Pre-season continues.

Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday

The Keepmoat Stadium

Well, there isn't much to say about Saturday's game at the Keepmoat Stadium other than that neither team wanted to score, they had chances too, but seemed to neglect them. It seemed more like a fitness and passing exercise for the teams on show.

Owls Team

For the 3,600 travelling owls it was a first look at some of the new signings that where on show. And they both looked keen to impress. JJ was brought off mid way during the first half after being on the receiving end of a few rough challenges from the Rovers back line, he was replaced by Mike Jones, who I thought showed some very promising signs, he often linked up with the strikers and looked positive when moving forward. Marlon Harewood, a trialist, was unlucky not to score twice and seemed frustrated, before being replaced by O'Grady at half time. Another player who impressed was Maguire, he seems a player who has energy to burn, often chasing down loose balls and tracking back, while also showing composure on the ball.

There isn't much else to say about a very dull affair, We move on to Saturday's encounter with West Brom, gradually gaining fitness.

Keepmoat Stadium

Next Up - West Brom (H)

Pre Season Kicks Off

STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 0-4 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

                                                                                                        Maguire (18,40) Madine (24), Antelmi (89)

Last Nights Meeting at Bracken Moor signalled the start of pre-season for Sheffield Wednesday, It's always a nice trip to go to Stocksbridge, a friendly non-league club, with a nice little stadium set on a backdrop of the regions proud steel history.

Bracken Moor

You can never tell anything from these sort of games as to how the team will perform over the coming months, a few of the new boys on show, Chris Maguire, Kieran Lee and Diogo Amado all show some very neat touches when in possession. Maguire scored two excellent goals with the second of them being the pick from his brace, he neatly finished into the keepers bottom right corner from the edge of the box after shaking off a few defenders around him. Madine scored from close range between the Maguire goals, the players linked up well together during the first half. Amado is an attacking player who has an eye for a killer pass, he often picked out the strikers or wingers with these balls during the first half period. Lee is an attacking right back, who enjoys bursting forward to join the attack.

Owls first half line up

The Second half saw the introduction of our development squad players, with Ryan Lowe replacing Maguire to be the only recognisable first teamer on the pitch, the younger players looked lively and hoping to impress, Lowe was unlucky not to score after hitting the post twice within the second half. Unfortunately I missed the fourth goal, which was scored by Patrick Antelmi, all in all it was a standard first pre season game against non league opposition, whereby the team passes it about a bit, get some fitness and knock a few goals in, with no disrespect to Stocksbridge, who did very well themselves showing a few nice touches. 

Stocksbridge is a nice non league set up and is always a great visit during the pre-season period. They are always welcoming and obviously appreciate the supporting numbers that was in attendance last night which helps towards the running costs of the club for the forthcoming season, while this wasn't announced i'd guess at around 2,000. 

Here's to what's going to be a great season going forward !

Next up - Doncaster Rovers (a) 



As well as the Stocksbridge game, Another first team XI played Dronfield Based Sheffield FC. Thanks to Chris Lewis for the following.

SHEFFIELD FC 1-1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

                                      Williams (75)                             O'Grady (21)  

The Main Stand

In front of a strong crowd of around 1,400 at the BT Local Business Stadium, Wednesday, sporting their new, bright yellow away strip, were pegged back in the second half after striker Chris O’Grady had given the Owls an early lead.

The Wednesday XI, led by newly appointed assistant Paul Wilkinson, contained new signing Joe Mattock at left back, while trialist Marlon Harewood partnered Chris O’Grady in attack.

There were also starts for Giles Coke, who played in the unfamiliar position of right-back and 2011-12 player of the season Jose Semedo.

Owls Starting XI

Wednesday started the brighter with O’Grady, Harewood and Jermaine Johnson all fluffing early chances. The Owls deservedly took the lead though shortly after. Summer signing Joe Mattock set off on a determined run down the left before laying the ball off to CHRIS O’GRADY, who fired a shot low and hard across the goalkeeper and into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. More chances followed for Wednesday, most notably for trialist Harewood.

Head-guard-less Miguel Llera took a slight knock in the latter stages of the first half, but carried on until half-time so there is almost certainly no cause for concern.

Llera was replaced by academy product Ryan Dickenson at the break, while Sheffield FC also began to ring the changes.

