Sheffield Wednesday 2018/19: May and Season Review

Ah well, the season has come to a close. The final game has been and gone and we're left with thoughts of what we're going to do to occupy our time on Saturday afternoons. It's been a season with several talking points. Players, managers, tactics, fans forums, radio disputes and of course, cricket. Obviously some of that is tongue in cheek. Before I talk about the season as a whole I will address the final game of the season.

OPR

The 2018/19 campaign came to an end at home to Queens Park Rangers. There's no point beating around the bush, we didn't play very well. QPR to their credit did play some decent stuff and were better than I thought they would be. It had the feeling of a friendly or a testimonial and Steve Bruce reflected on that in his post match comments. The atmosphere was very flat at times, understandable to an extent. End of season games often have that feeling. A lot of players didn't really turn up, I will give credit to Keiren Westwood who put in a brilliant performance and made some excellent saves. Morgan Fox as well I thought played well. It was an odd game in truth, after they took the lead we had the chance in the 2nd half to get back into it through the penalty spot. Fernando Forestieri was adjudged to have been fouled by the QPR defender Toni Leistner. It wasn't a penalty, nobody in the ground thought it was and maybe justice was done as Fernando stepped up and missed it. After that QPR themselves had the chance to wrap up the game from the spot after a soft foul was given against Tom Lees but Westwood spared his blushes with a save from Eberechi Eze. In an already odd game a third penalty being given for a foul on Marco Matias only added to the drama and this time centre half Michael Hector stepped up to fire the Owls level. It was an interesting moment with other more regular penalty takers being on the pitch but credit to Hector who executed it with the precision of a striker. QPR did run out winners after a last minute winner and it was probably fair. Fair play to them.

12th in the Championship

 

I'll be honest my first thought upon seeing the final league table was that I was a bit disappointed to see us in 12th. Having had the chance of finishing 9th it was a bit of a shame to see us rounding off the top half but comparing that to where I thought we'd finish if you'd have asked me in December I'd have snatched your hand off for 12th. In fact 12th probably would have felt like promotion. At the end of the day if you finish between 7th or 21st you've achieved the same thing, Championship football next season. For me, the minimum expectation I had after last season was gradual improvement. Win more, Lose less, score more, concede less. Last season we won 14, drew 15 and lost 17 finishing 15th with 57 points. Scoring 59 and conceding 60. This season we've won 16, drawn 16 and lost 14 Scoring 60 and conceding 62. With 64 points to show for it. Overall you can put the bad start down to the poor goal difference for me but ultimately we've ended up about where we should have based on performances. I watch a lot of football and we're better than a lot of the sides we've finished above but as it stands not much better many of than the ones above.

 

It's fairly obvious that Steve Bruce has come in and had a major impact, he's improved us in all areas really. Defensively obviously he's made us one of the best teams with regard to conceding goals since he came in and that is no coincidence. He deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done and he's answered a lot of those critics who were chirping in before his arrival. Overall the connection between manager and fans is stronger than it has been in a while. Jos Luhukay never had that, Carlos Carvalhal had it but then lost it. Bruce has endeared himself to the Wednesday fans, it's clear to me that he wasn't happy with how it ended at Villa and he wants another promotion and he believes here is the place to do it.

 

The retained list

 

We knew prior to the weekend that Wednesday had offered Keiren Westwood a new deal, at the time of writing he hasn't signed that deal yet. We learned after the game that Bruce wants to keep Kieran Lee at the football club after his comeback from a long injury layoff. Later in the day we learned that Marco Matias, George Boyd, David Jones, Almen Abdi and Gary Hooper joined Daniel Pudil in leaving Hillsborough. I don't think many of those struck us as surprising. Hooper was a player I would love to have kept but given the possible financial restrictions around the club it may have been a decision based more on wages than anything else. We do have a lot of strikers and the opportunity to create some space in the squad was needed and as much as I like Hooper I can appreciate the argument that he hasn't played enough football over the last few seasons.

