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Sheffield Wednesday’s season review

Friday, May 24th, 2013

It’s been a few weeks since Sheffield Wednesday secured their Championship status for another season, and it has given some time for reflection of the past nine months and where our club is heading.

Thinking back to the opening day at Derby, when 6000 of us made the short trip in glorious sunshine, most of us anticipated another memorable season as we were still riding high from our dramatic promotion from League One. The whole country was buzzing after the Olympic Games, yet it didn’t take long for us to hit the ground with a bump as we went two goals down.  That game sort of mirrored our season, struggling for the first half, improving as it wore on.  Despite a positive first few games, defeat at Palace started the first of two terrible runs from autumn through to winter.  After Christmas our form was more like a play-off chasing team, yet our poor start meant we were always battling to stay up.

We brought in players such as Jay Bothroyd and Ross Barkley who I thought were the quality we needed if we wanted to push on.  The latter made a positive impact and I wish he could have stayed longer. The former is best not mentioned.  If he plays when QPR visit S6 next season, he should prepare himself for a hostile reception.

Free signings Anthony Gardner and Chris Kirkland joined with poor injury records, yet after slow starts they both proved to be key players in our campaign.  Next season they will be hugely important if we are to be successful.  Young players Rhys McCabe and Paul Corry played bit part roles, yet they are surely ones for the future and need time to develop before they get a more regular starting role in the second tier of English football.

Another theme for the season was the contrasting fortunes of our promotion squad.  Jose Semedo and Chris Lines had a strong partnership in the heart of our midfield in 2011-12; yet Semedo was slowly drafted out of the team over the course of the season, whilst injury limited Lines’ appearances and he was eventually loaned out.  Gary Madine struggled to get into the team and didn’t have the impact we wanted.  He is another young player who may need time, but next season will be an important one for him if he stays at the club.

Reda Johnson, Jermaine Johnson, Michail Antonio and Lewis Buxton were key players.  Miguel Llera struggled for a place early on, but played a big part in our solid defensive record in the second part of the campaign.  If I’m honest, I’m surprised he has been offered a new deal.  It seems the majority of out of contract players have been offered new deals.  Giles Coke and David Prutton may stay, and they added some much needed steel to the team in our relegation battle, but  I do have reservations over the direction of the team by looking to keep such players.  Time will tell who re-signs for next season, personally I’d like Jermaine Johnson and Lewis Buxton to stick around of those out of contract players.

I hope we are going to bring in some quality to help us progress next season, I’d like to see us move away from the more direct style we played this year.  I think Dave Jones tried to change the ethos early on, but when it was evident it wasn’t working, we reverted to the big men and ultimately it kept us in the division.  That was the main priority and I’m not unhappy about that, but there are a lot of quality players who will be looking for clubs over the summer and if we can find the right ones to improve the first team there is a chance we can be at the right end of the table. The teams that have come down all have a good chance of being in the promotion battle, whilst the promoted teams look like strugglers, but in the crazy world of the Championship, anything can happen.  I’m missing it already, and can’t wait for August 3rd 2013.

Up the Owls!

Written by Carl Mullooly, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday blogger

Carl tweets at @MulOwl

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The run in…

Friday, March 29th, 2013

This international break has seemed to go on forever. Our defeat to champions elect Cardiff whist frustrating, wasn’t unexpected. The problem came with every other result going against us. Only Bristol City lost, but we would have preferred a draw in their match against Wolves. Evidently people would feel low in the circumstances, but the air of negativity that has clouded our season re-surfaced. We’ve had to wait to put things right.

I think one thing I should make clear is that we have always been in a relegation scrap. A four point cushion is only secure when you have one game left. When you have a woeful run of results, which we have had twice this season, you are always going to struggle.

Our form has been good since December. Barnsley and Peterborough have been in and around us all season, and have picked up points. Ipswich’s bad start has kept them in trouble, whilst Wolves have dropped into the mire as the season has progressed.  Bristol City look like they are losing the battle, but I wouldn’t write them off just yet.

