Wallsall
Odds: 12/1
last five seasons
2005/06 – 24 (League One Relegated), 2004/05 – 14 (League One), 2003/04 – 22
(Championship, Relegated), 2002/03 – 17 (Championship), 2001/02 – 18 (Championship).
Cup progress 2005/06
FA Cup Fourth Round v Stoke City (a) – lost 2-1.
Carling Cup First Round vs Crystal Palace (a) – lost 3-0.
Football League Trophy Southern Section Semi-final vs Swansea City (a) – lost 6-5 on penalties with the score 2-2 after extra time.
Top scorer 2005/06: Matty Fryatt (forward) – 14 goals.
players in
Tony Bedeau (Torquay United – Free), Martin Butler (Rotherham United – Free), Michael Dobson (Brentford – Free), Clayton Ince (Coventry City – Free), Hector Same (Port Vale – Free).
players out
Daryl Taylor (Bournemouth – Free), Steve Staunton (Pitch), Taiwo Atieno (Pitch), Dean Coleman (Pitch), Andy Oakes (Pitch).
Walsall finished bottom of League One last season but is one of the bookies’ favorites for promotion. Club captain Dean Keates has revealed that the Saddlers endured a rigorous pre-season training regimen in the hope that it will give them an added edge when the new season kicks off in August.
Chronic goal shortage was one of Walsall’s weaknesses last season and there was no one to replace top scorer Matty Fryatt when he left for Leicester City during the January transfer window. Manager Richard Money has taken care of this over the summer and has signed two new forwards.
Forward Tony Bedeau came on free after finishing as the Gulls’ top scorer last season with 11 goals. The 27-year-old Grenada international has made almost 350 appearances for the club since he made his debut in 1995.
Rotherham United striker Martin Butler, who began his career at Walsall and made his senior debut in the 1993-94 campaign, has returned to Bescot Stadium for free.
The money made Brentford captain Michael Dobson his third signing of the close season following the release of the League One side’s defender. Dobson was Brentford’s longest-serving player, making nearly 200 appearances in the first team for the club.
The return of former Derby County midfielder Darren Wrack will be like a new signing. He has been sidelined since he broke his leg in early September 2005 and is almost ready to return after 12 months out of the game. Midfielder Michael Standing left Walsall by mutual consent despite having signed a two-year contract extension in May 2005.
Verdict
Manager Richard Money has used the transfer market well this summer and the Saddlers should be good enough to secure at least a playoff spot, although fans are hoping to finish in the top three.