Shocking Wednesday Lose Again

This is going to be yet another short post, something which has started to become a normality for match reports

With yet another fantastic following down to Reading, what was given back from the players was something that made the fans and club look embarrassing!

The final score flattered Wednesday in all honesty, even though Wednesday had played ok in the moments leading up to Reading’s first goal, but after that went in, Wednesday simply caved in!

Leicester on Saturday, we need to try pick something up from that, then it’s 3 away matches in the space of a week for Wednesday!

Being a true Wednesday fan requires everyone to get behind the players at these times!

Johnson and Jeffers Back In Contention

According to Owls Boss Alan Irvine, Jermaine Johnson and furthermore Franny Jeffers are back in challenging for a spot in the squad ahead of Wednesday’s crucial 6-pointer with Reading on Saturday. Speaking to ‘Wednesday Player’, Irvine exclusively spoke of his delight as he welcomed back more excitedly Jermaine Johnson.

It’ll be a massive boost for the Wednesday squad having such an influential player in Johnson back with the team. Before his injury, he was quite possibly the best performed player against Barnsley and then in the first 20 minutes in which he played against Blackpool.

The return of Franny Jeffers may anger a few fans, but maybe a new manager may spark a revival for the scouse forward. We’ll keep you updated on team news closer to the day!

Good luck to the team as they travel to Reading, hopefully 3 points can be brought home? Comment below and give us your predictions!

Match Preview – V Reading

Wednesday travel to the Madejski Stadium this Saturday, for a crucial battle at the bottom encounter against Reading. Reading go into the game on the back of their 3-2 FA Cup win over West Brom and will be looking to build on that positive result. The Owls are struggling at the moment with 4 defeats in the last 6 games.

Reading striker Shane Long will sit out the game, as he serves the final game of his 4 match ban. Fellow young forward Simon Church will again be in the squad after shaking off a toe problem last week.

Czech international Marek Matejovski returned to the Reading bench in midweek after a lengthy absense, and should again be in contention.

Winger Jobi McAnuff is suspended following his bizarre sending off on Wednesday night.

Wednesday’s long list of absentees include Jermaine Johnson, Tommy Miller and Lewis Buxton. Last week, captain Darren Purse was also added to the list and is expected to be out for around 3 weeks. Francis Jeffers is nearing his comeback from a hamstring problem and could make the bench against Reading.

New loan signing Eddie Nolan is in contention to make his Owls debut after being on the Bench in last weeks defeat to Ipswich.

Current Form (championship home and away)

Reading: LWWWWL

Wednesday: LWLWLL

Reading HOME form: DDWWWD

Wednesday AWAY form: LLWWLL

34. Brian Howard

The former Barnsley and Sheffield United man is in good form this season for the royals, and was on target against West Brom on Wednesday night, scoring in the 93rd minute to send the FA Cup tie into extra-time.

The creative midfielder has chipped in with 3 goals in 18 starts for the Royals this season and will no doubt be wanting to get one over on Wednesday this weekend, considering his previous South Yorkshire links with the Blades and Barnsley.

Other players to watch out for are strikers Grzegorz Rasiak and Simon Church. Rasiak almost joined Wednesday a few seasons ago, when he was linked with a £2m switch. Church is a young Welsh international and has been on target 6 times for Reading this campaign.

Grant Hegley will be the man in the middle for Saturday’s game.

He will be supported by his assistants Gary Jerden and Eric Mackrell.

Wes Linden is the forth official.

OwlsNews Predicts…

READING 1-1 WEDNESDAY

FLASHBACK: V Reading

Sheffield Wednesday v Reading – 11/01/2003 – Hillsborough – Att. 17,715

Wednesday got off to the worst possible start in this game, trailing 2-0 after just 19 minutes. First Nicky Forster and then Martin Butler on the scoresheet for the Royals.

Reading were totally dominant in the first half, And went into the break with a 2 goal lead.

However, in the second half, it was a different story. Alan Quinn pulled one back for the owls, firing Shefki Kuqi’s knock down into the top left hand corner of the goal.

