Often Partisan

GAMEDAY – Sheffield Wednesday at Home

Blues welcome Sheffield Wednesday to St Andrew’s in today’s televised game looking to build on a run of form that has seen them pick up four points from two good away performances.

Sheffield Wednesday

The Owls lie in 11th place, six places behind Blues but with only one point fewer from their first seven games. They’ve not won an away game in four attempts in all competitions this season with their last success on the road coming on April 2.

Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal has a selection issue at centre-back with Sam Hutchinson suspended for a red card in midweek; Glenn Loovens may return after injury to partner the out-of-form Tom Lees. Daniel Pudil is also struggling for fitness.

Blues

Tomasz Kuszczak has been ruled out of the next three games meaning Adam Legzdins will continue between the sticks. The Polish keeper could well be joined by Robert Tesche in the treatment room which makes for a selection headache; does Rowett move Davis inside, bring Gleeson back into the fold after two matches completely out of the squad or even bring in Reece Brown.

The odds are quite even in this game with both teams looking to build on recent successes; I think for Rowett the fact Sheffield Wednesday will look to push on to us a bit could well work in his favour and allow him to stick with his more counter-attacking mentality.

Ref

Barring late changes, Scott Duncan is in the middle for this one. He’s taken charge of six games so far this season, showing 17 yellow cards and one red. His last Blues game was the 1-0 home win over Bolton in February of this year, when he booked four players including Diego Fabbrini and Clayton Donaldson.

Suspension Watch

One Red Card: Jack Storer ( three match ban served)

Four bookings: David Davis
Three bookings: Jonathan Grounds
Two bookings: Clayton Donaldson
One booking: Michael Morrison, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Jonathan Spector, Stephen Gleeson and Jack Storer

The cutoff date for a player receiving a ban for five bookings is November 30, 2016
The cutoff date for a player receiving a ban for ten bookings is March 11, 2017

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84 Responses to “GAMEDAY – Sheffield Wednesday at Home”

  • Dave Mann says:

    Played rubbish in both games against them last season so hopefully a better performance today and a turn of fortune for us .. A win today will build confidence and keep us right in the mix but live on Sky and the later kick off does worry me slightly but fingers crossed hey ! KRO

  • WayCoolBlue says:

    Sheffield Wednesday are one of the better teams in the league but if we play at our best and stop the long balls we are in with a chance. We are the home team we need to attack them not sit back but attack them with balance. We have the player to do this now. I will be at the match I hope the fact the game is on Sky don’t limit the crowed we need a big atmosphere. KRO SOTV

    • Dave Mann says:

      Unfortunately it will mate but let’s hope the atmosphere is better if not the crowd . KRO

      • WayCoolBlue says:

        It would have paid the club to make this game a tenner and kids go free with a adult. Get the crowed in get the atmosphere buzzing.

        • Auld Bertie says:

          Agree mate. I’m a ST holder but paid £25 for a ticket in the tilton for my missus. A bit steep for a televised, 5:30 KO!

        • almajir says:

          It wouldn’t though.

          15000 tickets sold at 10 (in addition to 10,000 season ticket holders) = £150k
          8000 tickets sold at 30 = £240k

          Simple maths mate

          • WayCoolBlue says:

            But first you have to sell 8k tickets and the game price is £25 not £30 We will be lucky if we sell 5k tickets for home support at £25 that’s 125k we could sell 15k tickets at £10 that’s 150k.

            Simple maths mate

          • Bluey says:

            Got to add the extra programmes,pies,drinks sold. Better atmosphere and maybe a few looking to buy something from the club shop.

        • Dave Mann says:

          I agree . KRO

          • Alex T says:

            Yup, 14k bluenoses of which 8k are ST holders… So 6k tickets sold at £25 on average.

            So this generated a measly £150k…. Pretty sure we could have recouped that if tickets were £10….. I would have gone with my family for a start.

