As the curtain comes down on another season lets take a look back over the campaign. The highs and lows of what has been a frustrating season for all connected with Sheffield Wednesday.
A Frustrating Year
I'll be honest, I've been looking forward to sitting down to write this for a while because that means the season is over and we can look forward. It's fair to say I don't think many of us will want to remember 2017/18 too fondly though there are some positives to take from it and we will get into those later on. It's been a year where we have fallen well short of early season expectations. After two years of play off challenging near misses we have finished 15th. Some particularly bad results and long periods without winning have been tough to take. I don't think I need to bore anyone who is reading this with in depth analysis of each game and try and explain how some of those results happen as it's largely pointless. A change of manager in December and an injury crisis the like of which is probably the worst in the history of the club made the 150th year of this great club a tough one to watch.
Carlos Carvalhal's departure: Was it the right decision?
To answer the questions straight from the off, yes. It was the right decision and I say that as a big Carlos fan. Whatever your opinion of Carlos the one stat you have to look at is in his last 16 games as manager of Sheffield Wednesday we won just 3 of them. 3 wins. For a team with expectations of challenging for the top two that is not good enough. The mood around the club was toxic, the fans had lost patience with the manager and in my time I can't remember a manager losing the fans in that manner and ever keeping his job. The defeat in September to Sheffield United made it an almost impossible task as there was no room for error. Of course it isn't all on one man but so often in football the manager is always the first to fall. The fact that we were effectively out of the conversation for automatic promotion by early October after losing at Bolton who hadn't won a game in the league all season and out of the play off race by mid December after a disastrous 3-1 defeat to Norwich who hadn't won at home for three months. meant something had to change.
Jos Luhukay
So after the exit of charismatic Carlos came the softly spoken Dutchman Jos Luhukay. Thrown into the heat of a Steel City Derby in his first game it was fair to say Jos had a rather unique start to life in Sheffield. When he came in from my point of view the only expectation I had was to keep the club in the division for next season. Considering he didn't have players such as Hooper, Forestieri, Lee, Bannan, Lees, Westwood and Fletcher available along with others when he arrived. He had a tough start with three games against at the time top 6 sides and also had to deal with the FA Cup with a patched together squad. It's been well documented he's brought through several youth team players from the Under 23's which is something Wednesday haven't done well enough for a long time. He changed the familiar 4-4-2 to a 5-3-2 and it's worked. He's given certain players a new lease of life which has in not only kept Wednesday up but allowed the fans to start to look more positively towards next season.
What does Jos have to do?
The simple answer here is keep going. Keep this gradual progression going. In the last eight games of the season only Fulham had picked up more points that Wednesday. Since winning at Elland Road in March Wednesday have been fantastic. It's helped that the likes of Tom Lees, Barry Bannan and Fernando Forestieri have all returned from long term injuries. I've said many times about Forestieri and will keep saying it. The man is one of the best players in the division. He can change games in the blink of an eye. He's a supremely talented footballer who we must do everything to keep fit for 46 games next season. Barry Bannan has been immense on return as well. Not just his passing and his ability to pick people out but his all round tenacity and his determination makes him a fans favourite and rightly so. We missed him so much throughout his time of the side-lines and like Fernando we must keep him and keep him fit. We can't afford to lose him as I don't see how you would replace him. Added to all that it would be remiss of me not to mention a couple of unsung hero's of the recent revival. Daniel Pudil rewarded for his efforts this season with a new contract has been fantastic. In a back three he's able to do what he's good at with assurances from the other two centre halves. He's a player with vast experience at this level and it's important we have players who know what it takes to succeed at this level. Joey Pelupessy arrived as out only January recruit and in my opinion has been fantastic. A bright character he catches the eye with his pressing and tackling, he can pick a pass as well and I believe with a full pre season with the club and with the few months of English football he has picked up since arriving under his belt he will grow into a fine player for Sheffield Wednesday. Despite only being here since January he seems to have fitted in nicely with the squad and always seems to be one of the players desperate to celebrate with the fans. A mention as well must go to the two young keepers Joe Widlsmith (not unsung by any stretch of the imagination) and Cameron Dawson who have both been excellent. Both Sheffield lads who both support the club as well makes it impossible not to want the lads to do well. Both have great qualities as well and credit must once again go to Andy Rhodes for his good work in their development.
This division is unforgiving and will be just as so next season. While this year's competition has been competitive I don't feel the quality has been there of the last few years. That isn't to belittle the achievements of the likes of Wolves and Cardiff or teams who have had good seasons like Millwall (Neil Harris manager of the year for me) Preston or Sheffield United it's just the view of someone who has seen his team play at this level for the majority of his time watching football. Next year will be tough but not impossible. Building blocks are in place.
