Sheffield Wednesday News 24/7Writer: Nick 
Date:Thursday August 6 2009
Time: 3:46PM
UK time is: 10:12:23
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
Wednesday vs. Barnsley
Hillsborough, Sheffield
Saturday, August 8
3pm
Preview: Owls v Barnsley
After the long summer break the new Championship season is finally upon us, and the Owls' opening clash of the campaign is sure to be a cracker.
South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley are Wednesday's first opponents of a season which promises so much for Wednesdayites, with chairman Lee Strafford at the helm for his first full season.
The transfer may have not been a big and numerous as some fans will have hoped for, but Simon Davey's Barnsley side have been even quieter over the pre-season, linking them with the early season struggles tag.
But Wednesday boss Brian Laws knows anything can happen on the first day of the season, especially where a local derby clash is concerned.
The same result as the opening day of last season will do quite nicely, though...
Vital Quotes:
Owls captain Darren Purse told SWFC.co.uk:
'It's going to be a tough game, they're a big and powerful side, we'll have to stand up to them and hopefully our ability will shine through.
'Local derbies are what you play football for. Obviously the big match is the Sheffield United game , but Barnsley is up there with that and hopefully we'll take the three points and get off to a good start.'
Wednesday Team News:
Wednesday boss Brian Laws has promised that there'll be a 'few surprises' in the line-up for the visit of the Tykes this weekend.
New signing Darren Purse is set to get the nod in the centre of defence, but Laws will still have to decide who he partners at the back, with both Richard Wood and Mark Beevers battling for a starting place.
Frank Simek, injured for most of last season, could also be intention for a start after impressing in the pre-season.
Laws has passed new signing Tommy Miller fit for the clash, but the former Ipswich man could be forced to start on the bench due to a lack of match fitness.
Akpo Sodje is definitely out, but Leon Clarke could return to the squad after picking up an injury against Blackbutn last season.
But Laws could opt for a fully fit striker line-up of Marcus Tudgay and Francis Jeffers.
Player to watch: Marcus Tudgay
Last season's top scorer was the subject of mass transfer speculation linking him with Burnley in recent weeks, and Owls fans will be delighted to see him start the season at Hillsborough. He'll have a tough act to follow after last season's superb campaign, but he's more than capable og bettering that, starting this weekend.
Barnsley Team News:
Barnsley could be bolstered by two new additions ahead of the short trip to S6 on Saturday.
Former loanee Adam Hammill could be Oakwell-bound after Liverpool accepted an offer for the midfielder from the Tykes this week, and is set to be unveiled in the next 48 hours.
Striker O'Neil Thompson is also set to put pen to paper on a deal at Oakwell after impressing boss Simon Davey while on trail with the club.
Both players are set to be included in the squad for the clash with Wednesday.
Striker Iain Hume, who saw his season ended last term by a horrific foul by Chris Morgan, has returned over the pre-season but could only be ready for an appearance on the bench.
Player to watch: Jemal Campbell-Ryce
The former Southend United man did the damage for Barnsley last season at Hillsborough when the Tykes ran out 1-0 winners, and he'll be the biggest threat for the visitors once again this weekend thanks to his pace and trickery down the wing.
Match Facts & Stats
Head-to-Head
Wednesday wins: 30
Barnsley wins: 21
Draws: 11
Last Time Out
Wednesday 0-1 Barnsley
Hillsborough, 17/02/09
Jemal Campbell-Ryce bagged the only goal in fine style as Barnsley ended their Hillsborough hoodoo with a close fought victory back in February.
Next Fixtures:
v Rochdale (League Cup) (H) - 11/08/09
v Peterborough (A) - 16/08/09
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco
Your Comments
3 - 0 OWLS..... MARCUS TUDGAY, ETIENE ESAJAS, FRANCOISE JEFFERS...... COME ON
mansfieldowl
2-1 Owls - Tudgay and Miller
Carbone's Padawan
3-0 Tudgay, JJ & Spurr
BedfordOwl
2-1 to the dingles, sorry for being pessimistic!
johnnywalker69
all go for 2-0 miller and tudgay UTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
maltby_owl
think it will be a comfortable 1-0 win. Potter to score the winner. cant see them posing much of a threat.
OWL-4EVA
we'll win, but it'll be tight. been reading a few championship preview sites, and i'm liking this one...
Owls seen as the next Burnley...!
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8742_5476168,00.html
charmer
UTO cant wait!!
bradford_owl
just got in n 10 n half hours to the big kick off n 7 hours to the start of a day sesh best get some sleep!!!!! come on u sexy blue n white babies!!!!
