Let’s Beat Ipswich on Saturday and Keep the Positive Vibes Going - Notes for Sheffield Wednesday Friday, 24th Aug 2018 10:00 by HarryFromBath HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Hillsborough by delving into their forums. “Well bloody done, Wednesday. Well bloody done. I can’t overstate how much we needed that win”, “Relieved to get a win on the board”, “I’m not getting carried away as Millwall weren’t great, but we deserved the three points. It’s bound to do the team and the fans a lot of good. Bring on Ipswich!” “Well done boys. Dare I say things look different tonight.” Wednesday was appropriately enough a very good night for the Owls. A bright performance against Millwall gained them their first win of the season and quadrupled their points total to four after what had been a poor start to their campaign. “Get in! It was a great win tonight”, “A crucial win which will help keep a lot of the negativity at bay. Well done Wednesday, well done Jos Luhukay. Now please let’s have more of the same against Ipswich”, “We looked a team tonight, playing with tempo, industry and endeavour. More of the same please.” “Let’s hope that there are three teams worse than us.” It must be stressed that the mood was far more fearful after last Sunday’s defeat at Brentford. “What a depressing nightmare we are in. I’m starting to fear for us this season”, “Wake up and smell the coffee. We have a right fight to stay up.” Jos Luhukay“Luhukay is not afraid to make tough decisions”, “Hopefully our fans will show the patience needed after screaming for a new manager after three games”, “A few fans were startled with his Millwall team but he picked it on what he thought players could bring, rather than who they are.” “Jos is capable of steadying the ship.” The 55-year-old replaced Carlos Carvalhal last January and he divides opinion. Some have welcomed the stability he has brought to a club until recently trading through an FFP embargo. He was also praised for the brave changes he made to the line-up which beat Millwall. “Last season we saw two Jos Luhukays. The first steadied the ship in January putting together a good run in April. The second totally lost the plot in February and March.” His critics have compared his style of play to “a poor man’s Jaap Stam’s Reading”, “What I can’t see is how he wants us to play.” “Luhukay has been fortunate to be largely immune from significant criticism due to injuries and the embargo, but there is no hiding place now because we don’t look to have any identity”, “He isn’t the right man to get the best out of this team and we’re just going to slide away. He’s out of his depth.” “I’m trying not to get on the ‘Luhukay out’ bandwagon. We’re four games in, but you just can’t help thinking that someone else could do better with this team”, “We lack structure and cohesion or real impetus. With no new players this summer, we started the season playing like a team of strangers.” A Proper Team Performance“What a difference a bit of fight and passion make. We worked and passed so much harder when Millwall had the ball”, “We seemed more settled and organised defensively, but we still need to be better in the final third. We caused Millwall problems when we went wide, but didn’t do it enough.” “I like the way we changed from playing out from the back to beat Millwall’s press”, “We played with tempo and energy, looking after the ball well in tight situations”, “We need to be careful about being caught on the break but we did look like a team”, Maybe Jos does know what he’s doing after all.” “That’s the first time I have seen us play an attacking line-up at Hillsborough under Jos. We have sat too deep in the past”, “We looked after the ball well in tight areas”, “We had a system the players were reasonably comfortable with. The same again against Ipswich, there is no need to change.” DawsonPalmerLeesThornileyPenneyBannanPelupessyReachPrestonFletcherMatias
Owls were startled when the starting line-up (above) was announced for the Millwall game. Luhukay kept the back four and midfield three shape from Brentford, but midfielders Adam Reach and Barry Bannan alongside wingers Marco Matias and Fraser Preston gave it a much greater attacking intent. “My God, what is that team?” Luhukay started youngsters Fraser Preston, Jordan Thorniley and Matt Penney, leaving established players like strikers Atdhe Nuhiu and Fernando Forestieri on the bench. They surprised the Lions playing attacking high-tempo direct football using both creativity and width. DawsonBakerLeesPudilThornileyHutchinsonPelupessyMatiasBannanForestieriNuhiu
