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BLIND, STUPID AND DESPERATE
 
01/02: Preview: Sheffield Wednesday
Opposition opinion
by Jamie Wilson of Barmy Army On-Line

What happened last season?
Same as usual really - they build up our hopes only to sadly disapoint us. The season got off to a bad start - Pressman (our keeper) got sent off in the first match of the season.....after 13 seconds. Still we managed a draw and things look good for the future under new manager Paul Jewell. It looked like he was going to motivate the players well. But it all fell apart. The football got worse, the tactics...well, what tactics? Jewell lost the confidence of the players and they looked like they didn't care less that we were in freefall to Division 2. We were bottom when we sacked Jewell. Luckily, Peter Shreeves can motivate players and Sibon and the like suddenly looked different players and in the end we comfortably avoided the drop.

What's going to happen next season?
I think most of us wednesdayites would settle for midfield obscurity (shouldn't that be mid-table ? Or has Steve Tallboys reappeared ? -ed). Let's hope the lads don't let us down again. It's up to Shreeves to get the confidence up and get everything and more out of the current squad. We have no money to buy players and little to spend on wages. It'll be down to the back bone of Pressman, Soldvedt and Sibon to provide the experience to drag us through next season. Trouble is, we lost Des Walker who single handedly held the defence together last season - if you could call the defence with most goals conceded being held together. So things don't look to rosy at Hillsborough. Still, I bought my 15th consectutive season ticket so I'll be looking forward to....er.... South Yorkshire derbys - all 6 matches this year. So thats 18 points already then :)

Can you recommend a pub for away fans?
We're all friendly up here in Sheff. Honest. You could try the White Horse at the top of Halifax Road.

What's the nearest railway station?
Sheffield Midland station. It's about six miles away but there are regular buses.

Where is the best place to park?
Nowhere. Don't even come close. Parking at Hillsbrough is terrible. Get the bus or a train. If you have to come by car, get here early and park in the car park opposite Hillsborough. Bugger to get out of after the game, though.

Soundbites (from assorted Census correspondents)
"I prefer the nationwide to the Premier league.. keep it real. In fact I think that non league is where it's at (and is probably a acheivable reality for Wednesday)."

"We had Jaap Stam and Eric Cantona on trial. Doh! And we let Darko Kovacevic leave for about 2-3mill, he's about to leave Juve to Valencia for about 15mill. Doh! And we appointed David Pleat and Danny Wilson. Double Doh!"