The last kick of a football for 2019 has been kicked and thus rounds
up the year. It's been eventful to say the least and December has
come with it's own mix of stories and drama.
The
Matches
Brentford
We started December with a visit from Brentford, it was a decent test
of where Wednesday were after the win over Charlton. The first half
wasn't great, we didn't get anywhere near up to the standard required
and Brentford played well, created a bit through some good moves but
it was a set piece that gave them the lead. In the 2nd
half however Wednesday were much better, Jordan Rhodes came on at
half time and that changed the game, his running and movement gave
Brentford something to think about and Steven Fletcher scored twice
to give Wednesday a 2-1 win. It was the first time Wednesday had come
from behind to win a game since September 2017 (against Brentford
funnily enough) and also the first time this season we had beaten a
side that sat above us in the table. A pleasing afternoon and a very
important result for Wednesday.
Derby
After Brentford it was a midweek trip to Derby County, Wednesday's
record at Derby is dreadful. 2006 was the last time the Owls came
away with all three points from there. Being honest I can't think off
too many occasions where we have deserved a win there but this time
we 100% did. While Derby were awful we were outstanding in the first
half and once again Steven Fletcher gave us the lead after Barry
Bannan capitalised on an awful pass across the goal from Derby's
defence. In the 2nd half Derby improved slightly and
Wednesday couldn't quite find that 2nd goal they deserved.
A penalty which in my opinion was never a penalty was given late on
and Derby equalised. A frustrating result after a good performance.
After the game there were several complains over the subs in
particular taking off Fletcher, given his injury record and his
importance to the team and that fact he'd already had treatment
during the game I think it was logical to take him off. While the
performance deserved more however a point away is still no bad thing.
Nottingham Forest
A 2nd trip to the East Midlands to round off the week,
Wednesday's recent record against Forest is impressive, just one
defeat in the last ten meeting between the two. Forest are having a
decent season and had threats of their own but in similar fashion to
Middlesbrough earlier in the campaign we didn't give them much of a
chance of showing that. 4-0 up at half time, wonderful. Jordan Rhodes
with a hat trick and Steven Fletcher rounding off a brilliant first
half for Wednesday. I was so pleased for Rhodes, he deserved a day
like that. A lot of people have had their opinion on him, I think a
lot of the criticism is unfair, I've always felt that while ever he
was here we should persist with him as he had a record that few can
match. He showed that at Forest, getting into good positions and
taking his chances, that's what he does. Colin Murray summed it up
perfectly on Quest TV's highlights show, “Rhodes is only as good as
the service you give him”, we haven't done that enough during his
time with us. He and Steven Fletcher up front as a two was looking
good in pre season and we went away from it but I feel it has legs,
both seem to benefit from playing in a two. Back to the team, it was
a terrific result which maybe took the division by a bit of a
surprise but that's the Championship.
Bristol City
After the high of the Forest game came the last game before Christmas
and a home game live on SKY against Bristol City. While it wasn't the
most entertaining of games it was enjoyable as a contest. Wednesday
could have fallen behind early on after Bristol City carved open a
chance on 15 seconds but after that we controlled it. We had enough
chances to be in front at half time. Second half I think Bristol City
were more than happy with a point and we struggled to break them down
but a daft foul by Tommy Rowe on Atdhe Nuhiu lead to a penalty. Now
while I agree it was soft it was still a daft thing for him to do and
Barry Bannan slotted home to lift Wednesday up to third. It was a
deserved three points for me and while it was only half way through,
it was nice to be third.
Stoke City
Boxing saw Wednesday back on the road and off to Stoke, the record on
boxing day was very impressive. Won the last five, unbeaten in seven.
Stoke came into the game in the bottom three, now while they have had
a dreadful season and are in the drop zone I still don't think
they'll be relegated. They have so much quality in that side. Having
said that Wednesday were well below the level required. They fell
behind early on after not dealing with Stoke's quality. While they
did get back into the game in the 2nd half and took the
lead after goals from Morgan Fox and Tom Lees we chucked it away late
on again. Poor defending lead to Stoke winning it with virtually the
last kick of the game. A gutting way to lose and while I don't think
we can have too many complaints if you have eyes on promotion you
can't keep chucking games away like we have done.
Cardiff City
25
Games in: Where do I see us?
If we look at the league in it's simplicity and ignore other things going on off the field if you'd have offered me 6th after 25 games I'd have taken it. I think most sensible Wednesday fans would have taken it. I've seen a lot of criticism of Monk after the Cardiff game, really? He's had no pre season, he's not had a transfer window, he's working with a squad that does need refreshing and yet he's getting a tune out of it more often that not and has us in a decent position. Crazy really. I didn't expect a top six challenge, I think this was always going to be a year of rebuilding and hopefully progression after the last two seasons. If we can do anything in January to add to the squad then maybe we'll finish in there but if we don't it's not time to panic.
In terms of the off the field things, nobody really knows what will happen with the EFL and the Independent panel's decision regarding Wednesday's sale of Hillsborough. That is casting a cloud over the season, I've heard more than one person say they're losing interest due to it and to be honest it's hard to argue with it at times. There could realistically be a situation where we go from a top six challenger to a relegation fighter and while I'm sure the fans would still try and get behind the team for whatever was needed the psychological blow of losing those points could have a huge impact. From a personal point of view until we know what is happening you just have to get behind the team, a decision might not come before the end of the campaign meaning promotion could still realistically be on.
The
2010's
As it's the end of the decade I thought I'd quickly look back at some of the highs and lows of the 2010's. It started badly with relegation in 2010 and 2011 wasn't much better either with a 15th placed finish in League One. Milan Mandaric saving the club was the standout moment of that season for me. 2012 brought the sweetest of promotions from the third tier at the expense of Sheffield United. 2013 and 14 were both years of struggling to adapt to life in the Championship after promotion, some decent players and moments in that period as well before a year of consolidation in 2015. Going close in both 2016 and 2017 brings some wonderful memories, that 15/16 season was fantastic and although it didn't have the ending we all wanted I'll still look back on it with fond memories. 2018 and 2019 have been full of incident and a number of different stories. While there have been some positives there have also been some negatives, ultimately it's been a roller-coaster of a decade.
Along with this there have been discussions about team of the decade. For me it was a fairly simple selection of players based on what went on and when. Here is the team.
Effectively it's the Wembley team that started the Play Off Final but with Antonio coming in and Bannan moving into the middle. I really can't justify putting anyone else in, that is in my opinion the best selection of players we've had in that time based on form, consistency, impact and level. All these players baring Antonio have done well with Wednesday at the top end of the division. Antonio's 9 goals in 2012/13 kept us up. Without him we'd have been relegated.
So there we have it, January approaches. We'll have to see where we are and what we might have done come the end of the month.
Here's to a better 2020.
Thanks for reading
Tom
WAWAW
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