            The club have missed a trick here, because it is also essential that we have full crowds for the tv cameras from a commercial perspective

  • Pods says:

    Yes, I agree Dave poor performance in both league games. Sheffield I believe have back to back wins and will no doubt be at least play off contender.
    This will be no easy game for us today.
    Prediction a 1-0 home win.
    KRO

  • edd77 says:

    Be a shame if Tesche missing out he’s played really well and starting to form a good partnership with kieftenbeld ,be a tough one today with them winning last 2,but we look tight at the back so I’m predicting a 0-0 or a 1-1 draw ,which wouldn’t be a bad result KRO

  • Pods says:

    Forgot to mention Sky dictator. Hope we do get a big crowd, we need this.
    KRO

  • StaffsBlue says:

    If Tesche is out, I can’t see Rowett not bringing Gleeson back in. If he does, Wednesday will probably run through us at will. I would hope that he’d be a bit more adventurous though and maybe give Brown a chance, or pull Davis inside and give Stewart the nod on the right. But, I fully expect both Gleeson and Cotterill to be back in.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Whats your problem with gleeson? Did you go down the blues last year? He had a fantastic season and was instrumental in much of our positives. He made a couple of mistakes and a few below par performances this year and everyone seems to be jumping on him!!!!! Does no one any good to slag someone off before a balls been kicked !

    • oldburyblue says:

      Why is it slagging someone off when you state your opinion? Mine is that Gleeson is very good when the Team is on top but less effective in the battle before hand, seeming a little lightweight in the tackle (not the only one in truth). I want to see more of Brown and Stewart. If they come off it will be great and we can keep playing them. If not, we can go back to what we have tried before. Now is the time to experiment, not at the end of the Season.

  • swissjonny says:

    If Teshe is out then he needs to play Reese. Davis and Kieftenbeld can be the governors but we need some creativity and youthful enthusiasm. If the kid has buckled down as he appears to then GR needs to know how to apply the carrot and not just the stick.

  • Hillfield Blues says:

    It will be interesting to see what GR does if Tesche is out.I reckon he might bring Davis back into the centre and put Cotts back on the right but I would like to be proved wrong with something a bit more adventurous with us being at home.Gleeson should be on the bench for me.

  • Dave Mann says:

    That’s how it will be Hillfield , you know what our managers like by now . KRO

  • Retired&Weary says:

    Midfield against Norwich was as strong as it’s been for a while. The return of Cotterill and/or Gleeson weakens us significantly imo. Physical strength plus determination vital in this division.

    • Hillfield Blues says:

      The good news is we now have genuine competition for some of the inconsistent players we have.If Gleeson or Cotts do get the nod today they will be pretty much playing for their places so nothing but a good performance will do.Last season we didn’t have that.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Just had a photo with maghoma , lovely man and told him to rip his ex club .. He said trust me . KRO

  • For me gleeson and cotts have got to prove themselves again , everybody in the squad has to earn his place in the team …no mercy stand up bluenose….

  • 7 defensive minded players selected in the team with maghoma tackling back as well , are we trying to improve on last season’s poor goal tally or not ,

  • Blue Steve says:

    Such a great win. I thought Maghoma was superb tonight.

  • Thank God the subs changed the game , a good win in the end though …Super blues…

  • StaffsBlue says:

    None of the 3 subs looked out of place when they came on. Good to see Rowett being positive and taking a chance. It’s not often we come back from a goal down to win. Well done to the management and players.

    • Hillfield Blues says:

      Agree.Not just a great win but some big positives elsewhere.The rest looked like it did Donaldson and Maghoma some good from being given a break in midweek,Maghoma had his best game in a Blues shirt for me and Donaldson was as effective as he’s been at home for a long time.
      The real standout for the night though was the substitutions in Brown and Stewart.It was brave from Rowett and it payed off.Both made an instant impact on the game and gave us an edge we needed just when normally we could have fizzled out a bit.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    I hope Gary realises that at home we need attacking midfielders.
    The difference when Brown and Stewart came on was enormous. Both should have started, because to play Davis, Kieftenbeld and Gleeson who are all defensive minded meant Blues created little before the substitutions.

    • Hillfield Blues says:

      Have to disagree.What we did in the first half was to contain and stifle a very good side who will definitely be around come play off/ time.I thought Rowett was tactically superb tonight.There was no way we could have won that game any other way.

      • Shirley Blue says:

        I tend to agree with you but there was a balance issue with the starting line up with only three real attacking players and seven more defensive minded players which meant it was very difficult for us to create anything and Sheffield Wednesday dominated possession knowing that. I thought he might start with Greg Stewart instead of Gleeson. It was the first time I have seen him play and I thought he really made a difference, Genuine skill and ability to beat defenders quite easily. What is for definite is GR has far more attacking options than he has ever had and starting team selection is going to be a bit of a headache in a good way from now on.