FUTURES BLUE N WHITE
3 points today and no players injured... You think that's asking too much?
Carbone's Padawan
fantastic first half we looked very good should of had a couple more but second half oh dear im gonna blame the heat cos i burnt my baldy head
bradford_owl
Absolute dog poo!!!! spurr was tripe second half as was wood-jeffers was diabolical as per usual(hop hes in his last year of his contract) was happy with 1st half display even tho they had 3 clear cut chances that fortunatley for us we had super grant in the net but as soon as the whistle went for the 2nd half it went straight downhill. as sson as thery got the 1st you could tell the 2nd wasnt too far behind-please dont play jeffers anymore and please play esajas from the start preferbley with johnson. NEED a new striker(Priority)
supersibon
i do love how negative people are, FJ9 did ok dirty dingles should have been down to 10 for hawling him down, annoyed about letting it slip but its not exactly 'we're going down by christmas' or even absolute dog poo material is it? Just a bit frustrating
wesp
The first half against barnsley it was a different wednesday, there were great runs off the ball and lovely passing combinations.But typical LAWS wednesdasy go 2-0 up and he sends them out to defend!!! and i wish laws could explain why we have signed darren purse when we have young talent on the bench in hinds and beevers, they are far better.... laws cant drop purse now though because he has given him club captaincy and the lot , itll make him look like a rite *****!!!
SUPERSIBON was watching a different game to me as spurr and jeffers were superb it is players like james o'connor and JJ(who doesnt want to know wen we conceed a goal) who spoil our team!!!!!!!!!
SWFC_LUKE
no i was watching the same as everybody else-spurrs second half performane wasnt the best and i dont think that jeffers does enough to be honest-id put all 3 strikers in frontof him getting a game!!! the 1st half we played really well and i agreee with swfcluke about johnson his work rate must be 40% out of 100%. and wesp i dont thik we'll be down by christmas. plus the referee and the assistants were bad yet again at hillsborough!!!
supersibon
Shocking result. Time and time again Wednesday think cos they are a goal or two up the game is automatically won! Why is this? Tactics in 2nd half were nothing short of stupid. I would have bet my car on Barnsley getting an equaliser, you can see it a mile off every single game we're in the lead. Also, get rid of Jeffers, overpaid overhyped nobody.Very disappointed.
Danigol_10_SWFC
I've waited 24 hours to add my comments giving me time to think about the game yesterday. There were a lot of positives to take from the game yesterday - in the first half, going forward we looked very good, Gray had a great game, Potter played well and any doubts about Tudgay's committment have been well and truely squashed. Granty also played a blinder.
Spurr had an excellent first half but lost his way in the second. Wood had a shocker for the whole 90 mins. He didn't seem with it at all and if I were Laws I would get rid and bring in a big hard case at the back to play alongside Purse / Beevers. I can't remember Wood winning a header. JoC was virtually non existant and Jeffers didn't try a leg.
Overall I thought over the 90 mins a draw was a fair result. Barnsley's back four and keeper were truely awful but Wednesday will get mullered by better sides, especially away from home, if we don't learn to defend high balls into our half and penalty area. Based on this Jeckell & Hyde performance we've got two hopes of reaching the playoffs and one of them is Bob. The investment can't come soon enough.
The Owler
replace wood with beevers any day, he is taller, faster, and generally just better. and why wasnt ee starting, he is easily our most gifted midfielder.
ozzietheowl
Can i just say beevers is a defender NOT a midfielder, and subersibon hit the nail on the head with johnsons work-rate and about the referee. Jeffers worked his socks off in the first half and got knocked all over and didnt get a free-kick or nothing.... O'Connor and players like purse etc need getting ridoff and laws needs to admit hes made a mistake.
SWFC_LUKE
i agree with everrything the owler said perfect game review we obviously saw exactly the same game id really love jeffers to prove me wrong but i just think hes terrible if we are lucky he may get 2 or 3 goals this season
bradford_owl
1 game in and the jeffers and joc bashing begins
i thought joc had his best 45 mins in a wednesday shirt in the 1st half then, like the other 10 out there lost his way in the second
i thought jeffers looked ok , its allways the same though when things are not going our way, he is the first one to cop for the stick from the stands cos of wages and injuries etc, really *****es me off.
wedtillidie
and maybe the fact he doesnt score goals which is what hes payed all that money for
bradford_owl
WEDTILLIDIE says it perfectly,why should jeffers kop for the abuse when he played no worse than the other 9 outfield players.Why not slag JoC or DP off..... and the first half JoC was one of/ if not the most commited player on the pitch, the second half however all the players were rubbish... Grant kept us in it!!
