Tractor-Boys.com

Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town



Saturday 16th April 2016 – 15:00


Hillsborough Stadium







Opening Thought – Jamma

I don’t know what it is about games between Ipswich and Brentford but they have certainly involved more than their fair share of drama over the last two seasons. The two most recent clashes at Griffin Park have seen a total of 10 goals, including one in the first minute on Boxing Day 2014 and of course the Bees’ quick-fire stoppage-time double on the opening day in August. And then we come to Saturday’s events at Portman Road – where to start? From the moment Luke Hyam made his mark on the match within the first three minutes, it looked like it was going to go one of two ways. One possibility was that the two teams would struggle to get any momentum going after Alan Judge’s nasty-looking injury, resulting in a tepid, end-of-season affair. The other was exactly what did happen: this flashpoint would light the blue touchpaper and produce a lively, incident-filled encounter. I remember thinking while Judge was receiving his lengthy treatment that we should be able to capitalise on our visitors’ misfortune. Not only had they lost their most influential player, but his withdrawal would surely have an effect on them mentally. As it was, it was the Blues who seemed to suffer more, as Brentford turned this early setback to their advantage. They started to hunt in packs, chasing down the ball and giving us next to no time or space. Two of their players – Alan McCormack and Ryan Woods – took this pack mentality a step further, and got the reaction they had been looking for from Hyam. As frustrating as it was to see our opponents succeed in their objective, I was angrier at the Town midfielder for letting the situation get the better of him. From then on in, it was always likely to be an uphill task, a man down as well as a goal down.

Even as the scoreline threatened to get embarrassing midway through the second half, I actually found myself enjoying the footballing fare, if obviously not the way the match unfolded. I’m not saying that I was pleased with the freedom we afforded the opposition in the second half. On the contrary, it made for uncomfortable viewing seeing the Bees cutting through the middle of our team with such apparent ease. But at times you would have been hard pushed to know which of the two sides was playing with ten men, as the Tractor Boys dominated possession in spells and played some attractive football. It goes back to what I was saying in the last preview, about how we might see some more free-flowing football now the pressure is off to some extent. This is just as well, as Saturday sees us come up against a team that has been flying, and will be full of confidence as a result. When we edged the reverse fixture back in August by the odd goal in three, it felt like a significant result, in much the same way as an identical scoreline against Burnley three days later. But, after an indifferent start, the Owls have taken flight since the turn of the year, as their campaign has been almost the mirror image of Town’s. They appear to have come into form at just the right time, with four wins on the bounce over the last month. But interestingly, while they have lost just three league matches in 2016, these have been against Preston, Rotherham and Bristol City, the latter a shock 4-1 reverse last time out. Although their home form is amongst the best in the Championship, Wednesday can certainly blow hot and cold. It promises to be an interesting game, then, and one which might leave us wondering what might have been…



The Opposition – Sheffield Wednesday





The club was a cricket club when it formed in 1820 as The Wednesday Cricket Club, Lancashire (named after the day of the week when they played their matches). A meeting on the evening of Wednesday 4 September 1867 at the Adelphi Hotel established a footballing side to keep the team together and fit during the winter months.

On 1 February 1868, Wednesday played their first competitive football match as they entered the Cromwell Cup.

Charles Clegg joined Wednesday in 1867, starting a relationship that would last the rest of his life and eventually lead to him becoming the club's chairman. He also became president and chairman of the Football Association and was known as the "Napoleon of Football". In 1876, they acquired Scot James Lang. Although he was not employed by the club, he was given a job by a member of the Sheffield Wednesday board that had no formal duties. He is now acknowledged as the first professional football player in England.

The football club turned professional in 1887 after pressure from players threatening to defect to other clubs. The move to professionalism took the club from Bramall Lane, which had taken a share of the ticket revenue, to the new Olive Grove.

In 1889, the club became founder members of the Football Alliance. Despite finishing the following season bottom of the Alliance, they were eventually elected to the expanded Football League in 1892.

Due to an expansion of the local railway lines, the club was told that they would have to find a new ground for the 1899–1900 season. After a difficult search, the club finally bought some land in the village of Owlerton, which at the time was several miles outside the Sheffield city boundaries. Construction of a new stadium (now known as Hillsborough Stadium) was completed within months.

