George Bennett discusses Walsall's released and retained list on the latest episode of the Bescot Beat.
Last week, the Saddlers put out their released and retained list with four players departing the club after their contracts ran out.
George looks at those who remain and why there are positives to be taken.
Last week, the Saddlers put out their released and retained list with four players departing the club after their contracts ran out.
George looks at those who remain and why there are positives to be taken.
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00:00I think, you know, if I'm kind of looking at that list, and again, it all very much depends on sort of interest from other clubs and how things are panning out.
00:07But if I'm looking at kind of prioritising players, then, you know, Harry Williams would be one immediately.
00:12That'll be prioritising at that negotiating table, followed by Ryan Sturck.
00:17And yeah, I think Liam Gordon kind of elsewhere.
00:20I think Jamil Matt is a player who had a fantastic turnaround at all, so a really difficult start.
00:30And then sort of second half of Matt Sadler's first season really started to showcase his quality, but it was just about proving his fitness.
00:37And then the first half of the season last year, he just seemed to find a new lease of life.
00:43He was kind of playing back-to-back games, scoring goals, you know, finished the season with 12 goals.
00:48But after Nathan Lowe left, I think he's found the net just three times.
00:52So I think his age started to maybe catch up with him a little bit towards the end of the campaign.
00:57And I think, you know, I've heard kind of a number of people comment that it felt like he was running on empty in the end.
01:03And I feel like you can still offer him a one-year contract and he can still have lots to offer.
01:08I mean, I spoke to so many people about his influence and how infectious he is as a person on the camp and how beneficial that is.
01:19So that's key to have, you know, first and foremost.
01:22But there's still quality there as a player.
01:24I just feel like you can't have him burning out.
01:26You can't go into a season relying on him to be your main centre-forward, which has kind of been the case really since Nathan Lowe left the club.
01:34And I think he's suffered as a result of that.
01:37So I feel that Jamil Matt still has plenty to offer, but it will have to be in a slightly reserved role.
01:43Maybe, you know, in some ways that we've seen with Albert Odoma, another player who, with that sort of experience and Sadler talked about his infectious enthusiasm.
01:54Players that you want around the camp, but can't necessarily rely on to be regular starters week in, week out.
02:01So that's kind of how I see it with them.
02:04And then you've obviously got the Priestley-Farkerson one, which I know fans have kind of been a little bit bemused by just purely because, you know,
02:13Jack Heron's been released because of his injury record.
02:15And then you look at Priestley-Farkerson, who I think has played 23, 24 games over the course of his two seasons at Walsall.
02:25In the sort of small sample sizes we've had of his performances,
02:28there's clearly evidence that there's a brilliant defender there.
02:31But he hasn't been able to prove his fitness.
02:34So, yeah, I was maybe a little bit surprised on that one.
02:36I did expect him to move on.
02:39But it will be make or break season for him.
02:41And I think it will be the same for Ronan Mayer.
02:44I mean, he's kind of done everything there is asked of him now.
02:47Had his loan spouse at Russell in National League North.
02:51Made a step up and did well at Tamworth in the National League.
02:55Played a few games last season.
02:56I mean, I was reading some quotes back from Matt Sather, actually, from the summer last year,
03:01where he talks about the fact that, you know, he sees Ronan Mayer in his first team plans.
03:05And unfortunately, it didn't kind of pan out like that.
03:08So I feel this season, if he is to stay, same with Priestley-Farkerson,
03:14it's definitely make or break for those two.
03:17And Douglas James Taylor is another interesting one.
03:20You know, you look at his goal-scoring record at Drogheda, he's another one who's done everything there is that he can do
03:29in terms of that, going and getting that confidence in front of goal, getting regular game time.
03:38And, yeah, it would be interesting to see how a Douglas James Taylor, fresh from that loan spout,
03:43Drogheda would come back and do in League Two now.
03:45I think he would be a very different player.
03:48But, so, yeah, it'll be interesting to see how that one develops as well.