        • StaffsBlue says:

          Looking at our bench in the last few games, there’s a massive contrast to the last couple of seasons. Before this season, it’s more or less been like-for-like… you look at the bench now and you can see game-changers.

  • Mitchell says:

    Spector for me looked calm and measured at right back and ticked all the boxes as to why he is the preferred choice. Both he, and Morrison worked well together along with the ever improving Shotton. January purchase of a cracking left back would complete the defence.

    • Shirley Blue says:

      Grounds did absolutely nothing wrong this evening. Cant we just for once enjoy the fact that we are in fifth place, are 7 points better off than our illustrious local rivals and have just beaten one of the stronger teams in this division with a brilliant comeback and actually support and congratulate the players that have done that rather than calling for one of them to be replaced. GR will improve the squad gradually as he has done over the last couple of seasons but how about we get right behind the players we have now.

      • Gerrard hehir says:

        Not sure if you’re aware but seven points is nothing in terms of actually meaning anything at this stage of season. We have had a fabtastic start and another amazing result tonight. But please dont kid yourself that we are going to keep this going all season. Were just debating ways to inprove our squad. Hence what this forus is for? Blue noses chatting about our clubs fortunes??????

        • Shirley Blue says:

          I stand by what I say. Nobody else is coming in until January at the earliest and maybe not even then unless the right players are actually available. Get behind the players we have now and stop going on about replacing them. Surely just after a great, confidence boosting win isn’t the time to talk about replacing the players we have now.

          • Gerrard hehir says:

            Well no thats not necessarily true is it. We could get free transfers can’t we? Your right about getting behind the boys though. In fairness though, this is what the forum is for. Now sit down and drink your milk. Theres a good boy!

          • StaffsBlue says:

            All posters are entitled to their own opinion, whether you agree with it or not. Inane insults are part of the reason the comments were turned off last time. Think on.

          • steve says:

            Gerrard,before January we can only bring in out of contract players and imo they are out of contract for a reason.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    The problem with spector is that he is guaranteed to make a mistake at some point. I do think hes a good player for us but he is still prone to make a few muck ups.
    Great win tonight against a very good championship side. Gleeson is box to box midfielder. As is keiftenbeld. The way i see it, is we won tonight because of gary rowett and his staff being bold enough to make some changes. They really did make changes to take the game to Sheffield Wednesday.
    Not to rest anyone but to change the flow of the game!!!
    For me we have brilliant competition for places in middle of the park. If im honest all of them are capable of doing the job for us.
    My comment wasnt aimed at one person, its aimed at a group of people who keep having pop shots at gleeson. Blues always find someone to have a go at ( and in my opinion often the wrong one)
    Why arent we more concerned at having our only player to go euros sat on our bench?? Because his form is crap and even at best of times id question his desire on pitch. I know i sound like im gleesons dad or something. But it just grates on me when we turn on our own. Especially when only 2 months or so ago we were worried someone wpuld take gleeson off us. ( he was arguably our best performer last year) now we have a bit more competitive midfield its like we want him to naff off.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Shotton for me was man of the match today. Quality! Morrison as always solid! Spector had a decent show today. But for me, shotton was brilliant today! Bargain!!!!!

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    And ive just realises ive said ” today” three times in quick succession!!!!Sorry

  • Bromsgrove Blue says:

    Good result by Blues to come back after going behind to Hooper’s goal. I thought this was going to be a repeat of last season when Sheffield Wednesday came from behind to beat us from which our season then tailed off. Good substitutes by GR. I would prefer him to be more positive from the start and play Brown alongside Davies and Kieftenbeld. Still good result for the lads. Kro

  • oldburyblue says:

    I felt sorry for our midfield for the majority of the match as they were so out-numbered due to the bold tactics of Sheffield Wed. Rarely have I seen a team play with just 2 at the back with a midfielder (Bannon) just in front of them when in possession allowing everyone else to attack. When they lost possession they were quicker running back than we were running forward so always kept a numerical advantage. The big problem with those tactics is that no Team can keep it up for more than 60mins, therefore we had to be patient and bide our time until they tired and we were able to run them ragged with the introduction of quick fresh legs. Our tactics were proved spot-on in the end, so credit to GR.

