Oh Well, It Was Fun While It Lasted - Notes for Sheffield Wednesday Tuesday, 30th Sep 2014 12:11 HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday evening's game by delving into their forums. "After the capitulation to Manchester City, we are starting to come back down to earth. A poor display against a poor Cardiff side has resurfaced concerns about various players and our lack of quality going forward. We need to bounce back in the next couple of games." The Owls have suffered their first wobble of the season after a bright start which placed them in the play-off places before this weekend. Solid defence was the basis of a 0-0 draw at Bolton, a 2-0 win at Birmingham and a 1-0 home win over Reading leading up to their trip to the Etihad. Despite holding the champions to a scoreless draw at half-time in their Capital One Cup game last Wednesday, the floodgates opened in the second half. The Owls were taken apart after defender Kamil Zayatte was sent off and a tepid 2-1 defeat at Cardiff on Saturday has done little to allay concerns. "Reality check time", "We're beginning to look what we really are, which is average", "I don't think that it's a case of us not being good enough. We can and will play better. We probably won't finish as high as we would like but we're far from bad." Manchester City 7 — 0 Owls"The reception is shocking here behind the sofa", "I just hope we don't get humiliated", "Oh dear, I do fear the worst", "We are going to get walloped", "Batten down the hatches, boys, this might hurt." Despite their supporters' worst fears the Owls gave a good account of themselves before the interval, playing "decent passing football", "That was a cracking first half. We are playing great so far. I'm off for a pie and vodka, sod the Bovril", "You can't help but be impressed by that." "Please don't get mullered in the second half", "We are too attacking. Midfield is nowhere to be seen since City's first goal", "Desperate defending really, and it's a shame, a real shame. They are dead on their feet", "Regardless of who has done this to us, it breaks the spell." "This is precisely why I hated this draw. It is a confidence wrecker", "So much good in that first half was wasted in 15 minutes", "I never thought I would say this, but Sheffield Wednesday reminded me of Brazil", "If you're going to lose, then you might as well do it properly." Stuart Gray"We have an outstanding coach at the helm at present, and he has got the players working as a team. His big success is getting them all to buy into what he's trying achieve, making sure that they all know what their responsibilities are in each situation."  "He is the most likeable manager we have had in a long time." Owls have the highest regard for the manager, who is working with a small squad on a small budget after the proposed takeover of the club by Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov broke down late in the summer. "We all know that we haven't got buckets of cash to throw at the squad, so Gray has to work with what he's got. We are a better looking side than we have been for a couple of years", "Please Milan [Mandaric, Owls owner], back this man. Other teams with bigger budgets will come for him soon." "The players love Gray. I think it's because he's a coach and he is heavily involved with daily training on the pitch", "Gray has created a more cohesive team and we are more consistent", "He is the best thing to happen to Wednesday for ages. Finally we have a manager with modern football thinking." A High Energy Style"We don't play beautiful football, but our desire is encouraging", "We never look like scoring many or creating chances, but we are hard-working, solid and organised", "Hard work has got us where we are this season, not clever tactics. Tactically we haven't been tested yet in the Championship." "We do all of the good things, picking up the second balls." The Owls play a highly energetic pressing game built around a 4-4-2 system, but they struggled to build a rhythm to unlock Cardiff's defence on Saturday. "It's such a slow-paced game", "We are meandering to a loss. We need more urgency." "We stopped running, and with nobody open in front of the ball, it left backwards or sideways passes, or hoofing forward which was picked off easily by Cardiff's defenders", "We played the game at snail's pace, with ponderous backwards passing for the sake of it." Dropping Like Flies"The bubble has burst and we have nobody to put in to alter things", "With no Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson or Kieran Lee, the quality just isn't there." The loss of these three, plus ex-Ipswich striker Caolan Lavery has both hurt Wednesday