17 May 2011 07:47:25
I have "once bitten twice shy syndrome" and having followed Wed.since 1952 the bites are considerably more than one.It will be recalled that last close season Irvine signed 5 freebies or loans from the Championship.Note, these players were from middling clubs.These acqusitions were immediately talked up by the club and local Press, particularly the Sheffield Telegraph , as Championship quality who would give the team an excellent chance of promotion. I am always suspicious of free signings from a higher division;I want to know why they are being released and why no other clubs in that higher division are interested in them.They are , after all, free.The answer is , every player at whatever level becomes, at some point, an ex-performer at that level, otherwise John Sheridan would still be playing at Hillsborough.So it proved, as last season's appalling performance showed.Brighton and Southampton who have just won promotion did not do so by scraping around for freebies, cheapies and loanies;they spent significantly on decent players.Similarly Norwich in the season before last.I recall Wigan and Reading absolutely flying from the 3rd tier to the Premiership after spending big on player recruitment thanks to generous owners.MM stated he wanted the Premiership in 3 years when he arrived(it's now been revised to 4).I had hoped when he came he would finance a quick rise up the leagues as the examples given here did.I am distinctly underwhelmed by the nature of Megson's targets.Not that I blame him or the Chairman;no -one has a right to be given a hand-out.But one would be good.
Believable1
Unbelievable0
We got freebies then because we had no owner and a growing tax bill if I recall rightly
Agree0
Disagree0
17 May 2011 07:58:51
GARY Megson is urging Jermaine Johnson to push his career forward by taking some steps back.
The Owls manager believes that the winger can be even more of an attacking threat if he also concentrates more on his defensive duties.
Megson feels that when JJ drops back, he can also receive the ball in deeper positions, so has more room in which to launch forward runs.
It seems that the winger is at his most effective when playing on the same side of the pitch as the technical area and within earshot as his boss dishes out orders.
Megson explained: I ve spoken to JJ about it. . he s capable of winning games single-handed, but the stuff he does when he s on the far side from me is capable of causing us problems. He has to use his talent and the threat that he poses to other teams within the framework of our team.
The Owls chief cites the last game of the season, against Exeter, as an example.
When he was in front of me, defensively were we solid; they didn t get near us.
I ve said to him that when I m telling him back, across , he does it, so defensively he was better in the first half.
I also asked him how many shots he had in the first half. He scored, he went close, he got though a few times, and he looked a huge threat.
When he was on the opposite side from me, there were no shots, he posed no threat, from an area that he thinks is a more attacking area. It s not.
You drop, so you have a bit more room on the ball, then you can get running at people. But whether the penny is going to drop, I don t know.
The Owls are making a contract offer to Johnson as his current deal gets set to run out.
Wednesday are holding an open day on Sunday, July 17. Fans will be able to watch the team train, get autographs and take photographs. There will also be other activities.
Next season s new home kit will be unveiled and will be on sale in the club shop. More details about the open day will be announced later.
Believable1
Unbelievable0