00:00George Walsall have signed Albert Adoma, Championship promotion winner with Aston Villa, released
00:15by QPR at the end of last season. Someone who some might have been surprised he was
00:21on trial at Walsall given the fact he was playing the Championship last year. Just talk
00:25to us about that move, what you've made of him so far in the pre-season games and how
00:30you feel he's going to benefit and fit into Matt Sadler's squad?
00:34It's probably not really being kept a secret to be honest, but it's something that's been
00:42rumbling on now for the past fortnight. He was a surprise trialist against Alba Church
00:49in the opening game of pre-season, played the first 45 minutes at right wing back and
00:54looked really impressive to be honest. Some good runs down the right hand side, a couple
00:58of good deliveries which is something Walsall will be crying out for from the wing back
01:03position and impressed and spoke to Matt Sadler about it after the final whistle. He was quite
01:11open about the fact that he was on trial and the fact that they were in talks and looking
01:16to kind of seal a deal. Then he obviously had the game against his former club Villa
01:22who received a really warm reception from the Villa fans and he's been public about
01:27himself on Twitter saying he's trying to get a deal over the line. Today's the day where
01:33the deal's been done and a one-year deal for a player who's going to provide firstly quality,
01:38the calibre of player and the career he's had, but also the experience that's going
01:43to be important. You look at someone like Conor Barrett, it looks as if Odoma's going
01:48to come in and provide competition and cover for that right wing back slot. So someone
01:54like Conor Barrett's going to learn so much from someone like him who's had the career
01:57that he's had with Conor Barrett now trying to press into the EFL and try and embark on
02:02a career like Odoma did.
02:07How key is that experience going to be going into that dressing room? I suppose it's not
02:10just his age and the amount of games he's played but the level he's probably played
02:13at. We also have got players that have played at a higher level but Odoma's consistently
02:19been flirted around the Premier League Championship for most of his career really. How massive
02:26is that going to be from Matt Sadler's side in the dressing room?
02:29I think it'll be key. We've spoken about Jamil Matt's experience with Forest Green and his
02:35promotions but you've got someone that's done it at a higher level and that can impact the
02:40players in the dressing room. He's been there and done it. Two Premier League promotions
02:46to his CV. That's not a bad thing to be introduced into the dressing room when you're hoping
02:51to have realistic ambitions of trying to press for a promotion yourself which Walsall will
02:56rightly feel they can do so after coming so close last season. That sort of sign-in, I
03:02think it's quite clear that there's still more additions needed in the centre-forward
03:07areas but that sort of addition as the season goes on could be absolutely vital to possibly
03:13helping Walsall get over the line.
Comments