Bescot Beat: Walsall spend money on agents?

In the news this week, stories appeared about how the 72 FL clubs spent a total of £8.8m on agent fees during the course of the 2008/09 season. That's a lot of wonga!

Apparently, we spent a small total of £29,340 on agents and if you ask me, it was quite a waste of money! Although, it does show what kind of a world we have to compete in when clubs like Derby County in the Championship spent a little less than £1.5m on agents fees (not that it got them far).

I would suggest the reason for the Saddlers dishing out the pennies would be because former Director of Football Paul Taylor returned as a football consultant to assist Jimmy Muddle with transfers. Hmmmmm...

On to things current, and after witnessing the Saddlers defeat at Charlton over the weekend, it seems to me that things are nearly there but not quite.

I was impressed with Matty Richards in midfield, as he seems to give us that creative option. However, the more and more goals are conceeded, the more I start to worry about the first-team credentials of Manny Smith.

He was at fault for Jermaine Beckford's winner for Leeds against us last week and the lack of closing down and marking in the box just seems to suggest that Hughes and Smith as a partnership just simply does not work!

Another thing that is starting to concern me is the lack of goals being scored. Our last two goals came from the spot and Troy Deeney seems to be struggling with the expectant pressure of scoring 15-20 goals this season.

I have been impressed with the impact of Sam Parkin, as he puts in his shift everygame and he now looks to be our only chance of getting goals this season.

Gills at home to come next and a return for ex-Saddler Chris Palmer....should be interesting!

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