The starting XI (above) for Sunday’s limp defeat at Brentford was more defensive both in shape and aspect. Sam Hutchinson was criticised a lack of discipline, dropping into the backline when the Bees pressed, while Nuhiu was seen as too static and Forestieri regularly failed to support his left-back. Goalkeeper Cameron Dawson is another brave Luhukay call, the youth product being selected ahead of Keiren Westwood, a safe choice commanding his area well. Thorniley is viewed as a future captain and the best centre-half partner for Tom Lees. Daniel Pudil is comfortable on the ball but lacks pace. “Our midfield was sitting too deep before Millwall.” Holding midfielder Joey Pelupessy is poor on the ball but he reads danger and positions himself well. His stability at the back of the three allowed Bannan and Reach to play to their strengths, driving at the Millwall defence, and scoring in Bannan’s case. Matias was praised for his industry and for the support he gave rookie left-back Penney defensively, the full-back handling Millwall’s physicality without any alarms. Liam Palmer at right-back in contrast allowed new right winger Fraser Preston to stretch the Lions’ defence with pace and wide direct running. Although packing pace, Steven Fletcher is widely seen as an experienced and versatile leader of the line. He was a far more effective conduit for attacking moves against Millwall, holding the ball and playing his team-mates in, with midfielders and wide players now stationed further up the field. “Here’s hoping the blend of youth and experience goes on to bigger and better things as the season develops.” Owls have been delighted to see their younger players rise to the challenge. “The tyros came in and looked top class. They give us a different dynamic, pace, enthusiasm and directness.” Sheffield Wednesday 2 — 1 Millwall“A cracking win, I didn’t see that coming”, “The difference between this and the Brentford game is unbelievable”, “I’m amazed at that result. I fully expected a defeat, especially after seeing that line-up. I was delighted to be made to eat my words”, “It’s really all about getting that first win.” Bannan opened the scoring with a 20-yard volley early on 16 after the visitors failed to clear a Reach cross, and Lees prodded in a second from close range on 46. Former Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe got one back for Millwall on 72, which made for an anxious finish but the Owls held on to secure a win. “We have been absolutely brilliant”, “Millwall were shocked when the ball was released quickly, with our players running hard and creating space”, “The tempo, energy, attacking intent and teamwork seem to be on a whole different level”, “Blimey, we looked at least a yard quicker all over the pitch.” “A more incisive team tonight might have made us pay on the break. At times we were a bit open in the middle”, “We were playing well but kept getting caught on the break.” There were moments in the second half when a better side might have hurt them. “A nervy finish but an excellent result.” Brentford 2 — 0 Sheffield Wednesday“Who would have thought we would struggle against a young, energetic team who pass and play well with a high tempo?”, “We have to accept that teams like this are better than us. They are faster, fitter and hungrier. We had none of those traits and lacked desire”, “No fight or plan, absolutely nothing.” “Game over, as feels the season.” Neal Maupay put Brentford ahead from the penalty spot after 20 minutes after Lewis Macleod was hauled down by Hutchinson. Maupay then rounded Cameron Dawson after a swift counter-attack on 61 to allow Ollie Watkins to double the lead with a tap-in. “Outclassed, outthought and outfought”, “Brentford could be six up right now. They have carved us open far too many times. We are lucky the score is still at 2-0”, “I woke up with optimism, but deep down I knew that it would be a disappointing day. We showed nothing, an all too familiar pattern.” Sunderland 0 — 2 Sheffield Wednesday (Carabao Cup First Round)“That was horrible viewing”, “Brentford must be dreading facing us on Sunday”, “There’s a lot of negativity but we ran out worthy winners in a game that was a potential banana skin”, “It was two nondescript sides in a meaningless early competition game played at a pre-season tempo.” Wednesday beat League One Sunderland to set up a Carabao Cup second round tie with Wolves. Matias put the Owls ahead after 29 minutes, prodding home when Sunderland defender Alim Ozturk failed to clear in his own area. Adam Reach then nodded in a second on 79 to seal the Owls’ win. WildsmithNielsenLeesVan AkenPalmerHuntBannanReachBoydMatiasFletcher
