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The Opposition View – Sheffield Wednesday

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As we look ahead to tomorrow’s game, we caught up with Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder and fan, Ash Finney, to ask a few questions ahead of the game.

As we look ahead to tomorrow’s game, we caught up with Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder and fan, Ash Finney (@AshFinney1), to ask a few questions ahead of the game. Vital Reading asks him about Dave Jones’ sacking, Stuart Gray’s appointment and his expectations for the rest of the season. We spoke to Ash earlier in the season, which can be read here.

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1. What were your expectations before the season started and what are they now?

I honestly thought at the start of the season that we could maybe push for a top 10 finish, obviously we will struggle to do so unless something drastic happens but if we carry on how we are going I think a 13-16 place will do nicely for this season.

2. What did you make of your transfer business in January?

I think the big one was bringing Connor Wickham back for another 28 days, he has won us a lot of points and I’m hoping that we can resign him on loan when it opens on Friday, other than that it was a pretty dry one for us, we brought in Oguchi Onyewu who hasn’t been too bad but can be a liability and also Benik Afobe who didn’t have the worst of debuts at the weekend vs Barnsley.

3. Since we last spoke, Dave Jones was sacked. Did you feel that this decision was justified?

I do feel the decision to sack Dave was the correct one, to only win 1/2 games all season before he was sacked was absolutely diabolical (I think one was against you lads if I remember correctly?) I personally believe that he should have gone earlier than that but it’s obviously proving that it was the right decision to sack him.

4. After a long yet successful spell in caretaker charge, Stuart Gray was appointed full time manager a few weeks ago. Did you agree with him being made permanent manager?

At first I thought that Mandaric was just going to go for the cheap option when the rumours first started flying round that we was going to employ Stuart on a permanent basis but he proved a hell of a lot of people wrong in his caretaker role and fully deserves what he has got! unbeaten in 10 at the minute (in all competitions) and we are looking fairly strong.

5. Who are your stand out players in the side at the moment?

At the minute our biggest stand out players are Chris Kirkland, Kieran Lee and Chris Maguire. All 3 of them are in top form, Kirkland has been amazing all season and has won us so many points with his vital saves it’s been unreal! Kieran Lee has come into great form and it’s a wonder why Jones never played him at all when he was here.

Finally I’ve left Maguire till last, for him to still be here after the way Jones treated him is great! Jones signed him for an undisclosed fee from Derby then never gave the lad a chance, when he did he gave him the odd game and said he wasn’t no where near good enough for the championship, now he’s actually getting game time he’s proving why Jones should’ve played him and is popping up with some crucial goals for us.

6. If you could take any Reading player at the moment, who would it be and why?

I’m going to have to probably say Adam Le Fondre, I think I said him last time, but without Wickham I still believe we lack a top goalscorer upfront and that is what we need as we can’t afford to keep missing the chances we are creating.

7. What starting XI and shape do you expect to see on Saturday from Gray?

I’d expect a straight 4-4-2 on Saturday, I’d probably expect an unchanged side from the win against Barnsley which would be:

Kirkland
Palmer Onyewu Llera Mattock
Maguire Lee Semedo Maghoma
Nuhiu Afobe

8. What is your prediction for the game?

I think that it will be a tight game but I can’t see us coming away with a win, being 10 unbeaten I feel that that run has to come to an end soon so I’m going to say either 2-1 to you guys or 2-2! I hope it’s the latter if even better a win for us!

All the best for the rest of the season lads! Hopefully we will be in the same division from my point of view next season!

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