Who and where are the Saddlers?

Walsall blogger Mark Jones takes a general overview of exactly where the club are at as the Saddlers plod along with a home game against Preston in League One.

Opinion is divided but I am one of those fans who actually think that avoiding defeat at Wycombe and staying out of the bottom four in League One is about as good as it gets for Walsall right now.

It doesn't mean I'm all happy clappy about things or that I believe we should settle for becoming third division relegation fodder. I'm just saying this is where things are at, that's all.

But where exactly should the Saddlers realistically be aiming for? What can we achieve?

In the short term and, on the pitch, it's become obvious where the side needs strengthening.

We need a midfield playmaker, a 20-25 goal a season striker and maybe an explosive wideman capable of changing a game. So that's just us and every other team in our league then.

We haven't got these types of players and it's doubtful that we have the funds to bring in these kinds of players, unless boss Dean Smith can do a bit of work in the loan market or develop our own or if someone can spot a hidden gem playing on a Sunday morning somewhere on our behalf.

So, for now, there doesn't seem to be much option but to grin and bear it. The small minority who think that changing the manager will bring anything positive are at best misguided with very short memories.#

It ain't pretty, it ain't exciting but it sure beats League Two and below.

In the medium term, look around is. Take the top end of current League One table - you have got Charlton, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and Huddersfield – the division's five genuinely biggest clubs.

Then there's Milton Keynes Dons, who throwing money at it in the hope everyone will forget it's not a proper club while praying that AFC Wimbledon don't get up to the same league as them.

Incidentally, wouldn't it be funny if they brought in a rule along the lines of pursuit cycling so, when the real Wimbledon catch them up, the Dons get eliminated?

Abyway, I digress, moving onto Notts County and Brentford – who both seem to have mysteriously acquired some funding from somewhere.

Realistically, in terms of finances we can't compete with the top eight right now, but take a look at the other two thirds of the league.

I don't think there is another club who we shouldn't be able to mix it with if we had some positive leadership at the very top of the club.

We have done it before, so why shouldn't we challenge at the right end of the league once again?

In the long term, throw off the shackles of the rent burden, get the crowds coming back and attain a more democratic ownership.

As fans we should have a vision to cling to, we should remember not just who we are but who and where the club could be.

As the team struggle on the pitch, we can all dare to have a dream to chase.