Sheffield Wednesday vs Walsall League Preview

By Neil Ravenscroft
December 24 2004

It's a trip to Hillsborough on Boxing Day and a clash with the great under-achievers of football - Sheffield Wednesday (we're a big club and deserve to be winning the Premier League and Champions' League every year).

Wednesday have to be one of the great under achievers of recent history for certain. Big crowds and (what used to be) a good ground, yet languishing in the lower divisions, in debt and with a succession of failed managers, most of whom were beaten before they started by the over-hyped expectations of the fans. Sad ain't it?

Walsall go to the frozen North (at least the weather forcast is suggesting it might be by then), full of confidence after 4 wins and a draw in the last five games, and with considerably better prospects than at 4.50 last Saturday afternoon when it looked as if, thanks to Julian Bennett's booking, we wouldn't have a defence!

Richard McKinney and Ryan Willetts are both out with their long term injuries and Ian Roper and Matty Fryatt with their considerably shorter term ones. The Evening Mail is even suggesting that Fryatt has made such progress, he may be back for the New Year Programme, but the form of the "Marvelous" Marvin Robinson and Jorge Leitao partnership up front, coupled with the re-signing of enigmatic Brazilian Herivelto, means that's not as drastic a problem as it might have been. The official site is saying Harry will be a part of the squad. That does leave open to question what formation and personnel we might play, however, as Harry does make 4 4 2 or 4 4 1 1 a possibility
We should be, of course, giving a debut to the loan signing from Manchester United, Paul McShane as the replacement for the suspended Julian Bennett, which is a far more comforting prospect than Aranalde being at centre back and Wracky at left back!

Wednesday, who have improved since the appointment of Paul Sturrock, go into the game two places and two points above us in the table. They won 4 -0 local rivals Doncaster Rovers in their last game, (never an easy placer to win) but they have struggled at home, with three wins in 11 games.

They do have some injury problems, with Lee Peacock, Chris Brunt and Patrick Collins all facing late fitness tests, while loan signing from Southampton, Kenwyne Jones, should keep his place up front after scoring against Donny.
Guylain Ndumbu has been ill and Guy Branston injured, but both should be fit enough to appear.

At the start of this week, I had us down to lose this one, but, with the reinforcements that have arrived and their injury problems, I can see us getting something from this game. My head says score draw, but my heart says we'll sneak this one. I'll go with the head for the predictions. 2 - 2.

The only bad news in that, is, of course, the likelihood that Merson will win Manager of the Month if we draw at Weddy and win the home game. What price the curse operating if he does, and a five game losing streak in January???!!!!!