M42Owl

Conceding 6 is always bad. But angry? No. The two teams above us had easily winnable games whilst we had one we all expected to lose. They got a point between them and we’re no further off safety than we were this morning. Possible Injury to Poveda aside, overall, its a good set off results.

14 games since Christmas, both sides scored in only three. The only draw being 0-0. But the two games immediately prior to Christmas, both come from behind wins (1 win, 1 loss). We need to keep this one tight. Without coming out all Xisco, we need to frustrate and get them on the break. Ipswich score a lot of late winners / equalisers at home. We need to have something in the tank for the last 10 minutes.

I agree pretty much with all of this, but the first two questions beg the question: why have we had three phases already? I acknowledge the comment mentioned above from Chansiri that long sales windows just sees people buy last minute. I slightly disagree with that as I think quite a few renew on the first day or two to “get it out of the way”. Whether short window or long, there should be a price for those taking the gamble on what division we’ll be in next season. This ought to be Jan to Mar time. Then there’s those that buy when they know what level we’re at. This should be from when we know what level we’re at next season until say end June. And finally those that always buy last minute, or who’s found the money somehow. On sale from 1st July. So many windows, each with a significant price rise, drives PotD prices to a level many find too much. For the avoidance of doubt, I’m an early birder.

I heard the announcement and for some reason looked down to the pitch and saw the linesman. Although nothing had been thrown, not that I saw, I assumed it was a preemptive plea based on a combination of the clown disallowing the goal and previous linesmen getting things thrown in their direction.

Why the negativity? I’m rooting for him even if no one else is. But when this job comes to an end, i think he’ll take a leaf out of his brother’s book and branch out into media work.

They seem to have swiftly dropped the yellow card for multiple players encroaching into the ref’s space too.

True. The only thing I remember him for is that quote. Did nothing memorable on the pitch.

“Jed Wallace, the West Bromwich Albion captain, has likened the off-the-field issues at Sheffield Wednesday to storylines from soap opera 'EastEnders'.” Nothing changes. Not for Wednesday, not for nearly a quarter century anyway. Something in recent events reminder me of a quote in the local (midlands) press that left me a bit saddened at the time, from when Danny Sonner left Wednesday for Birmingham City in 2000. Not so much the departure, but what he said. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/New+lease+of+life+for+soap-sick+Sonner.-a063930934 “Sonner arrived at Blues on a free transfer this week from trouble-torn Sheffield Wednesday which, he says, was more like a soap-opera than a football club. “

@infoman We are staying at Cribbs-causeway just off M5 J17. What are your thoughts on using buses to/from Ashton Gate?

Best we’ve played over 90 minutes since Peterborough. I’m not sure whether they were bad or we were good. Probably a bit of both, but they seemed like our ideal opponents. By that I mean that their forwards got nothing from Bambo, Bernard and Iorfa, and their defence couldn’t handle the pace of Musaba. Bannan and Byers ran the midfield. Everyone won their individual battles. Even Smith, notwithstanding the goals, won more duels than normal. Man of the match contenders: Paterson: at his best with some gamesmanship thrown in. Smith: two goals Iorfa: a monster. At the level when we first got him. Those surging runs. Mugging Hugill near the end. This is the Iorfa we need week in week out. But my vote goes to Musaba: a bit frustrating at times, but the first consistent demonstration of the pace that we expected when he signed. He should look for the pass more, but his pace was what gave the advantage.

Weren’t we leading at the time of the tennis balls? Such a long time ago I’m not certain. But if I’m right, surely that points against more tennis balls as the last one led to our goalless run?

I’m in a similar position. Been to Cardiff, Swansea, WBA, off to Plymouth. Wondering whether I’ll get a Bristol City ticket with hotel already booked. But I’m reluctant to help someone else’s points harvesting. And the more I see posts like this, the more I think one minor tweak to the TPP process would solve the problem. No TPPs if a game (away game) is sold out. Points only available for games where everyone has an equal chance of getting a ticket. It won’t be immediate, but it’ll soon end points harvesting. Your “reward” for buying a ticket at a sold out match: you see the match live. Your “reward” for buying a ticket for e.g. midweek at Plymouth: you see the match live and get 10 points.

I don’t think we will be bottom. I was replying to the post immediately above mine by Andyben which said “I'd rather be bottom with this management team, than 18th with Moore“. Having re-read it, I realise that I probably misread it, thinking he meant he’d rather we “finish” bottom as opposed to “currently” be bottom. I can see the argument for one step back then two steps forward, which some have been advocating, but I’ve had my fill of league one football for a while. I’d prefer finishing 18th with Moore, than finishing bottom with the new/better coaching team. I want championship football next season and to build from there without taking a step back. I don’t think staying up is beyond us. But neither do I think we’d have been relegated with Moore in charge.

How long before they are all broadcast live, one at a time? Saturday kick off at 11:00, 1:00, 5:30, 7:30 Sunday kick off at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 One each Friday and Monday evening. Leaves Saturday 3pm free for the rest of us. It’ll need the FA to stand up to the EPL to keep Sat 3pm free from live TV though, but I don’t think they’ve got the wherewithal to do that.

At this stage of the season maybe, but next May I’d rather be 21st with Moore than bottom with the new lot, or with Colin, or with Pep or anyone you care to mention.

