End of season report, Number 6: Graham Kavanagh

Last updated : 16 May 2008 By C. Morris

The experienced Irish midfielder was initially signed on a short-term loan deal from Sunderland in September and played an influential role as the Owls recorded their first league win of the season against Hull and then in the subsequent victories against Norwich, Stoke and Blackpool.

After returning to Sunderland he teamed up with the Owls again in the January transfer window and slotted back into the centre of the park.

Unfortunately, this time around Kav was unable to have quite the same impact as he had done in his initial spell at the club and was criticised by certain section of the crowd.

Kavanagh clearly has the ability to play at this level, he had that knack of being able to create time and space for himself on the ball and was a calming influence in the centre of the park. Despite this, he often seemed to waste the time and space he had created for himself by making the wrong choice or playing a poor pass.
 
Perhaps the major source of discontent for the fans was his distribution from set-pieces. Kavanagh was the orchestrator of most dead-ball situations but failed to clear the first defender on countless occasions from free-kicks and corners.

Overall season verdict: 6.5 out of 10. He promised show much in his 1st spell and helped to lift the club from the foot of the division but didn't live up to this the second time around and failed to consistently produce the level of performance that he is clearly capable of.