2016–17 Walsall F.C. season explained

Club:	Walsall
Season:	2016–17
Manager:	Jon Whitney
Chairman:	Jeff Bonser
Stadium:	Bescot Stadium
League:	League One
League Result:	14th
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	First round (vs. Macclesfield Town)
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	First round (vs. Yeovil Town)
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Second round (vs. Oldham Athletic)
League Topscorer:	Erhun Oztumer (15)
Season Topscorer:	Erhun Oztumer (15)
Prevseason:	2015–16
Nextseason:	2017–18
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The 2016–17 season was Walsall's 129th season in their existence and their tenth consecutive season in League One.^[1] Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and EFL Trophy.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.

Transfers

In

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2016					Free transfer	^[2]
1 July 2016					Free transfer	^[3]
1 July 2016					Free transfer	^[4]
1 July 2016					Free transfer	^[5]
8 July 2016			Theo Vassell		Free transfer	^[6]
11 July 2016					Free transfer	^[7]
18 July 2016					Free transfer	^[8]
1 August 2016					£250,000	^[9] ^[10]

Out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2016					Rejected contract
1 July 2016					Rejected contract
1 July 2016					Undisclosed	^[11]
1 July 2016					Rejected contract	^[12]
1 July 2016					Rejected contract	^[13]
1 July 2016					Released
1 July 2016			Levi Rowley	Free agent	Released	^[14]
1 July 2016					Rejected contract	^[15]
1 July 2016					Rejected contract	^[16]
5 July 2016					Rejected contract	^[17]
14 July 2016					Undisclosed	^[18]
31 August 2016					£1,500,000	^[19]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
1 July 2016					End of season	^[20]
1 July 2016					End of season	^[21]
28 July 2016					3 January 2017	^[22]
26 August 2016					3 January 2017	^[23]
31 August 2016					3 January 2017	^[24]
12 January 2017					End of season	^[25]
12 January 2017					End of season	^[26]
31 January 2017					End of season	^[27]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
4 July 2016					End of season	^[28]
11 July 2016			Theo Vassell		1 January	^[29]
17 January 2017			Theo Vassell		End of season	^[30]

Competitions

League One

See main article: 2016–17 Football League One.

Matches

FA Cup

See main article: 2016–17 FA Cup.

EFL Cup

See main article: 2016–17 EFL Cup.

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2016–17 EFL Trophy.

Squad statistics

Source:^[31]

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.

Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.

Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Walsall.

Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
				League		FA Cup		EFL Cup		EFL Trophy		Total		Discipline
1	GK			41	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	47	0	4	0
2	MF			43	3	1	0	1	0		0		3	6	1
3	DF				0	0	0	1	0	0	0		0	2	0
3	DF		*		3	1	0	0	0	2	1		4	4	0
4	DF			40	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	40	0	5	0
5	DF		*	46	5	1	0	1	0	4	0	52	5	5	0
6	MF		*		1	0	0	1	0	4	0		1	3	0
7	MF			43	0	1	0	1	0		0		0	5	0
8	MF				0	0	0	0	0	1	0		0	1	0
9	FW				7	1	0	1	0	1	0		7	1	0
10	MF				15	1	0	1	0	2	0		15	2	0
11	MF				5	0	0	1	0	1	1		6	1	0
13	GK				0	0	0	0	0	4	0		0	0	0
14	MF				1	0	0	0	0	2	0		1	6	0
15	MF				0	0	0		0	3	0		0	1	0
16	DF				1	1	0	1	0	4	0		1	7	0
18	MF		*		0	1	0	1	0		0		0	0	0
18	MF		*		0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
20	FW				4		0		0	4	6		10	6	1
21	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0		0		0	0	0
24	DF				0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	1	0
25	MF				0	0	0	0	0	1	1		1	0	0
27	GK			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	DF			0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0		0	0	0
29	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0		0		0	0	0
30	FW			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	DF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
32	DF		*	16	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	20	0	2	0
32	DF		*	17	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	1	1	1
33	FW				1		0		0		0		1	2	0
34	DF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
35	DF				0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
36	FW				0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
37	GK			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
44	MF				4	1	0	0	0		0		4	2	0

