Alan Biggs: Closing the case on Sheffield Wednesday's No.1 issue

Here’s where one of the most contentious of many contentious issues at Sheffield Wednesday over the past couple of years is finally put to bed.
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Three games in, no goals conceded. An open and shut case when it comes to custodians; was open, now shut.

On goalkeepers, this column has always respectfully deferred to the likes of the following - Martin Hodge, Kevin Pressman, Chris Turner, Mark Crossley and Nicky Weaver.

All kept goal with distinction for Wednesday.

Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson are battling it out at Sheffield Wednesday. (via Getty)Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson are battling it out at Sheffield Wednesday. (via Getty)
Joe Wildsmith and Cameron Dawson are battling it out at Sheffield Wednesday. (via Getty)
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All have told me personally in the recent past that they rated both Cameron Dawson and Joe Wildsmith (alphabetical order) very highly. They struggled to split them.

It is such a specialised position - much avoided by most of us! - that we really should hesitate to condemn a goalkeeper unless an obvious howler has been committed.

Keepers are best listened to on keepers (oh, and add former Owls academy coach Tommy Lee, who worked alongside Weaver, to that list). Certainly better listened to than the noise that variously enveloped both Owls keepers, Dawson especially, last season.

I say “both” when I really mean two of three senior ones, Keiren Westwood having been frozen out by Garry Monk.

That had nothing to do with Wildsmith or Dawson. However, I agreed with Chris Turner’s recent point that the presence of a former number one, who was outstanding and popular, was a cross to bear for the much younger pair.

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Fans will have their views on the rights and wrongs of this but for some time they have owed it to Dawson and Wildsmith to put any recriminations aside. If any haven’t, that time is now.

More importantly, they owe it to the team they support - and ultimately themselves. Because there was - and is - no way getting at either keeper to champion Westwood was going to have any effect, except possibly on the confidence of the younger duo.

Westwood will inevitably leave - with much due praise for his contribution - sooner or later, albeit a protracted process while still on contract.

Monk made his choice and was rightly backed.

As a general point, I think he is absolutely correct to have shaken up the squad, made it younger and put the focus on unity within.

Wildsmith (24) and Dawson (25) are the future of the club. That said, it is time to become a proven part of the present.

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While those ages are still young for keepers, these are players of some experience - 59 and 69 appearances for the Owls respectively.

They should be developing a level of consistency. Both have shown their capabilities.

Without specialist knowledge of the position, what convinces me in both cases is proof of character and personality.

Firstly, anyone who wants to keep goal at any level has to have a bit of both. Multiply that times over to do it in a Hillsborough type environment.

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There are decent players in many other positions who have shrunk from the stature of Sheffield Wednesday. I think Dawson and Wildsmith have shown they can stand up to it.

In a strange way the criticism they have received by proxy to Westwood, magnified by the politics of the situation, will contribute to helping them in the long run.

But isn’t it time everyone gave them an even break, judging them on performance alone? There is great competition between them and the chances are high that the goalkeeping position will become one of the strongest at the club.

Certainly, this season’s early evidence handsomely supports that.

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