In the summer of 1912, a Wednesday player, George Robertson, presented the club with an owl mascot. A monkey mascot introduced some years earlier had not brought much luck.

The club was almost relegated in the 1927–28 season, but they pulled off a great escape, rising from bottom to 14th. Wednesday went on to win the League title the following season (1928–29), which started a run that saw the team finishing lower than third only once until 1936. The period was topped off with the team winning the FA Cup for the third time in the club's history in 1935.

The 1950s saw Wednesday unable to consistently hold on to a position in the top flight and this period became known as the yo-yo years. After being promoted back up in 1950, they were relegated three times, although each time they bounced back up by winning the Second Division the following season

This led to a decade of successfully remaining in the First Division, which included a run to the FA Cup Final in 1966.

Off the field, the club was embroiled in the British betting scandal of 1964, in which three of their players were accused of match fixing and betting against their own team in an away game at Ipswich Town. The three were subsequently convicted and, on release from prison, banned from football for life.

Wednesday were relegated at the end of the 1969–70 season, starting the darkest period in the club's history. After going into free-fall, they dropped to the Third Division for the first time in their history and were marooned there for five seasons. The club was almost relegated to the Fourth Division in 1976, but a revival under the management of Jack Charlton, and the aid of coach Tony Toms and – after Charlton resigned in 1983 – Howard Wilkinson, saw them return to the First Division in 1984.

Sheffield Wednesday spent the majority of the 1980s and 1990s in the top tier of English football.

On 15 April 1989, the club's stadium was the scene of one of the worst sporting tragedies ever, at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, at which 96 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium. The tragedy resulted in many changes taking places at Hillsborough and all other leading stadiums in England.

The 1990–91 season was the only one out of sixteen in a row that Wednesday spent in a lower division, but the season is best remembered by fans for Wednesday's swift return to the top flight and their League Cup victory over Manchester United to win their first major trophy for over 50 years. This League Cup triumph was the last domestic cup to be won by a club competing outside the top level of English football.

Wednesday's fortunes took a turn for the worse when a succession of managers failed to maintain this form, and new managers spent small fortunes building squads that were ultimately ineffective, which saw the club's debts get out of control and Wednesday being relegated down to League 1.

After narrowly avoiding yet another relegation in 2003–04 and a poor start to the 2004–05 Football League One campaign, Paul Sturrock took over the Manager’s role and they were promoted back to the ‘Championship’ via the playoffs. Sturrock was sacked after a poor start to the 2006–07 season and replaced by Brian Laws.

The 2007–08 season began with Wednesday's worst ever start to a season, losing six league games in a row, and they only avoided relegation with a win on the last day of the season. Halfway through Sheffield Wednesday's 2009–10 season, Brian Laws was sacked, and was replaced by Alan Irvine. On the last day of the season, needing a win to stay up, Wednesday drew 2–2 with Crystal Palace and were relegated to League One.

Between July and November 2010, Sheffield Wednesday faced a series of winding up orders for unpaid tax and VAT bills. On 29 November 2010, Milan Mandarić agreed to purchase the club. The purchase was completed after an Extraordinary General Meeting of Sheffield Wednesday's shareholders on 14 December 2010, during which 99.7% of shareholders voted to sell the company to Milan Mandarić's UK Football Investments for £1, as well as settling the clubs outstanding debts.

Gary Megson replaced Irvine as the club's manager in February 2011 and The Owls went on to finish 15th in League One. The following season, the Owls pushed on for promotion out of League One. But after falling behind Charlton and Sheffield United at the top of the table, Megson was sacked and replaced by Dave Jones. Jones went on to guide the Owls to promotion to the Championship on the final day with a 2–0 home victory over Wycombe.

Following this season, the Owls struggled in the Championship. However, with a better run of form after Christmas, the club secured Championship safety on the final day of the season, beating Middlesbrough 2–0 on the last day of the season.

In the 2013/2014 season, Wednesday ended the season in 16th place with 53 points, finishing the season under Stuart Gray’s management following Jones’ departure.

Last season, the Owls finished in 13th place in the table with 60 points.



