Have the Owls missed a trick . . .

As of late the League One play-off positions are becoming a bit of a poisoned chalice, no sooner had Huddersfield Town sacked Lee Clark when sitting 4th in the table, Sheffield Wednesday this week followed suit by sacking life long Wednesday fan Gary Megson.

It was less than a week ago that the former Bolton Wanderers manager led his side to all 3 points in the steel city derby. It was Sunday afternoon, the sun was out and Hillsborough was jumping as Chris O'Grady netted the only goal of the game, His first reaction on scoring was to run to his manger and celebrate for all to see that the squad was united behind him. 

In the build up to the game there had been rumours of unrest at the club but with Megson landing his side the local bragging rights all that was thought to be forgotten, so when the news broke late on wednesday night that Milan Mandaric had terminated Megsons contract there was an air of disbelief among the supporters. 

Mandaric released a statement saying:

"It was very a hard decision but it was the best decision for our supporters," he said. "It was not done for me or for anyone else, it was done for the best of the club."

As always in football life moves on very quickly and within 48 hours Mandaric has his man and that man is former Wolves and Cardiff boss Dave Jones. The 55 year old has a very good reputation in the game, a history of building sides that can challenge at the right end of the table.

What can the Wednesday fans expect to get from the new man? 

In many ways Jones is probably the exact opposite of his predecessor, he wont be thumping his chest and screaming at his side for 90 minutes, his style is a calmer approach a more reserved figure on the touchline.

Is he the right man for Wednesday? 

Personally I think not, they already had in charge a man whose blood ran blue and white, the type of manager who when it comes down to the business end of the season has the ability to motivate a side and its supporters. 

From the outside I just don't see Dave Jones as an impact manager, if he is given time then yes he will build a strong side at S6 however as Mandaric has already shown he is not prepared to wait around for glory.

Have Wednesday missed a trick?

Undoubtedly, by sacking a popular manger when things are going reasonably well the new man has to hit the ground running especially one with no prior connection to the club. 

It is imperative that Dave Jones starts well or the atmosphere around the club will change drastically. Last weeks result should have pushed SWFC on and started a snowball effect leading into the end of season run in where as now a couple of poor results could see the side fall away from the top two.

Once the decision was made to look for a new manger the club should have gone for only one man, a fans favourite, a figure who is popular with the media, someone who would get the crowd on there feet and make players believe that they can land that last automatic promotion spot. That man is Paolo Di Canio.

The Swindon Town boss has had a remarkable year, his side currently top of the league are great to watch and play with passion and belief. 

His contacts throughout Europe would have been beneficial in bringing better quality players to Hillsborough especially with Mandaric able to financially back him in the transfer market.

It would have been a perfect fit and one that would have probably left fans saying Gary who?

Sheffield Wednesday have two games in 4 days so by this time next week Manadaric will 

either be smiling or frantically worrying that he has shot himself and the club in the foot.

Only time will tell.

Time to get serious...

What will the next few months hold for three of South Yorkshire's finest, here are a few thoughts on all the sides I cover.

Sheffield Wednesday 

February is now upon us and as the business part of the season starts to ramp up we find that the Owls are fighting on two fronts, From my point of view this can only hinder their promotion bid from League One. As exciting as the F.A Cup can be the league has to be the main focus for Gary Megson's men. The cup games will bring in a little extra revenue and some excitement but looking at the injuries that have hindered the squad so far this season, the sooner they are out of that competition the better. 

Gary Madine is back after a prolonged spell out injured and if he can pick up where he left off he will in my opinion push Wednesday into the automatic promotion spots. The former Carlisle striker has the ability to play at a higher level, he reminds me of former SWFC player Grant Holt, his size and ability in the air combined with his finishing shows why the Owls have missed him. 
Obviously the loss of influential loan star Ben Marshall will be hard to gloss over but in Mike Jones they have signed a more than adequate replacement. The former Bury winger has the ability to deliver a quality ball into the box and create the kind of chances Madine should thrive on. The opposite flank could host the mercurial Jermaine Johnson, a player with lightning pace that seems to only deliver his best performances sporadically. Over the past few weeks he has shown glimpses of a return to form and with the aforementioned Jones could prove the key to getting Madine firing again.

