View From T'Other Side: Sheffield Wednesday

Last updated : 21 October 2008 By Rob Miles (barnsley Boy)

1. Your coming into this game in great form, 5th in the league and on the back over a win against United. Are you confident this will be a victory or a potential banana skin?

I think you've summed it up well. Barnsley is always a big game for us but coming just two days after the Sheffield derby I fear it could be a case of after the Lord Mayors parade.


2. Last season you started with six straight defeats, now you're in the play-offs. What's changed?

A bit of luck, a great deal of confidence and an attacking mentality.

In maybe half of those first six games last season we played well but didn't get the rub of the green that we have this time around.

Having said that we deserve our current unbeaten home record as we have generally attacked teams from the off at Hillsborough and don't concede many goals, which unfortunately is not the case on our travels.


3. Your unbeaten at home but have taken some stiff beatings away. Are the team playing differently away than they would at home?

Yes and no. In some away games we have gone 4-5-1 but in others we have stuck with 4-4-2 and had little joy either way. I think the case is we are too open away when we play with two wingers and two up front leaving ourselves vulnerable defensively to teams that are expected to attack on their own soil.


4. I hear Jermaine Johnson got sent off AFTER he had been subbed at the weekend for kicking a bottle into the crowd. Do you have the full story on that?

He had already been booked earlier in the game and in his frustration at being substituted when he was playing well he aimed his anger at a water bottle which ended up in the crowd. The over-officious, 4th official who was apparently the guy who allowed Reading the goal that never was against Watford earlier in the season, brought this to the attention of the ref who called JJ back from the tunnel to show him a 2nd yellow.

I can sort of understand why as it is a form of dissent but it was not intentional and was not aimed at the opposition bench or opposition fans and the incident had passed by the time it was dealt with.

5. Even though Wednesday had a poor season last year the board stuck with Brian Laws. Is he the right man to take Wednesday back to the Premier League?

As things stand I am not sure anybody is expecting a Premier League push but then again you never know-not many would have predicted Hull, Stoke and Bristol to be in the top six at the start of last season and their success was based on honest graft teamwork and solid tactical player rather than outstanding individual talent.

Although Laws makes some strange decisions regarding substitutions at times he has done a good job overall and has us playing some good football at times. We have been through a great deal of managers in the not too distant past and so it is good to have some stability.


6. Talking about the board what's the latest on the takeover?

Don't ask! Many fans have become completely disillusioned with the whole drawn out process and are fed up with all the rumours and counter rumours. Until something concrete happens now most fans take any developments reported in the press with a pinch of salt.


7. Anybody in the Barnsley team that you're wary of?

Obviously Campbell-Ryce is a threat with his pace, especially with the goals we have been leaking in away games. Hume also has a decent record for his various clubs against us.

Judging by his performance against Palace I hope Anderson keeps his place in your side as he was struggling to say the least.

8. How many tickets have been sold from the Wednesday end? It's usually a sell-out. Will it be the same again even though it's a night-match?

I am not sure how many have been sold but for the first time in a good while I don't think we will sell out.


9. Deon Burton was a nightmare with us, will he start tomorrow do you think and who else are Wednesdays danger men?

Deon has been struggling in front of goal this season and his penalty against the blades epitomised his form in recent games. However, as far as all round play is concerned he does have a good understanding with Tudgay, although with JJ suspended Tudgay could play wide with Jeffers hopefully getting his first start of the season. Akpo Sodje is influential for us but I will e surprised if he is ready to start a game just yet following a two month injury lay off.

10. Score Prediction?

As I have said, I fear it could be a case of after the Lord Mayors parade following the Sheffield derby, especially with only two days to recover from such a physically and mentally challenging game so I would reluctantly walk away happy with a 1-1 draw.


11. How do you think both sides will fare for the rest of the season?

Like I said, with the likes of Hull, you never can tell until the second half of the season how things might pan out-especially in the Championship where there is very little difference between many of the teams. A play-off spot may be a little too optimistic but a top half finish should be possible and would represent good progress.

Having not seen a great deal of Barnsley this season I cannot say for sure but judging by some of the reports, like for instance your defeat at QPR, you do play some good football but don't make the most of this. I would say on paper that there are certainly more than 3 worse squads in the division but if the burden of scoring the goals continues to fall solely on the shoulders of Hume then it could be a struggle.

For my asnwers to Chris' questions click here