Everything About Us Screams Mid-Table, Doesn’t It? - Notes for Sheffield Wednesday Wednesday, 22nd Nov 2017 15:00 by HarryFromBath HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Wednesday night’s live Sky game at Portman Road by delving into their forums. “We are in for a long dull season”, “We don’t look like contenders, far from it”, “We get the odd good result but who wouldn’t with that squad?”, “A play-off final would seem as massive success because we feel miles off at the moment”, “We are not going up. We are predictable and boring.” Owls finished the weekend just one point and one place behind Town in the table but fans fear that their high-calibre team lack the consistency to launch a third consecutive promotion challenge. They are also weary of a style of football described as “clueless, predictable, slow-paced, tepid dross”. “If I wasn’t an Owl, the match against Wednesday would be the one I wouldn’t look forward to, not because I would expect to lose but because it would bore me to tears”, “We only seem to be capable of one good game a month”, “We are nowhere near promotion material with this tippy-tappy lot.” “The reason we will not get promoted is consistency”, “It’s all so bloody dull”, “A team that scrapes and grinds, this is what we are. I’m sorry but this sort of team doesn’t get promoted”, “I would be happy with an attacking dynamic team that wants to win games. Carlos ‘no shots’ is killing it for me.” Carlos Carvalhal“Does anyone believe Carlos is the man to get us promoted? I’m sorry but you’re deluded if you do”, “We are two points off the play-offs so we will be told everything is okay, despite all the evidence to the contrary”, “A manager who only plays one way, he has drilled the creativity out of the players.” The 51-year-old Portuguese became head coach at Hillsborough in June 2015 and has guided the Owls to successive play-offs in his first two years in charge. Many believe that his cautious approach in these play-off games directly led to their elimination at the hands of Hull and Huddersfield. “Carlos chose not to play to our attacking strengths against Huddersfield, but to sit deep and try to nick a goal. He turned a 180-minute contest in which we held all the aces into a cagey level playing field”, “I would prefer to see us go all out and kill sides but I don’t see him changing his mentality.” “I really like Carlos but his one-dimensional boring football is not for me”, “I love his character and what he did in his first season, but he has lost his way in the last 18 months”, “We are really going nowhere. There is not a cat in hell’s chance of us getting promoted under Carlos, it won’t happen.” “Carlos has shown a bit more intent lately but we have to accept that once his team has got the lead he isn’t the type to chase a second goal”, “He needs to get teams to go for the jugular and not sit back”, “Just our luck to have a chairman where a vote of confidence really is a vote of confidence.” Formation“We have a strong squad with more than enough options, but it is under-utilised because our tactics never change”, “We’re not quick enough with or without the ball to open teams up”, “At times we look brilliant when we pull off something special, but we often make mistakes doing simple things.” “We struggle against teams who press and frustrate us and stop us playing. Give us time and space to play our good football and we turn teams over”, “If I was the opposition, I would play a high line, be physical and get in our faces. I would flood the midfield and break with pace. This will nullify us.” WestwoodHuntLeesLoovensFoxWallaceButterfieldBannanReachRhodesHooper
The starting XI (above) which won at Aston Villa just before the international break was the same line-up which failed to land a shot on target at home to a Bristol City side which comfortably held them at bay on Saturday. These contrasting performances summed up the season for many Owls. “The solid base at the back gives the team confidence. The back four in front of Keiren Westwood look confident and organised.” Owls are happy with a back four which has conceded 19 goals in 17 games this season. Glenn Loovens’s calmness marshalling the defence makes up for his lack of pace. “We stroked the ball around at Villa with ease in possession.” Games are won and lost for the Owls in midfield. The central pairing has seen Jacob Butterfield playing a deeper role with Barry Bannan having licence to push forward. Gary Hooper often drops back from the frontline to link up play. Carvalhal has preferred wide midfielders rather than out-and-out wingers to link with the central midfielders and build attacks. Ross Wallace has been criticised for his lack of pace, but Adam Reach has been a threat and a source of goals lately, while Jordan Rhodes has also started finding the net. “Bristol City did a job on us today. They nullified us down the wings. forcing us narrow. They also had our central midfielders pinned back, preventing them from creating anything or linking up play with the strikers”, “The didn’t allow us to play through them and seemed to be first to all of the second balls.” The Robins gave a textbook example of how to stifle the Owls on Saturday. “The narrow central midfield is so easy to defend against”, “We are crying out for pace. The number of times we have players in a triangle five yards from each other out wide and it looks a pinball machine is notable.” Fernando Forestieri is currently out with a knee injury and many Owls would have him in the side in a heartbeat. “Fernando our best