A betting man would back three from the bottom six, yet I would say any team up to 11th place still need to get some points to ensure survival. It could well be a record high points total for the teams that go down. Blackburn have continued to be in turmoil and are hovering dangerously close to the trap door. Along with Wolves they could face successive relegations. There are plenty of teams in the mix and our destiny is firmly in our hands.

So we look at our run in. We don’t face any of the teams in the battle for promotion. Conversely, that means we have a few games against teams in and around us. First up, it’s Barnsley. No love lost between us, that’s for sure.  We were fortunate to come away from Oakwell with a win which kick-started our season just before Christmas. Our biggest attendance of the season will be at Hillsborough, and we are all looking forward to the game. I just hope the negativity doesn’t creep in again, even if we go behind. We need to support the team and make sure Hillsborough is a help rather than a hindrance in our battle to beat the drop. A win in this game would be a huge result and give us some breathing space as the games come thick and fast. Defeat doesn’t bear thinking about.

I actually think that our away form could be the key. The players seem to be less inhibited on the road. First up Bristol City, who will need to beat us. That will be a tense affair. We play Millwall a few days before their FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley, which could work in our favour. Leeds is a local derby and anything can happen, but I think we are more than capable of picking up points there. The awful state of the pitch at Bloomfield Road might suit our game more than Blackpool. Our last away game is at London Road. That could be a deciding game if the Championship status of Peterborough or ourselves is still in question.

We’ve got the players to get us out of this. Stuart Holden is an exciting addition. I hope he is match fit. His injury is one of the reasons Bolton find themselves at this level. I wonder if he is able to overcome the injury problems and reproduce the form he showed in the Premier League. He certainly gives us a different option in the middle of the park. Steve Howard was a surprise to most of us. We have been linked with him countless times in the past, and we have finally signed him in the twilight of his career. His experience might be useful in and around the squad. Who knows, he might pop up with the goal that secures our Championship status. We all know it’s a funny old game. I don’t know much about Seyi Olofinjana, so I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve seen him play.

The loss of Michail Antonio is a blow. He’s been inconsistent this season, but always offers a threat, and has provided some key goals for us this term. Jermaine Johnson hasn’t provided any magical moments this season.  Despite his flaws, he could be a key player in the run in if he can produce some performances like he has done in the past. I’ve also noticed a change in Gary Madine recently. It seems he is more confident when he comes on the pitch. He’s struggled for goals with the step up from League one, but the odd one in the run in wouldn’t go amiss.

I am, like all Wednesday fans, desperate for survival. Nobody wants another season in league one, but it is a possibility. We can’t assume we are going to beat the teams around us. We’ve all got to stick together and as fans support the team. Blackburn and Ipswich still have to come to Hillsborough; and they could be as crucial as the Barnsley game. We finish at home to Middlesbrough who’s thoughts might well be on the beach by that point. Either way, let’s hope we have our thoughts on the summer break by that game…for the right reasons!

Up the Owls!

Written by Carl Mullooly, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday blogger

Carl tweets at @MulOwl

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The King Power Diaries

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

On Saturday, along with over 3000 other Owls, I will be making the short trip to Leicester as we take on the promotion hopefuls. Our Championship status for next season is far from certain. I’d settle for a point or two from this weekend and the subsequent visit of Cardiff. A win in either game would be greatly received, heading into a run of fixtures against teams in and around us. This league continues to be as unpredictable as ever. Our upcoming opponents are both having a bit of a dip in form, but the quality in their squads will mean that they can and likely will get back on track.

Heading to Leicester, I have mixed memories of previous games at the King Power (formerly Walkers) Stadium. Since they left Filbert Street in 2002 we’ve travelled to played The Foxes five times, winning twice, losing twice with one draw. Given our troubles over that period it’s not a bad return.  Even the goals scored during those games are level with 8 each.

I can vividly remember all those games for a variety of reasons, however three stand out; two of which I attended, the other I didn’t, but I’ll come to that.

