The Gameplan
Difficult to say really. We can play two different styles. At home against Stoke on Tuesday, some of our football was a joy to watch. While at Southend three days earlier, it was more of a direct style. I think we will not make it pretty at the KC but I think it is a game where both teams will be looking to get all the points. We can be hard to break down though and our defence is looking strong.
Strengths
Well we don't score at the moment – that's our major problem. We create chances and we can stop another team scoring, we can't finish off a game ourselves though. If Chris Brunt plays, he may be a threat from set-pieces. Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton are quality strikers at this level but depends on how fit they are. Lloyd Sam is also due a good game after signing from Charlton on loan.
Weaknesses
Scoring goals. Tudgay, clinical at times last season, missed a real chance against Stoke in the last minute when he just had too much time to think and drilled his shot wide. We tend to concede most of our goals from stupid set-pieces when we are not concentrating. But to be honest we do look better at the back this season.
Injuries/Suspensions
Key players Steve MacLean, Richard Wood, Drew Talbot and Yoann Folly are all out while Glenn Whelan and John Hills could both miss the game too.
Player by Player/Predicted line up
GOALKEEPER Brad Jones
Looks very mobile so far and a good shot stopper, although I am not fully convinced with him as of yet. A few early errors and some poor distribution have put us in the mire so to speak but I think he will come good.
RIGHT BACK Frankie Simek
One of the best players from last season and so far, he has started this campaign well too. Very good at going forward and hard in the tackle, our American full-back is a massive crowd favourite at Hillsborough and he has made the shirt his own.
LEFT BACK Tommy Spurr
A centre-half by trade, the youngster has been outstanding this season. Sure he is not that experienced but everything he does is no-nonsense and he looks like he will be quite an asset.
CENTRAL DEFENCE Graham Coughlan
To say that he is such a warrior on the pitch, Cocko is one of the nicest blokes you could possibly meet. His pace can let him down at times but his leadership, quality in the air and 110percent commitment will see him have more good games than bad ones.
CENTRAL DEFENCE Madjid Bougherra
Looks to be one hell of a player this kid – strong in the air, good on the ground and ambitious going forward, the Algerian international is becoming a crowd favourite. Needs more time to settle in as he looked a bit dodgy at the start of the season but hopefully he is coming good now.
RIGHT MIDFIELD Lloyd Sam
Signed on loan from Charlton, he looks very quick and tricky but hasn't set the world alight so far. I think he will be a good player and he is due a good game!
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Glenn Whelan
Glenn will be the first to admit that he wasn't on top form last season but after being transfer-listed in the summer, harshly so many Wednesdayites thought, the Ireland Under-21 skipper has been our best player so far. Big things are expected of him when he is on top form.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Steve Adams
Doesn't get the credit he deserves. I remember him having a storming game up at the KC when Wednesday won 2-1 there a few years ago. But he does the dirty work in midfield which no one else wants to do. If he keeps fit, he is a key member of the team
LEFT MIDFIELD Chris Brunt
Brunty is a talented lad, no doubt about that. But he is terribly inconsistent and it infuriates Wednesdayites. On his day though he has a sweet left foot and is a real threat from dead-ball situations, out wide and shooting from distance.
STRIKER Deon Burton
Deon is technically gifted, arguably our best player. His control and vision is Premiership quality at times but he sometimes thinks too quickly for the other players around him! He can look quite laid back at times but he covers every inch of grass when he plays as a loan striker.
STRIKER Marcus Tudgay
Again, another quality player who is just coming back from injury. His goals were instrumental to us staying up last year. Can play wide right or in attack and on his day, he can be a massive part of our squad.
SUBS
Lee Bullen
Like Coughlan, one of the nicest blokes around. He is a great laugh and the fans love him. He had a bit of stick from supporters in his first season because of a few mistakes but that made him a better player and a popular captain. Played in every position for the club, including in goal!
Sean McAllister
Young midfielder who doesn't seem to put a foot wrong. I don't think he will start but he looks a decent player so far.
Kenny Lunt
There's no doubt that the former Crewe man is a brilliant player but he hasn't settled into life at Hillsborough yet. Now is the time to make his mark
Season Preview
Written before the start of the season:
How did you fare last season?
We did what we had to do: stay up. In the end we did really well after putting a great run together, mainly thanks to loan signings Scott Carson and Yoann Folly, the latter of which has been signed permanently.
How do you expect you'll do this season?
Mid-table, I think we will come good without scaring the major competition of the championship.
What have you done on the transfer market this summer? Which of your new signings are you expecting most from?
We have brought in Brad Jones from Middlesbrough on loan. We were hoping to sign Carson but we waited too long and got Jones instead. He looks a decent player at times but can lose concentration. Madjid Bougherra is an Algerian international who has impressed so far alongside Graham Coughlan at the back. Yoann Folly was picked up from Southampton after doing well on loan here last season. He is a great player but is currently injured. Kenny Lunt is a veteran at championship level but we haven't seen the best of him yet and Lloyd Sam is a tall winger from Charlton who is here on loan but we haven't seen great things from him as of yet.
Have you any promising youngsters breaking into the team?
Tommy Spurr is looking excellent at the back deputising for John Hills. He has earned rave reviews from his team-mates and got on with the job at hand well. Yoann Folly could be a world beater, I would love to see him at Hillsborough for a few years but if he keeps playing the way he is, he won't be here for long when he returns from injury.
Have you got the right man in charge of the team? Will he still be there at the end of the season?
If you ask any Wednesdayite the same question they will say that Paul Sturrock is the man for the job, the fans adore him. But if you ask chairman Dave Allen that, you don't know. I think he will be here at the end of the season and longer but you never know.
Is the club being run well? Are you likely to be singing 'Sack the board' any time soon?
Allen has done wonders at the club to stabilise it, I honestly dread to think what would have happened if he wasn't here. My only worry is though he is now talking like a real football man when he should let others do that. We have a budget and we have to stick to it but in some respects you have to speculate to accumulate – I just hope he gives us a bit more money to make us a real solid team.
Which team do you most want to beat and why?
We don't like United and Leeds to be honest. Easy to understand why. Barnsley seem to hate us but we don't worry about them too much. But in all honesty I want to beat every team we come up against – especially at Hillsborough because we need to make that place a fortress again.
Who do you think's going up?
Sunderland have strengthened well and Keane will be a massive coup for them, Birmingham will join them automatically while Norwich, Leeds, Palace and West Brom have to be serious contenders for a play-off berth.
Who do you think's going down?
Colchester will put up a brave fight but they will not be good enough. I picked Southend and Barnsley to join them but I think they will stay up because they know where the net is so Leicester and Plymouth could struggle.
How do you reckon Hull City will fare in the Championship?
About a point either side of Wednesday – hopefully that means in the top ten!