Liam Kinsella ends his Walsall stay after more than 250 games. Hayden White and Manny Monthé are on the list of players that will leave when their contract ends in a few weeks.
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It is that time of the year when we say goodbye to players who will leave the club at the end of their contracts. A few of them will be missed, and some will leave and soon be forgotten.
Liam Kinsella leaves the club
One player who never will be forgotten by the Saddlers faithful is Liam Kinsella.
Being at the club from the age of eight and gone to play over 250 matches for the club. By leaving the club the legend status will forever be associated with his name.
He is an example of how we want players to act when at the club. Always giving 100%, have time for the fans. Always polite and grounded. Even when things did not go as we hoped he still gave 100% and contributed with what he can.
He is not a technical player or the one making the fancy dribbles. You always knew what to get when you saw him on the team sheet.
Kinsella could have left on several occasions in the past. As other players do when a club is starting to decline and fall the leagues, Kinsella stays loyal. His love for this club is at another level. I cannot see any player in the current first team or the U-18 team who would stay loyal to the club for such a long time.
White leaves after 3 seasons
One player who I like to mention is Hayden White who leaves the club after three seasons. He is a player who has split opinions from the fans.
Due to his disciplinary record, he often came under scrutiny by the fans. I’m sure he would have won over more fans if he kept his temper.
During the first part of the season he, Daniels and Monthé was part of a solid defence. In the latter stages of the season injury problems were coming, and his bad disciplinary record came back to haunt him. I think the unpolished play where he gave away unnecessary free kicks in dangerous positions, and took yellow and red cards was what made him fall out with some of our fans.
I liked him but was frustrated by his temper. I liked how he was willing to help in the final third making runs with and without the ball causing problems down the right wing.
When he and Liam Bennett was responsible for the right-wing attack and defence, I think most teams we played feared our right side because we had two attack-minded defenders who could cause havoc.
Monthé end his Walsall career
Manny Monthé must be mentioned as well. The powerful defender who never let anyone past him is a mountain in defence. Not the most technically gifted player on the ball, there was a huge risk of him hoofing the ball away without an address when coming under pressure.
With his height and powerful presence, he should have been able to get more done on attacking set pieces, but to be fair to him, it is not easy to win headers when you have two or three opponents holding on to you.
In periods of games, he was too nice, almost as if he was afraid to hurt his opponents and stood off and gave the opponents the overhand especially, on defensive set-pieces where he seemed unfocused and lost his man on several occasions. We need our players to be more ruthless in front of both goals, of course, without giving away penalties, but you understand what I mean.
I like to thank every player who leaves the club and wish them good luck in the future, except if or when they play against Walsall.
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