Saddlers Social : Walsall fans fear for future

Richard Kendrick

The last 10 games of the season were pathetic. Six points out of 30 was an abysmal effort and shows just how bad we can be. Make no mistake, we have been lucky this season. Many of our victories have been fortunate and many of our losses have been well deserved. Add to this, the three cup ‘performances’ which were as bad as I’ve ever seen and deserving of scathing condemnation from the top, as well as from the terraces.

Now, just to make things worse, we have experienced players who don’t want to play for the manager, a goalkeeper leaving who wants game time just as he’s about to get it, and the excellently-timed news that our best player will walk away for nothing next summer (showing that the club will now listen to derisory offers). I just don’t have any faith that things will improve. But, let’s finish on a positive; maybe we’ll get lucky again next year.

Nick Etheridge

With the season over, it is now that Jon Whitney can be fairly judged. On paper, a mid-table finish is acceptable given the mass exodus last year. However, the performances that we have seen across 46 games have been nowhere near the standard we expect. Yes, last season we were spoiled with some brilliant attacking displays, coupled with a solid defensive unit. But fast forward 12-months and I still can’t work out what style of football we are trying to play. I can accept that a manager is learning if there are signs of improvement, but from the first game against AFC Wimbledon, to the fiasco against MK Dons, there is nothing in between that suggests we are a club on the up. The very least I expect is for the players to try. Yet against Coventry and MK Dons we didn’t show an ounce of effort. That falls at the managers feet. I fear for the worst next season. It’s going to be one long summer!

Kevin Paddock

It didn’t take long into the summer to realise we are a club in turmoil. Yes, it isn’t quite on the level of last season but it doesn’t fill us with optimism with the news Isaiah Osbourne doesn’t want to stay and Erhun Oztumer is yet to extend his contract. Whilst I’m not a big fan of Jon Whitney, the board again have some serious questions they need to answer and must stop giving the silent treatment when criticism comes their way. Players like Scott Laird – who want to stay and we should be moving heaven and earth for – are told they’re not needed, whilst players we shouldn’t be offering deals to, will be staying as they are a cheap alternative.

Tom Miner

On paper, 14th in League One doesn’t seem so bad. With a rookie manager and an entirely new team, the play-offs looked far-fetched anyway. Despite a purple patch at the turn of the year, the overriding emotion is of disappointment after watching the squad apply the sun tan lotion and hit the beach from April. The departure from the now messiah-like Dean Smith’s luxury football to the blood sweat and tears of Jon Whitney turned us into a bang average team. Couple that with a shoestring budget, an exodus of star players and the loss of a guaranteed six points from Sheffield United, and suddenly the wheels on the Walsall wagon look shaky.

Dan Gilbert

The season is over and out for 10 I’d give it a four. The MK Dons hammering showed more worries than any sort of building for next season. Jon Whitney should count himself lucky the season has ended now, the fans turned against MK Dons and he would have only been a couple more of these dreadful performances from the sack. The problems didn't stop at full-time though, news of Isaiah Osbourne not wanting to play for Whitney and that we may have to cash in on Erhun Oztumer have left me concerned for next season. It's going to be another upheaval, something the club said they had learnt from, and even worse is that they're trusting Whitney to put it all back together.

Nathan Land

I can understand fans frustration at this season after what happened last year but Jon Whitney, in his first full season, had to virtually rebuild an entire squad to challenge in a decent League One. There's been highs and lows, and until February time we had a chance at the play offs, looking at teams like Port Vale and Gillingham we've had a good safe season. Depending on this summer judge him on next season, there is a good nucleus to work with. There's not many people left in the game with the passion JW has and I really hope this time next year we're saying 'Walsall are lucky to have him.'