A complete lack of plan saw Walsall capitulate to a Tranmere side bereft of confidence and ability on a dismal Tuesday night at the Banks’s. Goodison did the damage on 40 minutes from a set piece. More to come.

It was a terrible turn out from the fans on Saturday and an equally terrible performance out on the pitch, so Walsall will be desperate to put that right at home in the League Cup tonight against Tranmere. The big question is, are we capable of producing it?

Hutchings has a fully fit squad to choose from, by all accounts (although that seems a little strange, as I was not the only one who thought that Lancashire had come off with an injury on Saturday), so he has two choices, either pick the same team and give them another chance, or make wholesale changes. I think he’ll go for the first – it’s his style. Me? I’d go 4 3 3:

Brain, Lescott,, Smith, MacDonald, McGivern, Taundry, Richards, Marshall, Jones, Byfield, Gray.

If he does want to keep 4 4 2, I think he ought to give Marshall and Grigg a go anyway.

Tranmere are somewhat in disarray, it has to be said. Out at the end of last season went Bas Savage, Chris Shuker, Gareth Edds, Charlie Barnett, Josh Macauley, Kithson Bain (all released), Craig Curran (Carlisle, free) and in have come Joss Labadie (West Brom, free), Timothy Cathalina (FC Emmen, free), Gunnar Nielsen (Manchester City, loan until January), the incredibly, wonderfully named Enoch Showumni (Falkirk, free) and Nick Wood (Sheffield Wednesday, free).

To make things worse, the team, which only avoided relegation on the last day of last season have now been rocked by a transfer request from their star striker, Ian Thomas-Moore, who has, it seems, got himself another club lined up.

All things considered, this should be a relatively easy start for the Saddlers, especially as Tranmere lost at home to Oldham on Saturday, but we were so bad against the Franchise, I really wouldn’t want to pick a winner out of this one.

Well, so much for any optimism about the new season.

There’ll be plenty of criticism for individual players after the opening day debacle against The Franchise, but, quite frankly, I’d excuse any of them on the grounds that I don’t know how any of them could have performed well the way we were set up and played.

Quite why, for example, do we choose a team consisting of hobbits for the entire midfield and strike force (with the exception of Gray) and then are under obvious orders to get it upfield as soon as possible every time, resulting in us giving the ball away time after time?

I’d already said that any two out of Richards, Marshall and Taundry were going to be too lightweight to play as an orthodox 4 4 2 and so it proved. We were completely over run in the centre of midfield and the two wingers were so starved of possession that we were playing with 9 men for most of the game. I could see it, why couldn’t the Manager?

Defensively we were somewhat shambolic too. Quite why Lancashire got the nod ahead of MacDonald, I’m not too sure, but that wasn’t the main problem. What was, was the fact no one was picking up the runners from midfield and we seemed to be completely unable to cope with Easter dropping back into the hole between our midfield and defence and – crucially – no one did anything from the bench to try and correct either problem.

We also seemed perfectly content to let them play their own game in their half. I saw very little evidence of us trying to put pressure on the ball and they were given time to pick their pass over and over again.

The old man of the team, Dietmar Hamman, can rarely have had an easier game. He just kept dropping into space, got the ball from a fellow midfielder if they were under any pressure, then played the simple ball to get them going again. Did we do anything to counteract that? No.

In fact, we only changed tactics at all towards the very end and then didn’t change the personnel. We witched to a 4 3 3, but, instead of puling off one of the ineffective strikers or wingers, none of had got any possession all afternoon and bringing on the extra midfielder in Marshall, we just pushed Jones further up alongside Byfield and Nicholls (did he get a pass all afternoon, by the way – I barely remember him touching the ball) and dropped Gray further back.

Last;ly, of course, despite the fact that everyone around me clearly recognised it wasn’t working by half time, the Manager left it unto the 87th minute to make a substitution and that was forced on him by Lancashire’s injury.

I don’t know if anyone has bothered rating the player’s performances out of ten, but, if they have, can I add Hutchings and O’Connor – 1 – and that’s generous.

A dramatic 24 hours at Bescot with Troy Deeney finally departing for Watford on Friday after a 5th offer, and then today the season kicked off with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons. Reaction is pouring in on the message board, both on the transfer, and on today’s game.

Cannock was at the game and posted this within minutes of the final whistle:

I went to the match today hoping to see some attacking football. It simply didn’t happen. The fact we lost doesn’t concern me but the manner in which we lost most certainly does.

