Folks saying there’s no surprises? I’m astonished we want to keep Hornby, DJT, Farq, and Matt. To what end??
As for DJ, sounds like he was chomping at the bit to get on and score some goals while we were firing blanks agains the likes of Gillingham, Newport, Accrington and Barrow.
Forget all the positive spinning, Sadler made his calls, he stuck by them even in the face of overwhelming evidence he was wrong, and here, as in any walk of life as a manager he should be held accountable for those decisions. And in any other organisation than Alice in Trivela-land he would be sacked for gross mis-management of his resources.
The selection calls on DJ, Chang, and Asiimwe from Feb onwards are evidence enough.
This retained list is further evidence, and it also proves he isn’t learning from his mistakes anytime ever…what mistakes??
The real stories of the released/retained list isn’t with the players let go or the surprise offers. It will be the nature of the offers we have made to the likes of Stirk and Gordon. Have we done the usual low ball offer or are we offering what they should expect? Have we offered Allen a good extension?
As it is we will be waiting on decisions until the end of June stuck in no mans land the scraping the barrel in July
Seeing this list, it’s more or less as expected. Perhaps it’s a player-coach deal for Jamma. Priest is a good player when he’s fit, but another injury would be a big blow for him and the club. I’m also surprised that the head coach is conducting the contract negotiations. That’s not usually his job.
I’ve watched at least 10 games of DJT at Drogheda he looks the exact same player to me apart from more goals which could be down to the standard of football.
He won’t be and the idea that the retained list is solely down to MS is also wrong in my view. SUNNO also makes a good point. We don’t know the nature of the offers made to any of the players…that news will come out over the next few weeks. I hope the likes of Williams , Stirk and Liam Gordon will have enhanced deals. I would also hope the Club try and get Allen and Jellis to sign contract extensions. This window is a big test of Trivela’s ambitions and by the end of July we will know a lot more.
Matt: why? He’s a great guy, but he’s finished! Priestley I can sort of understand as we have lost McEntee and DD and, even if Williams stays, he will probably not be fit for the start of next season. And who exactly are we going to attract to come to Walsall, on peanuts and after the season we have just had? I’m glad that Rico Browne is staying - there’s a player there I think. It’s the other end of the pitch that worries me: Matt, Flush, Levi and DJT - it’s hardly prolific, is it? Serious investment required!!
We are a club with limited means. So we have to spend our money as efficiently as possible. A pound spent here means we do not have it to spend over there. That should be the first thought prior to making any decision.
The Priest may be the best centre half in the world. Unfortunately he never plays and should not have been offered a new contract. Do we really have so much money that we can do this?
We are a football club - not a self help group. You sometimes hear the comment “oh they are good to have around the dressing room”. Like Roy Keane said “what does this even mean, what do they do - card tricks?”
We are a relegation form team and some of our best players have gone back to their clubs. Unless we make some key signings we are in deep trouble. Cant believe we are making offers to Gordon and Stirk. For Gods sake get rid!!!
Of course the 3 big names missing from the released list are Sadler and his staff.
Lets hope for some quality signings but don’t hold your breath. We were told a million times last year by Sadler how perfect everything was so why should he even change it at all.
UP THE SADDLERS
Hopefully more leave or this leaves us with little room for manoeuvre which isn’t good after the way the season ended.
Matt the Priest and a few others should have been let go nothing personal but I don’t want a forward line of Matt Adomah DJT and Gordon next season it’s embarrassing.
So what? Maybe the annonymous, almost mythical Matt Jordan stuck his oar in, maybe ROK popped over from the golf-course.
Mat Sadler is Walsall FC manager/head coach. Its painful reading the same mealy mouthed posts attempting to defend the indefensible. I thought the end of the season was time to judge??
So do you think offering any amount of valuable budget to players that are finished/not good enough is a viable part of a strategy to be a successful football club??
Looks for all the world to me like trying to keep the clique together.
