Owls v Cardiff and Swansea v the blades... do the owls fans think you can build on the second half of the derby and take more than pride out of the Cardiff game (last season your post-derby results were poor, while United's were excellent). And United, can they build on that first half showing and the win, or will the loss of Wardy cost us in the coming weeks?

I can see the owls coming out all fired up to batter Cardiff to get the derby result out of their systems, and probably a dour 0-0 at Swansea, maybe we could nick a goal though.

Also, what changes do you expect, or think you need?

For the blades, i'd like to see Cotts in for Ward, although there's a good chance we'll have just one up front with it being away... so may bring in France instead, and rest Evans too.

For the owls, can you drop Purse as skipper (especially against his old team), or will resting Buxton be enough of a change... and how far off fitness is Beevers (he was sorely missed at the back)?

I think that united will be too strong for swansea this year- without scotland and martinez they seem to have lost that little bit of class that made them do so well last year.

with wednesday against cardiff- hhmm- depends which wednesday turn up- the first half or the second half- one thing i do know is that if they like they did against us in the first half- chopra will rip them apart because he is better than hendo and evans.

I fear the worst on Saturday, Purse and Buxton have been dreadfull in the last few game's and if Law's sticks with either of them i will be very disapointed.
Like you Chopra will rip them apart, not to mention Jay Bothroyd who is a very good player in my opinion.

I fear the worst on Saturday, Purse and Buxton have been dreadfull in the last few game's and if Law's sticks with either of them i will be very disapointed.
Like you Chopra will rip them apart, not to mention Jay Bothroyd who is a very good player in my opinion.

Is McPhail suspended for Cardiff? I believe he was sent off last week, but they were challenging it with the totally unbiased Welsh FA...

Don't write off the owls for Saturday - Laws will demand a response for the fans, and i'll be surprised if Simek doesn't return if fit - Buxton just needs a break from the firing line. Is Hinds injured?

Can JJ and Esajas play either side (so they can play them both), or would that leave you a bit light in the middle?

I don't think Wednesday were that bad in the first half of the derby, just 3 or 4 important players at crucial times.

I reckon Cardiff are playing well below par at the moment, and it's like you said, 'which Wednesday will turn up?' We've been asking this question for 5 years! I think the lads are in a bouyant enough mood to beat Cardiff.
If the 'old' Cardiff return, then that could be a totally different kettle of sheep.
Swansea, likewise, have not yet shown some of last seasons quality, and I reckon United will beat them.

Maybe Buxton looks like he needs a rest, but to drop him now, after his downer at the Lane, could, in my opinion, be a real hammer blow to any confidence Buxton's got. Being dropped could affect his whole attitude and confidence for months.
For that reason, I'd keep him in and gee him up a bit.
Johnson on the other hand, seems to have clocked off over the last two or three games, and I reckon Esajas deserves a run in the team.
Johnson can't complain as he will know his workrate has gone down by 50% and his effectiveness by even more than that. I can't help wondering if his performances prior to the 'window' closing, were a damn sight better than the games since. Did he play to 'get away' earlier in the season?
I hope I'm wrong, but it's a thought.

Edit after a reminder from Corker: Yes, Purse out, he's not earned a place since day one.

Is McPhail suspended for Cardiff? I believe he was sent off last week, but they were challenging it with the totally unbiased Welsh FA...

Don't write off the owls for Saturday - Laws will demand a response for the fans, and i'll be surprised if Simek doesn't return if fit - Buxton just needs a break from the firing line. Is Hinds injured?

Can JJ and Esajas play either side (so they can play them both), or would that leave you a bit light in the middle?

You can't really play JJ and Esajas in the same team as it would be difficult to accomadate them with Gray claming the right wing his own.
Gray has been along with Tudgay and Potter our best player's this season.
Gray has really rolled the years back, he look's like teenager storming down the wing.
If i had the chance to pick the team it would be,
1 Grant
2 Simek
3 Spurr
4 Hinds
5 Wood
6 O'conner
7 Potter
8 Esajas
9 Tudgay
10 Varney
11 Gray

Subs, Sodje, Beevers, Macallister, Purse, Clarke, Johnson, O'donnel.

I would leave Buxton out altogther that way he might realise he's got to pull his socks up and quick, i felt like doing it with Purse aswell the way he has played since he's been at Hillsborough.