The central midfield area was quite simply dreadful. Time and time again MK had a man spare due to the full back and central defender offering themselves available and thus waltzed past Taundry and Richards. When we did gain possession we attempted to launch it to our huge forwards. Needless to say we never won a ball all afternoon. We are in desperate need of a box to box midfielder. One who can tackle, win the ball and then pass and move. Simple really.

Out wide Gray seemed particularly ineffective and Jones obviously prefers to be on the opposite flank. Each time Jones received the ball he tried to cut inside and lost possession.

Up front, playing the way we did, Byfield and Nicholls didn’t have a prayer of doing anything. A big strong centre forward is needed.

Out of the new boys both Brain and Lescott acquitted themselves well but i’m afraid Lancashire was particularly poor. Several times man of the match Manny Smith had to do the job of two men as Lancashire went awol.

Overall, a very poor performance in terms of effort, tactics and doing the basics. An inability to hold onto the ball, pass and move was very concerning. Richards, Lancashire and Gray not up to scratch on this showing. Neither was Hutch and O’Connor i’m afraid.

I did get quite excited for two 30 second passages of play but out of 90 minutes that simply is not good enough.

It’s the day before the season starts and, despite some of the acrimony that finished last season, the lack of “big” signings and some of the doom and gloom on the message boards, I am, strangely enough, getting that tingle of excitement this morning! Maybe it’s the prospect of a game against the loathsome Franchise FC.

It’s a little difficult to decide quite how we are likely to turn out tomorrow, considering the way Hutchings played about with tactics and formations, so I can foresee two distinct possibilities.

The first is the previously favoured 4 4 2, which would probably look like this:-

Bevan or Brain, Lescott, Smith, MacDonald, McGivern, Jones, Taundry, Marshall or Richards, Gray, Byfield, Deeney

The second is a 4 3 3, looking something like:

Bevan or Brain, Lescott, Smith, MacDonald, McGivern, Taundry, Richards, Marshall, Jones, Deeney, Byfield. (If Deeney is likely to be on his way out, that front three would then become Jones, Byfield, Gray).

That shows that Hutchings does have some options, as there is no obvious place for the top scorer pre season, Nicholls.

Our problems are shown by the lack of alternatives in some position, however. Two goalkeepers, yes, two full backs (with Westlake hopefully pushing on this season), but only Lancashire as central defensive cover, no spare left back and no real cover for the wingers, other than a change to 4 3 3, in which case there would be no central midfield cover. If there are no further acquisitions, injury could necessitate some fast moves in the loan market.

As for the Franchise, they also have had some big changes.

Out have gone David McCracken (Brentford, undisclosed), Lewis Gobern (Grimsby, free) Sol Davis, Darren Powell, David King and Dean Morgan (all released). In have come Lewis Guy (Doncaster, free), Dietmar Hamann (unattached), David Martin (Liverpool, free), Gary Mackenzie (Dundee, free) and Angelo Balanta (QPR, loan).

The biggest change for them has come at the helm – Karl Robinson. At 29, Robinson is the youngest manager in the Football League and the youngest coach ever to gain a UEFA Pro Licence. After an undistinguished playing career in non-league, he was Paul Ince’s assistant last season and took over in May, with former England coach John Gorman as his number two while Dietmar Hamann has signed a one-year deal as player-coach.

Predictions?

Take your pick! We don’t have any real indications of form to go on. We met opposition from a higher Division in all but one of our pre season games and, not surprisingly, didn’t win any. The Dongles lost at home to West Ham and Birmingham (narrowly) and stuffed Rushden and Diamonds away. Make of that what you will, but pre season results mean remarkably little anyway. I’ll go for a home win, just for the hell of it.

Well Done UTS!

As it’s the Franchise, can I also take time out to mention the little girl who had the shocking experience last season when her Supporters’ Coach was attacked by some mindless brick throwing yobs who have the nerve to call themselves Walsall fans. Thanks to Addis Saddler’s efforts, UTS users raised £175.00 for the family to try and make sure that this season’s visit is a much more pleasant one – though, hopefully, not on the pitch. Well done to everyone who contributed .

Stefan Gamble, previously financial director, has ben named as Roy Whalley’s replacement as Walsall’s Chief Executive going forward. Roy himself will take a backseat role and concentrate on his duties as commercial director, generating off-field income. As Roy’s angling for a quiet departure, this little reshuffle should come as no surprise to Saddlers regulars. Stefan’s a beanie by trade and his financial acumen will hopefully suit the club in maximising it’s position based on income available from all sources.

