The Merson Legacy at Walsall

Being called Paul Merson's Walsall got right up the nose of many Saddlers. However that came with the territory when you have a high profile manager. Paul Merson's coments about the club and it's fans since the club parted company were at the very least ill advised, and they are certainly unforgivable. As was the mistakes he made as a manager which at the end cost us our league one status, whilst promising us promotion.

However it seems some fans seem to be willing to use Merson as a whipping boy for everything....are we been fair?

An interview over the weekend with ex saddler Andy Bishop states Paul Merson as the best player he has ever played with or against. I for one would argue that Merson is the most naturally talented player to pull on a saddlers shirt. Something which has been lost in the disaster of a management career.

It is also strange how things which have happened to the team since his departure have worked but they didn't for Merson. The only thing I can say about that is we can assume that it was not his footballing sense that was at fault but his man management.

For example, Kris Taylor ended up out on loan to Burton because he would not play left back...he is now regular at ...left back.

Daniel Fox, left back was first played in midfield by Merson. Who was slated for it.

Craig Pead was taught full back under Mersons era. Also Mark Wright was given extended run under Merson and the time spent at full back has made him a better player. Westwood whilst not his natural position was first played at right back under Merson.

So whilst not be littling anything DD has done, in fact it shows what man management, proffessionalism, and organisation can do. It also shows Merson's weaknesses perhaps but it does show that his ideas were as crazy as some have made out.

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