With a blank canvas of a squad, and a new hierarchy leading the team, attentions fully turn to next season. It will once again be a bit of an unknown, as many teams in the league will be turning over large parts of the squad. So before any recruitment has been made, and before a ball has been kicked, what are the realistic, (and potentially ambitious) hopes for the season ahead.
League
After two disappointing seasons in League Two, a solid, top half finish would be a vast improvement. The idea of a top seven finish will always be there, but if the side can shake the poor 19th place, and reach the top 10, then a large portion of the fans will be happy. It may not sounds the most ambitious, only hoping for top 10, but it’s a realistic hope for a side that will be a fairly new squad, and manager too, and something not achieved by Walsall in League Two.
Fans want some excitement. Both seasons since relegation have seen the Saddlers finish in the bottom third in regards to goals scored. It is the area of the pitch that the biggest improvement is needed, and some big wins would give some enjoyment throughout a season.
It will be a season where some teams surprise, and others disappoint, as there always is. Fans want some form of consistency. We all know that not every game will be a Walsall win, but consistency in performances is needed, rather than the varied football we have witnesses this season, and at times, from one half to the next.
Cups
In the last five seasons, Walsall have not progressed beyond the 3rd round or either the League, or FA Cup, or EFL Trophy. The truth is, that a good cup run can be a good distraction from an average season. If Walsall are set for another mid-table finish, it would be good to see them progress through a couple of rounds in a cup too.
Walsall were out at the first hurdle of each cup this season, and with a 19th place finish, there was nothing to excite fans at all. Walsall finished 14th, in the season when they reached the JPT Final, but no-one remembers that. Instead, the overriding memory was the trip to Wembley, and the games in the build-up.
Cup games can also provide some of the best games to attend as a fan. Walsall playing Chelsea was huge, and the chance to see the Saddlers take on Mourinho’s men was something not seen since Manchester United in 98. Although the draw is beyond Walsall’s control, being in the hat for the draw is something that they can try and achieve.
Other
Consistency and goals was already mentioned, but there are other elements that would be nice to see next season.
Actually getting beaten. It sounds very strange to say that, but how often were Walsall actually beaten by a team? And how often did they lose a game through mistakes, missed chances, and poor play? It would be nice to see some fight in the side, and when they lose, forcing the opposition into playing well, not coasting to victory.
Continuing to bring through youth is key. One of the few highlights of the season was the emergence of Sam Perry and Tom Leak. The academy players have impressed, and if more can be nurtured, and brought into the squad, then that will not be a bad thing for the club as a whole.
There are many things to hope for next season, and these are just a select few. What is your biggest hope not mentioned for the season ahead?
