After yet another season of disappointment on the field for Sheffield Wednesday it has been hard to find many positives to report on in these annual reviews of performances. Owls manager Gary Megson has highlighted that he has plenty to do in the summer transfer market in order to assemble in a team worthy of a promotion challenge. One position that is not a priority in this respect however is that of goalkeeper, thanks largely to the form of Nicky Weaver.
The former Manchester City keeper moved to Hillsborough last summer with sizable boots to fill. Despite the clubs relegation from the Championship in 2009/10 Lee Grant was the pick of the Owls players during that campaign and his sale to Burnley was regarded as a big loss to the team at the time.
This was no burden to a keeper of Weaver’s experience and his man-of-the-match displays in the early weeks of the season were a major reason as to why the Owls topped the table at the end of the 1st month.
Wednesday’s form evaporated after a promising start but amidst many a disappointing team display Weaver managed to maintain a consistently high level of performance, keeping the Owls in games that they had no right to have a chance in and on some occasions keeping the score-line respectable in the face of some diabolical defending.
The Owls continued to struggle in 2011 despite a change of manager and in February/March Weaver suffered a slight dip in his own form though this may have been as a consequence of playing with an injury due to the lack of experienced back up at the club. After a month out to recover from a groin injury the Sheffielder returned for the final three games of the season and Gary Megson will be happy to have him on board for the forthcoming campaign. Weaver’s experience should prove valuable for nurturing promising number 2 Richard O’Donnell as well as marshalling what may well be a new look defensive line up.