No.!scope="col"

Pos.	Nat.	Name
17	MF
19	DF
23	GK
26	MF

Notes and References

1. News: History . Statto . 2016-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170313043715/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/walsall/history . 2017-03-13 . dead .
2. News: Saddlers Sign Bermudan Butterfield . Walsall Official Site . 14 June 2016 . 14 June 2016.
3. News: Walsall Re-Sign Midfielder Florent Cuvelier . Walsall Official Site . 21 June 2016 . 21 June 2016.
4. News: Saddlers Sign Joe Edwards . Walsall Official Site . 24 June 2016 . 24 June 2016.
5. News: Erhun Oztumer Agrees To Join Walsall . Walsall Official Site . 17 June 2016 . 17 June 2016.
6. News: Walsall Sign Theo Vassell . Walsall Official Site . 8 July 2016 . 8 July 2016.
7. News: Franck Moussa Joins The Saddlers . Walsall Official Site . 11 July 2016 . 11 July 2016.
8. News: Saddlers Sign Simeon Jackson . Walsall Official Site . 18 July 2016 . 18 July 2016.
9. News: Andreas Makris Signs In A Club Record Transfer Deal . Walsall Official Site . 1 August 2016 . 1 August 2016.
10. News: Cypriot forward Makris signed on record-breaking club fee record to Walsall . Black Country Radio . 1 August 2016 . 28 August 2016.
11. News: Anthony Forde Joins Rotherham . Walsall Official Site . 30 June 2016 . 30 June 2016.
12. News: Lalkovic rejects Walsall contract offer . BBC . 20 June 2016 . 20 June 2016.
13. News: Sam Mantom Signs For Scunthorpe . Walsall Official Site . 30 June 2016 . 30 June 2016.
14. News: Retained And Released . Walsall Official Site . 20 May 2016 . 20 May 2016.
15. News: Player Update . Walsall Official Site . 21 June 2016 . 21 June 2016.
16. News: Andy Taylor Leaves For Blackpool . Walsall Official Site . 1 July 2016 . 1 July 2016.
17. News: Luton sign Cook after Walsall exit . BBC . 5 July 2016 . 5 July 2016.
18. News: Tom Bradshaw Joins Barnsley . Walsall Official Site . 14 July 2016 . 15 July 2016.
19. News: Club Statement: Rico Henry . Walsall Official Site . 31 August 2016 . 1 September 2016.
20. News: Walsall Bring In Dobson On Loan . Walsall Official Site . 29 June 2016 . 29 June 2016.
21. News: Saddlers Snap Up A Saint . Walsall Official Site . 28 June 2016 . 28 June 2016.
22. News: Burnley Youngster Wings In . Walsall Official Site . 28 July 2016 . 28 July 2016.
23. News: Toner Joins On Loan . Walsall Official Site . 26 August 2016 . 26 August 2016.
24. News: Saddlers Sign Scott Laird On Loan . Walsall Official Site . 31 August 2016 . 1 September 2016.
25. News: Scott Laird Returns On Loan . Walsall Official Site . 12 January 2017 . 12 January 2017.
26. News: Celtic Defender Joins On Loan . Walsall Official Site . 12 January 2017 . 12 January 2017.
27. News: Will Randall Joins Walsall On Loan . Walsall Official Site . 31 January 2017 . 31 January 2017.
28. News: Liam Roberts: Chester sign Walsall goalkeeper on season-long loan . BBC Sport . 4 July 2016 . 10 October 2016.
29. News: Theo Vassell: Chester sign defender on loan from League One club Walsall . BBC Sport . 11 July 2016 . 10 October 2016.
30. News: Theo Vassell: Chester bring back Walsall full-back on loan . BBC Sport . 18 January 2017 . 27 April 2017.
31. Web site: Squad stats. Soccerbase. Centurycomm. 27 April 2017 .