Earwiggo
Maybe Buxton looks like he needs a rest, but to drop him now, after his downer at the Lane, could, in my opinion, be a real hammer blow to any confidence Buxton's got. Being dropped could affect his whole attitude and confidence for months.
For that reason, I'd keep him in and gee him up a bit.
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I don't agree with that sorry pal, i think Buxton definatley warrents getting dropped.
He got absolutley hammered when we played against forest, Blackstock and co must have been wondering how they didn't get a whole lot more from that game.
Any1 with pace murders him, and like ive said before how many "slow wingers" do you see about these day's.
I can't really understand why so many people reckon he's decent me, i must be watching a different game to you lol.
He's average at best.
Any decent manager will expose him all they have to do is play there fast midfielder up against him and bob's your uncle hahaha.

id like to see mcallister have a stint in the side, he did well for us last season, box to box, its what were lacking at the moment in midfield

It'd be a bold decision to drop the captain though - Purse used to be a very good player, looks like the injuries and age have probably caught up with him though.

Was Johnson playing better as a striker at the start of the season (when he was scoring), than in his usual wing position (as I understood it he was playing as a central striker early season)?

You never know though... maybe ol' Franny will come back in, after his goal! And i'm sure there'l be some calling for Sodje's power up front now he's fit again. Too many strikers now, with Tudgay, Varney, Clarke and those two!

It'd be a bold decision to drop the captain though - Purse used to be a very good player, looks like the injuries and age have probably caught up with him though.

Was Johnson playing better as a striker at the start of the season (when he was scoring), than in his usual wing position (as I understood it he was playing as a central striker early season)?

You never know though... maybe ol' Franny will come back in, after his goal! And i'm sure there'l be some calling for Sodje's power up front now he's fit again. Too many strikers now, with Tudgay, Varney, Clarke and those two!

Wedneday can never have too many strikers, you watch this time next week at least two of them will be injured knowing Wednesday luck with injuries over the last few year's.

You can't really play JJ and Esajas in the same team as it would be difficult to accomadate them with Gray claming the right wing his own.
Gray has been along with Tudgay and Potter our best player's this season.
Gray has really rolled the years back, he look's like teenager storming down the wing.
If i had the chance to pick the team it would be,
1 Grant
2 Simek
3 Spurr
4 Hinds
5 Wood
6 O'conner
7 Potter
8 Esajas
9 Tudgay
10 Varney
11 Gray

Subs, Sodje, Beevers, Macallister, Purse, Clarke, Johnson, O'donnel.

I would leave Buxton out altogther that way he might realise he's got to pull his socks up and quick, i felt like doing it with Purse aswell the way he has played since he's been at Hillsborough.

Does Gray ever play in the middle, or is he exclusively out wide? Didn't he use to play as a right full back at time for Sunderland - maybe push him to RB instead of Buxton, and one JJ/EE in front of him? Might be a bit too attacking that though, and leave the right side of defence even more exposed...

Wedneday can never have too many strikers, you watch this time next week at least two of them will be injured knowing Wednesday luck with injuries over the last few year's.

Yeah, especially with Sodje, he's pretty unlucky with the setbacks. Saying that, we're hardly blessed with strikers at the moment, just Hendo and Evans I think... wonder if we can pull Billy back if needed from Donny!

Yeah, especially with Sodje, he's pretty unlucky with the setbacks. Saying that, we're hardly blessed with strikers at the moment, just Hendo and Evans I think... wonder if we can pull Billy back if needed from Donny!

of course we can - he is still a blades player- i think we might do if non of these players we have on trial are any good.

of course we can - he is still a blades player- i think we might do if non of these players we have on trial are any good.

It'd depend if we've got a recall clause in the loan deal though? And if El Tel Robbo has done the job, we'll probably have to pay them a million to get him back... :hihi:

of course we can - he is still a blades player- i think we might do if non of these players we have on trial are any good.

I thought a Blade on here said that Sharp and Blackwell dint get on, and that it was all but over between them?

Does Gray ever play in the middle, or is he exclusively out wide? Didn't he use to play as a right full back at time for Sunderland - maybe push him to RB instead of Buxton, and one JJ/EE in front of him? Might be a bit too attacking that though, and leave the right side of defence even more exposed...

The thing is both JJ and Esajas are not the best player's when it come's to tracking back, i feel Gray would need a hand if he were to play right back and i just wouldn't trust either of those two to help him.
Not only that we would be missing a big attacking threat in Gray if he were to be pulled back to right back.
Im 95% sure JJ will be dropped on Saturday and Esajas will start.
It's good really as Esajas preffers the left to the right anyway.
Ive not seen Gray play in the middle for Wednesday, i don't think that would work to be honest.

I thought a Blade on here said that Sharp and Blackwell dint get on, and that it was all but over between them?

He didn't get much of a shot under KB, and he'd probably play Cotts or Reid up front before Sharp anyway (or just 1 up front), so it'd take a few more injuries/suspensions to get to that situation...

