Ipswich at Home is a Must-Win Game Every Season - Notes for Sheffield Wednesday Friday, 4th Oct 2013 12:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forum. "I don't know how anyone can have their glass half full when we are now in October with no league win. The season has been a shambles, I am afraid." "We have played three of the expected strugglers already at home (Millwall, Yeovil and Doncaster) and couldn't beat any of them.", "It's time for a win. Mind you, it was time for a win five matches ago." The Owls were denied their first league win of the season by a late Keith Andrews strike at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. "It's weird. Depending on how you look at it, it can be a terrible result or quite a good one." "How is a draw at Brighton a poor result?", "Everyone is just frustrated at the manner of the draw and the fact that we have been unable to hold on to a lead again", "Dave Jones's negative tactics again, pressing the panic button, going ultra-defensive and just inviting Brighton to attack." Dave Jones"There have been positive signs in the last two games, but frankly it just masks an absolutely pathetic start to the season. Jones cannot buy us a win, and this must be our worst start in many a year", "Jones is sapping the life out of me". "I think that there is an even chance that Jones will keep us up, but I think that this will be his last full season in charge. There just isn't any good will towards him", "Because of the financial constraints he is under, I am more inclined to give him more time". "At the moment the club just seems to be drifting and stagnating. This season is pretty much a write-off after only ten games", "Dave Jones is largely responsible for this mood due to his negative dour football and tactical ineptness", "The f***ing tea lady would have got more points with this squad." Three September ArrivalsHope has come in the shape of three important arrivals either on loan or on short-term deals. "The recruitment policy which had us waiting until late September to sign experienced Championship players has been disgraceful and has really done for us." Centre-back Roger Johnson has arrived on loan from Wolves on a three-month deal. Midfielder Stephen McPhail, who was released by Cardiff this summer, was signed on a short-term contract until January, and striker Matty Fryatt has come in on a one-month loan from Hull. Performances are widely seen to have improved, even if the results have not in recent weeks. Defence"Our defence was solid in the second half of last season, but it has cost us big time so far this season. I am praying that we can get some stability soon", "The lack of a settled back four and playing less able defenders has meant that we have conceded in every game." Centre-back Anthony Gardner is likely to miss most of the campaign with an Achilles' injury, and former Stoke right-back Lewis Buxton returned against Brighton having recovered from a knee injury, and this disruption has played a part in their poor start to the season. "It's not just about having a settled back four. It's about doing the basics right — marking, intercepting and clearing the ball. We aren't doing any of that", "It's really frustrating at the moment because basic errors at the back are costing us points." "Why bother with a player of the month vote? Just give it to Kirkland every month". The former Wigan keeper "has made countless saves game after game which have kept match results somewhat respectable", "He kept us in the game in the first half at Brighton".
"We may as well give Chris Kirkland player of the season now. It's pretty clear how this season will pan out already." Owls have been constant in their praise: "He's a top quality keeper and England's true number one." "Reda Johnson as captain doesn't work for me. He's passionate and genuinely loves our club, but the captaincy is not working out for him", "One thing you can't fault him for is his lack of effort or determination." There has been little criticism of the former Plymouth player, but there was one interesting tactical note: "It's a minor point, but I like the way we push Reda up for our goalkicks, swapping with Helan at left-back. We win a lot of headers like that." At centre-back, 34-year-old "Miguel Llera is not good positionally, endearing though his enthusiasm is. It is also clear that he is not strong enough over 90 minutes". The former Charlton player is "addicted to hoofing the ball more than any other defender". "Roger Johnson will prove a fantastic signing. He can head, he can tackle, he's a voice and can pass out of defence", "He looked rock solid at Brighton." With Gardner out long-term, Owls are very pleased with the start the 30-year-old loan signing has made. The former Cardiff and Birmingham defender "looks assured and was constantly vocal when organising the back four. He took on the role of captain without wearing the armband", "Roger Johnson looks decent and is obviously lacking match time, but this will come". "It was good to have Lewis Buxton back in the team on Tuesday. Brighton were always trying to get LuaLua in behind him, but he handled him pretty well." "If anyone ever dares question the ability of Lewis Buxton again, then you seriously need to stop following football. Buxton's absence and Spence's appalling contribution just shows what a good right back Lewis is." West Ham loan signing Jordan Spence deputised for Buxton, and has now returned to Upton Park. He was widely blamed for Doncaster's goal in the Owls 1-0 defeat last Saturday, and was the subject of some savage and relentless criticism by Wednesday fans: "He's so poor, it's unreal." "Spence scared me. I mean, he really scared me. He's bloody awful. He couldn't tackle, pass, attack and had no vision", "Whoever scouted this player needs sacking", "Utterly diabolical", "He marks thin air a lot", "Louis Spence would be a better right-back". Central Midfield Giles Coke "Jose Semedo offers great defensive cover." The former Charlton player, who joined the Owls in 2011, "gives us battle strength and commitment", "Our three man central midfield with Semedo in the holding role provided a lot of defensive cover on Tuesday". Former Motherwell man "Giles Coke used to make bursting runs into the box and he managed to get us a few goals, but we have had him playing a deeper role until McPhail's arrival", "I thought he had a good game at Brighton and we gave as good as we got in midfield". "McPhail allowed Coke to get forward a bit more and make a few forward runs. He brought out the best in him", "Coke felt liberated. You could see it in him." Several Owls highlighted that Coke's substitution off was the moment when the initiative was handed to Brighton in Tuesday's draw. Stephen McPhail"McPhail is a revelation, showing and wanting the ball and passing to team-mates. He plays fairly simple balls but mostly with an attacking purpose", "It's no coincidence that we get a central midfielder who wants the ball, moves for it and passes it forward, and the long ball tactics stop."
