Life at Hillsbrough had been pretty sweet under Dave Jones until recently. Back in August everything was smelling of roses;unbeaten in the league, playing well and knocking out Premiership opposition in the League Cup but since then it’s been a run of 8 losses and 2 draws in all competitions. The disgraceful display put on by Leeds fans at Hillsborough last Friday, with one waste of functioning organs in particular, helped as a smokescreen for Jones poor run of form but with a game away to managerless Ipswich Town tomorrow, the only club lower than them in the league right now, followed by a home game against Peterborough United, the team that handed the baton of bad form to Wednesday not so long ago, are going to massive for Dave Jones.
In fairness to Jones, Wednesday have been creating chances but we still lack that bit of confidence in front of goal and playing against a team with lower morale than us might be exactly what we need. On top of that 4 of the last 5 games have been against teams in the top ten of the league so there is hope for the travelling blue and white army that will be on there way to Suffolk this weekend.
Ipswich haven’t won in the league at home this season and only managed to score more than one goal against Huddersfield Town in a 2-2 draw back at the start of September whereas Wednesday are without a win away this season, the team I had the misfortune to grow up supporting, some might say, they have shown a certain amount of fight. This was most evident against Burnley in a thrilling 3-3 draw in which Charlie Austin nearly stole the show until Michael Antonio scored an absolute peach to get a late equaliser. For those that haven’t seen it click here.
Milan Mandaric has given Jones the dreaded vote of confidence already this season and with games against fellow relegation strugglers to come in the next couple of weeks excuses will be harder to find.
If we don’t win this weekend the inevitable ‘new manager syndrome’ could be used although technically the Tractor Boys have a caretaker in charge and it would only add more pressure on to the game at Hillsborough against Peterborough on the 3rd of November. At least we’ve actually won at our own ground this season.
Personally I think Dave Jones unbeaten run at the end of our campaign last year is enough to give him at least till Christmas to see how he copes in the job but the fact that his predecessor was fired after beating rivals Sheffield United at home make it hard to say what will happen in the coming weeks if results don’t go Jones’ way. Thanks to the Milan factor though I think there is a small chance of us bagging his old chum Arry Redknapp to replace him. It will depend mostly on what happens to Blackburn and Southampton in the next few weeks but I’d certainly would love to see him take up the reigns at S6.
Either way nothing can be decided till we face Ipswich Town tomorrow, it’ll be a massive game for both sides but days after ex-Wendesday manager Paul Jewell resigned the fate of the current Wednesday boss could be sealed too.
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.