21st July.
Great Wyrley (home)
While we have been on holiday and entertaining my football club has been playing some behind-closed games; beating a Nike squad (never actually heard of them, sorry) at St George’s Park, losing to Wolves and, this very evening losing 1 – 0 at Telford. I have seen none of the games and, so probably do not deserve a comment. However we are not distinguishing ourselves in these games so I hope the manager is learning something about the squad, tactics, and strategies: the reason for friendly games could be said to get match practice and gauge next steps.
And I do feel bad that I have not been – and probably will not be able to – get to these friendly games. They can be interesting pointers and – at the very least give a chance for the new names to get burned into the brain (though, honestly the new names are few and far between at the moment).
Speaking of which, while we were in Devon Walsall signed up Milan Lalkovic. He was previously with us, on loan from Chelsea and I like his attitude and skills. I am glad that he is back with us and look forward to seeing him in action.
This, alongside contradictory messages in the press and on the official web-site:
“We are going to be more attacking, more attack-minded” and
“There is nothing wrong with the way we played last season, but we need to score more goals”
These do not compute, but put alongside the lack of a – sorry Milan – recognised out-and-out striker at this point may be the best we can manage. O.K. Jordan Cook was out of action at the beginning of last season with a serious injury during a friendly and Tom – “Super-Tom” Bradshaw came out of the shadows and excelled himself. But Dean Smith’s somewhat complacent attitude that we can do business – and better business – later in the transfer window – is almost a statement of intent.
Will Grigg, former striker who came good at Walsall has been transferred to Wigan Athletic (who also snapped up last season’s brilliant goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell from us) and there will be some money heading our way, but apparently not quickly and maybe only in small amounts.
I am keen to see Walsall do well this year, building on what was, looking back a frustrating season with some highpoints and drama. I wish the whole squad well – of course I do.
And the first of the home friendlies – against Aston Villa is on Saturday.