player by a mile and one of the best outside the top flight. He adds another dimension when on his game but he’s a complete fruit loop and danger to squad harmony.” A Lack of Steel and a Lack of Tempo“This is the most boring football I have seen us play”, “If only we could play with a higher tempo. We would be more constructive than ponderous”, “We have to pass teams to death to create openings, but more often we pass the ball sideways in front of the opposition with no pace or continuity.” “We don’t have enough athletes or strength in the team”, “We need steel in games when passing around midfield isn’t working”, “We’re too soft and get intimidated by big sides”, “We are physically weak and lack pace”, “If I see another Wednesday player duck out of a tackle I will explode in anger.” Sheffield Wednesday 0 — 0 Bristol City“What a waste of time and money”, “That was dour, with no shots coming from anywhere”, “We just can’t score, and we massively lack someone with that bit of class who can open a defence”, “My iFollow stream froze and I didn’t notice for a couple of minutes”, “Thank God it has finished.” “Nine shots, none on target.” Owls came away frustrated from a game in which the Robins had the better of what few half-chances there were. Bobby Reid had a free header which he aimed at Keiren Westwood and Milan Djuric did the same later when Josh Brownhill played him through on goal. Aston Villa 1 — 2 Sheffield Wednesday“A good win today”, “Well done Wednesday, that was a superb away performance”, “We snatched an early lead, doubled it and then strangled Villa. Our defending was a joy and we hunted in packs”, “An excellent display all round. Now we just have to figure out how to play the rubbish teams.” “What a strike, what a start.” Adam Reach propelled Wednesday into the lead with a stunning shot after 18 seconds. Jordan Rhodes added a second with “a lovely calm finish after a stunning move” on 23 minutes. Villa substitute Chris Samba pulled back a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. “Our one-touch passing was an absolute joy to watch.” Owls were delighted with their slick interplay which Villa struggled to live with and which embodied the strengths of their playing style. “That was as good a passing game as we have played for a good while. Some of that football was exemplary.” Sheffield Wednesday 2 — 1 Millwall“That was dull”, “A scrappy win was just about all we could have expected”, “I’m happy with the three points but watching that performance I was amazed at times we were leading”, “Millwall used my old FIFA strategy of as many large players as possible in the box and cross indiscriminately.” Adam Reach gave the hosts a third-minute lead under the lights at Hillsborough when he turned the ball home from Morgan Fox’s cross. The Lions equalised 10 minutes later when Tom Elliott was quickest to react, hooking Fred Odeyinma’s blocked shot into the empty net. Jordan Rhodes headed the winning goal, and his first since March two minutes before interval when he connected with Jacob Butterfield’s corner. Millwall’s Jake Cooper was dismissed in second-half stoppage time after receiving a second caution. “I remain unconvinced, but three points in the bag.” WestwoodPalmerLeesLoovensFoxWallaceButterfieldBannanReachRhodesHooper
The only alteration between the starting XI (above) for Millwall and the two later games was the inclusion of the more attacking Liam Palmer at right-back for the Jack Hunt. The line-up which saw out the Millwall match (below) included the more robust Steven Fletcher as a hold-up option in attack. WestwoodPalmerLeesLoovensFoxLeeButterfieldBannanReachRhodesFletcher
With Rhodes finding some scoring form, most Owls see him and Hooper as a natural balanced strike pairing. Kieran Lee’s appearance was less popular, the consensus being that a third central midfielder playing on the right unbalances the side. Lucas Joao is another wide option but his work-rate is poor. Goalkeepers and Defenders“Keiren Westwood is a phenomenal custodian and a weapons-grade nutcase to boot which is always a huge bonus for a keeper. I love him.” The 33-year-old ex-Sunderland man “has not been his usual dependable self but is the best keeper we have had for a while”, “He’s such a key part of our club.”  Keiren Westwood“Westwood’s kicking is poor and his decision-making is erratic”, “He has been left in no-man’s land, caught on the wrong foot or beaten on his near post earlier in the season”, “He handles crosses and corners well and has such a strong mentality”, “A proper goalie but he’s really a complete fruitcake.” “Jack Hunt has a great awareness of danger. He’s on guard to stop pacy forwards as well as wingers when they drift out wide.” The 26-year-old one-time Terrier “runs himself ragged and never stops. His pace on the counter is always a weapon and he will guarantee two scoring chances every game.” “Hunt is a better right wing-back because of his pace, but his tackling can be a weakness. His biggest asset is the ability to get back quickly if things break down”, “He sacrificed some of his attacking runs against Villa to concentrate on defending. It was worth is as he marshalled Albert Adomah well.” “I like Morgan Fox. He’s composed on the ball, adept at sensing danger and he wins lots of headers from balls played in from the opposite flank.” The 24-year-old former Charlton left-back, who was with Town as a schoolboy, “is not the quickest but he’s no carthorse either. He has the makings of a good, dependable player at this level.” “Fox puts in early crosses, his partner Reach loves to get to the byline. That’s a good combination and difficult to defend”, “He’s unspectacular but does well. He did a good job on Robert Snodgrass against Villa”, “There’s a lot to like about a player who delivers a solid seven out of 10 every week.” Former Hornet Daniel Pudil has been recovering from a hamstring injury. The left-sided 32-year-old “can pass the ball well but his legs won’t do the attacking full-back job any more”, “He’s technically very good and reads the game brilliantly, but he may be a better centre-back due to his lack of legs.”  