View From T'Other Side: Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday

1. After last seasons late surge to the verge of a play-off place, what's happened this season to see you struggling?

I think the finish to last season flattered us a bit and raised expectations too high. Even so, we should have at least been on course for a mid-table campaign this time around but if you sell your best players and replace them with ones that are not as good then you are going to struggle. MacLean was a big loss, not just for his goals but his link up play as well. Brunt had his critics but if you look at the goals we scored last season he was involved in a great deal of them.

2. Wednesday lost the first six games of the season, did support for Brian Laws severely waver in that time?

Not really, I think most of the frustration was directed towards the board for the reasons stated above. We had a strong finish to last season but failed to take advantage of this and went backwards as a result of our transfer dealings. I know the club has to pay off its debts but if we had kept the two players above and added a couple of astute signings then a top half finish and a possible play-off spot could have been possible. This would have improved attendances at Hillsborough and kept money coming in to pay off debts from other revenue streams.

3. And on that note is Laws the right man for the job

At the moment the jury is still out on that one. He seems a honest man who works hard for the club but some of his signings have not been great and his tactical decisions are also confusing at times. Having said that he has had to operate with his hands tied, if he can lead us to safety then we will have to be content with that.

4. There's been massive arguments between Dave Allen and fans, how do you feel that's affected the club and what's happened there?

It certainly has not helped matters. It is thought that a large number of fans have stayed away from Hillsborough in protest at the way the club has been run in recent times. Since he departed as Chairman things have not improved and the club has been in some sort of limbo. hopefully talks of a takeover will bear fruit this time and not just be another false dawn for the club.

5. Beating Sheffield United obviously means most to Wednesday fans but what would beating Barnsley mean to you personally?

There is pride at stake in all local derbies, be it the pigs,you lot, rotherham, doncaster or even chesterfield in recent seasons. United is obviously the biggest one as it divides families and friends and gives bragging rights at work but the fact that we regularly have 7,000+ fans at Oakwell shows how much it means to us.

6. What do you make of Barnsley's season so far?

I thought you made a great start which at the time compounded or terrible one but we have been in touching distance of you in the league in recent weeks and with our games in hand we have the potential to finish above you if we can win on Saturday. All in all I think you have more to pleased with about your season thus far than either of the Sheffield clubs do.

How do you reckon we will get on against Chelsea? Can we beat them?

You have to say the odds are against it but as at Anfield, you never know.

7. Who do you see as Barnsley's danger-men?

It's difficult to look beyond Howard given the season he has had and the attention he has attracted, I am glad that your German keeper Muller is out injured as he was having a good season as well. Its a pity for us that you got Steele in as I was looking forward to us facing Tony Warner, he has dropped a few clangers against us.

8. And who should we look out for in the Wednesday team?

Sodje has been something of a surprise talisman for us this season and we will miss his presence in the team. Tudgay is a streaky sort of player who is in a good scoring streak at the moment so hopefully this will continue.

9. Score Prediction for Saturday?

It's about time we turned our dismal away form round, hopefully the strong away support will inspire the team to a 2-1 win with goals from Macken for you lot, Small and Tudgay for us.

10. Where do you see both sides finishing this season?

12. Whose going up and whose going down?
West Brom have the best set of players but they blew it last season and have started to wobble this time as well. If they can get it together they should go up, Watford have recent experience of this situation and I fancy them along with Stoke or Ipswich.