on the pitch and left them short of bench options. "Our first XI is strong, but how often are we going to be able to play them", "They need to keep fit for us to have any chance of staying competitive in this league", "Other teams have options that they can bring on from the bench to change a game. We have League One players and loanees." Defence"Our defence has been our strength, but we have lost our focus after that drubbing." The Owls' strong start to the season was built on a platform of six clean sheets in nine games. "The defence has been so good this season. I just hope it doesn't have an impact on our good league form." The sting in the tale of last Wednesday night's Etihad defeat was the loss of former Leeds centre-back Tom Lees with a hamstring pull. "We missed Lees big time against Cardiff", "There was no calmness at the back", "We panicked every time Cardiff attacked. Our best defender not playing isn't ideal." "Marking at corners has been a bit iffy", "I was constantly worried when Reading got a corner. All of them were to the back post and all caused mayhem", "Reading have a huge side and every set piece was a threat", "Cardiff scored from the sort of in-swinging free-kick we struggle to handle." Keiren Westwood"I wasn't entirely sure we needed to bring in another keeper when he had Chris Kirkland. This guy is better. He's a great shot-stopper but his distribution is outstanding", "He contributes as a great defensive outlet, turning us from being the team under pressure to the team applying pressure."  Owls are full of praise for the 29-year-old former Coventry and Sunderland goalkeeper. "Without him, we would have nowhere near the number of points we have this season." His shot stopping is regularly commended, including his penalty save against Reading. "Get in, go on, Keiren lad!" "Joe Mattock is left exposed again at left-back", "He was man of the match in the first half against Manchester City, and did very well despite being in two-v-one situations most of the time", "He needs help out there." The 24-year-old former West Brom defender "looks like a really solid and dependable left-back now." His crossing has been criticised. "Mattock is a steady player, but his delivery into the box isn't great", "He defended well against Cardiff, but hit the first man with virtually every cross." "Liam Palmer has looks good and composed", "He is solid and dependable as usual but occasionally gets caught out." The 23-year-old right-back has come through the Owls' youth ranks. "Defensively he's quite sound but he's guilty of poor deliveries into the box." "Palmer definitely looks happier getting forward", "As good as he has been for us and as bright as his future is, he has a worrying habit of completely switching off at inopportune times." "Sadly, Lewis Buxton showed at Cardiff that he cannot play at centre-back", "Buxton can deputise there, but he has played two games this season and doesn't have a huge amount of pace at the best of times." The 30-year-old ex-Stoke right-back replaced Tom Lees in the centre on Saturday. "Gray thought Buxton was excellent at centre-back today. I'm not sure that he'll want to chop and change it for Ipswich", "You pick players for positions, not accommodate them. We looked uncertain with him there." "Claude Dielna is a left-footed defender, the same as Loovens", "Jean Claude van Dielna will only come on if a left-footed defender is sidelined", "He keeps the ball well and looks quality." The 26-year-old French signing from Olympiakos "looks a real unit", but has hardly featured. "That was a harsh sending off." Former Hull centre-back Kamil Zayatte served his mandatory one-match ban for his Etihad sending off against the Bluebirds and can play in Tuesday's game. "He looks a much more solid defender", "He played well, and the doubts over him can be laid to rest." The 29-year-old has been criticised for his "kamikaze" style. "We needed as much bite for the Manchester City game. Well, we knew a sending off was on the cards at some stage", "He can be a mistake waiting to happen." Glenn Loovens"Loovens looked far from his composed best against Cardiff. You can't help thinking that missing Lees was a factor", "It was very out of character for him to just stand and watch Anthony Pilkington score", "He's had one bad game in 10 and he's getting slaughtered, Give it a rest."  