Jonson Clarke Harris (Rotherham) v Daniel Pudil“We have Joost van Aken as a ball-playing centre-half.” The 23-year-old arrived from Heerenveen in August. “He’s a long way short right now. The one positive when he first arrived was his passing and that has gone to pot. His tackling and positioning are weak and he’s being targeted by opponents.” “We play Tom Lees first and foremost to keep the ball out of the net. He does that bit really well, a proper defender.” The 26-year-old ex-Leeds centre-half “may not be Beckenbauer with the ball at his feet and he may not be the quickest, but we’re a far better side with Tom playing as a stopper.”  Tom Lees“Lees has benefitted hugely from Loovens’s return. He looks calmer and composed beside him”, “A defence without Lees would scare me. If he had pace he would be definitely in the top flight”, “He’s poor with the ball but he wins every header and makes countless crucial blocks and interceptions.” Glenn Loovens“Good to see ‘Captain Cool’ back”, “Loovens is our captain and leader. He is the man who holds it all together.” The 34-year-old one-time Cardiff centre-back “may be old, slow and past it, but he brings experience. He doesn’t need to be in a rush or stick the boot in hard, he’s calm and he organises us.”  Glenn Loovens“When you are experienced and can read the game, you don’t need pace. Glenn just sets off and he sweeps it up. He steps in when we need him”, “He does dither on the ball and we can’t be too reliant on him. He has genuinely lost pace and will struggle with quicker strikers”, “A classy guy and player.” Central Midfielders“David Jones is a calm head in the middle. He keeps his position well and rarely gives the ball away.” The 33-year-old former Claret “is not the man now to drive the team forward. He’s not the same as he was and breaks up play by fouling”, “He struggles defending when people run at him with pace.” “Jones keeps his cool, he keeps control of the ball and does not lose possession. He plays that ‘cog in a wheel’ role very effectively”, “He does the dirty work without standing out like a sore thumb”, “He is measured and is less likely to get a card, but he won’t necessarily change a game for the better.” Former Oldham man Kieran Lee appeared from the bench against Bristol City on Saturday. The 29-year-old is on the recovery path from a hip injury. “He brings a different dimension to our midfield and one we desperately need. He can break lines with his runs into space and beyond strikers.”  Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday) v Emyr Huws“Lee is a right-sided midfielder and not a winger. If he starts wide, we have the same old problems of a central midfielder playing in a four”, “He gets his quota of goals, but he doesn’t always protect the defence, diving in or getting turned easily”, “Our best box-to-box man with his bursts into the area.” “Jacob Butterfield has more about him than Jones.” The 27-year-old loan signing from Derby “does not drift forward and into the box like Lee does. That allows Barry Bannan to get further up the pitch”, “He is outstanding at breaking up moves and returning the ball nicely, or simply clearing his lines.” “Butterfield uses the ball and his body well. He is the sort of player who can control a game’s tempo with the speed and weight of his passes. He knows when to retain it and when to spring an attack. He’s also not afraid to leave a foot in”, “He screens the defence and allows Bannan to run the show.” Barry Bannan“Bannan is in the form of his life.” The 27-year-old former Villa and Palace man “is the real dynamo of the team, attacking spaces and playing little give-and-goes”, “Last year he was too deep but when he has Jones or Butterfield behind him he can really affect the play. He’s better higher up the pitch.” “Bannan’s football brain is miles ahead of most at this level”, “He has that annoying waspish aspect to his game than opponents hate”, “He buzzes around works hard, passes well and he is a creative player”, “He needs a hard tackler by his side, his poor shooting and lack of goals are weaknesses.” Wide Midfielders“Liam Palmer does a good job and will go on runs and overlaps but often he will get through to the final third and it seems like he has no idea what to do with the ball.” The 26-year-old right-sided youth product “has plenty of good energy but he often looks lost when he has the ball at his feet”. “Palmer is a decent option on the bench and an effective player on his day”, “An old-fashioned utility man who covers a lot of ground”, “A major flaw in his game is his inability to get back into position after making a run up the pitch. He also lacks quality in the attacking half and struggles to finish.” “Lucas Joao is the perfect player to come on as a substitute, his pace against tiring defenders can only be a good thing.” The Portuguese 24-year-old ex-Nacional man “is the sort of player that looks a class above anyone when something comes off for him, but looks a lazy so-and-so when it doesn’t.” “Joao isn’t aggressive enough, but he has looked dangerous in his brief spells in the team, especially when he is able to get the ball at his feet and run at defences”, “His decision-making is poor and he needs to much time on the ball”, “Action Man passes more than Joao and has better co-ordination.”  