Well isn't it nice to
have the football back, it's been another interesting month in
Sheffield Wednesday history. The start of a new season, still without
a manager and several things to discuss.
The
Matches
Reading
The Owls started the 2019/20 campaign with a trip down to Berkshire
to face Reading. Over the last 10 years or so Reading hasn't exactly
been the home of many wins for Wednesday just two at the Madejski
Stadium since the Royals moved there. The 2nd of those
however was last season and Wednesday made it back to back wins there
with a 3-1 success. Overall I thought it was a decent performance. We
showed glimpses of what we were capable of. New signing Kadeem Harris
scoring on debut before being pegged back at 1-1. The reaction to
that set back though was good and Wednesday were back in front
through Sam Hutchinson only for Lucas Joao to sign off his Wednesday
career with a goal against Reading who he'd join a few days later.
Have to say it was a cracking finish. We'll talk more about Joao
later. Overall after a couple of years of bad opening days it was
nice to get a win on opening day and briefly top the division.
Barnsley
Following the win down at Reading we had the first South Yorkshire
derby of the season with the visit of newly promoted Barnsley. These
always seem to be interesting games and this was no exception.
Wednesday going in front early through new loan signing Jacob Murphy
followed later on in the game by Steven Fletcher. Again Wednesday
played well, pressing Barnsley and capitalising on their attempts to
play out from the back. It could have been 3 or 4-0 very easily, we
always for the first time a while looked like we had more in the tank
at the end. A sign of the good fitness work done in the summer.
Overall it was a pleasing first home game of the campaign.
Bury
Next up we played Bury in the first round of the League cup....oh no
we didn't. I'll probably do a separate blog on Bury and the way
football is run in the country at the moment. I have quite a few
things to say about the EFL and very little of it is positive.
Sheffield Wednesday V Bury never happened and Bury sadly are no
longer in the football league. A disgrace in my opinion and something
that should not be brushed under the carpet.
Millwall
Following the enforced free week Wednesday took the long trip down to
Millwall. Millwall away does seem to be a game that worries me. I
think the same feeling was going through the minds of the coaching
staff given the team selection. I'll be honest I didn't agree with
replacing Odubajo for Iorfa mainly because I didn't feel we needed to
make a change there. I appreciate the idea that Iorfa adds more of a
physical presence at the back but to make a change after two wins
seemed a bit odd to me. We lost 1-0 through a goal from Matt Smith
and despite an OK performance it did raise a few questions. A lack of
a plan b being one of them. Having said that we had out chances and
on another day there's certainly an argument we could have got a
point. All in all though the toughest test so far not passed.
Luton
After the defeat at The Den we were back at Hillsborough for Luton
Town, of course having played them twice last season in the FA Cup it
wasn't a completely alien experience for us. First of all I will say
Luton are a decent side, they were last season and I think they'll be
OK this season. As for the game, the first half from Wednesday's
point of view wasn't great. We never really got going, not through a
lack of effort or anything like that but the ball wasn't sticking up
front and a number of the players just didn't look at it. Luton were
probably a little bit unlucky that they didn't take the lead. In the
2nd half we came out much the better and Kadeem Harris
tapped in his 2nd of the campaign to give the Owls a third
win from four and for the third time ended a matchday on top of the
division all be it for 24 hours.
Preston
After the Luton win a trip to Preston was next up, Preston away has
never been a happy hunting ground for Wednesday and it was, like
Millwall a game that worried me. Again I do think that that played on
the mind of Lee Bullen. The performance while not great wasn't awful
but as with a lot of games at this level if you make individual
mistakes you often get punished. Moses Odubajo had a day to forget
giving away both penalties. Personally the 2nd one was
100% a penalty and while the first one probably was a penalty it is
one of those you see often not given. No excuses though Wednesday
weren't good enough and even though the last 20 minutes were decent
including a goal from Steven Fletcher we didn't deserve anything out
of it. Once again a tough test on the road not passed.
Rotherham
After the defeat at Preston there was a good opportunity to bounce
back at local rivals Rotherham in the 2nd round of the
League Cup. It did feel a bit odd having not really earned the right
to play in round two but that wasn't anything we could help of
course. It was an interesting team, several changes and run outs for
the likes of Cameron Dawson, Joey Pelupessy and Massimo Luongo and a
debut for David Bates. Also starts for the much talked about three of
Adthe Nuhiu, Jordan Rhodes and Sam Winnall. Have to say it wasn't the
best performance, it improved with the additions of Kadeem Harris and
Barry Bannan. A late winner scored by Adthe Nuhiu sent us through to
round three setting up a third round tie at home to Everton. A lot
has been made of Jordan Rhodes' reaction to the goal and to be honest
I can see both sides of it but I do think it has been over done a
bit. I can fully understand why he might have been a tad annoyed at
effectively being shoved out of the way by Adthe Nuhiu but it was a
split second reaction. It's also worth noting he went over to
congratulate Kadeem Harris on the assist before joining the rest of
the celebrations. Sometimes it's worth watching the full video and
not just part of it. As for the game, while not the best performance
cup football is about results. We needed to bounce back from defeat
at Preston and personally I felt that one or two might have got a run
out against QPR.