Development squad striker Caolan Lavery replaced Marlon Harewood shortly after, which then kicked-off a flurry of further changes for the Owls.

The lively Lavery was a plus for the youthful Owls in what was a fairly dour second half.

Academy goalkeeper Cameron Dawson then pulled off a top class save from point-blank range on 65 minutes, beating the ball away to his right after being tested with a vicious strike from 10 yards out by Sheffield’s Tyrone Thompson.

But the unlucky Dawson was to be beaten just seconds later, Dan Williams met a well executed cross with a powerful header, which flew into the Owls goal via the crossbar to give the Donfield side a well deserved share of the spoils.

As with all pre-season games, it is difficult to predict how the side will fair over the course of the forthcoming season. Especially as Wednesday ended the game with an entirely different XI than the one that started it. There were however promising signs, most notably from Joe Mattock and the hold-up play of Chris O’Grady. The Owls now head off to the warmer climes of Portugal for a week’s training & games against European giants Sporting Lisbon, as well as newly promoted Premier League side Reading.

Untouchable

This week Spain became the first national team to win 3 major competitions back-to-back, a World Cup success in 2010 sandwiched between two European Championship wins in 2008 and 2012 respectively, but does this make them the best team ever?

Spain lifting the World Cup 2010

When this topic is brought up, many say "oh it's the Brazilians of the 1970's" or "what about the Real Madrid side that Dominated Europe in the 50's?" and yes, these sides where both incredible in their own rights. But do they match this Spain team that we have seen conquer Europe time and time again? While they might not be the most attacking minded of teams, often labelled 'boring' by the English media, the fact of the matter is that they win games, I am sure most of you would be over the moon if your team played the Spanish way, because I know I would be. They don't have just one or two world class players they have 8 or 9, and that's without mentioning Mata and Torres who often reside on the bench. Names like Iniesta, Xavi, David Silva and Fabregas just roll off the tongue of any football fan around the globe.

Andres Iniesta

Why are they so successful? Well my opinion is that the success of the Spanish is partly due to the amount of players they have within their national side that play for the same club. Take the Starting XI that played against Italy in Kiev last Sunday. 

Casillas - Real Madrid

Arbeloa - Real Madrid

Pique - Barcelona

Ramos - Real Madrid

Alba - Valencia (Transfer to Barcelona agreed)

Busquets - Barcelona

Xavi - Barcelona

Xabi Alonso - Real Madrid

David Silva - Manchester City

Iniesta - Barcelona

Fabregas - Barcelona

That's just 4 different clubs, 9 of the players being split between the 2 Giants of Spanish football, Real Madrid and Barcelona. This is where I feel that the success of this team lies. The players are used to playing with each other week in, week out. They understand each other's games. 

So, In answer to the original question. Who are the Best team ever? Well, I think all 3 are in their own rights. There is no doubting that Real Madrid's achievement of winning the European Cup 5 times in a row is incredible and will never be beaten again in the modern game, Brazil of the 1970's with Pele at the spearhead of the team, was the most entertaining team known and unstoppable for large parts of the decade. 

Pele

While it remains a great debate, it cannot be doubted that Spain are the best team of the current generation. 

It's Been A Long Hot Summer

Well, we wish it was, It never stops raining! Makes the close season drag just that little bit more than it already seems to do. While the Euro's and the little glimmer of hope that England offered us kept the boredom away momentarily. The monkey with the symbols soon returned within our lifeless skulls once Ashley Cole missed the vital penalty.

So, what's happened since Saturday 5th May? Well not a lot really. I'm sure all Wednesdayites will have had a good chuckle at their Sheff Utd supporting counterparts at some point during the 3 weeks after. After all, it's not every season you just creep in to steal promotion on the final day of the season against your bitter rivals is it?

For me, the close season has been a quite one, visit's to Old Trafford for Soccer Aid, leaving me mentally scarred against Robbie Williams and Marvin from JLS for life, and the Etihad Stadium for the incredible Coldplay gigs was personal highlights.

Old Trafford - Soccer Aid

Coldplay

I'll keep this post short and sweet and with the season looming ever closer, I thought it would be an ideal time to bring this Blog back to life. I hope you all enjoy reading this throughout the season and that your respected teams do as you hope, but not against the mighty Owls of course.