Walsall’s strike options

On tuesday we tried Hector Sam and Tony Bedeau up front as a pairing. In my opinion it didn’t really work. Having said that I feel you have to remember that Swansea’s defence is stronger than most we will meet in league two and also Tony Bedeau has missed a lot of pre season and was out with an injury before hand so he is lacking games and sharpness.

We also tried Darren Wrack just behind Sam an option which I feel will have many a league defence in problems however Darren isn’t ready yet. Ishmel whilst doing a good job verses Port Vale where his pace unsettles defenders, positionally he is out of his depth through the centre.(perhaps in time this will happen though). Start of the season third choice James Constable seems to have lost his way some what. After pushing for a starting spot then having a couple of injuries he just doesn’t seem up to it. Also I feel his confidence is at a low level following a penalty miss in the reserves and another in tuesday nights shoot out.

So where does that leave us, it leaves us hoping that broken leg victim Alex Nicholls will return and fulfill the potential he showed in his apearances last season. The danager is that whilst he has been out his status has been blown out of proportion. Many fans seem to have forgot that he is still a young proffessional still learning his trade. Whilst I hope like a lot of Saddlers fans he will be another 15 -20 goal striker especially as his rare pace will have the ability to unsettle most defences, but can we depend on that unknown factor. We have between now and January to find out.

So in short in the short term we could be in a mess if we lose Martin Butler through injury or suspension. The options are either not working or unproven. The only solution could be to bring another PROVEN striker into Bescot. Whilst Dickie tried and failed just before deadline day perhaps we need to re investigate this option for January. Message to Paul Taylor..another Roger Boli please !!