Daniel Pudil has been a fantastic servant to Sheffield Wednesday, a solid player who gave everything, great guy as well of the pitch. At times when the chips were down he stood out. He was key in the Wembley season and I wish him well wherever he ends up.

David Jones and George Boyd both I think were on paper astute signings, In Jones' case he just hasn't played enough football and it wasn't a surprise to see him leave. Always a good talker and again good off the pitch, personally I thought he did OK for us. Key in the end of season run in in 2017 which saw us go close again. Boyd while he wasn't a fans favourite I think did have more impact that people gave him credit for, a couple of nice goals along the way. One of those who I wished we'd have a few years earlier. Good luck to them both.

Marco Matias is someone I'd have probably given another year to, I'll accept that during his time here his numbers don't look great but you have to factor in he's had injuries in that time and had a large spell not being selected under Carlos Carvalhal. This season I think we were starting to see the player that arrived here with such reputation. Again, a nice bloke off the pitch as well who has wanted to give something back to the city as well as the club. I wish him all the best.

Almen Abdi, well we could be here all day discussing this one couldn't we. All I will say is that I was so pleased we signed him, he was so good for Watford, we saw a fleeting glimpse of it at Forest in 2017 with that fabulous goal. But beyond that it really hasn't worked out. The reasons for that I don't know, I don't think anyone who isn't inside the club knows.

The Awards (There's not actually any prizes on offer)

So this is where I'll go through the different things that go on over the course of a season, player of the year, goal of the season. That kind of thing. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Some of these were hard to decide than others.

Player Of The Year: Michael Hector
Over the course of a season I think with any player of the season vote you have to look at the importance of the players to the team. Without Hector we could have been in a very different position. It's not just his own performances, he brings that confidence to the rest of the team. Particularly those at the back, Tom Lees looks a different player when Hector is alongside him. He's had a fantastic impact on the team and the club and the fans have warmed to him. Being in the away end at Chelsea, very active on social media. Small things go a long way with the fans and 'Big Hec' as he's known has embraced what Wednesday is all about. If we can get him back next season it'll be a major boost.

Goal Of The Season: Fernando Forestieri V Norwich
Massive apology to Adam Reach, who in any other season I think would have walked away with this one. I agree with the rest of the fan base with the vote that was conducted the other week that Fernando Forestieri's powerful drive against Norwich was the best of the season. The fact the chance had gone not once but twice and he still pulled it off was part of the reasoning for me. The other part was that it was an absolute belter of a strike. Against a good keeper in Tim Krul as well helps and it was great to see Fernando get a goal like that after a tough couple of years with injury.

Signing Of The Season: Dominic Iorfa
I could have put Michael Hector in for this one as well but I've gone with Iorfa for a couple of reasons. The fact we've got him for so little I still find remarkable, the impact he's had and the potential in him. I genuinely think he'll be a Premier League player in years to come. He's quick, he's athletic, he's strong, he speaks well. He's been an excellent addition and has already popped up with some important goals. He's one to watch.

Moment Of The Season: Steve Bruce being appointed
This might look very silly in a years time if things don't work out but Steve Bruce being appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager felt like a bit of a watershed moment for Sheffield Wednesday. Someone who knows how to get promoted. Someone who isn't afraid to make big decisions and someone who's been there and done it and tells it how it is. Ultimately Bruce after a tough year on and certainly off the pitch could have walked away from football, he didn't and that tells me everything. Steve Bruce doesn't need Sheffield Wednesday but Sheffield Wednesday does need Steve Bruce and from the way he spoke after the QPR game he means business, he wants that 5th promotion to the Premier League and he wants to be the man to finally get this club moving.

Moment Of The Season(On The Pitch): Preston at Home
There were a few candidates for this one. Cam Dawson's penalty save at Bramall Lane, Adam Reach's goal against Leeds. The win at Villa Park, the win at Middlesbrough, the Blackburn game at home but I've gone with Preston at home. For the simple reason that it was the first game in a long time where people turned up and got behind the team for 90 minutes. Keiren Westwood returned in goal and Sam Hutchinson returned to the bench and the gloom around the club seemed to be lifted. Wednesday won 1-0 and I was delighted for Lee Bullen who was in temporary charge to get that home win.

