Villan4Life Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 What does everyone on here think of Walsall? I have a lot of respect for them for number of years and like the way they purchase smart young bosmans amongst journeymen and bringing through very talented youngsters.. and sell many on (Young bosmans or youth team prospects) for big money (Michael Ricketts, Danny Fox, Anthony Gerrard, Scott Dann and Matty Fyatt) Dean Smith plays really good football and just won 5-1 away to Notts County..and currently in play off's Pity the chairman Jeff Bonser is very much like Deadly Doug and rarely gives them a penny to purchase, think James Constable was only cash signing in last 10 years. Would love to see more of a partnership between ourselves and Walsall sending our youngsters on loan there, Milan Lalkovic on loan from Chelsea has been good for them this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I've been following them since 2008, get down to Bescot around 5 times a season and from last season been going to a few away games. Been to Oldham, Tranmere, Sheffield and Notts County this season so can tick off a few new grounds that way. They are excellent to watch although like seemingly all of the west midlands better away from home, they ripped Notts County to pieces yesterday, getting Fabian Brandy back with his pace is massive imo and being linked with jon Stead tonight. In fairness there is some really good football played by a lot of teams in league and not just the usual suspects (the league leaders Brentford are actually pretty direct). I'd say it's a more enjoyable league to watch than the championship. Dean Smith will be managing there soon enough, with or without Walsall. In fairness considering he came in 3 years ago when they were all but doomed to league 2 I have a feeling he'll stay this season and most of next to try to get Walsall promoted, that would be a historic achievement. I do think they'll finish in the play offs so no doubt 20k Villa fans will magically turn up with their Walsall mates at Wembley for a jolly! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electric Avenue Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Got nothing but a soft spot for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 See you at the Swindon game then Electric Avenue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milfner Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Such a fan of Dean Smith, I reckon he's one of, if not the, best manager in the lower leagues. You think of the players they lost in the summer (Grigg, Paterson, Brandy) and they're just as good this season, if not better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnbull Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Got a soft spot for the plucky Saddlers too. Harks back to the days when they were on Star Soccer once a season! Always thought we should have some sort of arrangement with them to take some of our kids on loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I wonder what kind of crowds they could get in the top-flight. Isn't Walsall bigger than Wolverhampton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LockStockVilla Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Not really bothered about Walsall tbh; however, I am a fan of Dean Smith. If he can work his way up the managerial ladder, I'd love to see him at Villa at some point in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villan4Life Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 Isn't Dean Smith meant to be a Villa fan as well? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bully Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I have a family connection at Walsall so I have been going over to see them a few times a season for the past few years. They play some great football despite the fact that every player is a youth graduate or freebie. Just goes to show that you don't have to pay a fortune for someone to be able to control a football! Their fans love the sexy football and I would love them to make the play offs and beat the dingles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LockStockVilla Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Isn't Dean Smith meant to be a Villa fan as well? As far as I am aware, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avfc96 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Went to 1 Walsall game about 9 years ago. I think they beat Huddersfield 4-3 with Fryatt getting a hat trick, and I got a high five from Paul Merson! Always look out for their results and they are probably my second team. Would be brilliant if they could get up to the championship and stay there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villan4Life Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 I have a family connection at Walsall so I have been going over to see them a few times a season for the past few years. They play some great football despite the fact that every player is a youth graduate or freebie. Just goes to show that you don't have to pay a fortune for someone to be able to control a football! Their fans love the sexy football and I would love them to make the play offs and beat the dingles. They call Smiths style on wiki ''Total Football" Preaching the Swansea type way at Walsall... Smith could be a good bet to look at if Lambert ever goes!! certainly has a good eye for young/freebie players.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Always thought we should have a link with them, would be worthwhile for both parties Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villan4Life Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 Always thought we should have a link with them, would be worthwhile for both parties They only seem take our players when we release them... Byfield, Conor Taylor. Can't think of anyone really he has gone on loan to them from us?? Surely likes of Drennan would be beneficial playing at Walsall than say Carlisle on loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie09 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Great club - Dean Smith and his coaching team are working miracles on the lowest budget in league 1. Decent youth set up too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bully Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 The Smith family all support Villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I wonder what kind of crowds they could get in the top-flight. Isn't Walsall bigger than Wolverhampton? They would sell out the Bescot (11500 or so) but I don't think they would get 20k if they had a 20k stadium to play in. Walsall is a fraction of the size of Wolves. It's quite like Solihull, a medium sized town (similar to places like Tamworth or Nuneaton) which is tied to a larger metropolitan borough. Places like Bloxwich, Brownhills & Willenhall are part of the borough but they are separante settlements. All that really means to the people who live there is that the office which controls things like local schools, roads and bin collections is located in Walsall, not Stafford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Last I remember they hate The Villa, is that not the case anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Yeah they don't like us hugely but we never really play them aside from pre season so it dosen't really matter. They don't like Lambert much either as apparently he played a prominent part in calling a game off at Walsall when he was Norwich boss or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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