One To Watch – Fernando Forestieri



Following Alan Judge’s premature exit on Saturday, with any luck this week’s ‘One to watch’ will last longer than two and a half minutes (although he’s welcome to get himself sent off for diving later in the match…!).

Fernando Forestieri is one of the players – along with Andre Gray at Burnley, Anthony Knockaert at Brighton and of course our friend Mr. Rhodes – who are cited as making the difference between a promotion-winning team and an also-ran. If Wednesday are to make the play-offs, the recently crowned PFA Championship Player of the Month will have played a big part in their success, having scored 14 league goals in 2015/16. After moving to Italy from Argentina, the 16-year-old Forestieri gained Italian nationality and signed for Genoa. He took in loan spells with a host of clubs, including Siena, Vicenza and Empoli, subsequently signing for Udinese. Forestieri switched one of the Pozzo family’s clubs for another, when he joined Watford on loan on the final day of the August 2012 transfer window. It didn’t take him long to become a cult hero at Vicarage Road, with his energetic displays and no shortage of skill and flair. Forestieri agreed a permanent contract in January 2013, and went on to win promotion with the Hornets last season. Having been released in the summer, the exciting striker will have added motivation to finally clinch his chance of playing in the Premier League.



The Gaffer – Carlos Carvalhal






49-year-old Portuguese-born Carlos Carvalhal was born in Braga.

Carvalhal represented mainly hometown club S.C. Braga during his career as a central defender. In the 1987–88 campaign, in one of his three spells at the club, he had one of his best years in the first division, appearing in 34 games.

Immediately afterwards, Carvalhal joined FC Porto, but was released after only one year, going on to represent in the following nine seasons – until his retirement at the age of 32 – S.C. Beira-Mar, Braga, F.C. Tirsense, G.D. Chaves and S.C. Espinho. At the top level, he amassed totals of 197 games and one goal.

He also made 9 appearances for the Portugal Under 21 side in his early playing years.

Carvalhal began managing at his last club Espinho, in the second division, being dismissed midway through his second year. In 2002, he became the first coach in the country to take a third-tier team to the UEFA Cup, after leading Leixões S.C. to the final of the Portuguese Cup. Two years later, he led Vitória de Setúbal back to the top flight, which prompted his move to a side in that division, C.F. Os Belenenses.

Carvalhal was sacked by Belenenses early into 2005–06, after five defeats in eight games. He met the same fate with the two teams he coached in the following season, Braga and S.C. Beira-Mar. With the latter, he was dismissed in January 2007, after the Aveiro club signed a cooperation deal with Inverfutbol, a Spanish-based sporting company, in a relegation-ending campaign.

Returning to Setúbal for 2007–08, Carvalhal enjoyed his best year as a manager, leading the Sadinos to the sixth position in the league – with subsequent UEFA Cup qualification, with the club posting one of the best defensive records in Europe that year – and victory in the inaugural edition of the domestic League Cup, against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Carvalhal then took over C.S. Marítimo, only winning one match in 11, but with the Madeira team finishing comfortably in mid-table. He was sacked late into 2009, moving to Sporting in mid-November.

As originally intended, Carvalhal left his Sporting post at the end of the season, with Sporting finishing in fourth position, 28 points behind champions S.L. Benfica. On 2 August 2011, he was appointed caretaker manager at Beşiktaş J.K. of Turkey, as incumbent Tayfur Havutçu resolved his legal issues stemming from the 2011 Turkish sports corruption scandal.

On 30 June 2015, after nearly three years of inactivity, Carvalhal was appointed head coach of Sheffield Wednesday.






Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev

A look back at our first league win of the season, and an impressive 3 points against our play-off rivals:





Trev's Trivia

Players to play for both clubs

Tommy Miller ITFC 2001-2005 and 2007-2009 SWFC 2009-2011

Alan Quinn ITFC 2008-2011 SWFC 1997-2004

Connor Wickham ITFC 2009–2011 SWFC 2013–2014 loan

Chris Bart-Williams ITFC 2003–2004 SWFC 1991–1995

Shefki Kuqi ITFC 2003–2005 and 2008 loan SWFC 2002–2003

Media Watch - K L Blue

Alex Mathie:
http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/sport/a ... _1_4493034

Andre Dozzell:
http://the72.co.uk/52066/ipswich-town-y ... liverpool/

Keepers:
http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/bart ... 56675.aspx

Alan Judge:
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/ ... broken-leg



Stat Time


Head to Head


Sheffield Wed Wins.....................17.....(37.78%)
Ipswich Town Wins.......................17.....(37.78%)
Draws......................................11......(24.44%)


Sheffield Wed Goals.....................65.....(1.44 Ave per Game)
Ipswich Town Goals......................55....(1.22 Ave Per Game)


Head to Head at Sheffield Wednesday


Sheffield Wed Wins.......................8......(36.36%)
Ipswich Town Wins........................6......(27.27%)
Draws.......................................8.......(36.36%)


Sheffield Wed Goals.....................33....(1.50 Ave Per Game)
Ipswich Town Goals......................26....(1.18 Ave Per Game)






The Predicted Teams



Sheffield Wednesday

Carlos Carvalhal will consider making changes after seeing his side go down to a surprise defeat at Bristol City. Among the incoming players could be Ross Wallace, who claimed the Owls’ consolation at Ashton Gate, with the likes of Lucas Joao, Marco Matias and Lewis McGugan also champing at the bit for a start.

28 Joe Wildsmith
2 Liam Palmer
15 Tom Lees
3 Michael Turner
36 Daniel Pudil
37 Aiden McGeady
20 Kieran Lee
41 Barry Bannan
33 Ross Wallace
45 Fernando Forestieri
9 Adthe Nuhiu



Ipswich Town

It will be a case of one in, one out in terms of the players available to Mick McCarthy on Saturday, as Daryl Murphy is expected to return to the squad, while Luke Hyam serves a one-game suspension. It will be interesting to see if the unfortunate Tommy Smith is reinstated to a back four which had kept two consecutive clean sheets prior to Saturday…

33 Bartosz Bialkowski
4 Luke Chambers
5 Tommy Smith
6 Christophe Berra
3 Jonas Knudsen
8 Cole Skuse
22 Jonathan Douglas
12 Liam Feeney
17 Kevin Bru
20 Freddie Sears
42 Luke Varney



Marko's Caption Contest

Brentford Scores

Nicscreamer 5pts
DerickIpsw 4pts
Kerry Blue 3pts
Ashfordblue 2pts

LEAGUE TABLE


DerickIpsw 78
Ando 76
Frosty 70
Blueblood 65
Nicscreamer 61
Barmy Billy 61
Number 9 49
James Scharmann 46
Herforder 36
Quasar 35
IpswichtownNO1 29
Shed on Tour 25
Ashfordblue 22
Watership Down 20
Bluemike 19
Floors 16
Kerry Blue 12
Hallamblue 12
Tangfastic 11
Charnwood 10
Longjohn 9
Foxy Lady 8
Loudnproud 6
Ohiotractorboy 3
Karlywoo 1

What is he saying in this picture?






Match Referee – Robert Madley





Final Thought - Frosty


Two points from the 12 available just ain’t gonna cut it when you are already engaged in a tight race for a play-off spot, nor is the fact we have scored one goal over four outings.

It’s fairly safe to say that unless someone above us on the table spectacularly implodes over the remaining five fixtures and we score goals for fun we will be facing many familiar opponents next season.

It will take a big effort to take 3 points off 6th place Wednesday this weekend, 12 points from their last 5 fixtures including two 3-0 wins as well. The only ‘blip’ being a surprise 4-1 hammering by Bristol City last weekend.

I would think that not only their determination to consolidate their play-off spot but probably also a wish to turn around last Saturday’s result could well see us struggling with our visit to Hillsborough.

Around us on the table, Cardiff could keep their play-off hopes alive if they overcome QPR and we do them a favour by winning our fixture, and Burnley could do us a favour on the table by dealing a defeat to Birmingham City.

Have a safe journey if you are off to Sheffield ………….. Hillsborough is one of those grounds that is so steeped in history, obviously not all of it good, but a stadium I have always wanted to visit.

COYB!



SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1

many thanks for another great prediction.

