Just got back now, and there have been three things going around my head on the way back after todays match.
1. There are no excuses for not filling the subs bench. OK, there are probably timing issues with registering players for the first team, but our injury list has been growing and growing in recent weeks, so why not make sure some of the reserves / youth are eligible if required.
2. The loan system can be great, and we could all list a fair few players who have done the business for us over the years. However, the players brought in need to be hungry, desperate and eager to impress - wether it is their parent club in the hope af a recall and first team action, or their "new" club in the hope of securing a permanent deal at the end of the loan period. Today it was apparent that Jarrett and Constantine are here to go through the motions and get "match fit" - I know Jarrett has been out injured, but seriously, he has not been fit since arriving, and a decent game on his debut is not good enough. Constantine, well, this is not the same player that has caused us many a problem in recent years.
3. If we are put in a position where we need to play kids, make sure they're OUR young 'uns, not some bugger elses. I really felt sorry for O'Donnell today, but not as mush as I did for Josh Bell. Good enough to be on the bench for a good part of the year, but when the emergency that he is there for arises, Shez brings in a 19yr with no first team experience to start ahead of him. There is no doubt that that O'Donnell will learn plenty from todays game, and maybe more to come, and he will take that back to Sheffield Wednesday with him. That experience could, and should, have gone to Josh.
KTF