Walsall's Deadline Day summary with George Bennett and Nathan Judah

Express & Star

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00:00Well, good evening. I'm delighted to be joined by Walsall Report. It is Mr. George Bennett.

00:05George, just because it's seven o'clock where the windows slam shut doesn't mean to say that

00:09we all stop working at 7.00001 because it's, well, certain clubs leave it late. They have

00:17all summer and yet we're still waiting around and we're still waiting for deal sheets and

00:21all sorts. But in the end, George, how have Walsall done on this deadline day, September

00:28the 1st? Yeah, it's been a long transfer deadline day, 12 hours typing away. But yeah, in the

00:38end, it was two in, one out. And early in the day, we saw Stockport County defender Jed Okiki

00:50come in on a season-long loan. Predominantly right-sided, but

00:58can also play on the left, had a number of loan spells across the National League North

01:02and National League. And that obviously comes in the wake of losing Mason Hancock to injury,

01:07expected to be out for around four to six months with a dislocated knee. And then very late

01:14in the evening, it was announced that Josh Gordon would be rejoining former club Barrow on a

01:21season-long loan, not had the game time that he would have wanted in the opening stages of

01:25the season. Just a one appearance in the league from the bench at Chillingham. And then Rico Richards,

01:32former West Brom and Aston Villa Academy player, came through the door at the death. And, you

01:40know, I mean, probably really just misses the, not quite on the point that Walsall fans are expecting in

01:48terms of that new centre-forward, generally an attacking midfielder or played out wide when I

01:54watched him play for Port Vale. He was playing on the wing. So, you know, I think Walsall fans are

02:01crying out for a centre-forward. And it felt like really that was the missing piece of the jigsaw for

02:06them. You know, they've had a hell of a turnaround this summer. I mean, it's been

02:1212 players out of the door in the end. You know, if you exclude Johnny Stutter, who's been recalled

02:18by Bournemouth, it's 14 through the door. And I feel like, you know, they've invested well in terms

02:23of some of the non-league talents that they've been able to unearth in Harrison Burke, Courtney Clark,

02:29Aaron Presley looks a real handful up front. Like I say, those midfield positions look very well

02:34bolstered now. But it's just that centre-forward. You kind of, you kind of look at, you've got Aaron

02:41Presley and Daniel Karnu up front. And then outside of that, it's Jamil Matz and Albert Odoma, you know,

02:51Levi Manchi and Josh Gordon both out on loan now. So you feel like there's maybe an injury there away

02:57from a bit of a striking crisis. I feel they've left themselves short in that area. But in terms of the

03:02turnaround, I mean, it could have been a lot worse when you look at some of the players

03:09at the left, Taylor Allen, Ryan Sturk, Liam Gordon. One bit of business that was absolutely

03:16superb was Aidan Flint, bringing him on board, 36 years old, huge experience, probably been a

03:22standout performer so far this season. Been sort of rave reviews around him after every game.

03:28And then, you know, to bring him in and get a six-figure sum for David and Kauper, I think

03:34that was probably, yeah, in terms of that 60 minutes, that was the best piece of business

03:39for Walsall this summer for sure.

03:41How would you grade it overall, would you say, window-wise, George? A to E?

03:47I would probably say a seven.

03:53Like I say, they needed that centre-forward on board. And if they bought a strong centre-forward

03:59option in to finish the window, it probably would have been upgraded to around an 8.5.

04:04I think, you know, looking at the reaction from Walsall fans, there's quite a lot of disappointment

04:09regarding that inability to bring, yeah, one more player to shoulder the goal-scoring

04:18burden, so to say.

04:21So, yeah, I'd probably say about a seven. Like I say, they've done well with a huge turnaround

04:26in players. But, yeah, just looking a little short in the time.

04:31Lovely. Thank you very much, George, for all the latest on Walsall. Make sure you follow

04:34George. And, of course, make sure you read ExpressStar.com.

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