I'm off to the game with Bluemike and will meet Mach up there. As much as I would love my Super Blues to come home with all 3 pts, I can only see a home win. There is something not right at the Club over the last 2-3 months and I really can't put my finger on what it is.

There will be unsettled players with the "atmosphere" at PR these days and the rumours surrounding Micks future. I suppose it could work for us and the players put in a performance - of if he is Villa bound we could heads drop.

score : 2-0 Weds


Caption. "It's not over 'till your Yorkshire Lad sings"!!

Defeat all the way for me. Wednesday are flying and we are rank! 3-1 at best

Caption - Go compare, go compare, we are sh*t, Wednesday great, go compaaaaaaaaaaaarrrreeeeee !

Cation 2 - Ok lads, who stole my foot long sub ???

Caption.. Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal...... oh pants no it wasnt

2-0 Sheff Wed I am afraid

CAPTION COMPETITION

Just one Cornetto, give it to me!

well, given recent records of both teams the result would seem to be a foregone conclusion.
And yet, I have a feeling we'll not only win this one, but will win well - whether or not it will last I don't know.

Wednesday 1 - Town 3

Caption


"You've got to be kidding choosing Pearson over me!?!?"

rossi wrote:well, given recent records of both teams the result would seem to be a foregone conclusion.
And yet, I have a feeling we'll not only win this one, but will win well - whether or not it will last I don't know.

Wednesday 1 - Town 3

I have to agree Rossi, and wouldn't this just be so Town like at the pointy end of the season"

Given our torrid recent form you would expect this to be a walk in the park for Wednesday, however we do tend to play with a little more freedom away from home and without the added pressure of negativity eminating from the fans.

I see we are without Murphy again while Varney has also joined the injury list so it looks like Pitman & Sears again up front, Liam Feeney & Tommy Smith could well be recalled to replace Hyam and Foley. I am pleased to see young Dozzell had been added to the travelling party although it is doubtful he will make the bench this time.

Not really expecting anything from the game but please give us some pride and passion back after the last few limp efforts. It is not impossible to come home with something but my head is telling me 2-0 to The Owls.

Our only option here is to play spoiler. I think with little on the line we may play a bit more loose 2-2 tie

Caption..... The One Soprano "O sole mio"

Another good preview at a time where it's bordering a "who gives a witches tit" end of season attitude. But, (said in annoying university challenge geek type voice) "still mathematically possible, still mathematically possible, all to play for."

Rossi, pretty sure I have seen a post from you this season saying, "I'll have what you're drinking!" (Wasn't posted to me)......., but I'll reverse that anyway; I'll have what you are drinking or smoking. Wednesday will be out to put their Bristol City capitulation behind them and ITFC are the perfect opposition to achieve that. Hopefully it'll only be 2-0......., but just cannot see ITFC winning this. Be good to put a wee two quid bet on SWFC 1 ITFC 3 though......., the championship after all.

Forestieri caption: "Hey Ref, you look intelligent........., what's two plus two?"
Ref Caption: (No words)

Carlos Carvalhal caption:
So Carlos, your team completely folded in Bristol last weekend while play off rival Ipswich Town done you a favour by sh*tting a brick at Portman Road......., but more about that later..,..., it's a pie and a bovril this Saturday at Hillsborough for two quid......, what do you think of that tasty deal?

Great preview - with the Fat Lady's vocal chords well warmed up.

Following the Brentford game, I commented at feeling a sadness having to witness our inept struggles on the day. Would therefore like to see a more positive, energised and convincing performance. All the flack directed at ME/MM - some deserved - has perhaps let the players off the hook too lightly. No better, time, therefore, to answer that criticism.

Being positive, and going for a 1-0 Town victory. (STranger things have happened!)

Caption 1 Is it really Mick, or the blow up version?

Caption 2: 'You've lost that loving feeling. Bastards!'

Caption. Oyyyyyy bring my fu*king tractor back!!

Caption: Oyyyyyy who told you to play it on the Fu*king floor?

CAPTION COMP: I,M a wonky nose manager GET ME OUT Of Here.....
Caption comp 2: Look play boring hoof ball all game back pass as often as you can or you won't be in the team SIMPLES...