QPR
So we come onto the final game of the month. QPR at home. Let's not
sugar coat it, it was a poor performance and there were many
different things we would go into. Firstly I didn't really agree with
the team, yes it was good to see Fernando Forestieri back in the side
but just off Steven Fletcher doesn't tend to work, it hasn't really
worked since Fletcher came to the club. The midfield didn't include
Kieran Lee, yes he's had injuries and needs to be managed but to not
sure him at all was odd for me. The substitutions in general didn't
work at all. Luongo came on and did well but should have probably
started, taking Palmer and Reach off seemed odd as well. Yes we were
going to try and win the game but it left a number of players out
there with little idea of where they were supposed to be. We didn't
get to grips with QPR in the 2nd half after a relatively
even first half where Wednesday for me deserved to take the lead.
Having watched it back I don't think the penalty was a penalty but I
still felt we created enough in that first half for us to edge it.
The 2nd however we seemed to switch off completely, as
soon as QPR equalised you could feel the energy out out of the crowd,
the players looked lost. It felt a bigger game that it should and
that for me was down to most of the fans knowing it was probably
Bullen's last chance of the job. 12 points from 18 looks decent with
some decent performances. 9 from 18 with back to back defeats doesn't
look so good. It isn't as simple as that of course and I'll come onto
my own thoughts on it.
Who
should take over?
At the beginning of the season I said if we were to challenge for the
top six we needed to pick up 12 points from the first 18 available.
Now to have got 9 isn't a disaster, it's certainly not as bad as some
of the more fancied sides have got and it's also worth noting where
the likes of Norwich were this time last year. But we can't escape
some glaring errors over the last few games that have lead to big
questions over the team. I don't think Lee Bullen has done enough to
get the job, he's done some good things but I still think tactically
we don't have a plan b. We don't seem to know what to do when behind.
As good as the Barnsley game was for example they didn't change the
way they played. That for me all comes from the manager, a big issue
with Jos Luhukay for example was his lack of ability to change games,
if the opposition went in front, they'd win baring two occasions. It
feels the same now. Obviously players have to take some
responsibility for some of this as well but the main bulk of it comes
from who's in the dugout.
For me from the names that have done the rounds very few actually
appeal which is probably why someone isn't already in the dugout.
Chris Hughton was an early favourite, apparently turned it
down in favour of waiting for a Preamier League job, in fairness not
exactly a bad reason. He probably will get one. Tony Pulis
has been mentioned, as much as he'd bring a solidity and you know
what you'd be getting I feel his best days are behind us. He didn't
do well at Middlesbrough, his style of football wouldn't suit the
group of players he'd have to work with at Hillsborough. Alex Neil
is a name that has cropped up more recently. Wouldn't be a
terrible choice for me, done well at Preston and has a promotion on
his CV with Norwich. He knows the division and his stock appears to
be pretty high. Gary Rowett now a well worn name in the
Championship again wouldn't be terrible, did well at Burton and
Birmingham, OK at Derby. Stoke appeared to be a tougher situation
that we all thought it would be, he'd probably have something to
prove and while he wouldn't be my choice he'd not be the worst name
we could go for. Garry Monk while clearly has ability as a
manager it would worry me why he's had 4 clubs in 4 years. Swansea,
Leeds, Middlesbrough and Birmingham City have all moved Monk on and
while some of them maybe haven't been the best run clubs it does make
you wonder. It'd be a no from me. Nigel Pearson NO, just no.
Ian Holloway not the worst name I've heard. At the very least
he'd have an understanding of what Wednesday is about with the
advantage of not having being here before. The worry with people who
had been involved with the club before is that there's a certain
worry for me of being sentimental and also a fear of doing things
against what the fans might want. I'm not saying that's what's
happening with Bullen but it might be one reason my results haven't
flown.
For me the names that have interested me the most happen to be the
ones who have been heavily linked with it at the time of writing
this. Danny and Nicky Cowley the managerial duo who have
revolutionised Lincoln City and masterminded their ascent up the
leagues have been rumoured to be in talks with Wednesday after
turning down the change to join recently relegated Huddersfield Town.
As someone who likes to watch as much football as they can, the
Cowley's have caught the eye, it's not every day you see a proper
management duo. Danny may be the 'manager' but they come as a pair,
the 2017 FA Cup run which saw them catch the headlines after making
the Quarter Finals was only part of the their success. They won the
National League title and then finished 7th in League Two
the year after losing to Exeter City in the Play Offs before winning
the title in 2018/19. Add to that the 2018 Football League Trophy and
a good start to this currant campaign. I think it's safe to say they
are a pair on the rise.
Of course there would be risks, they have never managed at this level
and would have to learn on the job as well as only able to work with
the players available. Free agents are available of course but if
there were many realistic options out there in the free market. Would
they not have been singed already? At the end of the day, any
appointment is a risk. It would make a refreshing change to got and
get people who seem to be on the rise. People with something to prove
and people who seem to have a record of staying somewhere for a
period of time. They'd be my choice personally.
September
Regardless of what happens with the managerial situation. We still
need to see improvement on the pitch. If Bullen is still in charge
when we go to Huddersfield on Sunday the 15th then we have
to back him. Huddersfield have had a shocking start and we really
need to be going there and winning if we have any hopes of
challenging that top six in my opinion. Fulham at home will be tough
but Middlesbrough away as well doesn't strike me as the tricky
fixture of the past. Throw in the cup tie against Everton and it has
a lot of potential this month.
Thanks for reading,
Tom
WAWAW (that's gone quiet again hasn't it?)
No comments:
Post a Comment