Wednesday - V Reading OMDT

[Lord Snooty]

 

  
   "Good evening Sir. Shall I grab you a brandy and fire up the laptop?"
   "No there won't be any need. I'll have another round of sandwiches though and a fresh pot of tea. I'm just getting to a good part in my book"
   "What book is that Sir?"
   "Azincourt, Stubbs. Our archers sticking it to the Frogs. I'm just getting to the interesting bit."
   "But Sir, shouldn't you be trawling Owlstalk and The Stir for this weeks gossip?"
   "Well no actually Stubbs, because there won't be any gossip"
   "Pardon Sir?"

   "There won't be any gossip"

   "There's always gossip Sir. The media. The support, they're powered on gossip. It's their life force."
   "Well their batteries will be low then Stubbs. Did you hear Bruce's press conference today?"
   "I didn't Sir."
   "Well I did. He answered every question. Thoroughly. Answered them honestly and frankness . Not a swerve , food analogy or riddle in sight.  Played it with a straight bat and left no room for stirrers , mixers and rogues to make things up by filling in the gaps.  He's literally given them no scope for the usual liberal sprinklings of bull. He's gone and batted with honesty and fact. A faultless performance in control."

 

 

   "But the OMDT Sir. I mean, we always try and put some of the gossip in"
   "Well that is at an end Stubbs. At an end."
   "Right. Well, I suppose so. But that's a bit dull isn't it?"
   "Dull suits me Stubbs. The constant conspiracies are tiring. They're hobby for the short attention spanned. The  fidgeters and people who can't sit still. For people with a need for constant drama and conflict. For the nutters, wums, mischievous hacks and blunts."
    "Right. But.... Bruce's first game in charge at home though Sir, you want some excitement surely."
    "Indeed Stubbs, indeed. And I think we'll get it. But we'll get it in the right place. In the Stadium. Out there on the park!  Not in the comments sections and the message boards.  The Bruce's first game at Hillsborough. The first time he'll send his charges out in the blue and white stripes. That's where the drama should come. Not making rot up about peoples contracts and transfer targets.  Mind, I hope he's not disappointed when he steps out."
    "Disappointed?"
    "Well, you know,  he's been making a lot of 'the support'. The 'remarkable support'.  I just hope we make some noise tomorrow for him and then keep it going throughout the game.  Get behind the lads and put Reading to the sword. "
    "I'm sure that'll be the case, Sir"
    "I'm not so sure Stubbs. Not so sure . Hillsborough is notoriously quiet. There's no point beating around the bush here. There are times it's like a museum in there but for the odd murmurs and grumbles about Fox or Palmer. Yes, I'm sure they'll give him a warm reception before kickoff but as the players line up and  Hi-Ho silver fades and the first whistle is parped, I fear the roar will die down into its usual echoing silence."
    "Blimey. You are a bit down in the dumps Sir."
    "No, not at all just being a realist Stubbs, just being a realist"
    "Well as long as you're not becoming The Realist."
    "Heavens above no! As I said I just hope that the lads get out of the traps fast while the positive feeling is still in the air. Get on the front foot and play like we did at Ipswich.  Big Ron always used to say that to the lads. "Get at em the first ten minutes and this lot will back you to the hilt."  But are those different days Stubbs.  Different times?"
    "Are you sure you don't want a drink Sir?"
    "Quite sure. If we play like we did at Ipswich I see nothing but another win. A comfortable 2-0"
    "Got to start taking those chances though Sir."
    "Indeed Stubbs. But at least  we're creating chances . Two, three , four proper chances last week rather than the old 50/50 odds and sods.  You've got to be in the right place to miss them, or something. Know what I mean?"
    "Indeed Sir."
    "Right then. Sandwiches when you're ready Stubbs and stick the match facts in for the early morning club."
    "Erm...Sir"
    "Yes?"
    "You know you said that Bruce's honesty and straight batting stopping the gossip mongering and stirring?"
    "Yes....?"
    "Well it seems Radio Sheffield are playing an interview with Westwood where he's claiming Jos told him his not playing was about money but Chansiri said it wasn't...and well, it's all over Facebook some lad is saying that the other two keepers were told it was about money, twitter, oohh  folks  are rowing about whether Jos has been stitched up by the Chairman covering his arris, or whether Jos used the Chairman as a convenient excuse to drop a character he didn't like.."
    "Great shades of Elvis!  Stubbs, people will stop at nothing to ensure there's always negative debate around the Wednesday. Bruce has come out and talked about playing on the front foot. Scoring goals. Closing down higher up the park getting wins, making a late surge, making Hillsborough a fortress and what do people latch onto? Eh? What do they Velcro onto? Something that's got no definitive answer. Something that's nothing to do with Bruce.  Something that can be chewed on and spat out and argued about. The scheming and mixing. The misdirection.  It won't end will it?  It'll never end. Not even with The honest Bruce at the helm.   Stubbs, Brandy, large one and fire up the laptop."