Lee Chapman was omitted from players to feature for both teams.

Voted on a Sheffield victory, we gave up on the season long before this weekend and any hope at all of a top six finish can be effectively extinguished with this game. Playing out a handful of largely immaterial fixtures before end of season but at least hope the team show some effort on the day and provide the traveling support with something to take away even if the eventual score doesn't go our way.

Sheffield Wednesday 2 Ipswich 0

saint jude wrote:..... any hope at all of a top six finish can be effectively extinguished with this game.

Were Ipswich ever "on fire" this season?

Sheffield 4-1Ipswich.
Caption Comp:
With micks tactical knowhow sussed by every championship manager he is advised his style is better suited to pop stardom, so he auditions for 1 direction.

CAPTION....Mick to the North Stand ;- "Stop booing you arsehooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooles"

Mick caption:
(Mick in the dugout in recent weeks)
"AW NOOO, CHAMBO, PASS, AWWW BERRAAAA! GET THAT JONAS, NO NO NO NOOOOOO, TOMMMMMYYYYY, YOURS CHAMBO, YOURS, YOURS AWWWWWWW, WTF, YOU SEE THAT TEL, FFS, CHASE THAT, CHASE IT, BART, BAAAAAART, CATCH THAT, YOOOOURS, AW MY FKN GOD, JONAS, FACE HIM, DONT TURN YER BACK, COVER HIM BERRRA, BERRRRAAAAAA, YOU FKN MORNINGSIDE POSH JAMBO BSTD, RUUUUUN, OK OK, HOLD, TIME TIME, everything calm, ......, that's good......, AWWWWWWW FUUUUUUUK TOMMMMYYYYYY!!!!

Always hopefull for a win, not impossible - maybe there will still be hope by Saturday evening.

I watched the U21s on Monday, Bishop was far from match-fit and Dozzel looked like a skinny 16yr old, he might be great in a year or three but I doubt he'll make a real difference in the near future.

Wednesday 3 - ITFC 0

Caption: 'Mick McArthy, raconteur and comedian.'

Excuse my negativity, but I think we'll get hammered. After such a poor run of form we'll be lacking confidence...and with a couple more injuries to boot. If MM pulls a rabbit out of a bag of sh*t for a win, I will be impressed.

Today is the anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium tragedy that occurred back in 1989 and guess the club (Sheffield Wednesday) will hold a minutes silence before start of play tomorrow to honor the lives lost at their venue ? If not - then by rights, there should be.

Thoughts and prayers to the families of the deceased who lost their lives on the day. They often hold a memorial service at Anfield each year to commemorate friends and families involved.

Caption

If the goal was as big as my mouth you would score plenty

I can only see us losing sorry to say a 2-1 defeat

If we can score it will be an improvement! Think we will get beat, but if we can counter them and defend well we have a chance.

Caption: Micks sings My Way;

And now the season ends
Another year with nothing to spend
I tried my best to beat the rest
But in the end we couldn't defend
Four three three or four four two
I did them all just to confuse you
But more much more than this
I played hoof ball myyyyyyyyyyyyy wayyyyyyy

Although we've not lost at Hillsborough for the past six seasons and have drawn the last three 1-1, I just can't see us getting anything out of this game and think we'll do well to come away without a good hiding.

I think 2-0 or 3-0 to Sheff Wed is the most likely outcome although I'd love to see us spring a surprise against a team two of my golf pals used to play for and who will both give me a hard time if we lose. Another 1-1 would be very acceptable.

Despite our lack of entertainment I'm disappointed to be missing my annual pilgrimage to Hillsborough for a game I've not missed for a while.

Sod it, I'm going with 1-1.

Safe journeys to all those heading to Sheffield today - probably more in hope than expectation! But whilst there's life there's hope!

herforder wrote:Safe journeys to all those heading to Sheffield today - probably more in hope than expectation! But whilst there's life there's hope!

Up and raring to go for more torment LOL. Leaving about 9, in the pub for 12.30 latest....COYB'S

1-0 to Town.

Mostly because there's more at stake for Wednesday and they could be feeling the pressure.

We've got little to lose and we're due a win. A Chambers header to win it.