Thank The Lord We Are Safe - Notes for Sheffield Wednesday Friday, 2nd May 2014 10:09 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's final game of the season by delving into their forum. "There have been some terrible performances in this last month", "On the whole Stuart Gray has been great. He has done his job and kept us up, but it's not brainless to be concerned by what you saw today and last week. It's a massive warning sign", "We are showing relegation form again." The Owls are comfortably mid-table, but their injury hit squad has picked up just one win in their last seven games, conceding 20 goals in the process. Home defeats to Bolton (3-1) last Saturday and to Charlton (3-2) on Easter Monday have left fans anxious about what is to come next season. Some Owls suspect that players are winding down for the season. "Being on the beach is no excuse for some of our recent performances", "There were some very disrespectful performances out there against Bolton", "We have started to haemorrhage goals since we were assured of safety." "I love our attacking play and our cavalier attitude, but we need to wise up tactically. At 2-0 up against Charlton, we didn't need to be so open and gung-ho", "I hope we perform better at Ipswich next week, but with our lack of full-backs and a weak midfield, I don't have much hope." Injuries"The wheels have fallen off because we don't have the depth in quality to cope with injuries and suspensions", "Most teams have injuries. We have just had more than we can cope with", "We are a decent mid-table side. We struggle when we start picking up injuries and have to use our squad." The Owls will most likely be without right-back Lewis Buxton, left-back Reda Johnson, centre-back Antonio Zayatte, holding midfielder Jose Semedo and central midfielder Liam Palmer on Saturday. Stuart Gray"Gray has worked miracles to progress to where we have finished following Dave Jones's ruin of the side", "He has done an exceptional job without doubt. I just can't help but feel he's a short-term solution", "We've done well to stay up given where we were at the beginning of December." "We are definitely playing an attractive brand of football under Gray." The Owls have played with a foundation of a back four with two holding midfielders. They have varied between playing two strikers up front supported by wide players, and playing one striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Most fans feel the manager has earned a transfer window to build his own squad. "When, yet again, we don't sign any quality players this summer, we will need someone to coach our ordinary players to perform better than their level. Stuart Gray has done this before, and can do it again." Milan Mandaric"If you continue to swim around the plug-hole, sooner or later you will disappear down it. One day our luck will run out. We have survived again, not because we are a good side, but purely because there are teams in this division who are worse than us."
"Are we going to have another summer of no progress or can we get some quality in?" Supporters don't expect owner Milan Mandaric to throw money at a promotion push, but they believe that investment is needed to stabilise their Championship position. "We'll be in the same rhubarb unless Milan gets his wallet out", "We can compete with teams over a quarter and maybe half a season, but we can't compete for a whole campaign unless we bring some quality in", "We are woefully short of quality in depth and I cannot see it changing." Defence"The defence situation is the biggest headache we have", "We cannot defend for toffee", "Our centre-backs have been found out for pace time after time", "We can't keep shipping goals", "It clearly needs strengthening." "Everyone running forward is entertaining, but they've forgotten their defensive duties as a team", "The defence needs cover. It's not the quickest but isn't as bad as people think. It's just not getting any support." Chris Kirkland"Chris is one of the best shot-stopping reaction keepers we've ever had at Hillsborough, but he's always struggled at commanding his area and with his ball distribution. No-one is perfect. Just remember how many games he has saved while he's been here."
