In this article…
Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton
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Competition: Championship
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Kick off: 20:00
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Watch live: Sky Sports Main Event
To quote a seemingly very popular football transfer journalist: Here. We. Go.
The EFL Championship returns with a particularly exciting match between clubs that were two divisions apart last season. Both sets of fans had to suffer through rather dramatic seasons, but although Wednesday fans should be the ones feeling pretty optimistic after a remarkable promotion, it is probably the Southampton supporters that are looking forward to the season more at the moment.
For many people watching, this will be a throwback to Premier League matches of the 1990s. Names such as Matt Le Tissier, Egil Ostenstad, David Hirst, and Benito Carbone spring to mind for fans of a certain age, but this is all about making stars for the 2023/24 season ahead.
Wednesday have had quite a lot of change to deal with in the close season and recruitment looks a bit behind where they would want to be. Barry Bannan is the undoubted leader of the team and a key battle will be observe how new manager Xisco Munoz attempts to use the mercurial Scotsman, especially now he is 33, going on 34.
It is no less exciting to witness a new dawn at St. Mary’s. Russell Martin has been identified by EFL observers as a young managerial talent for some time now, going back to his initial appointment at MK Dons almost four years ago. Still only 37, and playing in the Championship himself only five years ago, Martin’s philosophy and style has won him plenty of accolades, despite it not necessarily winning the number of points Southampton will require for a successful season this term. This is the acid test now, and it starts here.
There are so many intriguing factors behind this fixture. The opening day of the season is always exciting, and to be at a traditional, old ground such as Hillsborough adds a real frisson to it. With intriguing factors come potential angles for betting as well. A Sheffield Wednesday vs Ipswich Bet Builder of around 3/1 is exciting enough, but there is also a longshot Bet Builder with a great chance too.
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The Munoz era begins at Sheffield Wednesday, but is it already showing signs of being built on sand?
The Dejphon Chansiri show rolls back into the Championship. There has been relatively little heard from the Thai leadership of Sheffield Wednesday as they attempted to battle their way back to the Championship, but someone seems to have turned up the volume on the ownership group again since that highly dramatic promotion.
The parting of the ways with former manager Darren Moore clouded the skies over Hillsborough, and though there is some optimism about appointing a former Championship winner in Xisco Munoz, there is also a lot of trepidation about the lack of transfer business completed so far and the type of players that have been targeted.
The squad that was built for promotion was indeed exactly that, built for League One promotion. There was a high average age to that squad, lots of physical strength and height, which will obviously bode well for some aspects of the Championship. However, the major step up between the two divisions is the speed, explosiveness, and speed endurance of the greater sets of athletes in the division. It is in this area that concerns about the squad open up.
Barry Bannan is the leader of the group in many ways but he eptimises the issues. Undoubtedly a quality operator, to accommodate Bannan requires sacrifice elsewhere. Midfield teammates George Byers and Will Vaulks have had injury problems, but at their best can provide decent quality, but neither would be amongst the top midfield athletes in the league.
It is a general feeling that Wednesday are just a bit short at the moment. The first XI looks OK and should be solid enough, but there is a lack of anything out-of-the-ordinary in there, Bannan aside. Munoz’s previous Championship job saw him managing a Watford side with budget and a Premier League standard group of players, can he handle this challenge?
Sheffield Wednesday team news
In terms of new signings, Reece James has joined permanently following an excellent loan spell, Di’Shon Bernard adds to the central defensive ranks from Hull City, and there is a sense of intrigue around Juan Delgado, who represents a profile of player who isn’t often successful when moving to the Championship i.e. an experienced professional but who hasn’t played outside of Hispanic leagues throughout his career.
Those three signings could start at Hillsborough on Friday, with the other signings of Ashley Fletcher, Bambo Diaby, and Pol Valentin likely to have to remain patient for their chance to impact the team.
Cameron Dawson has made the #1 shirt his own and is line for a big season for his career. In front of him we are likely to see a 4-3-3 shape, with full-backs of Liam Palmer, a veteran of Sheffield Wednesday’s previous Championship campaigns, and Reece James likely to be the man to start on the left. Bernard will likely be partnered by Dominic Iorfa or Michael Ihiekwe.
The Championship is a very high level, some very big teams and we look forward to the challenge we have. It’s very exciting for us. I can’t wait for the moment I walk out at Hillsborough and see the fans on Friday. It motivates me and the players.”
Xisco Munoz on his feelings ahead of his first competitive game in charge of Sheffield Wednesday
Bannan, Vaulks, and Byers could patrol midfield, but versatile hard worker Callum Paterson may be added for extra height and physicality.
Wide forwards look to be versatile forward Josh Windass, and possibly Delgado, though Marvin Johnson could be used, as could Mallik Wilks. Michael Smith will probably get first refusal to lead the line ahead of Lee Gregory or even Paterson or Fletcher.
St. Mary’s fans pray that Martin gamble pays off for instant return to promised land for Saints
It was a shock, not a huge shock, but a tremor at least, that Southampton sunk like a submarine out of the Premier League in 2022/23. They hit the bottom quite early in the season and, despite the removal of long-term coach Ralph Hassenhuttl, there was never any real signs that they were going to escape their fate.
The positive news from a Southampton point of view is that the transfer policy that the owners and recruitment team have followed (for the most part) of very young players with potential and sell-on value, has come in very handy for their situation.
They have been able to sell some players, Salisu, Caleta-Car, Diallo, Elyounoussi, to generate cash flow, and yet the squad that currently remains looks very high in quality and potential still. More will undoubtedly leave, with Romeo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse in particular looking like bait for Premier League clubs, but again, decent funds should be generated and there are already potential replacements in the building for those players in Shea Charles and Will Smallbone.