 

WEDNESDAY - V - READING

Sky Bet Championship
3:00pm Saturday 9th February
Hillsborough  

OWLS  1/1   DRAW 23/10   ROYALS 14/5

 

    "Right Sir. Wednesday news. New signings Dominic Iorfa, Rolando Aarons and Achraf Lazaar could feature in Steve Bruce's first home game . Though the manager has hinted it'll be the same back that played against Ipswich.

Loanee Josh Onomah is out with a hamstring injury. This time on his good leg!

Gary Hooper is nearing full fitness after a groin operation and will train with the lads next week but will be a month away from genuine consideration.

Reading forward Nelson Oliveira is sidelined because of a broken nose sustained   in a collision with-"

   "Collision Stubbs?! Collision? That wasn't a bloody collision. It was a bloody assault! The terrible shytehouse Mings bloody stamped on him. On purpose too, nothing will ever persuade me otherwise. He should have been banned till the end of the season. Criminal. Absolutely bloody criminal."

   "Mings scored against the Pigs tonight Sir"

   "Well, ok, maybe I'm being a bit harsh then. He should be banned for the rest of the season..starting  from Monday morning"

 

 

 

 

 

MATCH STATS

 

• Sheffield Wednesday have won their last three games against Reading in all competitions.

 

• Reading have won only one of their last six matches at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday in all competitions (W1 D1 L4).

 

• Sheffield Wednesday have won four of their last seven league games (W4 D2 L1), including each of the last two. They last won three in a row in September, with a victory against Reading the third game in this run.

 

• Reading are without a win in 11 away matches in league competition (D5 L6) since a 3-2 victory against Preston in September.

 

• No Sheffield Wednesday player has been directly involved in more league goals this season than Adam Reach (10)

 

• Only Bolton (86) have made more changes to their starting XI in the Championship this season than Reading (83).

 

 

 

COME ON WEDNESDAY!

 

[SupremeOwl]

'Reading are without a win in 11 away matches in league competition (D5 L6) since a 3-2 victory against Preston in September.'

 

This marginally concerns me. 

[Morepork]

Thanks Snoots.

 

I hope for a positive performance, a positive result and the beginning of a beautiful relationship between SB and the Hillsborough faithful.

 

Game on.

[MrsHall]

5-0 Wednesday, chances taken. UTO.

[Morepork]

1 minute ago, SupremeOwl said:

'Reading are without a win in 11 away matches in league competition (D5 L6) since a 3-2 victory against Preston in September.'

 

This marginally concerns me. 

 

Fear not my friend....that demon is getting exorcised!!! Hopefully not exercised.... 

[Spondon Owl]

Very good. Top bannan old chum. Bravo.

 

Cheer on the owls. Huzzah.

[Holmowl]

Snoots has found a Tardis.

 

First win by more than one goal tmoz. Really looking forward to my first game watching Bruce’s team.

 

3-0 Fletch FF Bannan

[Lord Snooty]

  "Stubbs fetch the car!"

  "What now?"

  "Yes now."

  "Have you got an urge for a Ginsters pasty?"

  "No. We're on a mission. To track down the Sid emoji. The very foundations of Owlstalk will crumble if it's not returned."

  "At once Sir."

 

 

[Ronio]

I'm going for a 2 nil Wednesday win.  

 

Forestieri and Bazza with the goals.

 

UTO

[owls maniac]

Really is a game we should be winning. 

[BRADDO]

Good stuff Snoots. Come on Wednesday. 

[Pablo Bonvin]

Nice one Snoots.

 

The weekend has started well football wise. Let’s hope it can carry on to a natural conclusion tomorrow. We should win this one.....

 

Up the Owls.

 

Good luck finding Sid by the way. Your adventure reminds me of British Gas in the 80s.

 

 

[Mr. Tom]

Sixteen nil. Done messin’ abahrt now.

 

If we don’t win tomorrow we can forget about three points in Bruce’s first home game.

[The Regulator]

Lovely stuff. Feeling nice and positive for once as I head to bed. Looking forward to taking my 6 year old daughter to her second game tomorrow. Her first was Luton. Hopefully she’ll have more to get excited about than the Beres sandwich this time

 

UTO.

[Doghouse Daz]

Absolute peach of an OMDT Milord. Tenner just slapped on a top 6 finish, nah take us up that stairway to heaven you Blue and White Wizards. 

 

COME ON WEDNESDAY !!! 

 

14 - 0 everyone scoring, Westwood 'n all. 

[S36 OWL]

Sid predicts a 3-0 Wednesday win

 

[Stoop]

On our way 

we’re on our way 

[s6 owl]

I'm confident about this one.

 

 3-0 Wednesday Nando, Big Hec and Joao on the score sheet

[edmontonowl]

A jolly read to warm up a chilly (currently -23, later down to -30) evening in the colonies, M'lud.

 

"Azincourt" though.

 

I was at Agincourt once. It was quarter-past 2 in the afternoon. Shame the 24-hour clock hadn't been invented at the time

 

C'est la vie

 

And speaking Reading things..............................2-1 Owls

 

See yuz all on the flip side (2nd half I expect)

 

 

Now pass the sandwiches

 

[Gresh]

Great OMDT as usual.  I have a good feeling about this game and think we'll get an emphatic 4 v 0 win with FF bagging a brace and being back to his best. Make it happen Wednesday!