SWFC_LUKE
Having been at the game yesterday and read all the comments concerning jeffers. Yes he didnt have a good second half but i am not at all surprised. Michael Owen would have had just as bad of a performance in the second half in Jeffers position with the supply he was given. The only supply was ariel for all the second half. Jeffers is only small and has no muscle therefore why on earth was that allowed to happen for the whole second half against a tall and strong central defence!!!! Jermaine Johnsons work ethic was diabolicle. MANY times he had the chance to catch the defender and tackle him, instead chosing to foul the player from behind. This nearly cost us a penalty in the second half. His second half performance was extremely poor and we needed his pace on the wing as its obvious Gray has none. Esijas should have been brought on much earlier on for some extra attack in the wing as his performance was better than JJ's was even if it wasnt brilliant. I am sure that jeffers would have been swapped with Clarke if that was possible after about 60 minutes due to the fact he was getting battered by the defenders without much help from the referee. And lastly wednesday need to realise football is a game of two halves.
tomawest
I think the performance in the first half showed alot of promise and it we can play like that for 90 mins instead of 45 we should be hitting our targets. I dont wanna be negative about the result cos im trying to stay positive about the season but 2-0 up at home at half time and drawing 2-2 is a joke. we need to learn to kill teams off, not sitting back on our lead and taking our chances. Im still optimistic about the season as a whole and think we have got the quality to be in the top tier of the league.
OWL-4EVA
Have Your Say
Recent Articles
Owls XI to visit Frickley Athletic (Monday May 20 2013)
Tigers confirm Wednesday friendly clash (Wednesday May 15 2013)
Owls confirm Scunthorpe friendly date (Wednesday May 15 2013)
Stats: Wednesday v Middlesbrough (Sunday May 5 2013)
Limited tickets left for Boro clash (Wednesday May 1 2013)
Draw keeps Millwall in relegation mix (Tuesday April 30 2013)
Preview: Peterborough v Owls (Friday April 26 2013)
Owls fans to flock to Peterborough (Wednesday April 24 2013)
Bolton recall Owls loan man Holden (Sunday April 21 2013)
Jones content with Ipswich Town point (Sunday April 21 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2005
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2006
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2007
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2008
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2009
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2010
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2011
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2012
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2013
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2006
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2007
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2008
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2009
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2010
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2011
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2012
Vital Wednesday Articles from 2013
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | optimisticowl | 46 |
| 2. | OurMaurice | 27 |
| 3. | spiro theocropolis | 25 |
| 4. | DB2002 | 20 |
| 5. | dooleys left leg | 15 |
| 6. | ozzietheowl | 14 |
| 7. | Miruic | 13 |
| 8. | dublin owl | 9 |
| 9. | RatherRandomOwl | 6 |
| 10. | trig44 | 6 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Sheff Wed | 2 | - | 0 | Middlesbrough |
| Peterborough | 1 | - | 0 | Sheff Wed |
| Sheff Wed | 1 | - | 1 | Ipswich |
| Blackpool | 0 | - | 0 | Sheff Wed |
| Leeds Utd | 2 | - | 1 | Sheff Wed |
| Millwall | 1 | - | 2 | Sheff Wed |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 15. Blackpool | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | -1 | 59 |
| 16. Middlesbrough | 46 | 18 | 5 | 23 | -9 | 59 |
| 17. Blackburn | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | -7 | 58 |
| 18. Sheff Wed | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | -8 | 58 |
| 19. Huddersfield | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | -20 | 58 |
| 20. Millwall | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | -11 | 56 |
| 21. Barnsley | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | -14 | 55 |
Breaking League News
| LUFC Former defender retires
» Leeds Utd : 23/05/2013 21:54:00
|
| LUFC McDermott - Byram wants to stay
» Leeds Utd : 23/05/2013 20:34:00
|
| LUFC Capital One League Cup
» Leeds Utd : 23/05/2013 20:04:00
|
| Robinson keeping options open
» Blackburn : 23/05/2013 19:32:00
|
| Can Nottingham Forest Join The Elite?
» Forest : 23/05/2013 19:06:00
|
| Gus in Potters link as talk of successor escalates
» Brighton : 23/05/2013 17:43:00
|
| Manager Decision Not Imminent
» Millwall : 23/05/2013 17:12:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|