in the team. Probably all three, and many more reasons besides. And if this is a season to be proud then tonight marks the pinnacle.

Let me elaborate. During the first half we faced gale-force winds and torrential rain, meaning we had to - quite literally - weather the storm from Yeovil. To give you an idea of the ferocity of the conditions, one of Clayton’s goal-kicks went out for a corner. Unsurprisingly, we were camped in our own half and it was shots-in from Yeovil although, aside from two very presentable openings inside the opening five minutes (both went over the bar), there wasn’t much to worry us unduly.

Second half it was a different story - and not just the weather, which thankfully abated so we were able to get the ball down and pass it, rather than lumping it as hard as we could into the gale. Super-sub and set-piece maestro Taundry stepped up and planted a free-kick straight on to the head of ZiDann with his first touch - 1-0. Nicholls cut inside his marker and fired an angled shot into the corner 4 minutes later - 2-0. After that we counter-attacked with quality, pace and vigour meaning that we were always the more likely scorers. Nicholls missed a couple of chances for a deserved second, while Brittain, Bradley and Deeney also had efforts.

Those are the bare bones but the detail is so much richer than that. Every man in a blue/yellow jersey deserves a huge pat on the back for their endeavours tonight - not just in facing near-impossible weather conditions but also in showing their genuine (Championship?) class after half-time. Part of me wants to leave it there, but I feel I should mention three individuals:

Nicholls and Deeney - not only are we moulding players who have genuine quality, but this pair also have hearts of lions. They never stopped all night and even though the end product isn’t quite there yet, they are both on the path to greater things, I’m sure of it.

Fox - true professional. Never mind the off-field stuff, he got his head down and gave it his all. This was evidenced in the second half where he slid in to block a Yeovil effort from 12 yards that was destined for the net. If you’re reading this Foxy - a word to the wise: SACK YOUR AGENT!!! The best place to be right now is at the centre of the Walsall Revolution, which you have helped to kick off. We are heading for the Championship, my friend, so won’t you come and join the ride

The weird vagaries of the fixture computer see us off to play our first game of the season against Yeovil tomorrow night, despite us having played some teams twice already!

The problems that a Cup run can cause you when you have a small squad are certainly being amply demonstrated at the moment. With Tommy Mooney missing on Saturday for the Millwall game and Michael Ricketts going off early with an injury, we ended up with two teenagers up front for the majority of the game. Despite all of the pressure we exerted and the chances we created, we just couldn’t take any of them.

With Peter Sweeney now looking to have been snapped up by Leeds United, not even the return of Anthony Gerrard for the re-arranged game at Yeovil makes the prospect that enticing, as we try to extend the unbeaten run and consolidate that top six position, and Richard Money will be desperately hoping for the return of some of the injured players.

There is no advance news as yet as to the fitness or otherwise of Boertien, Dobson, Ricketts and Mooney, but, if we expect the worse, I’d be looking for a 4 4 2 of:

Ince, Weston, Gerrard, Dann, Taundry or Fox, Brittain, Wrack, Bradley, Fox or Demontagnac, Deeney, Nicholls.

If any of the four are fit, then Ricketts and Mooney both would come straight in and I would also expect Boertien to fill the left back berth if he’s fit enough to play, with Fox moving into midfield.

As for Yeovil, one player who should be missing is their influential midfielder Darren Way, who has returned to Swansea following the end of his loan spell, but they should have a reasonably clean bill of health, having had a free weekend.

Predictions?

Yeovil Town are in a reasonable run of form at home, having won four and lost two of the last six, scoring 10 and conceding 7. It was that run of form that put manager Russell Slade in with a chance of the December Manager of the Month, along with Richard Money, of course.

The Saddlers, broke their sequence of win, draw, win, draw, with the Cup Tie against Millwall, but that was at the end of a 15 match unbeaten run. Although the Saddlers have found goals hard to come by at times , they just haven’t been letting them in at the other end.

Yeovil are just outside the playoff positions, with 35 points from their 24 games so far, while Walsall’s total of 37 points from their 24 games sees them sitting in the playoff places.

All in all, this one just looks too close to call.

I was getting sick and tired of the misplaced sympathy being dished out to Leeds at the beginning of the season over their 15 point deduction.