My first experience of the King Power Stadium was in December 2006. This is one of the best away performances I have seen. An emphatic 4-1 victory only tells half the story. Granted, Leicester spent most of the second half playing with ten men, but that didn’t take away from what followed with three spectacular long range goals. Chris Brunt added to his first half penalty with a trademark left foot screamer. Glen Whelan crashed one in off the bar with a ferocious shot from all of 40 yards; this was the best of the bunch for me. Finally Marcus Tudgay put the icing on the cake as he completed the rout cutting in on the angle to beat the keeper from distance. A fantastic away day with the Owls.

To say my last visit was a disappointment would be a slight understatement. Whilst Brian Laws had overseen our marvellous 4-1 victory, he also managed his last game against Leicester. In a season that ended in eventual relegation, we were well beaten and lucky to get away with a 3-0 defeat.  I remember a massive feeling of dejection at the final whistle and the writing being on the wall for our gaffer. I was certainly fed up of hearing Kasabian song ‘Fire’ being played over the tannoy after each goal.  Laws had led us to our first victory at Bramall Lane in my lifetime and our first derby double in 95 years.  It was sad to see him depart in such circumstances.

The third game that sticks in my memory was in April 2008. I was in Ireland and had to listen to the game in an internet café in Carrick on Shannon. I was gutted to be missing the game. We were deep in the relegation mire at the time. This was our penultimate match and we were just below Leicester in the table. Defeat would have made them safe whilst leaving us in a perilous position. Southampton were also in the mix but we knew victory would put our fate in our own hands. We went 1-0 down early in the game but crucially got an equaliser on the stroke of half time. Bartosz Slusarski…hardly a name synonymous with the club, but he has his part in our history. Steve Watson gave us a crucial lead before the much maligned Leon Clarke made one of his few key contributions to the club by sealing a 3-1 victory in the dying moments. In a game that saw two missed penalties and so much at stake, Wednesday pulled through showing character and fighting spirit. We stayed up; Leicester went down.

So we’ve had a love hate relationship with the King Power Stadium. This Saturday’s game could be a pivotal moment in our battle for Championship survival. Leicester have spent a huge amount of money on players yet still seem destined for a repeat of last season with the play offs. They will be under pressure from their fans given their current run of form, whilst the travelling Owls will have hope rather than expectation. Let’s hope we make it our third victory at the East Midlands club’s current home.

Up the Owls!

Written by Carl Mullooly, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday blogger

Carl tweets at @MulOwl

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New blood

Friday, February 8th, 2013

I missed Sheffield Wednesday’s home game against Brighton as I was away with friends.  I followed the game via Twitter, watched the highlights and read up on the match reports, but I always feel like I’m missing something.  It’s different when I don’t travel to an away game as I don’t make every trip, but ever since I got my first season ticket in 1995 (with the strap line – A Season ticked with Sheffield Wednesday…is a ticket to the stars) I’ve hated missing games at Hillsborough.

It is rare that I miss a home game, but as you get older priorities change and life events happen.  Ultimately, I’m writing this blog from an unusually disadvantaged position and based on second hand evidence!

We have been on a great run of form.  With the unpredictable nature of the Championship, stringing together consecutive wins isn’t always easy.  Despite our recent upturn, we don’t seem to have made significant progress up the table.  We’ve moved up a couple of places and closed the gap to the teams above, but the likes of Barnsley, BristolCityand Peterborough have also seen an improvement.

All things considered, we have to be satisfied as things stand.  Let’s not beat around the bush, we are still in a battle to stay in the league, but the newly found confidence and the number of teams in the mix means the odds are in our favour.  If we had been marooned at the bottom with three other teams as we were before the festive period, I would have been very worried.

Our summer recruitment caused much of the discontent when we were struggling in the autumn.  Players brought in were not performing, whilst last seasons promotion stalwarts were either struggling to come to terms with the step up, or not even in the team.  Fast forward a few games.  Chris Kirkland seems more settled with a regular defence in front of him.  Anthony Gardener has had an injury-free period and that has been a massive boost.  He and Miguel Llera have formed a solid partnership at the heart of the defence.

