What are you expecting from this one?
Opinions amongst Wednesdayites concering the upcoming season are certainly varied. The most optimistic amongst us believe we can challenge for the playoffs while our more pessimistic bunch would say we are in for another season of struggle. While I'm not writing off either situation I'm certainly in the camp that thinks we will improve upon our placing of 19th last season, without really threatening anything more than mid-table mediocrity. I'll certainly be quite happy with a placing of 10th-15th whilst a long overdue cup run would be welcome to boost the coffers!
Last season we played Watford on the first game of the season, any chance history could repeat it self with you guys gaining promotion?
Haha I'd dearly love for that to be the case but I think the only promotions we'll be concerned about this season are the latest offers in the club shop! At this stage I'd just be happy for us to fare better than Watford did on the opening day last season.
You managed to take four points off us last season only Reading managed more, how do you think you will fair against us this season?
If you offered me four points right now I'd be more
than happy that's for sure. Preston have an excellent squad and I see no reason why you shouldn't challenge for promotion this season. Whilst on our day I think we are capable of beating any side I'd be more than happy with a point this weekend. As for the Hillsborough fixture; ask me about that in February!Any new players signed in the close season that we should be worried about?
Sadly we couldn't persuade Fabio Cannavaro to join us at Hillsborough but we
have signed two proven Championship midfielders and two young lads with loads of potential. Kenny Lunt has made over 400 appearances for Crewe in this league and having seen him play at Hillsborough for the first time this weekend I think he will be a valuable asset. Yoann Folly featured against Preston for us back in March but at that stage he was only on loan at Wednesday. He is now a permanent signing from Southampton. Madjid Bougherra has been signed from French side FC Guegnon after a successful loan stint at Crewe last season; it's no coincidence that their revival towards the end of last season came when Bougherra was at centre back. Finally there's Wade Small; a lightning right winger from MK Dons. However, he has been injured throughout pre-season so no-one really knows what to expect from him yet. Also we should have a new goalkeeper in place by Saturday but as yet I could only speculate as to who that might be!How has the pre-season gone in terms of preperation?
Whilst we haven't exactly had a great pre-season results-wise it seems we are getting there in terms of preparation. Sadly I couldn't make it out to the USA for our pre-season tour but by all accounts that was an important tour for team building more than anything. The effects of jetlag were seemingly to blame for our 4-0 defeat at Mansfield last week but the sid
e looked a lot sharper in our 2-1 defeat to a strong Middlesbrough side on Saturday. We still have one more friendly at Burton on Tuesday night but I would imagine avoiding injury at this late stage is now the main thing. Frankly I think we're all just dieing to get the season proper underway.Finally predictions for the opener?
I hate predicting but I got the 1-2 scoreline right on Saturday so maybe I'm on a roll; I'm gonna sit on the fence and say a 1-1 draw. I don't think we genuinely have the strength up front to go to Deepdale and win but I do think we are more than capable of draw if David Nugent is a bit rusty at this early stage...well I can hope.