Owls have been critical of the 32-year-old former Wigan goalkeeper. "On his day he looks the best keeper in the division, but recently has looked a right turkey", "He can't kick, position himself correctly at freekicks and come out for crosses. He can save shots one foot above ground level." "I have just seen the Football League Show. Oh dear", "Bolton's second goal was a shocker", "That is as poor as he has been for the last two months", "He's been quite poor for half-a-dozen games or so, but I still rate him as one of the best keepers in the division." "I am not sure Glenn Loovens is physically up to the number and frequency of games in the Championship. This run of two games per week has killed him." The former Celtic players "last few performances have rung a few alarm bells with me", "We lack a bit of organisation without him." The 30-year old Dutch player "is a quality centre-back", "Loovens looks as though he's still carrying his hamstring injury", "He didn't look up to full fitness [against Bolton] and was found out", "Gooch and Loovens are still the best centre-back pairing we have." Oguchi ‘Gooch' Onyewu "thinks he's going to the World Cup because he wouldn't put a tackle in all game [against the Trotters]. Judging by his pace and positional sense, he'll be too late for the plane and be at the wrong airport", "He lacked speed and was easily outpaced by their front men." The 31-year-old USA international "has really dropped off of late for me. He always seems worse when he's not at the side of Loovens. He does seem to keep it a bit simple at times. There's a lot more to his game and he seems to hold back", "He doesn't want to move out of his comfort zone." "Miguel Llera is a total, utter liability in defence and doesn't offer anything up front any more", "He has been a giant at times for us and a calamity waiting to happen at others", "He can't deal with the movement around him, and was beaten for pace and position for Charlton's first goal." "Llera was responsible for both Charlton goals. He needs releasing now. The guy is flipping shocking. "The 34-year-old former Charlton centre-back "deserves a big send-off as he has been a loyal and hard-working servant, but it looks like time has caught up with him." "Joe Mattock has looked poor in a number of games. It's a pity he wasn't able to put in a pass to out forwards like he did for Bolton's second goal", "He's simply not good enough. He lacks pace and is no good going forward. His brain doesn't function for 90 minutes so he is prone to absolute howlers." Owls have been relentless in their criticism of the 23-year-old former West Brom left-back. "He's terrible. One of the most flat-footed and lazy players I've seen", "Mattock has no pace, is reluctant to get forward and never busts a got to get back", "He's poor, full stop." Kieran LeeStuart Gray played midfielder Kieran Lee at right-back against Bolton to the annoyance of many fans. The 25-year-old former Oldham man "has been exceptional in midfield since Christmas, but has no influence on the game at right-back", "Get our best player back in the middle."
"Lee is a quality central midfielder and crucial to our creativity", "He's a top, top player. He's technically superb, works so hard and is a top passer. The side of his game that heeds working on is getting goals. Some of the passes I have seen him make have been top drawer." Central Midfield Giles Coke "We have a non-existent and powder-puff midfield, which support neither the defence nor the forwards", "We never looked like getting back into the game against Charlton in the second half, and this was down to the lack of energy and drive from midfield." "Giles Coke is the biggest waste of a player I have ever seen. What is he good at? Can someone enlighten me, because I've never seen it?" The 27-year-old former Motherwell man "was bypassed in midfield. People ran past him with the ball. He trotted after them and gave up". "He has had plenty of chances and has never impressed", "Coke tried a few runs, lost possession and didn't bother getting back goal side [against Bolton]", "He disappeared into the black hole that was our midfield for large parts of the game", "Typically nothing from the invisible man." "There's definitely a good player in Rhys McCabe. Off the ball he's not great", "He has good vision, but his work-rate and tackling are non-existent." The 21-year-old ex-Rangers player "can pick a pass, but is so lacking a physical presence it's untrue. He will struggle in a two man midfield". "There's an inherent desire for fledglings to do well, but McCabe and Corry can't change games." Paul Corry "is neat and tidy, but didn't take the Bolton game by the scruff of the neck". The 23-year-old former UCD player "has a good range of passing but lacks an end product". Sam Hutchinson"Hutchinson is exactly the type of player we need. He protects the centre-backs, passes it well and has a great touch. He brings out the best in Lee and it's no surprise we struggle when he's not in the team", "He's prepared to niggle away and break up play."
The 24-year-old has picked up two red cards since joining on loan from Chelsea in February. "He's a good player but a yellow card before he gets out of the tunnel", "He has a great attitude, but needs to cool down at times", "He needs to cut out the silly bookings and lunging tackles." "I have appreciated his football, but his disciplinary record is absolutely dreadful." He missed the last two defeats through suspension after being red-carded at Bournemouth on Good Friday. "He can play that holding midfielder role and free up players when needed, and offers cover at centre-back." Wide Midfield"I just don't know what's going on with Michail Antonio. The commitment and application seem lacking", "He may as well not have played on Saturday." The 24-year-old ex-Reading winger "needs to find some boots that aren't covered with treacle", "He was ambling around, and well off form." "It's not just today, though is it? Flashes of brilliance and some great goals have papered over the fact that 90% of the time he just doesn't work hard enough to fit into the way we play under Gray", "Antonio loses possession so often", "His approach is about running as fast to put in a blind cross." "Can we stop this nonsense with Jeremy Helan at left wing? His pace is a major asset and can cover any errors, unlike Mattock", "Every fan who goes to games knows this. Even Mrs Miggins from the pie shop knows this. Helan is a dreadful winger yet he is a decent left-back." The 21-year-old former Manchester City player "doesn't know where the wing is. He never beats his man, always cuts inside and lets his wobbly legs do the work before losing the ball", "He is able to get past players with his pace, but he can't put in a decent delivery or shot at goal." Chris Maguire"Chris Maguire is good on the ball, tricky, links up play, can shoot and works hard", "He has injected the squad with much needed pace, skill and goals." The 25-year-old former Derby right-winger "looks after the ball really well and always looks likely to make something happen."
