Reports on social media linking us with Anthony Wordsworth.
Skilful central midfielder, 31 years old and 6’1". Bags of experience and we’ve been linked with him before.
We’ve had Shakespeare, we’ve had Keats so we might as well have Wordsworth too! 
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In line with that, we also once had an academy player called (Lee) Ayres …
Have we had enough for another Best XI team on the theme of poets and writers?
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Very likely to look at Non-league talent and young players released from local Championship and Premier clubs. We might even have a mystery trialist from further afield (Jorge Leitao II would be nice!) but, in terms of wages at least, this website link is quite informative, in terms of players from leagues one and two, recently released:Every player released from League One and League Two so far as EFL clubs announce retained lists - Grimsby Live
Okay, buddy, here goes:
1.) GK: Harper Lee (Lee Harper)
2.) RB: Wayne ‘Tennessee’ Williams
3.) LB: Rico ‘James’ Henry
4.) CM: Craig ‘William’ Shakespeare
5.) CD: Andy ‘Samuel’ Butler
6.) CD: Gary ‘Eugene’ O’Neill
7.) CM: Martin ‘Flannery’ O’Connor (my favourite writer and one of my favourite Walsall legends too! ) - captain
8.) RM: Dean ‘John’ Keat(e)s
9.) CF: Trevor ‘Agatha’ Christie
10.) DCM: Mark ‘William’ Blake
11.) LW: James ‘Thomas’ Hardy
Pretty decent team if you ask me!
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Like it! 
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Your choice of right back reminds me - haven’t seen him for a while but Wayne Williams used to be a fairly regular customer in my local. The story he tells is that it broke his heart when Walsall let him go and he burnt all the souvenirs of his time with us in a bonfire - which he now says is his life’s biggest regret as he absolutely loved playing for us and especially the fans.
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I loved Wayne and watched him closely because I played as a RB myself as a teenager. Did Dogface replace him as RB?
By the way, I probably should have had Jimmy ‘Alice’ Walker in goal (his goalie top would have been the colour purple) but I liked the Harper Lee ‘anagram’! 
No it would have been Richard Knight for half a season (whatever happened to him?), can’t remember if Williams was injured or had just been left out, and then the permanent replacement was Wayne Evans. I think we went up a level there, Evans was the better of the ‘right-back Waynes’ imho.
Incidentally there is a writer called Mark Wallington, I’ve read a couple of his books, quite funny. I liked the Harper Lee/Lee Harper choice though.
And another literary keeper was John Osborne of course.
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Which of the 2 Waynes was it that Kenny Hibbitt used to say was always the first name he put on the teamsheet, because even then though they weren’t the best player in the team they were the most professional and consistent, and in fact he wished he had 11 of them to pick?
Hasan’t done much in championship but would be loads of clubs after him in league 1 you’d think if he got released.
Certainly need a goalscoring midfielder though, Sercormbe more realistic.
I would love to have the Wizard of Oz back, he would destroy L2 defenders.
Sadly, I don’t think it’s realistic to think he would drop down to our level, I’m afraid there will be too many clubs in L1 chasing his signature.
Good shout though, Andy.
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Andy Butler would love to come back to Walsall.
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Absolutely loved Butler when he was here but guessing he’s past it now if he didn’t cut it at Scunny last year - could be great to have in the dressing room though, what a leader he was for us
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No for me, left for family reasons and now he’s jobless they don’t seem to matter.
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Well said
They probably do but in other ways at this point in his career, like having a salary coming in to provide for them (no matter where he is) - but I get your point
It’s a tough one . He’s a big personality and fans favourite with loads of experience. On the other hand he is 36 past his best no doubt and may halt the progress of some of our youngsters.
I’d love him back back.
If Sadler hadn’t stayed on as player-coach; it could have been an ideal role for Butler.
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I loved Andy when he played for us, nobody we’ve had in the back four have matched his talent since.
At 36, his best days are behind him, as he said in the paper, he will decide when he’s finished.
In retrospect, the club gave Sadler the player/coaching position a week or so too soon, Butler would have been a great coach for us.
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As much as I loved him, he left for more money - I didn’t buy the family excuse. I just wish players would be honest with the fans: it isn’t a crime to get a new job that offers you more money and/or better prospects. He’s too old now: we can’t afford both him and Matt Sadler. I would be looking at picking up Connor Johnson instead - he did well during his loan spell here. He is young and we can develop him. All the best, Andy. I hope you find something soon.
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