Opposing View: Sheffield Wednesday

We preview tonight’s clash with the help of the Vital Sheffield Wednesday editor

Vital Sheffield Wednesday editor Nick joins us today to help preview this evening`s clash at Hillsborough.

Hopes, fears & expectations for the season?

Hopes were to gain a respectable mid-table finish. We’ve all seen how promoted teams such as Norwich and Southampton have done in recent season and there was no reason why Wednesday couldn’t have carried the momentum on in the Championship, with an experienced manager at this level in Dave Jones and the funds behind him.

Unfortunately, the fears are now relegation – something needs to change and quick. Expectations now are to just stay up.

Is Dave Jones under pressure?

Very much so.

When is a manager not with Milan Mandaric at the helm?! Wednesday fans have been calling for him to go for a number of weeks and the pressure is getting worse. It’s not the fans he has to worry about – Milan wields the axe quick and that will put more pressure on him. Massive few games coming up – Watford could be the clincher.

How has former Hornet’s favourite Martin Taylor done for you?

Not very well. He, along with a few others, was thrown in to a team that was pretty much collapsing, and it didn’t help.

Bizarre that we handed him the captain’s armband and he hasn’t been playing, and it didn’t go down well that fans’ favourite Miguel Llera was dropped for him. We needed to improve the defence and by all accounts Taylor is better than he’s showed with us so far, so hopefully he can improve. Reminds me of us signing Darren Purse when it just didn’t work out for any party.

One Wednesday player you’d like to move on & why?

Move on? Talking on behalf of Wednesday fans I’d say Bothroyd. Big expectations when he arrived and he’s failed to deliver. He’s played in the Premier League so must have some class in there but he hasn’t showed it just yet, and that’s perhaps why it’s even more frustrating. We’ve been playing him out wide which hasn’t helped, maybe with the right partner in a front two he could shine. He’s yet to get that.

One Watford player you’d like to snare and why?

We need goals and we’re crying out for a striker – we ended up with Mamady Sidibe last week! So I’d go for Vydra – top scorer with you guys I believe. Can’t say I know much about the new players Zola has brought in but he scores goals.

Any injuries/suspensions ahead of Tuesday?

Reda Johnson is a big blow for us – he’s out until the New Year but has been sidelined for a while. We have played coming back – a key one could be Çhris Lines. Great for us last season, orchestrating the play in midfield. Will be interesting to see if he can make the step up at this level. He’s been out and only came on as a sub on Saturday, but he should feature on Tuesday night. Llera back from suspension too which may mean Taylor drops to the bench.

Who will be the key man on Tuesday?

Struggling to name one on Saturday’s performance but if anyone is going to cause you problems it will be Michail Antonio. Pace and power out wide on the wing and get get in good scoring positions too. A little naive at times, but he should be our biggest attacking threat.

Match prediction?

A sign of the times – 3-1 to Watford I’m going. Just don’t put six past us…

Cheers, Nick.