Such a long time ago, at least I didn’t mix him up with Wilf Smith. Easily done at my age.

My first memory of watching us at Vicarage Road was when Graham Taylor was in charge. In a style similar to that which I think Xisco wanted for us, Watford ripped us apart on the counterattack. Speed down the wings with John Barnes left and ? Callaghan right with Wilf Rostrum overlapping and, I think, Blisset and Jenkins (fast, big, powerful) up front. Four nil at half time. I remember thinking at HT, that if we get a quick goal we might still get something out of the game. And straight from the kick off, the defence opened up and Ticker Taylor ran through on goal. He missed. The hoped for comeback petered out. FT 4-0. But I have a weird affection for the game as it was my first hearing, at a match, of “always look on the bright side of life”.

On one level, the footballing level, I agree with Maguire: “proper fans” don’t boo players. Not individually anyway. Boo a team at full time if they’re poor or uncommitted maybe, but not an individual. There might be an argument that booing a player is the kick up the backside he needs. I don’t go along with that. Booing individuals damages confidence that is probably fragile to start with and is most likely to make performances worse. Then there’s the non-footballing level, where a player does or says something away from the pitch (Ched, Greenwood, Hughes spring to mind). But there are areas that are less clear cut: I suspect most Jewish or Arab players are currently treading a fine line between staying silence and expressing their reasonably held views. But on to Henderson. And I think this is where players live in another reality. It’s fine, in my opinion, for any player to express strong support for LGBQ+ or not. But if Henderson was sincere in his support for the LGBQ community then he wouldn’t have gone to Saudi - it’s not like he’s struggling with the cost of living crisis. So he’s shown himself to be a hypocrite and he deserves all the booing he gets. It’s nothing to do with his football (although being selected before better players doesn’t help). It’s not even his expressed views. It’s his sudden apparent change in those view when big money is involved; it’s his hypocrisy. And Southgate and Maguire, presumably when asked, could hardly call Henderson a twat, but equally they don’t need to give such fulsome support for him. That why I think they’re not living in the real world. They don’t see that Henderson has done anything deserving of criticism. And the only way for most of us to deliver that criticism is via a few boos. Top footballers (and managers) are in their football bubble and nothing else matters. Social media accounts and support for any oppressed group or cause is mainly to boost their likes and their ego and their sponsorships. Maguire and Southgate need calling out for supporting Henderson almost as much as Henderson does for his hypocrisy. * There are some, perhaps many, exceptions: Grealish and Defoe, but at the top of the game, I think they’re probably in a minority.

Yes, I know. But a current big lead and “as good as qualified” could be “ahead of third only on GD” in a few days. And yes, we should pick up the necessary points against N Macedonia and/or Malta, but it’s England. They’re almost as good as Wednesday for cocking it up.

Put in a dire performance against Italy on Tuesday and we most likely will be level on points with both Ukraine and Italy. Hopefully, Henderson and Phillips won’t get a look in.

Ignoring Stuart Gray and Steve Bruce, Chansiri has seen the back of six managers. Only Pulis and Xisco could you say he was impatient with, and not many would argue with the decision to get rid of those two after such a short time. So think Chansiri’s record is mainly one of patience - Carlos, Jos, Monk and Moore - all given plenty of (too much, some would say) time. I’m usually one of the last calling for a manager to go, yet it’s only Stuart Gray that I think Chansiri got rid of too soon. I think Chansiri’s instinct is (was?) to give his man time, but he’s been overly influenced by impatient vocal fans.

Mid-week. Lots of travel. And we’re a bit crap. But, new manager (maybe) and only 1648 tickets. I’m in the Friday morning slot, will I get one?

Want: someone that’ll get us organised, playing on the front foot with a bit of pride and confidence. Out of the likely candidates that probably whittles it down to no-one. Don't want: Warnock, Wilder, Evans, any previous Wednesday manager, any ex-United manager, Lampard/Gerrard/Terry etc whose name will precede the club’s, anyone over 50 whose managerial career is mainly tier 3 and below, Big Sam, Little Sam, Big Mick, any manager whose last/current job was in Saudi / China / Thailand, anyone generally considered a bit eccentric, e.g. Di Canio, Carbone. Would accept (meh): Pretty much anyone not in the list above, with a few years experience and more than one success on their CV. Left field: A woman. Or a bloke doing well managing a women’s team.

Hopefully Thompson has been watching and seen Xisco’s mistakes and remembers Moore’s solutions. Will he keep a back four or go back to three? Back three please. Will he go back to tippy tappy play it out from the back rubbish? Even Xisco abandoned that on Tuesday. So surely Thompson will go long. To be fair to Xisco, he did say we play it out because we can keep position if we go long ball: as demonstrated on Tuesday night. But Moore got around that by using Paterson (at LWB) and Smith. Also, if we the drop tippy tappy approach, does that open the door for Ihekwe? I think Thompson will go something like… Keeper Iorfa, Ihekwe, Bernard Paterson, 3 CMs, Musaba Smith, Wilks.

Or Asia, or North or Central America, or the Middle East. Back to 2030… It’ll be a bit tough on the teams playing their first game in S America then jetting off to Portugal for their second group game three days later.