Yesterday’s deadline saw two players join Walsall. Both were loans, and direct replacements for the players that left. Today, Leigh Pomlett confirmed something that we all had questioned, that they will pursue signing them if they impress, and the possibility is there. This is further down the line, so what can we expect from each of the players.
Max Melbourne
Melbourne joins from Lincoln, where he has struggled to hold down regular first team football. He has made 16 appearances in all competitions for Lincoln, although many of his 8 league appearances have been off the bench. He came through the ranks at West Brom, and will now be out to get regular action. To find out a bit more about our new Left-back, I spoke with Alistair, who had nothing but positive things to say about the player:
He’s a fairly well rounded full back, and he’s also pretty adept at Centre Back too. He’d probably have been our first choice left back right now if he hadn’t spent the first couple of months of the season injured. (He’s not got any injury problems it’s just an unfortunate one off). He’s a popular character in our dressing rooms too, I can’t see any negatives of this signing for you other than the fact it’s temporary.
It would appear that Lincoln think highly of the 22 year-old, despite not seeing too much of him. In the 19/20 season, he ended the campaign as the first choice left-back, and would have probably notched up a few more appearances if the season hadn’t been curtailed. The injury at the start of the season was a shame, and Max will be wanting to show how good he can be, and hold down a first team place.
Derick Osei Yaw
Derick joined as a replacement for the outgoing Elijah Adebayo. He comes with little experience in the English game, after moving from France this summer. He has scored 3 in 10 in all competitions, which clearly shows he knows where the back of the net is. I spoke with a source, who wishes to remain unnamed, and this is what they had to say:
Basically he is unpolished. He gets the shot away, and most of the time manages to get it on target, but doesn’t necessarily have a footballing brain. We signed Sam Winnall in the summer who obviously league one level it’s been pretty prolific.
Also a few times the language barrier has been a bit of an issue but he is a good player he just needs that polishing.
Most of the time he played left-wing but I think that’s more to do with the fact we’ve got Matty Taylor and Sam Winnall and then a younger player called Dan Agyei, so I think that’s why he’s been left wing. But the front three players tend to swap between anyway.
He is used to playing in the French League and maybe less physicality, maybe more time on the ball so first-team action is what he needs. I think he’ll be decent I honestly think he has something to offer.
Like with Adebayo, Yaw seems talented, but raw, and if the coaching team can draw that potential out, then he could well fill the shoes that have been left by Eli.
Both players have huge potential, and they seem to be smart additions, rather than panic buys. They are joining with similar goals in mind, to hold down a starting place. Both have struggled for regular action, and if Leigh Pomlett is to be believed, there is the potential to offer these players a home, which is when the team at Walsall can really get them growing as players.