On 69 minutes, Wednesday were level. Lanky dutch forward Gerald Sibon rifeling in from 25 yards, past Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Wednesday were on top now and completed their miraculous comeback just 2 minutes later. Allan Johnston raced onto a through ball to lob goalkeeper Hanhemann, and put the Owls 3-2 ahead with just 19 minutes to go.

Wednesday introduced striker’s Leon Knight and Michele Di Piedi in order to slow the game down, as Reading pressed desperately for the equaliser.

But Wednesday hung on for what looked an unlikely win at half-time, to claim a vital 3 points.

Wednesday:

Kevin Pressman
Tony Crane
Ashley Westwood
Derek Geary
Garry Monk
Trond Egil Soltvedt
Alan Quinn
Ryan Green
Allan Johnston
Gerald Sibon
Shefki Kuqi
Substitutes :
Leon Knight
Paul Evans
Steven Haslam
Danny Maddix
Michele Di Piedi

Loan Watch 24/02/2010

It was a game of mixed feelings for Owls striker Akpo Sodje last night. Sodje, who is on loan at league one side Charlton Athletic until the end of the season, was on target at the valley in their game against Brighton. However Sodje’s strike was too little too late for the addicks, as they slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat.

Sodje started the game on the Charlton bench, but came on after 31 minutes after another ex-owl, Deon Burton, picked up an injury.

Akpo has now scored 3 goals in 12 games for Charlton this season, in his 2 loan spells with the club.

Blast From the past! – Mickaël Antoine-Curier

MICKAEL ANTOINE-CURIER

When did he play for Wednesday?

Well… as part of OwlsNews’ hall of fame feature, we aim to bring you as many players that have played for the Owls as possible, regardless of how many or, in this case how “few” appearances they made in the famous blue and white!

Centre Forward, Mickael Antoine-Curier, played for the Owls in 2003. However he only made just the ONE appearance for Wednesday, in a 0-0 draw with Luton Town at Hillsborough.

His Career history

Mickael Antoine-Curier has played for a total of SIXTEEN clubs in a rather turbulent career. He began his career with French giants PSG in his early footballing Years, before completing his “youth career” with OGC Nice.

In 2001, the Guadeloupe international got his first full-time contract, after signing for Preston North End. The striker failed to make an appearance at Deepdale, and moved on to Nottingham Forest at the end of the season.

It was a slow start to his footballing career to say the least, after he spent 2 years in Nottingham, again without making a single appearance.

Antoine-Curier then went on a tour of the country! Playing for SIX teams in just ONE season! After leaving Forest at the beginning of the 2003 season, he then had spells with Brentford, Oldham, Kidderminster, Rochdale and Sheffield Wednesday.

After leaving Hillsborough, the target man joined Notts County, again on a short term deal.

He then played for Grimsby Town at the back end of 2004.

But Mickael wasn’t finished yet… The much tracvelled striker then moved to Norway and Vard Haugesund, where he enjoyed his most productive and settled spell to date. He found the net 33 times in only 37 starts in what was an incredible season. In 2006, He moved on to another Norweigan club, FK Haugesund. After another relatively productive season in Norway, he moved to Scotland with Hibernian.

He made 13 starts and netted 3 times for Hibs.

Staying Scotland, he then made an initial loan move to Dundee, and after finding the net 8 times in just 11 games, the move was made permanent in 2008.

His club career record: Played 182, Scored 85. (as of 23rd February 2010)

His international career record: Played 11, Scored 6. (as of 23rd February 2010)

What’s he up to now?

Mickael is currently playing for Hamilton Academicals, on loan from Dundee.

Blast from the past! – Danny Wilson

DANNY WILSON

When did he play for Wednesday?

Danny Wilson joined Wednesday in 1990, signing from Luton Town at the age of 29.

Wilson went on to make a total of 98 appearances for the Owls, finding the net on 11 occasions. While at Hillsborough, Wilson won the League cup with Wednesday in 1991, and was a runner up in both the FA Cup and League Cup in ’93.

Wilson left S6 in 1993, joining local rivals Barnsley on a free transfer.

In 1998, Wilson returned to Hillsborough in the role of 1st team manager, only to be sacked 2 years later.