The goals have now started to come.  Michail Antonio is rediscovering the form that played a major part in our promotion to the Championship.  Leroy Lita has scored two (slightly fortuitous) goals in two games and these have played a part in vital wins.  Crucially, it has also got the fans fully behind him from the off, something that our previous loan strikers failed to do.

Earlier in the season the luck never seemed to be in our favour.  Danny Pugh looks a solid addition to the team; his flexibility will provide cover in various positions.  Jeremy Helan is another versatile player who I was excited to see return.  Both these players lessen the impact of Reda Johnson’s ongoing injury concerns.  The best thing about his return is the fact that he only wanted to come to Hillsborough despite suspected interest from high flyers Watford.

Finally, full credit to Giles Coke and David Prutton.  They both seemed to be surplus to requirements and had spells in the lower leagues, but they’ve come in and played their part in our good run.  Whether they will keep their places long term is open for debate, but they’ve done their chances no harm.

All these new and returning faces have certainly helped boost morale amongst the fans and seemingly amongst the playing squad.  There is a freshness that has been severely lacking this season.  To cap this off,England Under-21 player Connor Wickham will add to our firepower in attack after his loan move from Sunderland.  We seem to have some real pace and power in the team.  My main concern is that quick strikers might breach our backline, but our defence is not as vulnerable or leaky as in the first part of the season, so we need to keep a little faith.

Wednesday’s aim should now be to finish as high up the table as possible.  If we can keep above that relegation dog fight I’ll certainly be happy, and beyond that who knows?  Consolidation was always what we needed this season, and we are slowly making the progress to achieve that, despite the bumpy ride.

Up the Owls!

Written by Carl Mullooly, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday blogger

Carl tweets at @MulOwl

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The deposed King

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

How hard must someone work to stay in a job?

A win in the Steel City derby, third in the league and a group of players who appear to love working with you, none of these things are good enough apparently.

There was confusion when Megson let Clinton Morrison go out on loan to MK Dons only to bring in McGoldrick on loan from Nottingham Forest. There was disenchantment when Wednesday lost 5-1 to Stevenage and more recently there was worry when Wednesday lost 1-0 to Chesterfield. The Wednesday fans believed though; they believed that in Gary Megson there was a man at the helm who could drive us forward. His fierce attitude towards the media, his straight-talking pre and post-match comments on how the team performed and his the honest appraisal of what was deserved from the game, as well as his unbridled passion for the club all proved that he was the man to take Wednesday forward.

It seems meaningless to discuss the Steel City derby now with the sweetness of the victory seemingly snatched away by the bitterness of losing the manager.

The players have said little other than they will move on and go forward but players often would not dream of lamenting such a decision because criticism of the removal of the previous boss may leave them out of favour with the new boss. I don’t blame them because the goal of promotion is still very much in the crosshair but can Dave Jones, a manager of a very different ilk, get the team playing in his style or will he decide to leave any tinkering until the season is over.

If Jones comes in and does nothing, then why change managers at all, if he changes things and we go up, was it not inevitable anyway? Equally if he changes things and we don’t go up, what has changing manager really achieved? The general consensus amongst the fans is that Megson should have stayed but that now he has gone, Jones will have their full support.

It is true that the fans support Sheffield Wednesday Football Club not the individuals that make up the staff but when someone brings all that Gary Megson did, it is hard to disassociate the two. Sheffield Wednesday was Gary Megson and for a while, Gary Megson was Sheffield Wednesday.

Dave Jones, in complete contrast to Megson, has a reputation for not becoming emotionally attached to the clubs he manages but employment in football is not like employment in most other areas. You have to live and breathe the club you work for, you have to ache when they lose and soar to the skies when they win.

Be proud Gary because you did what so few have achieved in many years, you gave us hope, you gave us a future and we will miss you. You are always welcome on the Kop.

The King is dead, long live the non-committal replacement.

Written by Dominic Stevenson, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday Blogger

Dominic tweets at @dom_stevenson

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The Steel City Derby – The future is bright, the future is blue & white

Friday, October 14th, 2011

“We will fight forever, because of Boxing Day.”

