So once again it's nearing the end of another month and time to assess the last few weeks. It hasn't been the easiest of months for Wednesday. On a more serious note it has been a very bleak few days for the football world with the firstly the news about Glenn Hoddle and then the tragic events in Leicester on Saturday evening. It's things like that that do make you take a step back and realise that football is really much less important that we all make it out to be.
Matches
West Brom
The Owls started the month with a Wednesday night game in front of the Sky cameras as Darren Moore's baggies rolled into town. Before the game I'd have snacked your hand off for a point, they have s squad packed with quality, the bench alone was worth a hefty sum of money and I was fearful of a beating. For 85 minutes however Wednesday were brilliant, outstanding in fact. It was a performance that reminded me a lot of how we set about in 2015/16. Fearless, taking the game to the opposition and ripping them apart. We took the lead through an Adam Reach thunderbolt of a strike. His 2nd in as many games and much deserved based on how Wednesday had started. Another one to add to his growing collection. Fernando Forestieri doubled the lead on 41 minutes and could have had a 2nd and Wednesday's 3rd soon after the break. Ultimately however West Brom showed in 5 minutes why for me they will still finish easily top 6. A cross from the right hand side lead to an unfortunate Joey Pelupessy who had to dive in otherwise Harvey Barnes would have tapped it in anyway. It was Barnes who ultimately secured a point for Albion when he burst through the midfield and defence to slot home for 2-2. A frustrating end but still a lot to be taken from a good performance.
Bristol City
Next up was a Sunday trip down to Bristol City. Again it wasn't a game I was particularly confidant for. It just seems to be a ground we struggle at. However football did that funny thing of providing a completely different outcome to what was expected. An interesting team selection but once again Jos proved his doubters wrong as Wednesday came away with a 2-1 win. After a first half which the Robins shaded Wednesday broke the deadlock through 1st half sub Lucas Joao. Joao then added a 2nd late on before a penalty to Bristol City made it a slightly more tense finish than the 2nd half performance merited. It was a pleasing win and a good way to head into the October international break. Also the win had taken us into the top 6 and although still early days it was nice to be in there.
Middlesbrough
After the break we returned to Hillsborough to face Tony Pulis' Middlesbrough team once again on Sky. Before the start of the season I tipped Boro to win the title and I saw nothing from the game to change that view. They may not be the prettiest team to watch but they are a well drilled, organised and functional side. They came to Hillsborough with a clear plan and exploited it well. As for Wednesday it was for me a nervy performance. Players such as Thorniley and Penney who have been so impressive and so calm and collected looked panicked. Tom Lees made an error which ultimately decided the game, misplaced passes from a number of players. As good as Boro were we made it easy for them. A late fight back and another great goal for Adam Reach. We should have had a penalty for a handball and then a push on Tom Lees, the officiating throughout the game was poor. It was the third of fourth time I've seen Peter Bankes referee at Hillsborough and every time he has made a blatant error. He isn't a brave official and allows himself to be dictated to by big personalities on the pitch. That doesn't however change the fact that it was a disappointing night for Wednesday.
QPR
The following Tuesday we made the trip down to the capital to take on QPR at Loftus Road. Another ground where history isn't on Wednesday's side. One win since 2000 suggests it's something of a bogey ground for us and while things like that is largely meaningless it doesn't help when you're trying to build a positive pre match feeling. What also doesn't help is we have never beaten a team managed by Steve McClaren who I'll be honest, I can't stand. It was another poor night, despite the fact we started the game fairly well. In control of it for the first half an hour we had a couple of half chances, Bannan and Reach both rushing chances and striking from long range when more time was available. We let our guard down towards the end of the first half and ultimately it took the game away from us. In the 2nd half again we started well, missed a decent chance at 1-0 and with a few minutes were 2-0 down. After that Daniel Pudil gets a horrific kick to the head resulting in a huge gash in below his eye and immediately replaced and no penalty given. I don't think I need to go much further on that disgrace of a decision. The game ended 3-0 and while it flattered QPR I felt it still reflected that something wasn't right. A lot of criticism was thrown at the likes of Atdhe Nuhiu and Lucas Joao, I'm a self confessed fan of both and while I'll accept neither played well it's hard when we don't play to either of their strengths. Not enough balls into the box for either to do anything with. No crosses were going into them, no real service. It's difficult to be too critical of players trying to do their jobs when they don't get the support from the rest of the team.