Russell Martin has a clear philosophy on the way he wants his football to be played. Alongside this philosophy comes a usual bedding-in period as his players take some time to understand how they need to position themselves on and off the ball. This is a slight concern ahead of this game, but instinctively it feels like quite a good match of manager and club from the outside looking in.
Southampton team news
A bunch of familiar names will continue for Saints at the beginning of their first second-tier season since Rickie Lambert fired them to promotion under Nigel Adkins in 2011/12.
Gavin Bazunu had something of a baptism of fire in the Premier League last term, but may find the waters of the Championship more appealing. He will be given a chance by Martin, especially as his Man City academy work will have prepared him nicely for Martin’s approach.
Martin is likely to at least start with 4-2-3-1, but may flex to a 3 at the back system at times. Tino Livramento made a great start at Saints before suffering with injury, he is wanted by Premier League clubs as well, but should start here.
Both will be involved tomorrow night, as it stands… Do I think they’ll both be Southampton players by the end of the window? I’ve not got a clue.”
Russell Martin responds to questions about the futures of captain James Ward-Prowse and young midfielder Romeo Lavia.
New signing Ryan Manning will certainly be familiar with Martin’s demands and will be a big help starting on the left. With a slight dearth of central defenders at the moment Jack Stephens will likely start and perhaps Shea Charles could play in central defence, Martin is certainly not averse of playing central midfielders in defence when necessary.
Ward-Prowse will retain the captaincy at the moment and hold in midfield alongside Will Smallbone, who impressed for Stoke in a slightly more advanced role last term.
Nathan Tella was excellent for Burnley at this level and could start wide, with Sam Edozie given a platform to demonstrate his talent on the other side. Carlos Alcaraz has the talent to dominate this level from the #10 position and Che Adams could lead the line, but if not, Adam Armstrong had a stellar year for Blackburn in his last Championship season and could kick-start his Southampton career here.
Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton Cheat Sheet
Many of us will view Friday night’s Championship opening game with great intrigue. There will be a lot of pressure mounted on the shoulders of Russell Martin as he takes the reigns at St. Mary’s, and travelling to a raucous Hillsborough is a difficult starting place.
To the surprise of many, Saints captain James Ward-Prowse remains a Southampton player. His proposed move to West Ham has fallen through, and the England international is in line to start Friday evening. As many of us know, he is a set-piece wizard and ranks fifth in the predicted Southampton starting eleven for shots on target as per the above Cheat Sheet. Odds of 1.83 on Paddy Power seem generous when you consider he will cover both penalties and free-kicks for Saints and could be a shrewd addition to any potential bet for this opening clash.
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ABC’s 3/1 Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton bet builder
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🏆 Southampton (+1 Handicap)
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Odds: 1.33
Despite concerns about the adjustment to the Russell Martin approach, Southampton do look in a more settled place than Wednesday. There is Premier League quality all throughout the Saints team, and, again, at worst, an exceptionally high potential young team that will have lots of physicality, energy, and, importantly, quality on the ball.
Southampton are likely to have a high percentage of possession and that is a manner of control as well as attacking potential. Sheffield Wednesday seem to lack a really dynamic counter-attacking threat as a team and so this really could play into the Southampton defence’s hands.
Also, Martin’s style may be quickly adapted by players that are of a higher quality. This has never been the case before for Martin at MK Dons or, to an extent, at Swansea.
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🎯 Carlos Alcaraz to have 1+ shot on target
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Odds: 1.67
Alcaraz will be either the biggest or second biggest goal threat for Southampton. As the favourites for the match and most well-fancied team it makes sense to support a goal threat for them, and Alcaraz’s price for just one shot on target is appealing.
He averaged 0.79 shots on target in the Premier League per 90 minutes. With him being likely to start here, against a team that was playing League One football last year, the price for a shot on target seems fair at worst here.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
⛔ Reece James to commit 1+ foul
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Odds: 1.62
Though Reece James isn’t what one would consider to be a highly competitive, high foul player, he is playing as a fullback against very tricky wingers in the shape of either Sam Edozie or Nathan Tella.
Full-back is always a key position for fouls as most dribbling occurs out wide, but also, one can’t concede shooting chances from free kicks in the wide areas. James is too big a price here considering his opponents.
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ABC’s 32/1 Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton bet builder
🏆 Southampton to win
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Odds: 2.30
There should be great confidence around the Southampton side creating more than Sheffield Wednesday in this match. The xG difference could be substantial and that would give a good inclination that Southampton should be supported for the win as well as the +1 safer option.
There are Championship goalscorers all over the pitch for this Saints side with either Che Adams or Adam Armstrong, along with one of last season’s top scorers Nathan Tella and regular Stoke contributor Will Smallbone. Add into this the set piece prowess of James Ward-Prowse and the potential is there for a lot of goals against a defence that no longer has the guidance of Darren Moore.
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🎯 Carlos Alcaraz to have 2+ shots on target
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Odds: 4.20
With Che Adams leading the line there is opportunity for Alcaraz to benefit from some space. He is capable of shooting from all over the pitch and whilst it is, as of yet, unknown how Alcaraz will adapt to the Championship, he adapted to the Premier League quickly.
The Argentine was a constant threat in the Premier League, taking at least one shot in every match bar three, including 4 shots in two PL matches, and three in another. Alcaraz will be keen to get started quickly this season.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
⛔ Reece James to commit 2+ fouls
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Odds: 4.00
Nathan Tella was a big drawer of fouls in the Championship last season, whilst, in a relatively small sample size, Sam Edozie drew an incredible 3.88 fouls per 90 in his minutes last season.
Reece James mainly played as a left-sided central defender in a three for Wednesday last season. His stats don’t really match up to the task that he has at hand in this match and there is a price difference here to capitalise on.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
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