Tue 29th December

So the old year ends with little more than a whimper.  I suppose the fact that we’re still a second Division outfit is something to be thankful for as is Mr Graydon’s appointment and the reduction in the irritating babble our ex-Chairman and current owner enjoys sharing with anyone willing to listen.  The Club seems to be moving in the right direction for the first time in two or three seasons and the playing staff is possibly as strong as is has been for ages.  The kids are emerging and the days of Porter and possibly even Adie Viveash look numbered.

One thought for the unlucky Johnny Kiester who could have learned so much from Uncle Ray.  He didn’t have as far to go as either Roper or Platty but now may have played his last game.  When you hear that Madrid are offering McManaman 110 grand a week and you compare it with JK’s current position then you realise that not all footballers are benefiting from Jean Marc Bosman and his legal eagles.

1998 was a mixed year.  The respectability earned at Old Trafford was blown by late March in a combination of players who should have known (and done) better, a board of directors happy to play the tune of the Chairman and a Manager who had lost the faith everyone except the supporters. The players simply didn’t give a shit for him, us, the Club or themselves and basically let everyone down.  

Conversely, the manager and fans cared like hell and yet the board provided us with Edyle,  Tholot and Gisbert Bos a Rotherham reserve whose Walsall career ludicrously never even began, let alone finished.  

Autumn and Winter were better.  Rammell and Pointon arrived without fanfare, as did Wrack.  Indeed the only fuss was over Brissett's arrival following what so far has been his best game for us at home to Sheffield Wednesday.  The subsequent arrivals of Green,  Pingu and Otta were also ignored by both the Gold & Black and Claret & Blue obsessed press but have all enjoyed success. 

The French quartet have thankfully gone, none of whom are worthy of a place in this current side. Granted Peron was comfortably good enough but work rate under the Graydon masterplan would always have been an issue.  The loss of Hodge hasn’t been noticed and if we could pick up a natural goalscorer to partner Rammell then the early season promise will surely be fulfilled.

The arrival of the halfway mark in the season also means we are no longer the early pacesetters and the boys deserve credit for keeping it going.

On a final note - the JWB labelled "best squad ever assembled at Bescot" has been ruthlessly demolished and rebuilt within 6 months by a man who has spent £30,000. This team would batter the previous one to within an inch of their lives, leave them breathlessly crawling along the gutter and still have not broken into sweat. There is simply no comparison.

Best squad at Bescot? Utter shite. This is the best squad we have seen at Bescot.