'Standout' 'One to get out of the way' - Sheffield Wednesday ratings from Stoke City friendly run-out
Sheffield Wednesday played two different sides across two 70-minute halves in a pre-season run-out against Stoke City - and came out second best.
A 140-minute training exercise saw Sheffield Wednesday lose out heavily to Stoke City on an afternoon that will have them considering some of their defensive decisions.
Individual errors worsened the 6-0 total scoreline, with the Owls squad for the second 70 minutes mismatches against a stronger Stoke line-up. The idea of the mammoth exercise was to bolster Wednesday’s fitness levels after a long week of training at their Budapest training camp - and that they did.
A clear difference between the first and second squads was shown, with new boys delivering a glimpse of what they can offer despite a 2-0 defeat - with the second round battling in the face of a 4-0 reversal.
These are early days and friendly results are of highly questionable relevance - here are our ratings from the OFB Campus in Vienna.
FIRST HALF SIDE
Lumley - 6
Got out to claim one early doors and again later in the first 35. Vocal and communicative with those in front of him. Beaten twice without making any real save, though both goals saw scorers plenty of time to pick their spot.
Fusire - 7
Got a stern word or two from his manager early doors but settled into things. Broke up play drifting in to good effect and joined the attack to decent impact. Passed-up one chance to shoot in the first quarter, cross from Bannan chip-ball was fizzed nicely and deserved an assist.
Palmer - 6
Got forward when he could and marshalled things nicely, battling the menacing Sorba Thomas initially to good effect. Couldn’t get his feet in order for one Bannan through-nudge but the run was excellent. Got into a spicy tet-a-tet with a Stoke player towards the end of the second quarter.
Otegbayo - 4
Could have done better for Stoke’s opener - was soft in shepherding Manhoef. Battled manfully up against the tricky Cisse but undercooked a pass to allow him to double their lead. Never short in commitment. One to get out of the way in pre-season.
Swinkels - 7
One of many to fall victim of the slippery surface from time to time, he looked an imposing figure and handy with the ball at feet, often trying line-breaking passes. One ball over the top for Barry to chase showed vision. At first glance, looks an interesting addition.
Lowe M - 7
Got forward to assist Barry and dovetailed nicely with him and Bannan. Word has it those three are developing a nice understanding. Read it nicely and took a bruise or two for his trouble. Excellent bit of recovery defending to deny Gallagher a shooting chance.
Thornton - 6
Tracked some of Ingelsson’s runs from midfield. Went about his business quietly for the most part but ticked things over. Used his body well under pressure on occasion and grew into things in the latter stages of the second 35.
Bannan - 7
Looked busy as ever, picking up the ball in space as a deep-lying playmaker. Jumped further up when plausible and got about things. One ball over the top to find Fusire was lovely. Mixed things up nicely and got plenty out of those around him. Like he’s never been away.
Slattery - 8
Played as a 10 and got close to the front man whenever possible. Lead the press often and with huge energy, interrupting Stoke once or twice to start promising attacks. Won foul after foul, first touch like a velvet pillow. A standout on the day, offering plenty in both directions. Feels like Wednesday have found themselves a player.
Barry - 7
The boy got a pair of wheels. Looks to have drummed-up an understanding with those around him and has a dangerous direction to him. There’s clearly a brain there too, recognising a moment he was swamped by Stoke defenders to pull back and retain possession. Inventive, wants to try things and plays with a swagger to him.
Lowe J - 5
Did the running and allowed those around him to work off spaces. Never quite in it as Wednesday had their brighter moments through others and so narrowly missed out . But no shortage of effort.
SECOND HALF SIDE
Dawson - 6
Made a good save midway through the third quarter. Could have done better with their third. As ever, hugely vocal and kept the tempo of things, supporting the youngsters in front of him. Off at the third break to allow Phillips a run-out.
Emery - 5
Didn’t give opposite man Martin too much joy down his flank early doors, though there was space between them as things went on. Put himself about. Recovered from a heavy moment late on in proceedings.
Weaver - 6
Good to see him out there again after injury woe. Plays with a sense of swagger that belies his age. Unlucky to record an own goal, the ball spinning off him after a chaotic passage. Sought to use the ball wisely and was happy to take a touch in a second half not bursting with in-possession quality. Late challenge on Seko was more than naughty - it’s a red in normal circumstances.
McGhee - 5
A couple of important interventions and battled hard up against a big old unit in Smit - though the big man got the better of him. Communicated well with Weaver, a senior man in comparative terms.
Johnson - 5
Got up the pitch when possible and didn’t lack in effort, but couldn’t impact things a great deal. Important volume in the legs and another learning experience.
Mitchell - 6
An expected starter when the real stuff comes around, he’s feeling his way back to full match fitness having done plenty of running away from the bulk of the squad in Hungary. Broke things up to good effect on occasion and sought to thread the ball around nicely. Blew a few cobwebs off on his first outing as an Owl and came of as scheduled after 35 minutes.
Oliver - 6
Pretty tidy on the ball. Will have benefitted from his first run-out in a ‘senior’ Owls side and darted about with enthusiasm, turning the ball over sensibly.
McNeill - 6
Showed glimpses of his huge ability, spinning free and flying a cross in from the byline early doors. It deserved better. A similarly inventive flick over to release Grainger not long afterwards was lovely, too. Showed some snarl going to other way too and played with a bit of bite he’s often been accused of lacking.
Grainger - 8
A standout figure in what bits and pieces we’ve seen on this training camp, he started as part of a four-pronged attack and had his moments, darting between defenders when he could. One chance saw him spin in the box and get a shot away, but it went wide and he could have done better. Showed tenacity to recover the ball and get a shot off late on, showed lovely feet to win a foul or two.
Gray - 5
Started out on the left of proceedings and offered some nice touches. A little lackadaisical coming to retrieve the ball from McGhee’s pass out in a dangerous area and was pickpocketed too easily for Stoke to score - a moment that opened the floodgates. Showed endeavour with limited opportunity second half.
Moses - 5
Lead the line, peeling off a couple of strong pull-downs. Didn’t get much in the way of chances to show what he can do but showed willing and didn’t stop running. Wrapped up a touch by man mountain Talovierov and the experienced Gibson.
Sopala (Sub) - 6
On for Mitchell in a pre-planned switch. One of the least experienced players on tour but set about things, showing for it and not doing much wrong.
Phillips (Sub) - 4
On in place of Dawson for a run-out. Looked calm in distribution initially but made a muddle of himself for Stoke’s fourth, beaten far too easily at the front post. His feet let him down for a fifth, allowing Smit to double his tally. Another who will have benefitted from a week’s exposure to senior football - he’ll learn from it.