Match Of The Season: Blackburn at Home
As a stand alone game for me Blackburn had nearly everything. It's always nice to score four at home and to win the game. Blackburn played fairly well and made us work for it and overall I thought it was a fantastic advert for the Championship as a division.

Worst Moment Of The Season: Rotherham half time boos.
Never in my time supporting the club can I remember a team being booed off at half time after just taking the lead. I never really understand booing at half time but if you're 3-0 down then maybe you can understand it but at 1-0 up after just taking the lead? That is unusual and it summed up the mood around Hillsborough at the time. It was a very strange atmosphere that day and make no mistake based on the 90 minutes we didn't deserve the point we got really.

 

 

Overall it's been a strange season, from an OK start to a very bad middle resulting in a change of manager to what I'd consider to be a fairly strong end. We've seen some decent football in the 2nd half of the campaign and most importantly the good feeling that had been absent from Hillsborough in recent times has returned. We've run some of the sides that have finished in the top six close away from home, A win at Villa, draws at Norwich, Sheffield United, West Brom and Derby. The home form over the season has been decent, there are plenty of things to build on for Steve Bruce and his staff ahead of 2019/20.


Thanks for reading, here's to a positive 2019/20

Tom

WAWAW

Sheffield Wednesday 2018/19: April Review

Well Easter has been and gone, the World Snooker Championships are into the 2nd week and people are planning their holidays. It must be the end of April and with that we're almost at the end of the season. Once again it's been an interesting month for Sheffield Wednesday.

The Matches

Aston Villa

We began the month with a home game against Steve Bruce's former employers Aston Villa, Villa had found form after a run of one win in eight and arrived at Hillsborough with the play offs very much in their own hands. For us we knew a win over Villa would give us a big chance. A lot of the build up obviously focused on Steve Bruce and I have to say the Villa fans for me were much more bothered about it than we were. As for the game itself Wednesday played well and it was fantastic to see Gary Hooper get on the scoresheet after so long out. Overall we controlled the game and but sloppy defending for John McGinn's equaliser should have been in front at half time. The 2nd half once again we bossed and won a penalty after Tyrone Mings brought down Fletcher. Mings could have easily seen red earlier in the game as could former Owl Glenn Whelan after a cynical foul on Sam Hutchinson. Sadly Fletcher missed the penalty and Villa went on to win the game 3-1. Frustrating, we'd been the better side and come away with nothing but there were still positives to take from it and overall it was a huge sign of how far this team had come since Bruce's arrival.

Nottingham Forest

Following that we had another home game a few days later in the shape of Nottingham Forest, Forest who spent a lot of money in the summer were clinging on to faint play off hopes themselves and were yet to win on the road under Martin O'Neill. The first half of this game probably summed up both sides seasons, neither was really in control of it. They maybe shaded it and it looked like it would peter out for a draw. It looked like two sides that would finish mid table. The 2nd half however Wednesday decided to turn it on, there was an element of fortune about all three goals. The first from Marco Matias I don't even think he knew what he was doing but a fantastic strike the Portuguese winger and I was pleased for him. George Boyd cracked in a 2nd after Wednesday counter attacked from a Forest free kick. Boyd has taken a lot of stick this season but to be fair to him his performances have been decent recently and he deserved his goal. While he isn't the George Boyd that terrorised defences back in his Peterborough days he's a good footballer and in the right team can be an asset. Marco Matias rounded off the night with a third goal to make it a good night for Wednesday, fortune once again around it but you make your own luck in football. A pleasing night for Wednesday.

Leeds United

After the Forest win we travelled up to face Yorkshire rivals Leeds. I'll be honest this was an odd day. The results earlier in the day meant that a Leeds win would put them in pole position for automatic promotion ahead of Sheffield United, from my point of view I'd never want my team to lose but it did slightly take the normal feelings defeat brings away. Again I didn't want us to lose and before the game fancied Wednesday to get something. The performance however I think showed the job Steve Bruce has on his hands. We did OK in the first half and could even have gone in front through Gary Hooper but ultimately Leeds were in control. Keiren Westwood came to the rescue on a number of occasions and probably strengthened his negotiating position for a new contract even further. We lost 1-0 and if we're honest it flattered us in the end. Again though, this is a Leeds team that have beaten a lot of sides at Elland Road. At the time they had won every game they had gone in front in. That's a fantastic asset to have. If we can take lessons from what they do and implement it into ourselves for next season we should.

