A bit of a diversion from our current woes, came across this picture of 3 of the best in my opinion.
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% love those three
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Absolutely …so gifted. Brilliant to watch. Enjoy the footy in the sky Shakey, mini and Handy 
With the ball. Absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful.
Without the ball, not so much. If there was a fourth one in there like a Chambers or O’Connor, it would have been complete and probably got us promoted in 83/84.
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Brilliant kit too!
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Add to that handysides
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P.T is correct though. On the ball, they were sublime but they were a bit lightweight. Mini became more robust with Luton but, if anything, they played too much football for Division 3. We did much better at home than away and Buckley was criticised for not having a more physical presence.
Having said that, they were a joy to watch and, apart from Childs’ 3 games for the Baggies, each played their first 100 games for us.
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And there’s the thing @Laundryman .
" Joy to watch"
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How about Ian Paul and Steve Waddington ?
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I played school football against Ian Paul - good cricketer too. Can’t believe he’s gone! In our team was Steve Essex who played for Burton Albion - he also died a few years back - so sad! 
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On technical ability I’d go for Samways, Merson, and Corica, probs swap Gary O’Neill for Corica maybe.
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Loved Samways and Merse probably our most gifted player.
But those 3 seemed to me at the time as “ours”
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I have great memories of seeing Shakespeare, Preece and Childs play. This was my favourite time for watching the Saddlers. Even the promotions under Graydon come second! It was such a great watch, unbelievable for a third tier side. I agree that the midfield was light weight and this is probably why the team didn’t get to the second tier. With todays play off formula they may have done and I have no doubt they would have thrived at the higher level. Buckley achieved this with Grimsby, playing similar football. As Bernie Taupin wrote; I never had me a better time, and I guess I never will, (again).
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Unfortunately we’ll never know I’d like to think you are right 
Walsall’s best midfield ever bar none. RIP Craig Shakespeare, thanks for the memories x
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Doesn’t get any better than that
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Imagine adding Samways to those three! Or even Adam Chambers.
And don’t forget we actually did add Ian Handysides to that midfield to make it even more awesome but, as others have said, incredibly lightweight so that we could play teams off the park but then, when it really came to the crunch and we needed to grind out results in matches that turned into a battle, we fell a little short of what was required.
Personally I’d add captain fantastic Martin O’Connor to those three to make my all time favourite midfield four.
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If you’re looking for our best midfield you have to find a spot for Peron on the left.
Peron, O’Conner, Merson, Wrack should get you some goals whoever you stuck infront of them.
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All class players, but for me personally the original 3 evoke special memories.
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