“Three at the back doesn’t work.” Luhukay named a strong side (above), continuing his experiment with wing-backs but there were familiar criticisms. “We always take two touches and have no pace”, “That was dire, slow and plodding. Our players were incapable of passing the ball out of defence.” Goalkeepers and Defenders“Cameron Dawson to the rescue.” The 23-year-old youth product “stopped the Brentford game from being a cricket score”, “He’s a solid keeper who commands his area well, saving everything he could at Brentford”, “He mush have saved four one-v-ones in that game. He has been the least of our worries.”  Cameron Dawson“It was noticeable that Dawson was bypassing the defence against Millwall”, “He has always looked assured in goal and he gives me a bit of confidence”, “His distribution can occasionally be poor and he makes the odd spill or fumble, but he has strong hands and he has coped well under pressure.” “Matt Penney was a breath of fresh air at left-back against Millwall.” The 20-year-old youth product “doesn’t mess about. He clears his lines and leathers the ball as hard as he can down the field”, “He looks very solid and seems to have the knack of having time on the ball even when under pressure.” “Penney pelted like a freight train into Millwall’s attackers”, “He takes no prisoners and is very good on the ball”, “He can be a little naïve with his positioning but he has played like a senior pro. I really hope we have found our left-back. Good Lord, that would really solve one of our biggest problems.” “Joost van Aken was like a rabbit in the headlights at Sunderland, struggling with balls over the top.” The 24-year-old ex-Heerenveen man picked up a knee injury at the Stadium of Light. “He’s a big unit who seems steady on the ball, but he really needs to toughen up and learn the basics of defending.” “Liam Palmer put in a real shift at Millwall.” The 26-year-old right-back and youth product “has so much energy where before he lacked sharpness. He seemed to be sluggish but has really upped his game”, “Well done Liam, you have come in for heavy criticism but have put a right shift in today.” “When Palmer struggled he looked lethargic and slow, with the positional sense of a Sunday League U10 player”, “He daydreams sometimes, but he thrived having so much space to attack at Millwall. He was full of energy and focus, going for 50/50s. Whether he can do it against Ipswich we will see.” “Daniel Pudil is one of the few defenders with the ability to break out of a back three with the ball.” The 32-year-old ex-Watford left-sided defender “is dependable and gives his all for the shirt, and he can make goals with his runs from deep. I do feel differently though about him playing at left-back.”  Jonson Clarke Harris (Rotherham) v Daniel Pudil“Pudil is okay on the left of a back three but he doesn’t have the legs for a full-on full-back role. If he has to play there, it must be with instructions not to cross the halfway line”, “He was too slow and getting caught out of position out wide, but he’s confident and reads the game well at centre-back.” “Jordan Thorniley has looked more solid than any other centre-back partner for Tom Lees so far this season.” The 21-year-old former Everton youth player “is an experienced head on young shoulders and a future captain”, “He’s a proper old-fashioned stick-his-head-on-anything kind of defender.” “Thorniley is a good left-sided centre-half but he’s not a natural left-back”, “He had a horrible game at full-back at Brentford and looked ready to drop”, “Millwall tried long balls to their big strikers and he did really well on the whole”, “He has the qualities of a leader, barking orders and getting stuck in.” Tom Lees“I love Tom Lees to bits and he’s a top defender, but his distribution would be a problem in a five-a-side down the park.” The 27-year-old ex-Leeds centre-back “is good in the air but unusually shaky on the ball”, “He struggles to pass the ball back to the keeper and he needs a ball player next to him.”  Tom Lees“Lees is no captain. He needed Glenn Loovens [now at Celtic] to organise things last year”, “His game is too full of errors and some of his passes have been suicidal. He is never as composed as he used to be beside Loovens and he’s no leader”, “He’s a great individual player but he’s not captain material.” Central Midfielders“Sam Hutchinson is a walking injury or red card waiting to happen.” The 29-year-old ex-Chelsea man “lacks discipline. He ends up dropping back into the defence when he plays in midfield. It leaves us a man short in the middle of the park and allows opponents to pile in and put us under real pressure.”  