In the latest of his regular blog's, Kyle Mitchell takes a look a what could happen during Walsall's 2015/16 Football League campaign.
Next season there are a number of things that could happen. Looking at the end outcome we could make the playoffs or get relegated, or of course get another mid-table finish. There are also a large number of possibilities for what could happen on a smaller scale. Maybe we will splash the cash or somebody will break a record. I am going to look at the possibilities.
Bradshaw Scores 20 Again
I can see this being a safe bet. Bradshaw met this mark despite several injury spells and a bad run in front of goal. Meeting 20 again this season will depend on his fitness but I can see him meeting it again without a doubt.
The only reason that he wouldn’t meet the mark is due to injury again but a lot of work should be done before the season on fitness for Bradshaw and if it works and he can play 46 league games he can easily meet 20 goals.
Bradshaw Scores 30
A slightly tougher call for Bradshaw that will once again rely on fitness but if he can meet the 20 goal mark then all we need is a cup run. If we can get a cup run going and add another 10 games to the season, all of which he plays in then I can see him getting 30. Of course this is a long shot but it could always happen.
Deano Gets Sacked
Now a lot of people would love this, but I think it would be a bad call. Deano has built a stable club which is slowly progressing. Fast progression isn’t always the way forward. Yeovil all of a sudden shot up out of nowhere 3 seasons ago and 2 years later a double relegation sees them playing league 2 football next season.
Gamble previously came out and said the trust is in Deano so it is very unlikely he will get sacked but on the other hand next season could be make or break for a lot of people, including Deano. If we have a relegation battle on our hands come April then we could end saying farewell to Deano but it is a bad move still. Unless we do get relegated we should keep him.
People under value what he has done for us. He took us to Wembley and has kept us in a steady mid table position over 3 years. The next couple of seasons need to see a push for the play offs but we are doing well under Deano.
Wembley Part 2
This could happen in a number of ways. Maybe we have another JPT run and get a second shot at the trophy this season. Or maybe we have a Bradford-esque league cup or FA cup run. Most likely though it would be in the play offs.
The league is wide open this year meaning a playoff run is likely. No team will walk the league like Bristol and Wolves of the previous years and there aren’t any teams that stand out to be guaranteed a top 6 finish meaning we could quite easily challenge for a place in the top 6. If we do it only takes two games, like the JPT this year to see us take a second shot at Wembley.
Youth Takes Over
We already have a few players who could see a lot of first team action this upcoming season. Morris, Henry, Kinsella and Flanagan will all make a claim for regular football with Morris and Henry being first team players all of next season. Bakayoko, Murphy and Preston could then push for the first team and play regularly. You then have players such as the two Rowleys coming through who could try and push for chances like Kinsella and Henry did this season.
I can see us having at least 5 or 6 of our youth system products being regulars in the team by Christmas (Henry, Morris, Flanagan, Kinsella, Bakayoko and possibly Preston). With a busy New Year period fitness issues could see a few more given a chance at first team level to prove themselves.
We Get Promoted
This is most likely to happen through the play offs if it is going to happen. If we make the playoffs it is an open competition with anybody being able to win it so promotion is likely, we have a 1 in 4 chance in the playoffs.
Getting promoted automatically is less likely but we still have a chance. As I said this year there are no clear favourites in the league meaning anybody could grab those top 2 spots in my opinion. Wigan and Millwall will both push for promotion after just being relegated but it isn’t as easy as it seems coming down from the Championship so I can see them both finishing mid table this season.
Swindon, Chesterfield and Sheffield United could all make another push but with 2 of the 3 looking towards new managers it won’t be easy and Swindon may drop after a strong season and players already being linked with moves away to the Championship.
We Get Relegated
This is the unlikeliest of all the scenarios in my mind. There are plenty of teams who I think will struggle next season. To go along with Colchester and Crewe who will continue to struggle I think that Blackpool will end up being relegated. The club is too unstable for the management and players to be able to succeed and concentrate on what they are doing rather than what is happening around them.
I think Southend and Bury may struggle coming up from league 2 but Shrewsbury and Burton will both finish mid table. I then think Chesterfield may struggle after a change at the top with Scunthorpe also possibly struggling as well.
Overall look
I think next year we will finish top half. How well we do will rely on who we bring in before the start of the season. If we can add another striker and get a solid starter at right back I can see us making a large push for the top 6. If we struggle to add quality in the two positions then we will finish mid table in around 10 to 12th place.
Another run is possible in the JPT and I would like to make the 3rd round of the FA and League Cups, I would like a trip to Aston Villa.
By: Kyle Mitchell.