"Maguire doesn't have the pace to go to the byline on his right, but can hurt teams with his technique and shooting when he finds space", "He was frozen out by Dave Jones and has finished as top scorer under Gray", "He works a lot harder than Jones made out." "He needs to work on his set pieces. They are nothing short of atrocious", "He is best when he makes easy passes", "One of his biggest problems is when he tries to do too much on his own. Sometimes an easy ball is all it needs and he tries something clever." StrikersThe Owls have found the net in each of their last eight games, scoring 16 goals in total, but they have struggled when the supply lines has been cut off. "If we provide service to the front two like we did against Bolton, it wouldn't matter if we had Rooney and Suarez there. They wouldn't get a sniff." "Leon Best is not a poacher, but the lad can score goals and is part of the reason everyone else is pitching in. He holds the ball up well and brings others into play." The 27-year-old Blackburn loan signing "has great feet in tight situations. He's strong and makes a nuisance of himself". "All four of his goals have come when we have played with two strikers", "He always looks a better player when Nuhiu is on with him." He had a poor game against Charlton. "Best looked totally uninterested today", "He hardly touched the ball today. He hardly chased anything down." Atdhe Nuhiu"Nuhiu is never going to magically develop any pace and his heading is average at best. His best qualities are his tireless running and his work fairly deep. To score goals he needs to be in the box, but with his lack of pace it is hard to get into scoring positions when we break."
The 24-year-old former Rapid Vienna striker "is not a goalscorer. His pace is dreadful and describing him as a finisher is pretty optimistic. However, he is the ultimate team player, as he sets up opportunities, drawing defenders like flies to a jam pot away from strikers and wide players." "His ability with the ball at his feet suits our game", "His best work is usually done 30-odd yards from goal", "Despite being huge he can get easily bundled over - a bit of core body strength wouldn't go amiss", "Nuhiu must be a treasure to play alongside. Although he may not get the goals, you will." Caolan Lavery"Caolan Lavery will be more involved next season. He's scored four so far this year. I can see him getting 10 next season", "He could become a key player next season, but he'll need better support than was on offer on Saturday", "He was the only one showing movement or any intent."
"His movement is quality. One of the bright moments of the Bolton game was a clever little run along the back four before peeling off the defender just as the ball was being played to beat the offside trap", "He's primed for the role behind the striker." The 21-year-old former Blue "needs to add consistency and composure, but that's all part of his development", "He was running the channels, but needs to improve his link-up play", "I think the lad's going to score lots of goals for us. He needs to be up top and told to start shooting on sight." Lavery has mostly played out wide this season, but many Owls see him ultimately as a striker. "He has made some class runs, but he needs to know what he's doing as soon as the ball gets to him, so he can beat a man quicker. If he can think that step ahead, he'll be a top player." Owls' Views on ITFC and the Game"Ipswich is a really important game for Gray now. Two teams with nothing to play for, but can he motivate his side out of the rut we have found ourselves in over the past few weeks?", "If we needed a result next week at Ipswich I wouldn't be very confident." Most Owls are forecasting a high-scoring home win, for as one put it: "We played poorly since we've been safe and the players are on holiday already." Nuhiu and Lavery are well-fancied to score. The mood is very much akin to a pre-season friendly. WebsitesThe busiest and most informed website is Owls Talk. A Few Words Of ThanksWith this being the last set of notes for the campaign, I want to say a huge thank you to Phil, who has been a wonderful support with editing the notes over the season, and an equally massive thank you to Gav for pulling out so many brilliant photographs which have added so much. Thank you all for chipping in with your kind comments and views over the season. It is wonderful how people can pick up on so many different things and these insights have been invaluable. It has been a good season, and has given us the promise of more good seasons to come.
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