00:00Hi folks, I was at Essenton earlier today where I spoke to Matt Sadler ahead of Walsall's difficult trip to MK Dons on Saturday.
00:09The transfer window slams shut on Monday, finally, and there was still, you know, a lot of talk about what is going to happen between now and then.
00:19And firstly, starting with outgoings and I asked him about Conor Barrett, who has reportedly attracted interest from Shelton Athletic and a couple of League One outfits in the form of Stockport County and Peterborough United.
00:36And when I posed that question to Matt Sadler, he said it was the first he'd heard of it, said though that, you know, he's not surprised that Conor Barrett is attracting attention with the form that he's been in.
00:49Obviously, two goals so far this season in the opening five league games, but his words were, you know, as it stands.
00:59The reports are purely rumours and that he looks forward to continuing his relationship with Conor Barrett.
01:07So, sounds quite positive there in the main.
01:11Also spoke to him about Ronan Mayer and, you know, yet to get in a matchday squad for Walsall in the league this season.
01:19And his only appearance come with a start in the League Cup against Stoke City.
01:24So, you know, suggestions of whether he could go back on loan.
01:28Obviously, he had loan spells at Russell Olympic the season before last and another loan spell at Tamworth last season.
01:36Either side of an ankle injury.
01:38And then signed a two-year deal for Walsall this summer and Sadler said, you know, that he sees him as a big part of the club's future and he offered a two-year deal to him, you know, with good reason.
01:50But, obviously, Walsall have stacked out their midfield options with Jake Holman arriving from MacArthur FC.
01:58Ryan Finnegan has joined from Blackpool on loan.
02:03And Lewis Warrington in a deeper role, but nonetheless still in that midfield.
02:07Has signed from Leighton Orient.
02:10Courtney Clark has also established himself as a strong option in midfield.
02:13And then you've obviously got Jamie Jealous and Charlie Lakin as well, who, you know, have been the ever-presents really in the league.
02:19So, lots of options in that midfield area.
02:22And it feels as if, you know, minutes are going to be hard to come by for Rona Mayer.
02:27And Sadler said, you know, that Walsall have a judgment call to make on that.
02:29Because they, you know, don't want to risk him not playing.
02:37Game time is the priority.
02:39But they also don't want a situation where they let him go out on loan.
02:44And they actually feel that there are certain games he could contribute to.
02:47So, I think that's one that Matt Sadler is weighing up.
02:50It's probably just a wait-and-see situation, to be honest.
02:54But, you know, he said that minutes is the priority for Ronan Mayer.
02:57Yeah. And, yeah, in terms of last week's performance, he was delighted with the way in which his team maintained a strong performance levels over the course of the 90 minutes.
03:10And hopes, you know, that that can really be the platform for a level of consistency now.
03:16But, obviously, this weekend, I mean, it doesn't come much more challenging than MK Don's best defensive record in the division.
03:22Ten goals in their last four games, and third in the league.
03:25So, you know, a big spending summer for them.
03:30I'm one of the favourites in terms of vying for that promotion.
03:34And I'll be there at the stadium with MK on Saturday.
03:38In terms of other things that came from Matt Sadler's press conference, there'll be plenty across the website on the Express and Star.
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