The Steel City Derby of 1979 is folklore to Sheffield Wednesday fans. For those who were there it was an incredible day of football and for those of us who have heard about it through parents, friends and songs on the Kop, we feel like we were there. Nearly fifty thousand were at Hillsborough that day to watch first versus fourth place in Division Three. Now once again, the two teams of Sheffield meet in the third tier of the Football League to battle for the glory of the city.

Both Wednesday and United have seen better days but both teams are having a slight renaissance under new stewardship. Gary Megson, with the aid of Gary Madine goal machine and the rest of the squad are sitting in second place whilst United, with Danny ‘Judas’ Wilson at the helm are in seventh place.

A few weeks ago Wednesday fans were dreading going to Bramall Lane because the team’s away form was, at very best, patchy. Only one draw from the first four away games, including a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Stevenage led to much trepidation at the possibility of facing the club’s biggest rivals on their own turf. Since the Stevenage game Wednesday have put together a respectable run of four wins on the trot with two of those being away from home; optimism once again is on the rise.

Lessons were learnt following the game against Stevenage and this could be seen at Yeovil. A woeful first half was followed by a second half where some of the eleven on the pitch showed what it really meant to wear the blue and white. It wasn’t pretty but it was determined. Gary Madine shone that day as he has on so many others and with ten goals this season, you wouldn’t like to bet against him securing his place in Wednesday history with a few goals on Sunday.

There was seemingly no reason for the appalling away form as fortress Hillsborough was being created at the same time with six wins from six at home. Chris Lines could be one explanation as he has well and truly stamped his authority on the first team with a string of sterling performances. It could be down to Madine and continuing good form or it could even be down to Megson’s very obvious passion for the job that he is now making his own. I don’t think there is a Wednesday fan that cares though. As long as the team are putting in their all, the fans will respect them.

Sunday will see two teams, who arguably should be playing at a higher level, take each other on but not all of the action will take place on the wrong side of Sheffield. Over 6,000 tickets have been sold for a live broadcast of the match at Hillsborough, which is more than the majority of League One games had in attendance last week.

Titles are not won by history or a perceived injustice at a club’s current position, they are earned by hard work and dedication to the cause and this is what Gary Megson has drummed into his team. League One is packed full of teams who by rights should be in the Championship and every League One club that I have seen play have fans who only deserve the very best.

Sunday will be an exhibition of what the lower leagues really offer; glorious fans, hard-working professional footballers and hopefully a score line that everyone who bleeds blue and white can go into work on Monday morning happy with.

This season has seen more than one star born at Hillsborough though. Gary Madine may be winning the plaudits at the moment but Richard O’Donnell, the goalkeeper who valiantly stood in for Nicky Weaver, will become a Wednesday hero in time and Chris Lines is already making his mark after his move from Bristol Rovers. In addition Liam Palmer, a Scotland Under 21 international, is proving his international status on a weekly basis and loanees Danny Batth and Ben Marshall are making compelling arguments for Milan Mandaric’s chequebook to be brought out come January. In addition to this there are the relatively new signings of Chris O’Grady and Ryan Lowe fighting for a spot in the first eleven.

For the first time in years the future seems to be genuinely bright at Hillsborough and whatever the result on Sunday, the Wednesday squad have the capabilities to bring glory come May.The glory of a derby victory will see you through Monday, maybe a whole week but the tears of joy that run down your face when you see your club promoted will last a lifetime.

I think that a well fought 2-1 victory will go Wednesday’s way with Gary Madine grabbing a brace.

Written by Dom Stevenson, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday Blogger

Dom tweets at @dom_stevenson

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Posted in Featured, League One, Sheffield Wednesday | 1 Comment »

Has anyone ever liked Gary Megson?

Friday, July 29th, 2011

However unfair it may seem, the general feeling around Hillsborough is that Gary Megson must bring the dizzying heights of Championship football back to Hillsborough this season or he risks condemning Sheffield Wednesday to the lower leagues once and for all.