Football always has this tendency to look after its own – even when they have proved themselves unworthy and Leeds are just a case in point.

What that fifteen point deduction did was just engender a “siege mentality” which enabled them to go on that long winning run at the start of the season. What it meant, in terms of a punishment, was precisely nothing.

You see, what you have in Yorkshire at the moment are a lot of small to medium sized businesses who have received a paltry sum in recompense for what they were owed, while football looks after itself, by making sure that football debts are honoured in full.

So, what happens as soon as the January transfer window opens? This football club, despite that fact that, in its previous incarnation, it still owes millions to people who can ill afford to lose the money, goes out and acquires or makes bids for no fewer than six players in the first six days of the month. They are:

Peter Sweeney, Daniel Fox, Hull defender Damien Delaney, Finnish winger Sebastian Sorsa, Birmingham midfielder Neil Kilkenny and Northampton midfielder Bradley Johnson.

When Leicester City managed to get promotion after going into administration, the ten point deduction was introduced, supposedly to stop it happening again. It’s obvious now that the strategy is something of a busted flush, which leaves only one option as far as I’m concerned. The League should either act now to change the rules to immediate relegation for teams in this position, or end the bias in favour of footballing debts.

I suppose the one consolation from all of this is that Leed’s form since Gus Poyet has left suggests that they might not go up yet!

STOP PRESS: Make that seven as Luton Town forward Dean Morgan has announced he’s signed a deal with Leeds, after scoring twice as a loanee for Southend on Saturday.

ADMIN WRITES: Many thanks to the Leeds fans who have emailed their thoughts on this article - if you want to discuss Neil’s views please visit the Message Board where your thoughts are more than welcome.

The Saddlers have announced the signing of former Newcastle United youngster, Martin Brittain.

Released by Newcastle United at the end of the 2005-06 season, Brittain joined Ipswich Town in August 2006 after spending a week on trial at Portman Road. He had made just one start for the St James’ Park side, ironically in his final appearance for the club, having previously made seven appearances as a sub.

Ipswich then loaned him out to Yeovil, where he made a total of 15 starts in two spells (of 6 and 9 games), before Ipswich gave him a free at the end of the 2006/2007 season.

He joined Carlisle on a weekly contract at the beginning of this season, but was released after two appearances by the new manager, Greg Abbott, having been signed by Neil MacDonald.

The Northumberland-born midfielder has a reputation as a decent crosser of the ball as well as being good from dead-ball situations.

It’s Millwall part three, tomorrow.

I always have mixed feelings about the FA Cup. Some of Walsall’s finest moments have come in this competition – and, no, I’m not old enough to have been at the Arsenal game in ’33! – and I get a warm glow at the thought of the win at top flight Joke City in 1966, the Newcastle, Manchester United, Leicester City and Leeds United games, and even that wonderful, unexpected, win from the depths of despair at Charlton in Colin Lee’s first game in charge. I still get this nagging doubt, however, that it is really a distraction from the main business of the League, especially when you are either in trouble, or challenging at the top.

This season it’s worse than normal, because I can’t quite make my mind up whether we are serious contenders or not. Would such a young team be ready for the Championship? Oh, blow it, if we are going to make a challenge this season, then a win tomorrow, followed by a good draw (Old Trafford would do) might be the making of the side this season, with the resources that would generate.

That brings us on to Richard Money’s problems, of course.

Out of the action will be Anthony Gerrard (suspended) and Tommy Mooney (hamstring), while the official site seems to be suggesting that he would be unwilling to risk Dobson or Boertien with the League games to come. Meanwhile, of course, Sjoke have refused permission for Sweeney to play in the previous round, as they don’t want him Cup Tied, so the same will almost certainly apply again.

The question, I suppose, will be whether to go with the 4 5 1, as last week (and despite it not working very well), or a 4 4 2. That would give likely line ups of:

Ince, Weston, Roper, Dann, Fox, Deeney or Sonko, Wrack, Bradley, Taundry, Demontagnac or Hall, Ricketts or

Ince, Weston, Roper, Dann, Taundry or Fox, Sonko or Hall, Bradley, Wrack, Fox or Demontagnac, Deeney, Ricketts.