The thing is both JJ and Esajas are not the best player's when it come's to tracking back, i feel Gray would need a hand if he were to play right back and i just wouldn't trust either of those two to help him.
Not only that we would be missing a big attacking threat in Gray if he were to be pulled back to right back.
Im 95% sure JJ will be dropped on Saturday and Esajas will start.
It's good really as Esajas preffers the left to the right anyway.
Ive not seen Gray play in the middle for Wednesday, i don't think that would work to be honest.

When he's given time on the ball, he's the best player in your side by a distance (Gray) - and just wondered if they could fit him in the centre. As you say though, maybe dropping Johnson will give him the kick he needs to start playing again - he was very poor last week. You can see what'll happen though, Esajas will start and be average, get subbed by JJ who comes on and has a blinder! :)

id go for

Grant
*Buxton* Beevers Wood Spurr
Gray OConner Potter Esajas
Varny Tudgay

*Only putting Buxton in because im still not convinced by Simek's fitness levels and im not sure putting him in against Cardiff's attack would be a good move. I think Buxton's performance's recently have been affected by Purse, Buxton seems to move inside more often these days and leaves a lot of space down the right side and i think he's trying to play for purse aswell!!

Buxon Beevers Wood Spurr was our defence last season when he had the best home defence in the league and i dont see why it should have changed this season ... laws is a top top manager but i cant see why he brought purse in ... i can understand him bringing miller in to bolster our midfield (although he's been crap so far, but i understand why he signed him)

Purse out, Beevers in, Buxton stays in for me

wawaw

When he's given time on the ball, he's the best player in your side by a distance (Gray) - and just wondered if they could fit him in the centre. As you say though, maybe dropping Johnson will give him the kick he needs to start playing again - he was very poor last week. You can see what'll happen though, Esajas will start and be average, get subbed by JJ who comes on and has a blinder! :)

ill take that as long as JJ comes on at 0-0 and scores a spetacular winner ala last season!!!

id go for

Grant
*Buxton* Beevers Wood Spurr
Gray OConner Potter Esajas
Varny Tudgay

*Only putting Buxton in because im still not convinced by Simek's fitness levels and im not sure putting him in against Cardiff's attack would be a good move. I think Buxton's performance's recently have been affected by Purse, Buxton seems to move inside more often these days and leaves a lot of space down the right side and i think he's trying to play for purse aswell!!

Buxon Beevers Wood Spurr was our defence last season when he had the best home defence in the league and i dont see why it should have changed this season ... laws is a top top manager but i cant see why he brought purse in ... i can understand him bringing miller in to bolster our midfield (although he's been crap so far, but i understand why he signed him)

Purse out, Beevers in, Buxton stays in for me

wawaw

Yeah Miller has been non existant hasn't he, i keep forgetting he's at Hillsborough, i didnt even put him on the sub's bench that's how much of an impression he's made lol:hihi:
OOOOOOPS :o

Is it right that Miller & Purse are the only new players to come in this summer (as Varney and Potter were at the club last year)? If so, it's interesting to see it's the two new experienced heads that came in that are seriously underperforming! Maybe they've not had long enough working under Laws yet, to play like he wants...

Is it right that Miller & Purse are the only new players to come in this summer (as Varney and Potter were at the club last year)? If so, it's interesting to see it's the two new experienced heads that came in that are seriously underperforming! Maybe they've not had long enough working under Laws yet, to play like he wants...

i think thats the case with miller. purse just looks poor!!

ill take that as long as JJ comes on at 0-0 and scores a spetacular winner ala last season!!!

Last time Esajas played a full game he scored two against Rochdale, one of them was a thunderbolt volley from 40 yards.
JJ and him in my opinion are two totally different types of wingers.
JJ is all out pace and power, where as Esajas can be dangerous at crossing and has a magnificent shot on him, if they could learn of each other they could be awesome.
Any chance of cloning the pair? we'd have some player on our hand's then lol.
Both are goalscorers though that's why it's hard for Law's to decide to drop either of them i reckon.

chopra hasnt scored in a couple of games..........................:help:

Last time Esajas played a full game he scored two against Rochdale, one of them was a thunderbolt volley from 40 yards.
JJ and him in my opinion are two totally different types of wingers.
JJ is all out pace and power, where as Esajas can be dangerous at crossing and has a magnificent shot on him, if they could learn of each other they could be awesome.
Any chance of cloning the pair? we'd have some player on our hand's then lol.
Both are goalscorers though that's why [B]it's hard for Law's to decide to drop either of them i reckon.[B]

thats only because laws swears by 4-4-2, we could fit them both in on a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation

what about:

(GK)
(Back 4)
Gray OConner Potter
Esajas Tudgay JJ

or

(GK)
(Back 4)
OConner Potter
Gray JJ Esajas
Tudgay

i missed varney out on both on purpose coz he's not here for the full season (yet)

i'd like to see us change it a bit sometimes, especially away from home .. but then again ... in brian we trust!

