WAWAW

Hi Guys He was very competent on loan for us last season. He didn't play many games due to the excellent Pudil and then he got an injury. However, when we play weekend then midweek then weekend Carlos likes to rotate his full backs. He played in some tricky matches away at Hull and away at Brighton and we kept clean sheets in both of them and Bennett played well (against Snodgrass and Knockaert). I don't think there will be many better back up left backs at Championship level and he certainly looks a better player than your left back on Sunday (admittedly just one match). But if he isn't your first choice full back it could be a good move for both parties. As the season goes on I suspect that you will realise that quite a few players are decent in this division that you considered not to be up to it in the PL. Its just that this is their level. I am convinced you will find this with Gestede. Look at Jerome at Norwich, every time he scores goals in this division and looks out of his depth in the PL.

One more thing, Gestede will be good for you have patience. The reason being that in this division you will have matches where the opposition are camped in their own area and you have 65% of the possession. In those scenarios, sometimes the only route available to you is to put it into the box. That is where Gested will thrive. In games you dominate and hurl umpteen balls into the box. Not playing on the counter versus Man City, Chelsea etc.

Hi Guys i thought Wednesday were the better team first half, you were the better team second half. The match was basically decided on two clear cut chances. McCormack missed, Forestieri scored. If you show that attitude and play like that all season you'll be challenging at the right end of the table. i hope you do well and come just one place behind Wednesday. :-) You are a terrific club, good luck. Up The Owls!

You've made it on Owlstalk :-) http://www.owlstalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/243721-ready-for-villa-fans-invasion/&page=1

Wallace is the most likely person to start I didn't mention. Due to the late purchase of Abdi, he could remain sub. Otherwise, Forestieri could start upfront with Wallace coming in for Hooper. Wednesday play 4-4-2 although the midfield is very fluid with all four midfielders allowed to interchange. Therefore, we will almost certainly start with two strikers. I haven't seen much of Fletcher but I don't see him and Hooper as similar at all. Hooper often drops into little pockets to receive the ball into space, otherwise he occupies himself with playing on the shoulder of the opposition defence. Whereas Fletcher appears to run the channels, feed off crosses due to his aerial strength and if the ball is played to him he likes it into him with the defender being held off or on his head for the flick on. The early signs are that they work well as a pair and compliment each other nicely.

We're not Barcelona. Your players are worth more than ours. but we played 27 league and cup matches at home last season - we won 17 and lost 2. but we have a few new signings and a few more to come so maybe it's a good time to play us. Then again, I suppose we could say the same. Toss if a coin job. in my experience, the first match of the season rarely indicates what is to come for the rest of the season.

You won't learn much about Villa on Sunday (unless you capitulate). There is a gap in quality between the PL and Championship (despite what you think Gestede is a good striker at this level). But it is a hard slog, every match will be like a cup final for you. you easily have the quality to be top 6 minimum. The question marks are over character and attitude. Your players will have no problem being up for the first match of the season, in a big stadium, with 30,000 fans, in front of the Sky cameras, playing on a carpet. Therefore, even if you win, it will take a few months for those question marks to be answered. I suspect a decent August might be vital.

Agreed. Mitrovic will add a different option.

We're All Wednesday Aren't We! :-)

A lot of the stadiums are surely better than Bournemouth, Watford, Burnley, Palace etc? And its that sort of attitude that can lead to a very lengthy stay. Believe me I know. Your players need to go to Burton, Rotherham, Barnsley and Brentford. In small stadiums, on rubbish pitches, in changing rooms no better than your local school and they can't moan - they need to roll their sleeves up and fight. All this whilst the opposition fans chant "Your not famous anymore " at you. All their players will give an extra 5% because like Leeds, Wednesday and Forest before you they want your PL scalps. Then when you've got through that battle you need to do it again on Tuesday, then again in Saturday then again on Tuesday. its tough, really really tough. And any thoughts that this league is below you will bite you in the arse every single time.

Yes, a Wednesday fan. looking forward to a good match on Sunday.

Newcastle will still win this if they bring Armstrong on and go 4-4-2

Boom, as Newcastle are finding out there are no easy games in The Championship.

For those of you interested our team is likely to be:- Westwood - voted into The Champ PFA team of the year twice. There isn't a better keeper out of PL in our opinion. Hunt - attacking right back. Great going forward can be exposed defensively. Pudil - on loan with us all last season. Purchased from Watford for £2.5m this Summer. Attacking left back and again better going forward than defending. Lees - signed on a free transfer from Leeds a few seasons ago. He's been brilliant. Burnley have reportedly earmarked him as Michael Keane's replacement if Leicester get their man. Hopefully we'll keep him. Hutchinson - Chelsea thought he was going to partner and then replace Terry. A glittering career awaited. Unfortunately dodgy knees forced him to retire early. He trained Chelsea's kids for a few years and noticed his knees weren't hurting anymore. Made a playing comeback and Wednesday are the lucky beneficiaries. Not many better players than Sam but he still has biscuit knees. If he plays 30 matches this season we'll be happy. Abdi - signed from Watford for £4m last week. Played 32 PL matches for Watford last season. A technician that was always good for double figures in the Champiinship with Watford. Lee - The midfield engine. He's everywhere, chipped in with 8 goals last season. Bannan - you know as much as me. Our playmaker and worked his socks off last aeason. Seems to like being loved and he certainly is at Hillsborough. Forestieri - our talisman. Scored 15 goals last season, mainly from the left wing cutting in. Hooper - out and out goalscorer. He'll be hoping for 20 goals this season. Fletcher - again you'll know more than me due to his PL career. His aerial strength gives us an option we didn't have last season. In general, we have a team full of goals. CC has us well organised and drilled. The team spirit and bond with the fans is a very special one at the moment. One you rarely get in football. Weaknesses? We are definitely not a big team and therefore sometimes get exposed from crosses or set pieces. Also think our full backs can be exposed by goid wingers, especially with pace.

A proper club.