Looking through the social media reactions to Sheffield Wednesday’s victory over Sunderland in midweek one tweet, in particular, stood out to me.
The first round clash in this year’s EFL Cup saw Wednesday take a 2-0 victory on Thursday evening with goals coming from Marco Matias and Adam Reach as we set up a tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the second round stage.
A few things made the proverbial headlines from the game at the Stadium of Light, last season’s Under 18 skipper Alex Hunt came in for his senior debut for a start, 20-year-old Frederick Nielsen returned to the starting lineup as he continues his development in the game and of course a win is a win in football and that should bolster confidence after a difficult summer.
The game also showed once again just how important Barry Bannan is to our chances of success and the tweet that stood out to me, not only pointed that out but also made a bold claim.
Yesterday’s observations #swfc
-Palmer was solid for a change
– Fletcher just doesn’t seem sharp enough
– Great to see some young tallent coming through
-Neilson is a mountain
– Atmosphere was crap again
-We are a league one club without Fesi and Bannan— Mark (@baowl) August 17, 2018
A number of fair comments, but I can’t get on board with the last one.
Without a doubt, the duo are massive players for us (and Forestieri was of course rested for the match) and they could walk into a number of other sides in this division, let alone significantly improve a number of Premier League outfits, but stating we are a League One club without them seriously undervalues too many others in the group and I’m obviously not alone.
On paper mate I don’t disagree but, the latter three are unreliable with injuries and will never play a full season
— Mark (@baowl) August 17, 2018
Until last season the latter barely got injured… and we’re a big part of the season
— Luke (@jeff2932) August 17, 2018
I love hutch fit IF fit but such an IF. Shame about lee as he’s a class act
— Mark (@baowl) August 17, 2018
Given how massive they are for us though I can get the sentiment behind the claim and I’m sure plenty overstate things in that manner without maybe overly meaning to, so in some ways, it’s actually right whilst being wrong.