Northern Saddler

There has only been one story worth taking note of in the sport`s section of the newspaper, and it`s not DD`s warning to his defenders or Martin Butler`s goalscoring return to action. The news has been dominated by Lee Hughes`s move to fellow League One side Oldham. It has caused more controversy than John Prescott, and you can understand why. Hughes, who of course was with the Albion and Coventry, was involved in an accident after a ‘post-match drink,` which killed a father of four. Hughes then ran away from the scene to avoid a breathalyser test. He got sentenced to six years in prison, of which he has served three. He has shown remorse and has now signed for Oldham Athletic on a two-year deal at the age of 31, three years after he last put on a Sky Blue shirt for Coventry. Since his release this week, there has been more talk of the matter than a storyline on Eastenders, and the debate goes on to whether he should`ve have come back into football? Should he not be allowed to make a comeback? The arguments are pilling up I can tell you! My personal opinion is he did something so stupid it`s almost unbelievable, but at the end of the day he has served time for his crime and he can get back to doing what he does best?scoring goals. I think everyone deserves a second chance and let`s face it, he is not evil or disturbed, he is a footballer who made a mistake. I say good luck to him, everything is done and we have to move on. Life is too short to hold a grudge!

I was pleased to see Martin Butler score, as he rarely did last season. I was disappointed to see that the lead was given away within five minutes, and Swansea went on to win the game 3-1. In terms of staying up: it isn`t looking good. Also, DD has said he does not plan to make any more signings, which worries me. The team is taking time to gel, but we lack a presence in midfield?we need younger legs. When Keates played last season, we had plenty of energy, but now he has departed to Peterborough, we have no body. Except maybe Mark Bradley! DD seems to have forgotten about him. I think he is one for the future and a player that will run the Walsall midfield. However, it has taken DD over a year to play Ishmel Demontagnac, so it may be the same with Bradley. Either way, the midfield need to change and then we will start to see the real Walsall.