chopra hasnt scored in a couple of games..........................:help:

he's due one alright! thats why ive kept him as captain in my fantasy team lol!

chopra hasnt scored in a couple of games..........................:help:

Thats exactley what ive been thinking all week, and to be fair Cardiff got robbed last night at Villa they had a perfectly ligit goal ruled out at the end for offside when it was clear he was onside.
Only plus point about Saturday is we will have had 8 day's rest,where as they will have had only 2 day's.

i expect laws to put esajas on from the start in place of jj, if he doesn't i'm sure esajas will wonder what he has to do to get into the team. purse wont be dropped as he's the captain, unfortunately. if laws decides to put simek in for buxton then i won't be complaining too much unless simek has a nightmare game aswell.
i'm not expecting us to win in all honesty, i think chopra will bag a couple but he has done nothing since i put him in my fantasy footie team as captain:rant:

I think Purse may put in a performance against his old club...or they'll know him that well he'll get slaughtered heh

Great start for the owls, Esajas with a very early goal...then pegged back by a Whittingham penalty

Latest
Owls 1 Cardiff 1
Swansea 0 Blades 0

Does Gray ever play in the middle, or is he exclusively out wide? Didn't he use to play as a right full back at time for Sunderland - maybe push him to RB instead of Buxton, and one JJ/EE in front of him? Might be a bit too attacking that though, and leave the right side of defence even more exposed...

Gray played mainly in the centre in the derby 2nd half (in fact, he played everywhere across the middle that half) and was probably the main reason behind Wednesday's improved display.
He really is a quality player.

Great start for the owls, Esajas with a very early goal...then pegged back by a Whittingham penalty

Latest
Owls 1 Cardiff 1
Swansea 0 Blades 0

I made Esajas captain of my fantasy team just for this one game.
Looks like I could be a genius! ;) :thumbsup:

trundle for swansea

Swansea winning. Penalty against the run of play.

quinn for blunts

butler for swansea:D

Doesn't sound a great performance on Radio Sheffield by the blades (though those who've been will be able to give better accounts)... especially against 10 men at 1-1.

Looking at how poor Burnley are looking away from home (another spanking today), probably a good job we lost that playoff final!

Wednesday finished 3-1, good win to bounce back after last week.

Swansea now down to 9 men...and we're still behind 1-2...

Doesn't sound a great performance on Radio Sheffield by the blades (though those who've been will be able to give better accounts)... especially against 10 men at 1-1.

Looking at how poor Burnley are looking away from home (another spanking today), probably a good job we lost that playoff final!

Wednesday finished 3-1, good win to bounce back after last week.

They are down to 9 men now.. Blades Vs 9 men for about 3 minutes..

Well done the owls good result today 3-1 to the wednesday boyssssssssss

swans 2 blunts 1:hihi:against 9 men

Finished 2-1 to Swansea, and we got what we deserved apparently. Wonder what Sham's going to say... :hihi:

Reading on sporting life that Grant pulled down Chopra for the Cardiff penalty.

Dont know how true that is but, shouldn't he have received at least yellow card for it ?

Shocking Shocking Shocking Shocking Shocking

swans 2 blunts 1:hihi:against 9 men

9 men for how long :loopy::loopy:

swansea 9 men aswell bad day for the blades fans

Finished 2-1 to Swansea, and we got what we deserved apparently. Wonder what Sham's going to say... :hihi:

Same as me.Garbage.Geared up for the Premiership my arse.GET SOME PLAYERS IN.

Reading on sporting life that Grant pulled down Chopra for the Cardiff penalty.

Dont know how true that is but, shouldn't he have received at least yellow card for it ?

If he did then yes but there seems to have been a bit of controversy over whether it should have been a penalty. If the penalty was dodgy as the Radio Sheffield and Sky commentators were suggesting then I think maybe the referee realised he'd made a mistake.

Or maybe it's just referee inconsistancy?

according to radio sheff there was two men sent of for swansea 5 booked and it was not a dirty game at all. you have to question the standard of refereeing that is around at the mo

who did you get sent off bans will be coming and isnt ward injured aswell.

Reading on sporting life that Grant pulled down Chopra for the Cardiff penalty.

Dont know how true that is but, shouldn't he have received at least yellow card for it ?

i think you need to start reading something different if thats how they describe the penalty. it was a penalty...just but when you see the incident it will be nothing like that

well we definately deserved it anyway. fairly even in the first half although we had the better chances but it was mostly wednesday in the second. esajas free kick was probably better than the 1 at bramall lane and the 2 crosses for the other goals were very good. i think grant will be disappointed to of gave away the penalty though, he seemed to hesitate coming off the line and the player was heading away from goal. purse had a couple of dodgy moments as usual but other than that it was a solid performance by the team