Chris Marsh: Dean Keates right to target a midfielder
In this column last week, I said Walsall were entering a crucial seven days.
We all know signings are desperately needed.
But it’s not just over the past week they haven’t arrived – the Saddlers have now gone 30 days since they last made an addition.
Supporters are anxious, I’m anxious too.
But Dean Keates did well to calm our fears at the Meet The Manager event which took place on Tuesday.
He said he has got a number of players lined up to join on a permanent basis.
But if those deals don’t happen, he has loan players ready to fill the void.
A Plan A and Plan B are in place. And while I’d much rather we make the permanent signings – we all know that’s not always possible on Walsall’s budget.
Keates is doing the best he can with what he has at his disposal.
But the most pleasing thing for me was that he confirmed he wants a central midfielder and striker as well as some defenders.
Of course a centre-back is the priority.
But I do think we need another striker, both to provide competition for Ama Bakayoko and to ease the burden on Andy Cook.
And I also think we need another central midfielder in case anything was to happen to Adam Chambers or George Dobson.
Chambers is now 37-years-old and while he is in outstanding shape, there will come a time when he starts picking up niggling injuries.
We’ve got Liam Kinslla and Jordon Sangha as well but it’s an area that needs strengthening. I’m looking forward to seeing who will come in because if the last seven days were crucial, you can’t put into words the importance of the next week. It will determine our season.