With no late moves on transfer deadline day I think we will probably see SWFC delve into the loan market once it reopens in a few weeks time, Megson could look to Leicester City winger Lloyd Dyer who is believed to be high on the Hillsborough wanted list.

Sheffield United

Across the city the Blades are on the up, they are unrecognisable from the side I filmed get comprehensively beaten by rivals Huddersfield Town earlier in the season. Danny Wilson despite initially swimming against the tide has turned the club around and in a reformed Ched Evans has found the key to challenging at the top of the table. Not only is the side playing exciting attacking football, they are scoring goals week in week out home or away. 

Unlike their local rivals United are out of the F.A Cup and have their sights set solely on promotion. 
It's remarkable to see the difference in the style of play that is now on show at Bramall Lane, United who are renowned for playing a direct style of football with the stereotypical big man being the main focal point are now playing a more attractive passing game. The team have adopted Wilsons managerial blueprint, they are encouraged to start at the back and slowly work the ball forward, a style and system which has benefitted players like the eye-catching Harry Maguire and free scoring Ched Evans, the Welshman is finally living up to the hype that surrounded him when he was originally brought to the club back in 2009.

On the transfer front Wilson couldn't have been happier to wake up on Feb 1st knowing that he had managed to keep his much sought after young players. Not only did the Blades keep their prized assets they also secured the services of Brighton and Hove Albion striker Will Hoskins, the former Rotherham United striker has joined on loan and will look to kick start his career back in South Yorkshire, a place where he first shot to fame a few years ago.

With the Steel city derby only a few weeks away it really will be 50/50 as to who will be victorious and take the momentum with them for the remainder of the season. 

Barnsley

The Reds suffered a double transfer blow in January; Midfielder Danny Drinkwater and top scorer Ricardo Vaz Te both left for pastures new. When Drinkwater was sold to Leicester by parent club Manchester United Keith Hill acted quickly in securing the temporary services of midfield duo Michael Tonge and Korey Smith from premier league sides Stoke City and Norwich City respectively. 

It was a different story when Portuguese fan favourite Vaz Te was lured away on transfer deadline day, it left Hill with a matter of hours to find a replacement for the enigmatic front man and with time ticking it proved to be a fruitless task. Barnsley instead concentrated on addressing the balance of the team and Scott Golbourne a pacey left back from Exeter City was signed along with Leyton Orient captain Stephen Dawson, the 26 year old central midfielder will add competition for places in the Tykes engine room.

The former Rochdale boss will undoubtedly look to bring in a striker once the loan window reopens, the hole left by Vaz Te's exit needs filling and I'm sure Hill will already have his targets in mind. 

It is nearly impossible to predict the remaining four months of the season, The leagues most inconsistent side once again turned in an eye catching performance against in form Derby County with a 3-2 victory at Oakwell. That win took the Reds to 39 points and has them looking upwards towards the top ten rather than casting a nervous glance at the relegation spots below.

It's so far so good for 'Hillcroft' in their first taste of Championship football, Reds fans must be impressed with not only the points on the board but also the caliber of player on show especially given the budget constraints placed on the club. 

It is definitely a team to keep an eye on and should the new arrivals hit the ground running the Reds could still make a late run for a play-off spot and have the Oakwell faithful flocking back to Oakwell.

48 Hours to go

This is a link to a piece written for Barnsley FC fans site http://www.onthepontyend.com/

And here is the article:
http://www.onthepontyend.com/2012/01/48-hours-to-go.html

Why the January transfer window can make or break a season

It could be said that over the past three seasons January 31st has become one of the most exciting days in a football fans season. It is of course transfer deadline day! On this day I have caught myself sitting at home watching the sky sports news reporters standing outside wet training grounds or stadium entranceways throughout the country detailing there own transfer stories. It is at this point that I’m hoping my side has made a late swoop for a Bulgarian striker or a bid for a inform lower league player, just something to add a bit of sparkle and intrigue into the remainder of the season. 

