Up The Football League We Go?

Vital Sheffield Wednesday contributor Mark Hollins give us his weekly musings on the new-look (play-off chasing?) Wednesday...WARNING: Contains mildly optimistic comments!

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'Of course, our plans are subject to change -- in this case only upwards.'

It seems we can do no wrong of late, even in defeat we are great. Poet but don't….

People were still arriving behind me last night and to my delight, and their dismay, Wednesday were 2 to the good. When something goals are scored that early on, with the seeming ease and rapidity which they were, its hard not to get carried away **4-0/5-0** thoughts floating around. Sadly this didn't materialise but the game was effectively over as Whelan and Magic really knocked the stuffing out of the disappointing West Brom.

I'm not normally one to care about the bad things which happen on a good night… maybe our form has made me a little picky?!... But some things have to be said moving forward.

Firstly, aside from some great spells throughout the game it was hardly the hammering everyone, media included, is talking about. The stats will back me up. They were poor but they had their chances and no one can admit they weren't reaching for clean smalls when after they scored.

Secondly from what I read and the mumblings I hear from those sat around me at Hillsborough, I must be missing a lot in the game. Chris Brunt, along with Magic, is our most talented and creative player by some way and he showed it again last night. Even when stretching to keep in play or using his weaker foot he is still effective and is clearly on a different wavelength to a lot of his team mates. His cross for the first was something BOB could only dream of. Despite this he gets a lot of stick. In return I hear a certain Mr Whelan; yes he scored, getting a sack full of accolade. I really think he is one of our worst players.

When the team was announced without Folly I feared the worst. I don't normally rant negatively but I can`t help this. Lunt wasn't the worst I've seen him but again I think he is slightly overrated, although he is a starter.

Thirdly the substitutions. Why take Burton off and leave an incredibly uninterested Tudgay on? And I hope that Wayne Andrews, possibly the man of the match and a real threat all night, was carrying a knock because to exchange him with O`Brien was another strange choice, as you could tell with them gradually gaining the upper hand and scoring. Hopefully Bri will learn from these mistakes.

By the way did anyone take note after the second goal of the 'up the football league we go' chant… no one knew how to squeeze Mr Laws name in! Quality… although he did get his first 'Brian give us a wave' which was nice.

Referee was ok but I feel for him as he has a lot of yellow cards to write up, although everyone from the FIRST which he gave to the Baggies the guy behind yelped 'that's his second'… ha ha… we have some intelligence sat around our aging stadium.

Anyway that's my negatives out. Thankfully mistakes are being made but were good enough to carry on!

The future is certainly worth talking about these days!

No one dare really suggest with much conviction that we might sneak the play offs, which Wednesday fan, knowing our often failure to deliver, would commit to such a prediction. Over the last 12, we have won 6 drew 2 and lost 4… over the season = 80 points…. I don't think that sort of form is unattainable, although we will have to make up for our disastrous start….

It's a strange feeling going to games these days and expecting not to lose… Fortress Hillsborough you say? ... Maybe!

Draw at Leicester? Hope not!

Leicester 1 - 3 Wednesday

UTO

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