Sam Hutchinson“Hutchinson needs to learn that you can protect your defence without needing to take a position in it”, “There was absolutely no need for him to foul the Brentford player and give away that penalty”, “He’s an overrated crock who fouls all the time. I will never understand the hype if I live to be 100.” “Joel Pelupessy needs to keep it simple.” The 25-year-old January addition from Dutch side Heracles “is needed as a defensive foil due to Bannan’s lack of presence. He needs to stay in front of the backline, tackle and give the ball to Bannan”, “He gives it away in dangerous areas with poor control.” “Pelupessy can only play safe passes backwards, but he has tremendous energy and awareness of where he needs to be”, “He has been a spectator in our earlier games but he was a real menace and got in Millwall’s faces”, “He had plenty of energy and allowed Bannan to play with more freedom.” “Adam Reach provides lots of energy and tempo.” The 25-year-old left-sided former Boro man “has a good touch, endless energy and he consistently delivers good crosses when drifting out wide”, “He should give up on this tackling malarkey and his first touch lets him down when he’s off his game.” “It’s a joy watching Reach get the ball in midfield and deciding to properly motor forward. He always gets himself half a yard to get in a cross and he creates chances”, “He’s such a willing runner”, “He’s a class act who runs his socks off. He marauds all over the pitch and causes defenders problems.” Barry Bannan“Barry Bannan is our best player on the pitch by miles, taking control and setting up great forward moves.” The 28-year-old ex-Villa and Palace man “has been magnificent at Brentford. He beat two men and played a top class through ball”, “The one player to come out of that game with credit.”  Myles Kenlock v Barry Bannan“At one stage at Brentford, he had his arms held open, asking the bench what they are supposed to do”, “He ended up doing his ‘I play every position’ routine because we had lost any semblance of shape”, “He was our best player on the pitch by miles, setting up some terrific forward moves.” “We have to keep Bannan, he’s a dynamo everywhere on the pitch”, “His goal against Millwall was an absolute stunner”, “He’s full of commitment and enthusiasm and he never gives up”, “When we struggle, he can go for Hollywood assists. He needs midfield support, he can’t do it all on his own.” Wingers and Wide Midfielders“George Boyd. Dear God.” The 32-year-old ex-Burnley winger “offends me on many levels, making Jordan Rhodes look like Linford Christie with his lack of pace”, “He looks like he’s tethered to a large elastic band. You can see his legs going but he gets nowhere and then falls over. He’s a lightweight.” “Marco Matias looked lively against Millwall.” The 29-year-old Portuguese winger or striker “has a bit of trickery and pace about him and will track back when the midfielders or his full-back need his support”, “A real threat, his pace makes defenders panic and he helps his full-backs a hell of a lot.” “Matias doesn’t play instinctively enough for my liking. He’s pacy but is often reactive rather than taking the initiative. He ends up ball-watching too much but this may be down to rustiness”, “He was mobile, fast and keen against Millwall. He makes fantastic runs that we should try to pick out more.” “Fraser Preston does have a bit of genuine pace.” The 19-year-old youth product “looks raw, but I have been impressed with his desire to run with the ball directly at the opposition. It sounds obvious but it’s something we have been missing for so long. He gives us width and pace on the right wing.” “Preston isn’t afraid to get forward and put balls in the box”, “A bit in and out at times but he looks promising”, “He did some terrific work to stop one Millwall cross and wouldn’t be beaten”, “He’s a player that is not the finished article and he has a lot to learn, but there’s a real player in there.” Fernando Forestieri“Forestieri is at his more threatening on the left of an attacking three.” The 28-year-old ex-Watford man “can pick up the ball out wide and run at defenders. He needs space in front of him with which he can work”, “He drifts inside to shoot, plays one-twos or dangerous little through balls with ease.”  Fernando Forestieri celebrates with Jordan Rhodes“Fernando can be spectacularly greedy at times”, “Brentford kept getting down on our left because he wasn’t tracking back”, “We know he can work like a dervish when he wants to, but he shows off and won’t pass to team-mates”, “On his day he causes mayhem and runs rings around defenders.” Strikers“Lucas Joao can be frightening with his pace and power.” The 24-year-old Portuguese has been out with a groin injury but Owls were pleased at the news of his new three-year contract extension. “He needs to score more goals but he’s quick and unpredictable, and he can beat a man from nothing.”  