"A proper footballing central midfielder", the former Leeds and Barnsley player has played just three games for the Owls, but their fans are highly impressed: "He has shown more inspiration with the ball than we have seen from anyone else in blue and white all season", "He just keeps it simple". "He has nice touches and passing. He creates space and is always available for the ball", "It is so refreshing to see that he is always free for the ball, and ready to play it positively", "McPhail calmed the defence, taking passes from them and giving them back when needed to create space". Wide Midfield"Our wingers have loads of pace, but they have the touch of a baby elephant and no vision", "Too many of our players pick the ball up and run with it, without having a clue what they are going to do with it", "I'd gladly sacrifice this pace for a side full of footballing intelligence and creativity".  Jeremy Helan "Golden boy Helan won't be dropped". Former Manchester City youth player "Jeremy Helan is the least effective player of all of the regular starters", "God alone knows why we signed him". "Helan has pace without any end product", "He is the best player I have ever seen at running in a straight line with no idea what to do next", "At least he can run in straight lines. Antonio goes around in f***ing circles". "You cannot drop Antonio for the simple reason that there is no one to replace him. I agree that he is off the boil a bit but we can't drop him. Former Reading right-winger Michal Antonio "has been ineffectual this season", "He's just frustrating." "Antonio has looked low on confidence and hasn't been effective, but is putting in a good shift". Several Owls mentioned that "he's been carrying a rib injury and needs resting", "He has been played by Jones as a forward and he cannot finish", "I think it's time to rest him". Jamaican international and one-time Town trialist Jermaine Johnson has either been substituted or come on from the bench in each of the last five Owls games. "I can't stand the thought of him shooting. You know it's just going to end up on the roof, and then he will always look on in disbelief." "The man is dangerously insane. When a shot is on target, the chances are it's going in because he belts it that hard. If he thought about where he wanted to put it and used less power, he'd get more on target and score more goals." Attack"I think that any striker would struggle to score in this side. We have said it and we have seen it. With these wingers, it is extremely difficult for any striker to score", "I am gutted not to see two strikers. Nuhiu and Fryatt need to build a partnership."
"Dave Jones has no idea how to play to Nuhiu's strengths." "He is not a hoof it up to the big bloke type of player despite his size", "Nuhiu's first touch can be sublime, but there is very little around him to pass it to." "He's been running through brick walls with no service for the most part", "When he needs help, the other players are miles away", "He could be good, but needs to play in a formation with two up front". Many Owls rate Albanian international Atdhe Nuhiu, who joined from Rapid Vienna this summer, but they feel that the 6ft 6in tall striker is not a target man: "He promises to be one of our better signings if the manager plays to his strengths and finds him a decent partner." Matty Fryatt"Fryatt is the goal scorer we have been missing". The former Leicester man "is the closest thing to a quality out-and-out striker who is proven at Championship level". The 27-year-old missed most of last season with an Achilles' injury, but Owls have high hopes from his brief loan.
"If we have Fryatt in the team, he could nick us some vital wins. It's all about stepping up, isn't it?", "He clearly knows where the goal is, scoring shedloads for Hull and Leicester. He became the first player in 42 years to score 20 goals by Christmas (for Leicester in 2008/09)." "We gave Fryatt one decent chance at Brighton and he scored. We've got more chance of getting results with a finisher". Fryatt made a substitute appearance last Saturday in the home defeat to Doncaster, and started as a lone striker in Tuesday's draw at Brighton. One or Two Up Front"If we play 4-4-2 on Saturday, we will win 2-1. If we play 4-5-1 on Saturday, we will lose 2-1". Wednesday have consistently played 4-5-1 this season, but have been criticised for their inability to use it to control possession effectively and play creative attacking football. Owls have been consistently putting forward 4-4-2 pre-match line-ups this week, with McPhail and Coke in the centre and Nuhiu and Fryatt up front. Despite the balance their three-man midfield gave them on Tuesday, they feel that two strikers at Hillsborough would carry a greater threat. "At home, we should go for it more, playing with two strikers and pressurising the opposition if they have the ball more than us. We should push up a bit and try and put the opposition on the back foot." "Against Doncaster last Saturday, we had Antonio, Helan and Jermaine Johnson streaming forwards sometimes together on the wing. When they were in a good position to cross or pass, we only had Nuhiu in the box." Owls' Views on ITFC and the Game"Ipswich is simply the game we have to win and at least build the confidence back just before the international break. Anything less will be shattering mentally for the players and a real rot could set in". Wednesday fans are anxious to avoid going into the break without a league win. "Ipswich are a good side. McCarthy has them hard to beat, and it will be a tough game with the likes of McGoldrick banging in goals for them", "One thing for certain is that McCarthy will have them fired up for the game after what happened at Derby". "Going on their result at Derby, do we go for it or do we play it more cautious?" There has been much discussion of Tuesday's events. "Ipswich have not won away since April and blew a 4-1 lead on Tuesday. They are decent, but nothing special." "Judging by the amount of goals they conceded, I'm hoping we will be able to score. The only issue is whether or not we can stop them doing so. We have not kept a clean sheet, so I am not confident in that respect." "It's a huge, huge game next Saturday." I will update the forum on Saturday morning with their more immediate match day thoughts. WebsitesThe best forum to look at is OwlsTalk.
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Chris Kirkland at QPR
Stephen McPhail
Atdhe Nuhiu
Matty Fryatt