The 30-year-old former Cardiff and Celtic centre-half had a poor game on Saturday. "It seemed to be a ‘should I or shouldn't I' moment. In the end he declined, and we paid the price", "He has these moments in games most weeks, but it was noticeable without Lees beside him." "Lees is the main man. Loovens is a good character, but does have the odd rick in him and gets caught out for pace at times", "Reading's best chance came from him getting outmuscled and staying on the ground", "He has had a few awkward recent moments in defence, which is unusual." Central Midfield"The lack of ideas or passing forward by our central midfielders is severely limiting our attacking threat", "Midfield is the problem. There is just a general lack of creativity", "The passing is fine, but we are found wanting when it comes to someone whipping a cross in or playing someone through." "Kieran Lee is the one player who can pick out the clever little runs that Stevie May keeps making." The Owls have been without their two creative midfielders. Kieran Lee has been absent after two games with a groin injury, and Sam Hutchinson has been out with a back injury after three matches. Their replacements have offered strong support to the Owls defence, but the balance has been too defensive. "We haven't got anyone to stamp any authority on the game. We look so lightweight", "With Semedo and Coke so deep, the strikers are required to drop deep to see any of the ball." "Giles Coke is average. He doesn't impose himself enough", "The usual Coke, he looks great in flashes and drifts out of the game for long spells." The 28-year-old ex-Motherwell man "is just another in a long line of incredibly frustrating players. He just never offers enough". Coke is widely seen as a weak link. "Our midfield should be running alongside Stevie May up front. That is not happening now, with Coke being the main culprit", "I'm fed up with his inability to drive the team. He goes missing when needed", "He sits too deep." Jose Semedo"Gray's tactics are based on players working hard and pressurising, and Jose Semedo is the embodiment of that philosophy", "He is a warrior who plays his heart out. He loves tough physical games", "He never stops. He chases down opponents, wins the ball back and never stops."  The 29-year-old Portuguese and former Charlton holding midfielder "has always had work-rate, strength and tackling, but now he's showing composure and confidence on the ball", "He competes fantastically, mostly playing it simple and can make attacking contributions as the game wears on." "I wish fans wouldn't criticise him when he doesn't always look for the long ball. He's not a creative midfielder", "He struggles to know what to do when he receives the ball in midfield, apart from pass it back from whence it came", "I wish he would run into space with the ball more when it opens up." Wide Midfield"We haven't got one player who consistently puts good crosses in", "I wish we could cross", "Do we actually practice crosses?" Owls are exasperated by the poor quality crossing from their wingers and full-backs. "Michail Antonio [now with Forest] was never really replaced." "Maghoma and Maguire need to step up their game. We badly need some competition in there. They are playing every week regardless of their performance", "There is no pace or running from them. They need to turn and run at their markers." "Jacques Maghoma has great feet and balance and is great to watch at times. It's frustrating when he gets the ball in space and takes a weak effort on goal. "The 26-year-old ex-Burton Albion man has played on the left flank. "If he gets his head up and picks the right pass more, he'll be a top player." "If Gray can get him tracking back and tackling in the centre, I'd like to see Maghoma given another chance in this role", "He can look very dangerous coming through the middle. His use of the ball can be less than optimal, but give him credit for breaking from midfield." "Jeremy Helan's pace gets us up the field quickly", "It was a big mistake not to being him on against Cardiff." The 22-year-old former Manchester City left-winger has regularly appeared from the bench this season. "He's a dangerous option when opponents are tiring, as he's lightning quick", "None of the other substitutes provide a fraction of the impact he has recently made", "Helan doesn't have a right foot though, does he?" "Is Royston Drenthe still on?", "Yes, and falling over every time he gets the ball. He has no sense of balance." The 27-year-old ex-Real Madrid man joined the Owls on a six-month loan from Reading on transfer deadline day. "He's playing like my Dad did on the screen that time I let him have a go on FIFA." "Drenthe looks plain poor so far and has done absolutely nothing since joining", "He's a total luxury player who has no impact. He's all reputation and no substance", "Perhaps Reading were willing to let him go because he was rubbish", "He needs to pull his head in and start playing for the team." Chris Maguire"Can the real Chris Maguire please stand up?" Owls have been harsh in their comments on the 25-year-old former Derby right-winger. "Under Dave Jones, Maguire couldn't get a game. Under Stuart Gray, he can't not get a game", "He hasn't turned up this season", "His finishing is woeful."  "Maguire can be infuriating to watch. He never, ever plays a simple ball. It always has to be flashy and complicated and we lose possession in the middle of an attack", "His forward play has completely lacked a cutting edge this season." "If he stays in the team it will purely be down to his work-rate", "He worked hard, tracking back and didn't hide at Birmingham." He did stay alert for the Owls equaliser on Saturday. "Everyone stopped apart from Maguire", "It was a great ball in from him for the goal, but he offered nothing else." Strikers"Our good defence has counterbalanced our striking problems but we really need to sort out our play in the final third. There is no direct threat at all", "We lack that cutting edge in and around the box." "We cannot make chances and haven't got the creativity and final ball when we attack", "Perhaps the problem may lie in midfield." Many Owls believe that their strikers are struggling with the lack of width and penetration offered from the midfield quartet. Former Blue Caolan Lavery is out with a knee injury and is missed. "While he is young and still very raw, he seems fearless and we need some of that", "He's a better option that Madine or Nuhiu", "We definitely need Lavery back. He needs to play in every game and could team up well with Stevie May." "My only issue with Gray is his use of Gary Madine. The lad is way out of his depth in this league", "The club has shown tremendous faith in him so far and he has failed to deliver." The 24-year-old former Carlisle striker "isn't working hard enough", "looks as though he can't be bothered at all." "I have missed Madine strolling from full-back to full-back. Get that arrogant waster out of our club", "When he can be bothered to try he's a couple of yards off the pace. He's either saving himself for a moment of glory of he's idle", "We're carrying him. I have never seen him play well at this level." Atdhe Nuhiu"Not all forwards are bought for their goals. People don't appreciate Nuhiu's flick-ons and link-up play. He won a lot in Cardiff's final third and distributed it. It was up other players to use it", "He has been excellent all season, and has never been an out-and-out goal scorer."  Owls were critical of the 25-year-old former Rapid Vienna striker on Saturday. "If he's not scoring, drawing freekicks, bringing others into the game or working hard then he doesn't deserve to be in the side", "He won hardly anything in the air or any set-pieces. He lost possession and lacked pace." He has his supporters. "He's a pest to defenders. He has never been a natural footballer, but he is an effective and useful addition to the squad", "He's a poor man's Shefki Kuqi", "Wickham said how he enjoyed playing alongside him as he created space by occupying two defenders at a time." Stevie May"Stevie May is a clever player with a real footballing brain. The most impressive thing about him is his work-rate, which is absolutely top notch. The number of times he harries defenders and chases back is amazing and he deserves a lot of credit for that."  "He's a clever player." The 21-year-old Scottish summer signing from St Johnstone is widely seen as the Owls main attacking threat. "He stops opponents from playing the ball out from the back and will nick a goal sooner or later." "Stevie thrives on penetrating passes but we have no quality to play those", "He makes some very good runs but nobody picks him out", "There were a number of times when he has made intelligent runs and lost his defender, but the midfield were too short of creativity to pick those runs out." Owls' Thoughts on ITFC and the Game"Ipswich on Tuesday will tell us an awful lot about our true capabilities this season", "A dodgy result on Tuesday and people will inevitable start to get a bit tetchy." Owls see this game as a hugely important one to win, given their recent blip. They know that it won't be an easy game. "Ipswich will win on Tuesday if we play as we did at Cardiff", "Ipswich are fifth now, and we are ninth", "It would hardly be an upset if we lost though, would it?" There has been plenty of chat about the Owls starting line-up, but little yet about us as a team. I will update the forum on Tuesday afternoon if they have anything noteworthy to say. WebsitesThe busiest and most informed Sheffield Wednesday forum is Owlstalk.
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