Norwich City

After the Leeds game we were back on the road for the Good Friday trip down to Norwich, Norwich are in my opinion the best side in the Championship. They have a vibrant young team that play some great football and have done it all after selling the two best players last season. They deserve to go up and despite a disappointing result last season they stuck with the plan and got their rewards. Again we need to learn from what they do and implement it here. As for the game itself I thought Wednesday were excellent, falling behind to an early goal after Keiren Westwood pulled out in the warm up wasn't an ideal start. Cameron Dawson has taken some stick over the course of the season and I have to say some of it has been ridiculously harsh. Coming in at literally the last minute is never easy and probably contributed to the goal going in. After that Wednesday grew into the game and Fernando Forestieri scored what can only be described as an absolute rocket of a goal. It looked as though the chance to score had gone before he rifled the shot in from distance beating Tim Krul and for me it is a deserved winner of the club's goal of the season competition, which by the way had some stunners in. We got some fortune with the 2nd goal when Steven Fletcher handballed it over the line in the 2nd half. What I will say is that the Norwich fans do have a right to be annoyed about it but the idea of being 'deliberate' is nonsense. His hand has ended up there because he's slid in at an angle, he hasn't reached out and hooked it in. After that it looked like Wednesday were on for their first win at Carrow Road since 2009 but a late free kick was given and Norwich did what Norwich do, score a late goal. Overall it was a pleasing performance but a gutting end. The free kick wasn't a foul and then the taken took it five yards from where it was given. It was a poor night for Goeff Eltringham and left both sets of fans frustrated with him.


Bristol City

After the Norwich result the faint hopes of the play offs were still there, we needed to beat Bristol City to have any chance and I have to say I thought Wednesday were excellent. Bristol City are a good side, they didn't really show that at Hillsborough on Easter Monday but they were still a danger. We coped well with them and took the lead through another good goal, this time from Barry Bannan and added a 2nd later in the first half from Lucas Joao who received some stick from some fans during the game. Joao is a player who does frustrate at times but he has so much quality as well. It does irritate me when people label him lazy, he isn't lazy. His body language at times lets him down but he hasn't scored the goals he has this season by accident. A 2nd half double save from Cameron Dawson saw the Owls keep another clean sheet and make sure of three points. Overall it was a very pleasing afternoon to round off a decent Easter period for Wednesday.

Preston North End

The final game of April saw us travel over to Preston knowing we had to win to keep any faint hopes of the play offs alive. I'll be honest for me it was never about play offs this season since Bruce came in. It was mostly about stabilizing the club after a very disappointing first half of the campaign. The fact we went into the 45th League game of the season still in with a chance is testament to the job Steve Bruce, Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Lee Bullen have done. They must all take great credit for that as well as the players. As for the game, the first half wasn't great. 2-0 down at half time after two sloppy goals conceded. Steve Bruce said after the game that it was the first time he'd lost his temper since arriving and I have to say I wasn't surprised seeing the goals back. Both were avoidable, We got back into it through another great goal from Barry Bannan before Alan Browne who's been a thorn in our side before scored a third. Wednesday then began to play again, Fernando Forestieri latching onto Atdhe Nuhiu's cross before the big man himself nodded in the equaliser. Overall a crazy game in which both sides maybe feel they could have won it. The play off dream was over but the club can now look ahead to next season and a possible push.

So overall another interesting month in the Steve Bruce ear and with one more match to play we're closing in on the end of the season. I'll save my overall thoughts on the current situation for the next blog which will be a comprehensive review of the season as well as touching on the QPR game and whatever news may have come out of the club post match.

Thanks for reading

Tom

WAWAW