Lucas Joao v Lloyd Isgrove (Barnsley)“Atdhe Nuhiu was blundering around like at idiot at Brentford.” The 29-year-old ex-Rapid Vienna target man “is useless. He scored a few goals, gets a new contract and bang, back to being awful again”, “He loses the ball every time, breaks down our attacks and he puts us under pressure.” “Why is Nuhiu still on the pitch?”, “He wasn’t the answer at Brentford. They were far too mobile for him”, “He holds the ball well on the ground and works well with Forestieri and Bannan, but he looks slower”, “We have to keep him out of the team permanently. He’s a menace to his own players.” Steven Fletcher“Steven Fletcher links up play well and does the ugly stuff for our flair players.” The 31-year-old ex-Sunderland striker “is more than just a battering ram and the toughest centre-backs won’t have it easy when he plays”, “He is a brilliant foil for Bannan, they know the other’s games instinctively.”  Luke Chambers v Steven Fletcher“Fletcher had runners close to him against Millwall and that made a world of difference”, “He ran his heart out competing for everything. He puts in tremendous hardworking displays”, “He was selfless and brave, a right handful for Millwall’s bigger defenders and he combined really well with Matias. “Fletcher is injury prone and doesn’t take enough of his chances but his work rate is excellent”, “He is brilliant in the air and at linking up play. He actually knows how to play the target man role”, “He is overdue a couple of goals. He deserves them after putting in some real workhorse shifts recently.” Owls’ Views on ITFC and the Game“I fancy us to beat Ipswich”, “A winnable game coming up against Ipswich, which will still be tough, and if we can pick up three points there, it wouldn't be a bad return from the first five games”, It’s looking like Ipswich will be an absolutely must-win game for both our confidence and points total.” Owls are confident of picking up a win on Saturday if they can replicate their display against Millwall, although many are wary of our good record at Hillsborough. “We never seem to do much against Ipswich, they are just one of those sides that spoils the game and nicks a goal to equalise or win it.” “Ipswich on Saturday might well be prepared for our new approach against Millwall”. “We have not beaten Ipswich at home for years, they are a bogey team”, “It’s a big game, as a win against Ipswich will make the start to the season look much more solid and it will give us something to work from.” “We need to consolidate with a win against Ipswich”, “We have serious problems but when you look at QPR, Rotherham and Ipswich then you have got to think that at least we are better than those three teams. We also still have players to come back from injury.” Owls’ Views on Mick McCarthy“Mick McCarthy may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but with this squad of players he would ensure we stay up”, “I can't believe I'm saying this but I would sack Jos and get big Mick in if I were the owner”, “We do need someone in to steady the ship and Mick McCarthy will certainly do that.” “McCarthy got teams promoted to the Premier League. something Jos will never do.” Wednesday’s poor start to the season created a call from some fans to bring in our former manager, although this has divided opinion. “Even with no money, McCarthy knows exactly what's required in this league.” “Let's replace one defensive boring manager with another, brilliant”, “A shocking manager and the football is appalling”, “At least he would put some fight in the team and have an idea what to do”, “I wouldn’t be impressed with McCarthy but he would probably produce a 12th — 18th placed finish.” “Ipswich have been awful to watch in recent years, but they are always competitive at the very least in this league”, “They finished mid-table last season on a shoestring. Mick said that the team needed investment if they wanted to be challenging for the top six as they did in his first few seasons there.” “Mick McCarthy, David Moyes, Roy Keane. These are the type of manager I want. Someone who will try to motivate from the sidelines or give instructions, not just sit on his hands and look bored. They have promotions on their CVs too”, “I would absolute love Keane to come in and shake up the place.” WebsitesThe busiest Sheffield Wednesday forum is the friendly and well-informed Owlstalk.
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