Whether its the managers who are now under more pressure than ever before who panic that they need to be seen to bring players in or maybe the chairman wants to show off his vast personal wealth, this month and in particular this day has become more and more important in the football calendar.

January will be a big month for all three of the sides that I cover, At S6 its a question as to if they can keep Ben Marshall at the club, Across the city at United its going to be a tough job keeping hold of Stephen Quinn and Ched Evans and in the Championship can Barnsley bring in the players needed to help them cement there place in mid-table. 

I have spent more time at Hillsborough than any other club this season and on the whole I have been impressed with how strong they are at home. Team after team have been rolled over coming up against the Owls quick back to front style of play. 

In the early part of the season it was all about Gary Madine, his goals won points on there own and the new arrivals of Prutton and Semedo were fast creating a tough tackling midfield partnership.  When Madine was injured I thought SWFC would struggle but if anything it has brought the rest of the squad out of their shell and in particular one Ben Marshall. The on loan midfielder has come alive over the past 2 months, His performances have been impressive, he has pace, an eye for goal and can deliver a killer ball into the box. He is now just as important to Wednesday as Madine was in the early part of the season and If the Owls are to challenge for the title then surely Marshall must be kept for the remainder of the season. 

On other transfer fronts Miguel Llera is a good signing, he has the build to be a good strong center half but he is also a footballer who likes to spray it about and his ability to hit that long pass can only improve Wednesday. 

In my opinion Sheffield Wednesday fans should be imploring Milan Mandaric to go out and bring in two quality players, a striker and a central midfielder along with the re-signing of Ben Marshall, this would surely see the Owls challenging come the business end of the season.

Across the City at Bramall lane Sheffiled United are currently flying, the improvement not only in the results column but also in the manor of their performances is remarkable. When I covered the games against Burton, Huddersfield and Exeter earlier in the season the side looked as if it was struggling to develop a particular footballing style. The arrival of Matt Phillips on loan from Blackpool seemed to kick-start this current run of form and before leaving his goals and performances had brought something special to the Blades season. The much maligned Ched Evans who has never lived up to his extortionate price tag is now finally looking like living up to they hype that surrounded him when he was brought to the club. Just as SWFC need Ben Marshall the Blades really need to keep hold of players like Evans if they want to be challenging come the latter stages of the season.

If I was in Danny Wilsons shoes and looking to strengthen the squad I would be looking at bringing in a centre half, probably a experienced head just to sure up at the back and maybe a winger to fill the gap left by Phillips departure.

Now moving on up into the Championship we come to Barnsley and this season like others before it has started with the simple mission of staying in the Championship. At the turn of the year the reds have amassed more points at this point than in any previous season since returning to the Championship 5 years ago. The new man in charge Keith Hill has done remarkably well and with a few new recruits could end up with a 60+ points total at the end of the season. The reds have been consistently inconsistent this term; great away performances against Peterborough, Leeds and Birmingham City have somewhat been overshadowed with defeats at home to Bristol City and Ipswich Town. 

The news that star midfielder Jacob Butterfield is set to sit out the remainder of the season has been a blow for Hill and he will now in my book need two new midfielders to strengthen the weakest area of the side. 

Barnsley are still peering over there shoulder at the relegation spots but with the right signings and if the first part of the season is anything to go by they should be more than comfortable between now and May.

On the whole all three clubs have a massive five months ahead of them, both Sheffield clubs are capable of challenging for the League One title where as Barnsley can reach the magic 60 point mark and give Keith Hill a huge platform to build on for 2012/2013.

On May 5th when the final whistle of the season is blown and its either cheers or tears at each of the three clubs I wonder if it could be that the month of January will be seen as a massive turning point.