Birmingham
Following on from a dismal Tuesday night we travelled to the West Midlands to take on a Birmingham side who were unbeaten in 10 under former Owls loanee Garry Monk. Despite all that I was strangely optimistic ahead of the game and it looked like we might have ended our troubles when Steven Fletcher fired home from a Morgan Fox header. It was a deserved goal from a decent start. We could have been 2 or 3 up with two chances from Liam Palmer. I'm not going to criticize him for either miss. The first one he needed more help from his teammates, the 2nd one OK if he was a striker fair enough but he's a right back. It was unfortunate and sadly that combined with Connor Mahoney's goal near the whistle allowed Birmingham back into the contest. A 2nd half where Wednesday dominated many of the stats but the blues dominated the scoreline. It finished 3-1 to Birmingham and once again the doom and gloom descended on the fan base. For me it was another example of a lack of leadership on the pitch. We don't have enough players who will for want of a better phrase give someone a bollocking with the exception of Cam Dawson. There isn't enough bravery to do certain things. Following shots in, throwing yourself in front of things. We badly missed Daniel Pudil at St Andrews because at the very least he actually does put himself on the line for the team.
Jos In or Jos Out
So after the last week or so it's fairly inevitable that combined with the general mood around the club for the last 18 months that calls for the manager were going to happen. I said in the summer that for me Jos Luhukay inherited a car crash of a situation. He inherited and injury hit squad that was unbalanced and while talented lacked the direction needed to challenge for the top 6. While I maintain that with everyone fit and at 100% this team could challenge that isn't going to happen (the likes of Hooper and Lee won't be available until at least January for example) so it becomes a consolidation season. Without being 'in the know' all I can do is speculate but I think it's quite clear that the club's plan from here on in is to be more frugal and develop the youth players and concentrate on bringing in value in the market when the window opens. Jos himself has already said that players between 18-23 were who we would look at. That transition from the previous plan of spending big on the ready made players takes time, it's going to have weeks like we've just had. Young players like Penney and Thorniley will have off games. For me Jos had carte blanche to do what he likes this season providing we didn't go down and I maintain that. I'm not saying I agree 100% with everything he does but if you look at the circumstances he's working under it's tough to argue with a lot of it. People moan about changes but quite frankly he's needed to make changes because some players can't play three games in a week. He's needed to rotate some players because they've been awful at times. The idea that a Mick McCarthy or a Steve Bruce would come in and massively change what is going on is a backward view. For the first time in years the club has a philosophy that might actually work long term. Jos has implemented that, whether it was by accident or design is irrelevant. We know some of the big earners will leave in the next 6-8 months and while it's disappointing it's what's needed to properly start to recover from the mess of the P&S situation.
Keepers and Clean Sheets
The goalkeeping situation at Hillsborough has been a hot topic of debate for a long time now. Straight off the bat I'll say that I don't think any blame can be attached to Cameron Dawson for the lack of clean sheets this season. I think he's been fantastic and especially in the games we have won he has kept us in them at times. He's made the most saves in the division, that to me suggests it's the people in front of him that's the issue not Cam himself. Lets also not forget that if hadn't been for a wonder goal at Villa he'd have kept one, a penalty against Bristol City and a fairly decent strike from the Leeds player Klich he may well have gone one from that game as well. It's unfair the levels of criticism he's getting. While some of the calls to put Wildsmith in are fair I still feel as I did at the end of last season that Dawson was ahead of Joe. He's more commanding and more vocal with his back line. While Joe was excellent when he stepped in last season his performances did drop a level. Not to be too critical of him as a young keeper who had started so well in his time here it was perhaps always going to drop slightly. As for Keiren Westwood I think it's fairly clear that he won't play for Sheffield Wednesday again while Jos Luhukay is the manager. Whether that's Jos' decision or not (personally feel it is) it is the situation. I've no doubt we tried to sell Westwood in the summer, I've no doubt we'll try again in January. It will be best for all concerned in my opinion. Westwood has been a fantastic servant to Wednesday. He could easily have left on numerous occasions before and he's stayed. It's sad that in all likelihood he wont get a proper goodbye. Ultimately however for Keiren himself as much as anyone it'll be best to move on. Dawson and Wildsmith fit the age profile of players we're looking to have at the club and Westwood doesn't. Add to that he'll be one of the club's biggest earners it leaves the club little option.
Thanks for reading
Tom
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