His career history

Danny Wilson began his career in 1977 with Bury, where the midfielder played 90 games for the Lancashire side, scoring 9 goals.

3 years later, Wilson, who was capped 24 times by Northern Ireland, joined Chesterfield. For whom he appeared a century of times.

Again 3 years later in ’83, Wilson joined Nottingham Forest. He played 10 games for the Reds and scored 1 goal but was then loaned out to Scunthorpe, where he played 6 games and averaged a goal every 2 games.

After being told his services were no longer required at Forest, Wilson joined Brighton. After 4 years on the South Coast, He then moved to Luton Town, another club where he would manage to make more than a century of appearances for.

In 1990, Wilson signed for Sheffield Wednesday in the Premier League, Where he was to enjoy one of his most successful periods of his career. Appearing in 3 cup finals (winning one) and making just short of another hundred appearances.

After 3 years in Sheffield, Wilson moved to nearby Barnsley, a club where he would see out the remainder of his playing career.

Danny retired in 1995 at the age of 35.

His club career record: Played 626, Scored 96.

His international career record: Played 24, Scored 1.

What’s he up to now?

Wilson is currently manager of League One side Swindon Town. His Sixth managerial job, after having spells with Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, Mk Dons and Hartlepool United.

Owls News reach milestone!

Over the weekend, owlsnews.wordpress.com reached and surpassed the 1,000 views mark, after being online for just 3 weeks!

As of today (Monday 22nd February 2010, 13:45) we have had 1,039 views on the site. And OwlsNews is getting more and more popular each week as the graph below shows…

As you can see from the chart, we have a long way to go before we equal last weeks’ 487 views so please keep checking the site for all the latest Wednesday news!

We would to thank all our readers who have viewed the site since it’s launch. We hope you have liked what you have seen and you will continue to view OwlsNews in the future.

Don’t forgot to leave your feedback!

/The OwlsNews team.

Blast from the past! – Des Walker

DES WALKER

When did he play for Wednesday?

Des Walker signed for the Owls in 1993 from Italian side Sampdoria.

Centre back Walker, spent 8 years at Hillsborough, making 309 appearances for Wednesday.

The former England international, who captained Wednesday, never scored a competitive goal for the Owls and was released from his contract in 2001.

His career history

Walker Began his career with Nottingham Forest, where he spent 8 years and made 264 appearances. He then moved abroad and to Sampdoria of Italy. However after repeatedly being played out of position (at full-back) Des soon moved back to England with Sheffield Wednesday, after lasting just 1 season of Italian football.

After signing for Wednesday, Des took over the captain’s armband and became a fan’s favorite at Hillsborough, pulling on the famous blue and white stripes a total of 309 times.

However 8 years later, following the clubs relegation from the premier league, Des was released from his contract at S6.

It was in 2002 that he returned to his former club, Nottingham Forest, for a second spell at the Ciy ground. He played 57 times on his return to the Reds.

Des retired from football in 2004.

His club career record: Played 660, Scored 1.

His international career record: Played 59 (+7 u21 caps), Scored 0.

What’s he up to now?

Des is now 44 and retired from professional football. However last year he played in the “soccer sevens” tournament in Hong Kong.

SWFC 0-1 Ipswich Town

We at Owls News hate reporting on Wednesday losses, even more when the performance given was, yet again shocking

Date: 20/02/2010		Venue: Hillsborough
Attendance: 21,641		Referee: Mick Russell

Wednesday yet again pulled out a poor performance. Like our last game, Doncaster at home, we hit the woodwork early on. Luke Varney also forced a superb save from Ipswich keeper Brian Murphy.

But it was ex-sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards, who moved to Ipswich with Boss. Roy Keane. It was a superb strike that flew across keeper Lee Grant into the corner. Although the finish was superb, the Wednesday defense maybe should have closed the winger down.

A short report it is, hard to comment on such a poor performance

Next game is a tough trip to fellow relegation contenders Reading, a trip to the Madjeski is yet another chance for Wednesday to pick up 3 points, a loss here would put Wednesday in t

UTO