One welcome surprise (to most) was the appointment of life-long Saddler Leigh Pomlett to the board. Leigh’s been a fan for 40 years, and his work experience in transport, freight and logistics should have given him a few well-connected contacts throughout Europe. UTS understands he’s been a F2G-based supporter so he’s familiar with some of the more (ahem) rough and tumble fans and their views on the running of the club.

These appointments mark a sea change in Walsall’s management. Last time a director was appointed the announcement was kept under wraps but this time the club’s been upfront, and even better, the director is a Walsall fan with no ties to Leeds-based development consortiums.

One thing that the three have in common is an appreciation of how important fans are to a football club:

Roy Whalley on attendance:
“How far this club goes depends on how many supporters come,”

Stefan Gamble on attendance:
“It’s top of the list. We have to engage our supporter base and that is one of the things we will address from the outset. If we can get them back it doesn’t guarantee us a better season, but it certainly helps.

Leigh Pomlett:
“I’ve been a Walsall supporter for over 40 years.”

Perhaps one of the first things these three could agree on in the brave new world of Walsall FC would be that silencing fans who are critical of some aspects of the club might not be in everyone’s best interests. While one has had his ban rescinded, it would be nice of others were to be treated the same way, having been summarily excluded for the same “crime”. Neil can attend matches next season, now it would be nice if it were confirmed that Darren and Wayne were accorded the same treatment. Fresh season, fresh start, please, Walsall. Let’s have some perspective.

Chris Hutchings today made his second Summer signing, saving keeper Jonny Brain from his annual relegation dogfight at Macclesfield.

Brain is a 27 year-old who has done the hard yards for four years with the silkmen, moving there from Port Vale, where he had a mixed time tussling with Goodlad for the #1 jersey.

He’s not a stranger to Bescot – he played against Walsall in the opening day of the 2004/05 season, where Vale lost 3-2 (beaten by Fryatt, Williams and Taylor). McKinney was our keeper that day.

The Easter bank holiday Monday game against Oldham is looking a bit dicey. The Latics have looked at moving it to the Tuesday, for no other reason than that policing costs go up on a bank holiday.

Here’s a tip for them – try doing a cost benefit analysis based on a sparse Tuesday night crowd compared to a bumper bank holiday crowd.

If you can’t afford to police your own ground you’ve got money issues, really. Perhaps if they budgeted properly they’d be able to cope.

Luckily the moves have been quietly sidelined after some of their fans emailed to complain, so hopefully this article will give them the (unofficial) Walsall viewpoint too, to take into consideration before they make their final decision. Bank holiday games are special, and not to be messed with.

Walsall are looking for cover at centre back, as Mark Hughes, for some unknown reason, decided Australia was preferable to a Walsall winter.

The Skipper signed Contract Acceptance Forms with The Saddlers last week, as the Express and Star (and UTS) had reported he was going to, before receiving an offer from the Hyundai A-League outfit Queensland Fury. Following discussions between the player and Saddlers’ boss, Chris Hutchings, it was agreed that a move away from the Banks’s Stadium would be in the best interest of both club and player.

“Mark contacted me late last week regarding an offer he had received from Australia,” explained Hutchings. “We spoke at length about the move and agreed to go our separate ways. Mark feels that this is an opportunity he wants to pursue and we will not stand in his way”.

It’s likely that Smith and MacDonald would have been the first choice centreback paring this season anyway, but this means we are left with no experienced cover for them, other than Jamie Vincent. The fact that he has no cover at left back means that reinforcements are necessary.

England crash out of a major tournament again. The repetition is becoming rather dull, the reality much more distressing. There’s a lot going on on the messageboards at the moment and you can talk about it here.

What have we just witnessed? The car crash that Premier League football has brought to the national game, that’s what. It’s been summarised better elsewhere, but in a nutshell we’ve got a bunch of overpaid prima donnas, playing for clubs that are too wealthy, in a country that has a billion pound national stadium but no youth programme or facilities, overseen by a press that overhypes and sensationalises everything in a quest for readers rather than truth.

Will Capello hang around? Can the FA afford to get rid, even if they wanted to? Pity the next manager, if one can be found to take up that particular poisoned chalice, as the weight of expectation will crush any life out of the reality that is English football. The manager can only play with what he has available. With a team with no apparent depth, little world class skill, no youth programme comparable to other nations and especially, no future, what can he do. If this is the golden generation, then all the gold is in their bank vaults. It’s one thing to earn millions playing for a club stuffed full of international stars, but another to wear your heart on your sleeve and play for your country.

For this England team, this manager, this set-up and this authority (FA and EPL), it’s clear that they’ve been weighed, measured and found wanting on every level.

Pah!