Wednesday have played 2 games and drawn 0-0 twice, away to Charlton and at home to Huddersfield Town in the cup.
They did not really impress anyone at Charlton and did not create many chances and might have lost, judging by the highlights on You Tube.
They will have to deal with the expectations of a large crowd which we know have not always been beneficial when things do not get off to a good start. Sunderland and Portsmouth have not fed profitably from their home following and we all remember the years that the big crowds at Bramhall Lane and Elland Road departed disappointed at their teams’ failures to escape League 1. Frequent managerial change, which is also a feature at Owlerton, did not help.
So a win for the Wendies will be no doddle against any opposition because their fans will never expect less and that brings pressure whoever are the visitors.
We are still a team in development, possibly “formation" might be more accurate and really a force of unknown power and quality and we must hope that an increasing understanding of each other’s games should develop. Newcomer Galbraith sounds like a promising talent and much needed on the front line, because there has been little evidence of sustained attacking ability so far.
We may have enough to hold the line against Wednesday and if perhaps we can grab another goal we may either avoid defeat or even win.
If we were up against a more established League 1 club I would not be confident at all, so I will limit my expectations to the avoidance of defeat and say 1-1 (Barlow/Galbraith/Bogle). Quite possibly none of these will start, so I may have to come back on that.
DPL v Sheffield Wednesday
posted on 14/8/21
Wednesday 2-1 Rovers
Cukur to score
Hopefully I'm totally wrong
C'mon Rovers ⚽
posted on 14/8/21
comment by (U22676) LixmKing is username
posted 15 minutes ago
2-1 Wednesday Galbraith goal
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posted on 15/8/21
After a somewhat slow start, by halftime I was encouraged - Bostock was beginning to show what he was capable of, and if Cukur had buried the great chance he had, I think we would have gone on to win the game.
We held or own for just over 70 minutes, but when you give a good player that amout of space in his shooting distance, what do you expect! That was an almost unstoppable shot.
I do not like to say it, but I'd put Dahlberg as most of the fault for the second goal.although our right-side defence shouldn't have let such a cross happen.
Bogle, who has been pathetic in all times I'm seen him this season, could have cut the deficit - and Ben Close should have buried the rebound.
OK, I take more positive than negative out of the game (not counting the loss of three points), but we really need a true winger and a striker that can score.
posted on 15/8/21
Being as good or better than the opposition was unrewarding because we failed to outscore them; even a penalty was fruitless. Should we pretend we are unlucky and feel aggrieved?
So failing to capitalise on good chances in the first half preserved Wednesday’s potential to win the match if they were able to seize their opportunities. And they did.
Will our players get better or are they only playing for us because they lack the ultimate composure?
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Having seen the extended highlights, we seem to have suffered in the first half particularly, from the referee’s intimidation by the home crowd into bias in that direction.
Bannan’s shot was perfect and their second goal came as a result of a deflection of the centre which would have missed their attackers entirely, but fortuitously found their man in the box whose shot went in off a friendly goal-post, making it rather an undeserved gift. The joyous celebrations rather gave this away. I have little sympathy for Bogle, but Close was not aiming at an open goal with the rebound, he was probably trying to avoid interception by the 3 defenders in front of him.
But we live with the consequences and even at this stage of the season joint bottom of the table hurts.
posted on 15/8/21
On the plus side we're making progress. On the negative side lack of condidence will be creeping in. It's been obvious for most of last season and all of this we need a proven goal scorer. This should have been priority! I was never that impressed with Oke but Bogle is dire. Cukur hasn't really stepped up yet either. We sorely miss Jon Taylor and dare I say it No26! Nice to see Bostock improving. We need a result soon though and I can't see Accrington being it. We also need an attacking midfielder who can score too. It's early days.
posted on 15/8/21
Donaldo, I meant to make some comments on the referee. Last week I said I hope the refereeing was not the standard for the season - it wasn't, yesterday was worse! While Galbraith's yellow was justified, the first two on our full backs were not. Why even was Tommy Rowe's a foul - the Wendies' guy ran into him! My problem with Rowe in the game was he had three or four good runs where I thought he was in a good position to go for goal, but he passed, and most were not up to his usual accuracy. I've stated him as my goal scorer in both games, and he had great chances yesterday if he had attempted them.
I agree I may have been a little heavy on Close; he certainly controlled the ball well, and went for the corner to avoid players who could block. I think because he was so deliberate about it all, I was very disappointed.
I'd like to know the truth about Jon Taylor's injury - what is the real problem as he was supposed to be back for the Walsall game. The talk about "scar tissue" is lost on me.
To keep confidence up, we need a win in the next two games.
posted on 15/8/21
I thought you had the better of the first half and we had the better of the second. Bannans goal wasn't really a 'chance' but a well taken goal and something he is more than capable if. The second goal was lucky in that it could quite easily have been cleared.
What are Donnys aspirations for the season? Midtable? A good run and a push for the play-offs? Looking at the league it definitely has some bigger clubs who will expect to occupy the top positions. The expectations come with added pressure though especially with fans back in the ground.
Donny will be fine. You were compact and dogged and you could easily have scored before the penalty. Probably missing a goalscorer. Not sure if you have one that didn't play?
Anyway, good luck for the season.
posted on 16/8/21
You’re right Siohi! Just what the manager says. Good luck with DM; the problem you have is putting too much pressure on him and the team in the expectation that you will escape this very challenging league at the first attempt.
But you’ve been here before and probably escaped quicker than either Sheffield U, Sunderland or the Weeds. (I was a semi-Wednesdayite in the early 60s when Harry Catterick was the manager when I worked in Sheffield.)
posted on 17/8/21
comment by DonaldoRover (U5032)
posted 17 hours, 4 minutes ago
You’re right Siohi! Just what the manager says. Good luck with DM; the problem you have is putting too much pressure on him and the team in the expectation that you will escape this very challenging league at the first attempt.
But you’ve been here before and probably escaped quicker than either Sheffield U, Sunderland or the Weeds. (I was a semi-Wednesdayite in the early 60s when Harry Catterick was the manager when I worked in Sheffield.)
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I have been a little sceptical regarding DMs subs but he got them right on Saturday. Come across as a likeable bloke and definitely had a rough time at the end of last season with his health etc so I hope he is given time. As you say though, the expectations of the job are huge. Some big clubs in this league. We can't all go up.
Showing your age though there. I'm not old enough to have been around in 60's but glad to hear you were a fan.
posted on 17/8/21
Nookie......we are missing Rodney Johnson as well.
26 ain't coming back