  • KeepRightcroydOn says:

    As much as GR has better players to call on this season, he also has a more balanced squad. The key is now he utilises his resources.
    It will be interesting to see if Storer has learnt his lesson and how GR will use him when he recovers from injury. I imagine It will be as an impact player from the bench for the foreseeable future. He may also look to rest Adams occasionaly as he’s still young and could risk him running out of gas in the latter part of the season, so Storer could start the odd game with Adams coming off the bench for him later in those games. A bit like he did with our two big men up front on Tue. Isn’t it great we can now speculate on such options up front? Something we couldn’t do last season.

  • Murph says:

    We’ll done blues and gr and he’s team , stifled them then attacked when they were tiring , make no mistake weds a good footballing team with good indivials , that’s another high flying team we have beat in a hard few fixtures we have come out fantastically well . Great to see the Scottish lad come on too , looks so calm on the ball and inventive , motm for me was shot ton but they all deserve it . We’ll done blue boys now let’s get a big crowd down there at next home game and give them the support they deserve .

  • WayCoolBlue says:

    Just got home from the match I fort it was all over when Hooper scored I felt sick because we had improved so much with the 3 best subs GR as ever made. And then the pen came I couldn’t watch. I hared the crowed We had the goal That was a relief but I was not expecting the next goal then came mags’s chip in to the box the ball seemed to hang there And Juke headed it home then, some guy grabbed my arm I didn’t know him but we both jumped up holding hands above our heads singing Keep right on. It was like being back in the Tilton witch I have mist. Because I have had to move to the Paddock with my son he is only 7. It wasn’t a fantastic game to begin with but it felt fantastic on 90 minutes. KRO SOTV

  • BaldySteve30 says:

    Cracking game tonight, I think the loan signing of Jutkiewicz is on this occasion inspired. I saw him at Fulham and he certainly looked like he has something to prove which can only benefit us. I think Reece Brown can be anything he wants to be, I’ve not seen a player so comfortable with a football since Ravel Morrison, Grounds looks like a new player since we signed competition. I’ve given Rowett plenty of stick the last 6 months but I have to take my hat off to him ! Since Wolves we’ve looked solid and menacing !!

    I just wish our home support was better, I think we kid ourselves sometimes with how many fans we have

  • Dave Mann says:

    Me , my wife and son were walking towards the Tilton/ paddock corner when jukey scored and we all went beserk like all the other fans … Much better atmosphere though that was down to the last ten minutes… Hats off to all of them …Roll on QPR !! KRO

    • Mitchell says:

      Another feel good Sunday morning Dave. Can we really feel more than a little excited as to whether this could be the season. We are stronger in our forward options with Adams,Jukey, ever improving Donaldson and the Maghoma/Stewart factor. So close maybe but we certainly need a strong and clever left back( sorry Shirley Blue) to brick up the freedom that many right sided players enjoy against him. Your trip to QPR next week against a team in free fall should give us a better opinion as to where we are at. This league still remains a mystery this season so far but given the heights of Huddersfield etc.i wonder whether we could end up doing a smash and grab.

      • BaldySteve30 says:

        I think Grounds has been terrific since we signed competition, I can’t think of any right sided player who has got the better of him since Wolves !! I’m not his biggest fan but he has earned the shirt he is currently wearing !! We’re on a cracking run ! Enjoy instead of looking for scapegoats !!

    • WayCoolBlue says:

      I was warred about the atmosphere before the game but I was Wrong.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Early days I know Mitchell but the form of Maghoma, Donaldson. Adams and the trickery of Stewart , the emerging Reece Brown and the power of jukey gives us all hope .. and we’ve still got a left back in Wiggins to come in and show us what he’s got .. no reason not to feel good on this Sunday morning :-) KRO

  • Lich Blues says:

    Spot on Dave Mann. It is early days but the form of our key players gives me a spring in my step at the moment. Donaldson is like a different player now he has more support from Adams. The fact that we can bring players of the bench who can make a difference is also a massive boost. it’s obviously very early in the season but it feels good to have such a positive start.

    KRO.

    • A very good win , I hope GR starts showing a bit more confidence in his players now that they have proved that they are up for it , for me we need a side that is consistent in its set up throughout every match , not to defensive not to attackwise , but one that is capable either way but with low stamina stars on the bench to make a difference in the game with whatever way is needed to turn a match at the most important part of a match the last 20 minutes . But subs played every match to avoid first choice players getting exhausted . I felt if they had scored first early the result could have been different , but hey the game was won and we move upward ..

