As we look forward to tomorrow’s game at Sheffield Wednesday, we caught up with Wednesday season ticket holder and fan, Ash Finney.
As we look forward to tomorrow’s game at Sheffield Wednesday, we caught up with Wednesday season ticket holder and fan, Ash Finney (@AshFinney1). We ask Ash about his expectations for the season, the start Drenthe has had, his prediction for the match, among other topics.
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1. You have had a good start to the season, with your away form being very good, but your home form letting you down – why do you think this is?
Yes we have had an excellent start too the season, the away form has been absolutely brilliant but like you say our home form hasn’t been the best but it’s not concerning. We was 30 seconds away from beating Millwall before they equalised in the 95th minute and we played very well against Nottingham Forest which was live on Sky but I am most definitely not concerned about our home form at all.
2. What were your expectations before the season started and after your good start, have they changed at all?
My expectations before the season were to have a mid table finish but now we’ve got off to an excellent start I am hoping that we can have a top 10 finish and maybe even push for a play-off place but I don’t know if we will be able to achieve this but there is no reason why we can’t push for that last play-off position.
3. What did you make of your recent transfer window?
Our recent transfer window was a fairly successful one to be honest with you. I think the players that Stuart has brought in have definitely strengthened our squad. Tom Lees has been nothing less than quality in central defence along with Kieren Westwood leading from the back in between the sticks. Stevie May has also showed his quality in the few games he’s played.
4. Royston Drenthe didn`t exactly set the world alright down here, has he shown any signs that he can in Sheffield?
Drenthe has only played around 40 minutes making 2 substitute appearances since joining. He has definitely added more energy and speed into the squad and he reminds me a lot of Jermaine Johnson who we released in summer and although Drenthe should’ve scored against Bolton in the dying embers of the game he has had a fairly solid start to his swfc career.
5. It goes without saying, but Stuart Gray has done an incredible job with Sheffield Wednesday. What do you think he had, that previous managers didn`t to succeed at this level?
Stuart Gray has brought the squad’s spirit and teamwork levels through the roof, everyone works hard every game for that man and he is respected 100% by every single one of them players and they all want to work for him. Stuart is a down to earth guy who the players thrive working under. I’ve spoke to a couple of the players and they have said how much they love playing under Stuart and how the place is buzzing with tremendous team spirit.
6. Which Wednesday player(s) do you expect to have a big season?
Stevie May, Tom Lees, Glenn Loovens and Kieren Westwood are the players I think that will have an amazing season this term. Westwood has kept 4/7 clean sheets so far and is commanding his back 4 excellently. That doesn’t go without saying that Lees and Loovens have been solid at the back and have helped Westwood out keeping these. I also expect Stevie May to have an excellent season and he has shown glimpses of quality in his early stage of his S6 career.
7. If you could take any Reading player, who would it be and why?
I’m not sure which player I would like to take from Reading to be honest with you, we could do with strengthening at left back so even though he is a right back I would probably say i’d take Chris Gunter off you as I have always rated him highly.
8. What starting XI and shape do you expect to see from Gray on Saturday?
I expect to see the same starting line-up as we played against Birmingham in midweek where we won 2-0 at St Andrews with goals coming from Stevie May and Jeremy Helan so I fully expect Gray to go with the same line-up and tactics as he did Tuesday night.
9. What is your prediction for the game?
Last season I predicted a 2-1 or 3-1 Reading win I think and we ended up coming out with a 5-2 victory, so i’m going to go with this same prediction based on what happened last season and hoping that history will repeat itself 😉 hahaha.
