Noriega Hattrick..Back in business

American wonder-kid Jesus Noriega had recently broken a 13 hours goal drought while coming off the bench against Bristol City, in a losing afford. But on the very next game, Noriega regained his scoring touch that he showed in League-One, by bagging a hattrick against Reading.

Sky Bet Championship Update...Noriega Struggle in the Championship

Half way through my Sky Bet Championship campaign, Walsall sits on the 11th spot of the table and things re definitely harder there than last year Sky Bet League-One campaign.

My 18 year old American Son and Wonder-kid, Jesus Noriega, is also not having the easy time he had in league-One as oppose to the Championship. Last year, he finished with 20 goals and 18 assist on 35 League-One appearances.

This year in the Championship, with half way through it, Jesus has recorded 5 goals and 1 assist on 17 championship appearances. So he's far behind last year blistering pace which was probably not going to happen given the fact that he's just turned 18 recently and is still growing as a player. Jesus recently ended a goal drought that lasted 13 hours of football. Let's hope he can start scoring in bunches again.

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New Season underway...New signings for Walsall F.C

After easily winning promotion to the Championships, I've now embarked into a new campaign that is well underway with a few new arrivals but the team is pretty much the same  from last year Sky Bet One campaign.

New arrivals:

Mark Little,  right wing backs, signed on free transfer from Bristol City......after Carlos Edward retired, I really needed to fill this hole and Little was the best I could afford and so far, he's done well in the Championship.

Baily Cargill: Ball-Playing central back...Really needed left footed central back with composure and passing ability to fit my system and Baily attribute had what I was looking for. Cargill was signed on a free from league-1 Gillingham F.C.

Harry Wilson: right side inside forward, loanee from Liverpool. Needed an additional left footed right winger to compete with Kieron Morris who hasn't particularly played well so far. Wilson has dribbling and technique ability that would suit my Walsall team well.

Other acquisition were George Dobson, a defensive midfielder who was on loaned with me from West Ham. Decided to signed him on a free transfer.

Central backs Jason McCarthy and Kevin Toner who were both on loan with me last year, have also re-joined the team on another loan spell. Both played well last year in helping me obtain promotion into the Championships.


WonderKid Jesus Noriega had suffered in injury that forced him to missed the entire pre-season training camp, but he's back now and has already scored 3 goals in 5 appearances.

Sadly, Erhun Oztumer who was out the entire last season because of injury, again injured himself during training camp and will be out for an additional 4 weeks.

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Sky Bet Championship Standing Update

Maria Rodriguez Named Sky Bet One Head Coach Of The Year

As the first woman manager in England managed to do the unthinkable by winning the head coach of the year award winning 40 games, drawing 10 and losing 12 games.

Jesus Noriega named Sky Bet One Player Of The Year

Jesus Noriega, American wonderkid and Walsall top talisman was named Sky Bet One Player of the Year after bagging 20 goals on 35 appearances.

NORIEGA NAMED TO SKY BET LEAGUE ONE PLAYR SELECT

Walsall F.C Wins Sky Bet 1

The unimaginable has occur. The first woman manager in all of Europe has managed to win the Sky Bet 1, the third tier league in England. Walsall finished the year at the top of the league with 91 points. Accumulating 77 points, Peterborough United was able to capture the second seed which also means automatic promotion with no need of playoff matches.

Sky Bet 1 Player Stats

Walsall Lifts Checkatrade Paint Trophy!

After going down 1-0 in the first half, Milan Butterfield managed to finally equalized the score at the 76th minute mark to push the match into penalty kicks where Walsall managed to outlast Leyton Orient FC 6 to 5.

19 year old Butterfield who came on as a sub, was player of the match and scored the crucial goal that Was all desperately needed.

Milan Butterfield equalizing goal.