It’s a huge ask, and his path could well be decided by the time the 126th Steel City derby takes place at Bramall Lane on 16th October. During August and September Wednesday go up against Bournemouth, Notts County, Scunthorpe, Charlton, MK Dons and Exeter. If Wednesday do not convincingly beat at least four out of the aforementioned six teams, then it will be a struggle to make the playoffs.

However, if they arrive at the Lane with at least nine victories from the 13 preceding games then they arrive with a confidence that they carry into the rest of the season. A run of form and a victory over United then other teams will start to flounder and fear the Owls. Without that kind of form, momentum will be hard to find, confidence will drop and, as much as it saddens me to say, Wednesday have never been famous for making that final surge towards the finishing line.

Pre-season friendlies haven’t been inspiring but it rarely is given the level of opponents and squad rotation. To date we have beaten Worksop Town and Rotherham United and drawn with FC Volga Novgorod of Russia. With six pre-season games left, the Owls still have tough tests against Leeds United,Barnsley and Stoke City to overcome.

Newcomers Rob Jones and Julian Bennett will hopefully reinforce a reasonably strong backline and help keep the ‘goals against’ tally low. The main worry for the Owls is up front, after the seemingly negligible decision to sell Marcus Tudgay last year and Neil Mellor returning to Preston, this has left Wednesday with currently only two recognised strikers. Clinton Morrison appears to be a shadow of his former self despite the continuous pledge that his time is coming and it is doubtful as to whether Gary Madine will ever reach the 20 goal a season benchmark that Mellor left behind.

Wednesday have been linked with a succession of players that are about as unaffordable to us as Messi would be. These players have predominantly been attackers and the rumours have varied from the ridiculous, Jason Scotland, to the even more ridiculous, Benni McCarthy! Call me old fashioned but consistency must be the key and I fervently hope that Mellor is soon back in blue and white stripes.

For Owls, Blades and neutrals, the Steel City derbies will be the highlights of League One. If a disappointing start to the season is made by either side, the pressure will be unbearable, if not intolerable, and has the potential to crush either side into oblivion. So far there have been 125 steel city derbies with Wednesday winning 41, United winning 45 leaving 39 draws.

People may suggest that there is something inherently wrong with both Sheffield sides being in League One, but ultimately, both have been masters of their own destiny and do not deserve any better for the time being. Neither side has a right to Championship and Premiership football, although Gary Megson will be working his heart out to make the Owls feel like they deserve it. They don’t call him ‘The ginger Mourinho’ for nothing.

Sheffield Wednesday are the last of the fallen giants remaining in League one, with nine league titles, three FA cups and a league cup versus Sheffield United, with three league titles and four FA cups. Only League one’s Preston North End come close to matching Wednesday’s trophy cabinet with eight league titles, two FA cups and the football league War Cup.

At this point though, history means nothing and this year, in addition to the usual excitement, there is the added spice of Danny Wilson, former Wednesday player and manager, now managing Sheffield United. In the eyes of many, this displayed a combination of betrayal on the part of Danny Wilson and downright stupidity on the part of the United board. Whatever the circumstances, it only provides Wednesday with extra ammunition when October 16th comes around. One must wonder as to what Wilson’s reaction will be if United win one or both of the derby matches, but that is a story for a different day.

However obvious it may be, my favourite Steel City derby took place far away from Sheffield. 3 April 1993 saw Wednesday play United in the FA cup semi final, beneath the twin towers of Wembley stadium. It was my first ever trip to Wembley and Chris Waddle scored a goal of almost divine quality to help Wednesday reach the final. For a seven year old, there was nothing like it, the stadium erupted and we all screamed and shouted as the heroes in blue and white marched to victory.

Ok, so it may not come close to that game, but when I watch this years derby, I’m looking for an Owls side ready to re-write their own history with a manager at the helm who can lead them back to the glories of old.

Written by Dom Stevenson, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield Wednesday Blogger

Dom tweets at @dom_stevenson

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