[retired_jkkuehl]

Monday 14th November 2005

I call Kris Taylor into the office.

"Kris, just thought I would let you know that Notts County have made an approach for a 3 month loan deal. I have declined the offer as I think that you have great potential here and have played exceptionally well in the last couple of games. I trust you are ok with the decision."

"Yeah boss, I'm happy at the Bescot at present, as long as I continue to figure in the first team. Things may have been different if I was in the reserves."

Well Kris its up to you, if you keep playing like you have been then you will continue to be in the starting line up"

[retired_jkkuehl]

Saturday 19th November 2005

Blackpool v Walsall

The trip up the M6 seems to drag, the Board had decided that they would treat the players to overnight stay in Blackpool with partners and children.

Why the board chose Blackpool I will never know, the lights, the fair, the golden mile, donkeys on the beach, who knows. All I know is that we face a difficult match at Bloomfield Road and then its hitting the bars after.

We took over 1500 fans, the fans of Walsall love Blackpool and there was more coaches put on than normal. It's a shame we couldn't have this much support at every away game.

Although there was only 6,500 people in the ground the atmosphere was great. It sounded like there was 20,000.

The game was a boring affair and John Ward's side had ample opportunities to snatch all 3 points.

Ward commented after the game "I thought we'd just edged it but at least we've a point. The pitch wasn't great but we stuck at it and worked hard"

Walsall boss Domino said "I feel sorry for Blackpool players and fans for having to put up with that pitch, I felt that we were second best throughout the whole of the game, and we are lucky to come away with a point. They should have won it, and battled hard and were the first to every ball, we were still in the starting blocks some of the time"

[retired_jkkuehl]

Burgess returns to Hull

Charlie Domino has failed to keep striker Ben Burgess at the Bescot following his recent loan deal. Hull were keen for the youngster to stay at Walsall but it is rumoured that the player was dissapointed with his limited starts and felt that a move elsewhere may prove to be more successful.

Burgess who netted 2 goals in 11 appearances has decided to stay at Hull and battle for a first team place.

[retired_jkkuehl]

Walsall 2 Bradford City 2

A Matty Fratt goal earned Walsall a point against high flying Bradford.

It was the visitors who raced into an early lead with Cadamarteri netting on 5 minutes. Walsall fell further behind with Windass addid Bradford's second.

The home fans saw a glimmer of hope when young striker Lee Collymore netted his 5th goal of the season to pull the score back to 2-1.

With the clock ticking away fast a 68th minute Fryatt goal was enough for the Saddlers to finish the game with a point.

"Bradford are flying high and are playing exceptionally well football, our performance was not the best again but we leave with something. I suppose the result was a good effort considering we were 2-0 down so early on" Domino comments after the game.

[retired_jkkuehl]

Walsall 0 Huddersfield 3 (FA Cup 2nd Round)

Walsall crash out of the FA Cup at the 2nd hurdle after being brushed aside by League 1 rivals Huddersfield.

The Saddlers never got out of the starting blocks and fell behind early on, searching for an equaliser the Terriers scored on the break and a well placed free kick finished the demolition.

Kris Taylor bruises his ribs and will be doubtful for the next match.

Charlie Domino talks to the press after the match "to go out of the cup before the big guns enter is a blow, lower league opposition always hope to draw one of the bigger clubs, that opportunity has been taken away from us and our name is not in the hat for round 3"

[retired_jkkuehl]

Yeovil 1 Walsall 1 6th December 2005

Pablo Bastianini netted for the home side after 8 minutes, Walsall continued to press forward and their equaliser surprisingly came from 20 year old Charlton Davies who netted on his first team debut.

"We didn't play the best forward but we had a number of key players missing. We need to ensure that we concentrate the whole 90 minutes. I am pleased for Charlton who had a decent debut. I didn't tell the kid he was featuring in the team till late Friday, and the goal would have done his confidence good."

[retired_jkkuehl]

Walsall 0 Rotherham 3

Walsall boss Charlie Domino's injury worries continues and the Saddlers boss has had to put 18 year old Rene Gilmartin goal following the training injury to Andy Oaks. Charlton Davies retains his place in the starting line up.

Walsall's injury problems continue during the first half with knocks to Osborn, Fryatt and Merson. The forced substitutions did nothing for the Saddlers and Rotherham net 3 simple easy goals.

"It wasn't ideal to place Rene in goal but we had no choice now that's no discredit to the lad but its tough. We were awful in all departments and everybody associated with the club needs to take this result on the chin. I had to change tactics due to injuries and had to play 5 at the back, it backfired and all of the team should take some responsibility for this result not just me"

[retired_jkkuehl]

Saturday 17th December 2005

@ The Priestfields V Gillingham

Possession was equally shared this afternooon but it was the home side that collected the 3 points.

Goals from Steve Hislop and ex-saddler Darren Byfield the difference in the two sides.

Walsall collect 3 yellow cards in this defeat (Gerrard, Merson and Standing).

Charlie Domino refuses to comment after the game as Walsall's bad run goes from bad to worse.

[retired_jkkuehl]

Monday 26th December 2005
Home V Bournemouth

Charlie Domino drafts new loan signing Rob Elvins into the starting line up. Elvins linking up from West Brom. However Elvins is not given enough time to impress as his debut is cut short after 51 minutes as a clash of heads force him off the field and out of the game.

Bournemouth's Steve Fletcher nets the only goal of the game on 42 minutes and Walsall have now gone 3 games without scoring.

The result also see's Walsall slip into the relegation zone.

Domino states "We are going through a really tough patch at the moment, we are getting the shots in, but not on target. We are unlucky to leave today with nothing. We must be due to give somebody a good thrashing so lets hope this is sooner rather than later"

[retired_jkkuehl]

28th December 2005

Home V Southend

3 yellow cards are dished out in the first half for Walsall and Osborn picks up a knock as the score remains 0-0 after 45 minutes.

Domino brings on Paul Smith to replace Osborn.

SECOND HALF

A beautiful cross from Kris Taylor is met by the foot of Matty Fryatt who nets his 10th goal of the season.

Chris Westwood has arguably been the best player for the Saddlers this season, but a poor back pass stuns Luke Tilt the young Walsall goalie as Westwood's own goal makes it 1-1.

Westwood soon makes amends when a well placed pass through the middle of the Southend midfield finds Lee Collymore who comfortably scores.

Referee Mark Cooper continues to show the yellow cards and books Julian Bennett for the second time on 90 minues to make it a tense ending for the Saddlers.

Final Score Walsall 2 Southend 1

"It wasn't a good performance but we got the 3 points. The referee must have had spare cards left after Christmas as it looked like he gave everybody on the park one. I am pleased with about 75% of the work done this afternoon, obviously we are still in the relegation battle but at least we move out of the relegation zone. We need to continue to pick up points and move up the table. I have met with the Board who like me are disappointed. They had hoped to gain promotion but we find ourselves at the wrong end of the table. If things do not pick up quickly then they may start to look for another boss and who can blame them. I was brought here to do a job and I haven't delivered what was expected of me."

Jeff Bonser confirms that the Walsall board are not happy but allow Domino to manage the club. The fans still question the appointment of Domino but feel that he is managing with the resources that he has been given.

One fan comments "How do you get a team promoted when the board don't throw money at the team. Charlie is working with a tight budget and will have to do some wheeling and dealing if the club wants to go somewhere"