Personally, I like the look of the 4 4 2.

Millwall received a boost this week with the news that Arsenal have allowed young striker, Jay Simpson to extend his loan until the end of the season, while they will have the services of Gary Alexander, who looked so dangerous here in the League game, despite him having a broken nose. He did come off the bench against Northampton to score a last-minute equaliser.

Neil Harris picked up a red card in that game, but would be missing anyway, having now got a knee injury as well, leaving either Simpson or Akinfenwa as Alexander’s most likely partner.

Ben May, Tom Brighton, Chris Hackett and Ryan Smith are all also sidelined through injury for the Lions.

Predictions?

A lot might be made of the 3 – 0 win here in the league a couple of weeks ago, but form changes rapidly in this game. Millwall have a record of only three defeats in their last 11 games, including an impressive seven points over Christmas.

Personally, I think that, with confidence high, we should have a little too much for them at home, but I never bank on anything in an FA Cup Tie!

Don’t forget that:

This is a 2.00 pm kick off, in order to allow the Millwall fans time to get to Chasetown for the finish of that game.

Should the game finish level, any replay will be The New Den on Tuesday, January 15th .

The draw for the fourth round will take place live on BBC2, Radio 5 Live and Sky Sports News at 1.30pm on Monday.

Well, the fact that the Saddlers’ squad is down to the bare bones was brought starkly to relief yesterday. With Boertien and Dobson still missing, Mooney not recovered from his injury and Sweeney down with a virus, the eleven that started looked very weak, especially in midfield.

Money decided to go with a 4 5 1, the centre three being a winger, Darren Wrack, and the other two the teenagers, Bradley and Taundry. It proved to be a mistake, as the lack of space in the centre in the first half meant that there was just no room for the threesome to get on the ball, especially against a hard working Doncaster side that was shutting the space down quickly.

Let’s be honest, though, this Doncaster team came into the game in fourth place and I thought showed why they were there. They looked a more capable outfit than Leeds, for example, in that they did try to get the ball down and play, whereas Leeds played a large amount of “hoof ball”. They were also very mobile up front, with players interchanging continually, giving the home markers a very difficult game.

The first half did ebb and flow, though. Certainly Doncaster had a spell of dominance, but that was matched by one from the home side towards the end of the half and Walsall probably had the better chances. Sonko glanced a free header wide which he really should have at least put on target, Bradley headed over when he should have scored and Ricketts and Demontagnac both hit curling 20 yarders narrowly wide with the ‘keeper beaten.

It all came as a bit of a surprise, then, when Doncaster took the lead in injury time of the first half, when a scramble in the box lead to the ball arriving fortunately right on the foot of the onrushing J J Price, who shot home.

We didn’t deserve to be behind, really, despite not playing well. Money, however, decided to leave things as they were for the first fifteen minutes of the second half. It didn’t improve much, however, as Bradley, having a poor game for him, misplaced two passes straight to the opposition ealry on, one from the restart.

Around the hour mark, Money made the change, however, going 4 4 2, with Nicholls on for Taundry. The youngster could count himself a little unfortuanate, however, as Bradley could easily have been the central midfielder sacrificed.

The home team then started to play better and slowly took measure of control over the game, especially once Deeney replaced the ineffective Sonko. (Interestingly, Deeney went on the wing and Nicholls stayed up front, presumably to try and exploit their lack of pace at the back).

Ricketts was unfortunate with a free kick that struck a wall that was nowhere near 10 yards away and Sonko put a volley into the side netting, but, eventually, a right wing corner from Fox was met by the head of Scott Dann, who buried the chance.

Ricketts should then have had a penalty when being clearly held down by Doncaster substitute McCammon. McCammon’s presence, however, did help the Saddlers, as Doncaster stopped trying to play football and just tried to hit the telegraph pole, who was, quite frankly, useless.

Gerrard got the sponsor’s man of the match, but it was a very tight call for me against the outstanding Rhys Weston (when are you going to recall him, John Toshack?). Also a special word for Michael Ricketts. He learned the art of playing the lone striker from Sam Allardyce, the master, and I thought some of his link up play, as he dropped deep and let the midfielders run on into the box, was outstanding. Sign him up!