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Stewart was a breath of fresh air when he came on, he must get a start against QPR imo.

    • WayCoolBlue says:

      And to think so many supporter said he was a bad signing become they don’t know who Stewart is.
      But 16 goals 11 assists all from the wing in the SPL. and he as 2 good feet. And hee did interchange with mag’s as I said I would like to see earlier.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Its not the starting 11 that won us the match. I believe if he had of started stewart and brown then the result wouldnt have gone our way. We played a certain way to get to last twenty mins.
    Its a example of how a manager motivates his squad, does his homework on opposition and trains his players to play his way. The massive positive i have taken from the game and our start is that whatever gr is doing behind the scenes, he is smashing it with his tactics. Spot on. I am confident in whatever starting 11 he chooses agains qpr because i am getting the feeling hes grinding the opposition down then injecting some pace and power late on some weary legs. It not something that would work every week but gr would know this. This is what gives me such hope! he is impressing everyone more and more as the weeks go by. Well done lads. Now i agree let’s start to back them with bums on seats. I hate sitting alone these days!!!!!! Kro

  • Bluey says:

    Excellent result and decent performance against a Wednesday side that will be in the mix come the end of the season. I still feel it`s too much to honestly believe we`ll make the play-offs but there`s defo room for some guarded optimism. And i hope you`ll allow me to say a big congratulations to Warwickshire on winning the Lord`s final against Surrey. Cracking day yesterday.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Well imo your completely wrong. Ibrahimovic was out of contract . Whilst i accept that we are not going to get an ibrahimovic, its a market on its own.
    So to say theres a reason why players are out of contract, is true. To imply that its always a negative reason is completely wrong. Look at robson kanu? The players dont end there either…….. point made?

    • steve says:

      My point is that there’s a reason why they haven’t got a club. If they were anygood they would be signed up and not sat at home during the football season.Point made ?

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    So why is robson kanu without a club? Or ibrahimovic? Or sinclair? Or glen johnson? Whats the reason?????? My point is just becaise there free it doesnt mean that there necessarily no good! Far from it. You just sound like someone who is desperate for our new takeover and for us to be spending money anyhow! Anyways….. whats your point again????????

  • steve says:

    WTF you on about ? Those players are with clubs. They let their contracts run down and moved for nothing. People like Kieron Richardson can’t get a club because nobody wants him. If a player can’t find a club even when there is no fee involved then there has to be a reason. Why would we want a player that nobody else wants because he won’t cost anything ? Maybe i should have said that they are without a club for a reason.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Well let me explain a litte more for you.
    When the likes of flamini are going for nothing, does that mean that he is no good????? Not good enough for arsenal but worth a punt for palace obviously.
    Would we turn our noses up at him? Hypothetically speaking there.
    But lets look a little closer to home. What did we pay for robinson??? Steve carr? Im sure i could name some more if you still needed some. For sure theres players without clubs because there past it. But the flip side to that is, surely the right deal is worth a punt???? No??? Would you like some more help???????

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Thats put an end to that then.

  • steve says:

    Just can’t be arsed.

  • steve says:

    . All the players that you have mentioned have got clubs. Until January we can only sign players that don’t have a club. If they don’t have a club then it’s because nobody wants them. If nobody wants them then why would we want them ?

    • Gerrard hehir says:

      Well i wasn’t for a second suggesting that blues buy any of those players.
      The point i am making is that if the deals right then its a chance worth taking. Then mentioned few past players and present where signing an unattached player has benefited us both on the pitch and off.
      So its not as simple as “because no one wants them then we dont want them,” is it Steve?
      Its worked for us before.
      We havent got millions to spend, and the new guy looking to take over doesnt seem like someone who is just going to throw money at us to get us promoted.

  • steve says:

    I’ve just looked at a list of players without clubs. I’ll admit that i’ve never heard of most of them. Of the ones that i do know,only Berbatov and Macheda would i take a punt on. I don’t think we could afford Berbatov,s wages and Macheda only because of how he played for us before.

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    So you agree with my original statement then. If the right deal is on the table, its worth a punt!
    Im glad we’ve had this conversation steve

  • Steve says:

    Not neccessarily. Will just agree to disagree

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    And there was me thinking this would end in some sort of abusive conversation.

  • Steve says:

    We would get banned :)


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