For some days now I’ve been pondering what I should write about this time around. As always, I struggle massively to get my thoughts down into words and readable sentences. The number of texts I have written and later deleted because I don’t find them interesting and how can others find them interesting if I can’t?
The question though that has popped up a few times since Monday when I read Liam Keen’s article in the Express and Star about Clarke possibly have to rely on loan players next season. That question is, can you rely on loaned players?
I know we have a core of contracted players still, we need to bring in more players and, I hope not only through loan deals.
With the current situation with Covid-19 and not knowing when the season will start will make clubs very hesitant to splash out money on players who will look to get paid even if no scheduled fixtures to get the revenue from. Clarke is in no rush to sign players and, I can understand him. He will not risk our club’s financial stability. There will probably be plenty of good players available before the transfer window closes. Maybe even more than usual due to clubs releasing fringe players or even high earners instead of offering a new contract if they want to reduce their wage bill to save money. I’m not worried at all and, I trust Clarke’s judgment on this. He got most of the signings right last season in what was a massive overhaul.
The key, if you go down the loan market route, is that you have to find the right type of players which is easier said than done. A player that was a hit in one club can be less impressive at another club. You have to look at the basics. How is as a person? Will he fit in and adapt fast? Is he hard-working? Is he a fast learner etc.
That is the part that we never get the chance to see or understand. We usually look at how many matches has he played, how many goals has he scored, which teams have he played for, is there a highlight video on YouTube? These are what we base our judgement of a player on, usually.
Loans can pay off if you get the right type of players in. Usually, a loan player is brought in to the team when the rest of the contracted players gone through most of the pre-season, which mean most of the team bonding activities have passed and, they have to learn how to settle fast.
Darrell Clarke said in that interview that he was pleased with all of his loaned players last season and he could try and get some of them back this season. It all depends on how their clubs are willing to send them out on loan again, and to Walsall. I would love to see Cameron Pring and Rory Holden back since I think those where the two that made the biggest impact of the players on loan last season.
I’m looking forward to July to find out which players Clarke will bring in to the team. In our case, it might not happen until there is news about a starting date for the league. A starting date is probably not enough as it is since ticket sales and matchday income will be missed out on if we are forced to play in empty stadiums. TV money in League Two isn’t that great that it should grant playing with empty stadiums other than getting the season going so it won’t go on too late into June consider the Euro is next summer. I can imagine UEFA want leagues to be done and dusted so it won’t take the focus from the Euros.
In Walsall’s case it might not be until the last week in July we start seeing players coming in. But I rather see them sooner than later. This pre-season will be crucial for the season after this long time off from football.
The most important signing of the season might be our fans. We have longed so long for football now and the first home match I hope will be a packed Bescot Stadium if it is possible due to Covid-19. I will dread if we play the first month or two with empty stadiums. I fear if we have a less desired start of the season the buzz will be gone the day they allow us back to the stadiums again.
The best scenario is to kick off the season when the fans are allowed back. If the match schedule gets to tight well, get rid of the JPT Trophy or what it will be called next season and use those match dates for league fixtures instead and move the last match later into May or early June if UEFA allows that because of the Euros.
Most of all we want it all to go back to normal soon that we have the pre-season and the season to kick off early August as it always does.
Wouldnt it be great if we got a season where we are promotion contenders from the start and get those 5K at Bescot every home match.
I was about to say support your local club in a way to get more fans to the stadium, but then I realised I’m about 1400km away from Walsall as I write this, even further is you take the driving distance. I might not be the role model for supporting your local team.
I hope you find this somewhat interesting and worth reading. I try my best. I am learning new ways of thinking for every post I write.
Be the first to comment