Owls to make final loan move

Sheffield Wednesday manager, Alan Irvine, admits that there is a small pot of money left available to him to make one more move into the loan market…

However the Owls boss says that any move won’t be happening just yet.

Irvine told the Yorkshire Post, “There is a small amount of money still available but how I use it is crucial”

“Everyone can see we are bit short of players – we are very vulnerable at the front, because of injuries, and at the back we are even more vulnerable.”But if I try and sign a forward and then lose a defender, the money will have been used up and we won’t be able to strengthen where we really need to,” he explained. “I have to be cautious as far as that is concerned and I hope we can get players back as quickly as possible.”

Wednesday currently have Jermaine Johnson, Tommy Miller, Francis Jeffers and Lewis Buxton all on the injury list.

There has been speculation this week linking the Owls with a loan move for striker Lee Hughes, currently playing for cash-strapped Notts County. County may be forced to reduce their wage bill, should their report financial worries worsen. Wednesday scouts were spotted at Meadow Lane this week.

Irvine Looking For Positive Reply Against Ipswich

After Wednesday’s disappointing loss to Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday, gaffer Alan Irvine has spoke of how he expects his side to reply to the disappointment.

Irvine Stated: “It’s important that we bounce back but it won’t be easy because none of the games in this division are easy. But one thing about being a Championship professional footballer is that you have to have the character and the mental strength to recover from low points.

“Obviously, we were very disappointed with how it went against Doncaster, it could have been a very different game had we taken a couple of chances that we had at 0-0.”

“We now have to recover from that and I’m sure the players will do so.”

He continued: “We’ve got 15 key matches to go, there’s no question about that. When we first came in we had 23 matches and so far it’s not been bad. It’s been a good start overall but we have to win a lot more games.

“I think a few people thought that because we had won five out of seven, the job was done. It isn’t. I know the Championship, I know how tough it is and we have a lot of tough games from now until the end of the season.

“The sooner we get the points on the board, the sooner we can relax a little bit and look to the future.”

Irvine added: “From what I have seen of Ipswich, they are a very good side with a lot of good players. Their big problem has been that they have drawn a lot of games. Had they converted some of those draws into wins, they would be in a better position.

“They are in a false position and I think they have the quality and depth in their squad to get out of trouble.”

Hopefully the Owls can bounce back infront of over 24,000 fans, another ‘Kids For A Quid’ Game! Don’t forget that if your looking to take a younger fan to the game that you’ll need to purchase the tickets from the Megastore or online before 12pm on Saturday! You can go to The Official Sheffield Wednesday Online Shop to buy tickets for both this game, upcoming games and other events at Hillsborough!

Up The Owls

Irvine Looking For Respone

Sheffield Wednesday went into tuesday’s game with Doncaster Rovers with renewed optimism after putting away Blackpool last Tuesday. Unfortunately, Doncaster came prepared, and were one of the best teams to be seen at Hillsborough all season.

“The better team won the game,” Irvine stated. “They deserved to win. We had a couple of big moments early in the game and hit the post twice when the score was at 0-0. They were good chances and if we had taken them that could have changed the way the game went but I can’t really say that we deserved to win that game.

“We didn’t pass the ball well enough. We worked hard and you know you’re going to have to do that against Doncaster with the way they play. They get an extra man in the middle of the park quite often and they move the ball around well. You know you will spend time when you don’t have possession but it’s important then that when you do get the ball that you use it well and we didn’t do that in this game.

“I am disappointed with any defeat and particularly disappointed that this is the first home defeat since I have been here. We all knew it would come at some point but it would have been nice if it hadn’t come for a while yet but now it’s about how we respond to that.”

But the Wednesday boss was in no mood to criticise his team.

“I don’t want to be too critical of the players because they have been terrific and for them to have won five games from eight is fantastic,” Irvine said. “They deserve a lot of credit. We didn’t play well enough tonight. We can do as much as we like preparing the players but it is all very well when you are standing on the sidelines but it’s out there on the pitch that the real work goes in. I can’t fault the lads for their effort and commitment; they were trying to do the right things but they didn’t do them so that coupled with not taking the two chances early on has cost us.

“It’s a big test of character for us now. It’s a daunting place to play for opponents to come here but it can also be a daunting place for our players to play if things are not going well for us. We now have to make sure we learn from this game and get ready to face what will be another hard game at the weekend.”

Wednesday will be looking to bounce back from the disappointing defeat on Saturday when they face Ipswitch Town, at home. This match is another ‘Kids For A Quid’ game, so let’s make it three out of three for the kids offers! Let’s get behind the boys!

(Thanks to swfc.co.uk for the interview)

Irvine Up For Manager Of The Month!

Alan Irvine has been nominated for Coca-Cola Championship Manager Of The Month, according to SWFC.CO.UK, Wednesday’s official site.

After 5 games in charge, the Scotsman has proven his Premier League status, which he earned while Assistant to David Moyes at Everton. Wins against Local Rivals Barnsley and Blackpool set Irvine up for his first home game, Peterborough United. With the ‘Kids For A Quid’ offer in full swing, over 24,000 wednesdayites saw Wednesday beat Peterborough 2-1, with a brace from Marcus Tudgay.

Irvines first defeat was just round the corner with another local derby away at Scunthorpe United. Wednesday unlucky to go down 2-0 losers.

The Wednesday faithful wanted a bounce back with another ‘Kids For A Quid’ offer against fellow strugglers plymouth Argyle. Plymouth deservedly took the lead in the first half through ex-Tyke Rory Fallon, but a stupendous double from Loanee Luke Varney confirmed the points for Wednesday.

Good luck to Alan, next game is Forest, a toughie, but with 4,800 travelling wednesdayites, maybe we can pull it off?

Report by Elliot Mann