Adam Reach“Another goal for Adam Reach.” The 24-year-old ex-Boro left-back or winger has thrived in a more advanced role. “His movement is superb. He finds spaces in between the full-back and centre-halves and is a constant option for the run in behind the full-back”, “His movement and work-rate are fantastic.” “Reach can track back and help, but he’s wasted in the left-back role”, “He is all the better when he is galloping down the touchline. He struggles with his first touch and close control when drifting into the centre at times”, “He looks a proper player now he has been given a chance in a forward role.” Ross Wallace“Wallace is not a right winger. He strays into midfield and offers his full-back no help”, “That’s one of the reasons Carlos picks him, to help tuck in and fill in our outnumbered midfield.” The 32-year-old “is a wideman with no pace. He can’t take a man on, cross a ball or score a goal.”  Ross Wallace v Brentford's Rico Henry“Wallace is too slow, one-footed and predictable for a defender to read”, “He gets hammered but it was his cutting inside and knocking the ball to Reach that set us on our way at Villa”, “He can be very inconsistent, but he’s forward looking and can create something out of nothing even on a bad day.” Strikers“Steven Fletcher offers a bit more muscle than Jordan Rhodes.” The 30-year-old former Sunderland man has appeared from the bench in the last three games. “He must be a nightmare to play against because you know he will clatter you. If you give some back he falls over and tries to win a freekick.” “Fletcher is our most aggressive striker and he bullies defences but he is wasteful and should score more”, “He has missed loads of chances”, “Some of his misses appear to defy logic and the laws of physics. He finds new and ground-breaking ways to miss or hit the woodwork from five yards out.” Gary Hooper“I prefer Hooper as our deeper-lying number 10, with one of Rhodes or Fletcher up top.” The 29-year-old former Canary “brings the best out of people with his technique and cleverness”, “His awareness, link-up play and scoring potential are exceptional. He has a clever footballing brain.”  Gary Hooper“Hooper is so good with his back to goal and has a terrific touch to play the ball around the corner. His value is clearly so much more than as a finisher”, “He is dangerous dropping deep and roaming to find space”, “He is one of the strongest players in the division, he’s ridiculously powerful for his size.” Jordan Rhodes“Rhodes is one of the best finishers at this level. I pray he can continue this form”, “I am well happy to see his name on the scoresheet”, “His confidence is clearly coming back”, “Confidence is massive for any striker, let’s hope this is the start of a goalscoring run for him”, “He has to keep his place.”  Jordan Rhodes“Rhodes contributes nothing but goals, which is fine by me.” The 27-year-old one-time Town striker arrived on a permanent deal from Middlesbrough this summer having played on loan at Hillsborough since January. “I like the way he takes a touch to open his body, which flat-foots the keeper.” “Can teams carry a pure finisher these days?”, “Rhodes’s natural game is with the ball to his feet. He won’t go and fetch. When he was previously in form he was a pure 10-yards player in the mould of Denis Law”, “He puts the ball in the net but you have to have a proper pairing to make that happen.” Owls’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Ipswich will be very difficult on Wednesday night”, “I admire everybody that is going to travel all the way to Ipswich and back home on a miserable Wednesday night in November. You are all truly dedicated and deserve better. The Tractor Boys this season are not going to be easy.” “We have a poor record against Ipswich under Mick McCarthy and the Blades have a winnable game at home. We could find ourselves on Tuesday night 15 points behind them”, “Ipswich away will again be tough. Mick could frustrate us and I can see that being a boring draw.” “Ipswich is a great away weekend. Adnams beer is cracking”, “It has never been a good stomping ground for us.” Owls have had very little to say so far about Wednesday’s game, but the few early comments I found suggest that nothing is being for granted under the lights at Portman Road. “Our ambitions are no different really to someone like Ipswich which is sad as we should be an automatic promotion side with the weak league this season”, “I remember the last time we played Ipswich. I listened to what Mick said ruefully before the match listing our strikers, ‘Not bad that, is it?’”, “This season just highlights what a mess we are making of this so-called promotion push. Wolves aside, I don’t rate another team. Cardiff, Blades, Bristol City and Ipswich are all above us with much poorer squads, but all are overachieving whilst we are underachieving.” The Owls’ forums are lively and active, and there will be plenty of additional comment in the coming days. I will update the forum with their further thoughts on Wednesday afternoon and link this on my Twitter feed. WebsitesThe busiest Sheffield Wednesday message-board is the friendly and knowledgeable OwlsTalk.
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