Injuries
I'll be honest, I don't want to talk too much about injuries because it falls on deaf ears quite a lot of the time. The fact of the matter is injuries are not the reason we didn't get promoted or finish in the top six but they are the reason we were dragged into the periphery of the relegation battle. I tried to have this conversation with a Sheffield United fan a few weeks ago and as soon as the word injuries go brought up there was a roll of the eyes and the usual "every club has injuries". Now this statement is true every club will at some point throughout the season have to deal with injuries however does every club lose the core of a team that has finished 6th and 4th to longer term injuries? I'm not so sure. Anybody who's watched Wednesday this season can tell you the difference when certain players have been in the team. Bannan for example, Kieran Lee not being available for so long has meant we've missed something in the midfield that not many players can provide. Last season you could say injuries had an impact as we lost players at key times but ultimately we couldn't blame them as a major reason for underachievement. This year there no doubt they have played a major part in why we haven't been able to mount a 2nd half of the season challenge. I've felt massively for Jos because it's been hard for him to implement his ideas while dealing with the injury crisis. I bet there were times in the first few months where Jos went home to wherever he is living in Sheffield, sat down and thought "Why on earth did I take this job?". I remember back in December when we played Wolves at home and before the game me and my dad were sat in the car listening to BBC Radio Sheffield's Football Heaven and Rob Staton read out the list of players unavailable for the game and anyone who'd tuned in halfway through would have been forgiven for thinking he was reading out the team for the game.
The boy from Boro, the Kosovan King and the rejuvenated Joao
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Sheffield Wednesday's 2018 Player of the Season Adam Reach
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I've deliberately not mentioned three players throughout this piece. Three players who we have been so important for different reasons. The first of these is Adam Reach. Adam who arrived for a then record transfer fee for Sheffield Wednesday has been fantastic this season. I was a big admirer of his from before his time here when he was at Middlesbrough and then Preston North End during his loan spell in 2015/16. He's played in nearly every position for us which considering he's only been here since August 2016 is some achievement. His endless running is to be admired as well as his leadership qualities which have been needed this season. He's added goals to his game which has been a huge plus and lets be fair there have been some belters in there. Aston Villa away especially, to try that after just 20 odd seconds is something special. The 2018 Sheffield Wednesday player of the year and richly deserved. Keep it up Adam.
There are few players that split opinion more than Atdhe Nuhiu. Anyone who knows me knows I have always been a huge fan of him. Tall, strong, good touch and gives 100%. What's not to like? A lot of his critics will come back with, 'he's a striker and he doesn't score many goals.' Well for the 2nd time in his time at Sheffield Wednesday he's finished top goalscorer. Under Carlos Carvalhal he had a slightly different role where he was more a foil for others rather than the main focal point himself and even in this role I feel he was vastly underappreciated. Regardless of whether you like him or not the facts are his goals along with others have kept us up and we've been able to lean on him for the last few months. Added to all that the fact on Sunday he became the first player for 17&half years to score a hat trick in the 2nd tier for Sheffield Wednesday and the first to score one at all since November 2010 is something for him to savour. He has a role to play in this team going forward should he choose to stay. I would be sad to see him leave, he's a cult hero similar to player such as Reda Johnson Jose Semedo and Miguel Llera. Men who haven't grown up here but have gained an understanding of this club in a similar way to the fans. If Sunday was his farewell (at the time of writing he hasn't signed a new deal) then what a way to bow out.
Lucas Joao's re-emergence is also something to be admired. Joao who spent the 2nd half of last season at Blackburn was probably 5th/6th choice striker upon his return. His reappearance in the derby back in September was a surprise and for a brief moment was a devastating success. Scoring a lovely goal it's a shame it didn't lead to more than a distant memory. For me Joao has everything he needs to go on and be a success. Big, strong, physical, good feet, skill, pace and his partnership with Atdhe Nuhiu has delivered a hatful of goals. He scores all different types of goals as well, throughout his Sheffield Wednesday career he has delivered with headers, curled shots, placed shots and powerful ones as well. A trait that is very useful. I believe working with Nuhiu has massively helped him grow and hopefully it continues. There was a lot of excitement when he arrived and I hope there's a lot more to come from him.
The departing captain and the mercurial winger
It's always a strange this to see long serving players leave. Glenn Loovens signed for Sheffield Wednesday amid a really tough period. 1 win in 16 games. He actually put pen to paper under Dave Jones but made his debut under Stuart Gray in a 2-1 over Leicester. From there on it he became a vital part of a defence which prior to his arrival had been chopped and changed from week to week. His leadership and calmness under pressure made him an obvious choice to become captain in the summer of 2014 and from there on in he remained. I can remember many a good display from him and was a key part of a record equalling defence. His presence around the club will be missed. Sunday was an emotional day for him I'm sure and it was a fitting send off that on 44 minutes he came off to a standing ovation and not only the fans clapping him off but his team mates as well. I wish him all the best in whatever he goes on to do next.
The other departing player on Sunday was Ross Wallace, another experienced head with more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Scorer of important goals and assister of important goals. Wallace has arguably rivalled Forestieri for the 'Most important moment of the last few years' award (just rolls of the tongue that one). He's been a fantastic signing, the two goals against Brighton in the Play Offs in 2016 were fantastic, his goal against Arsenal was wonderful, his goal down at Fulham was quite simply outrageous. He's a fantastic character (who can forget nicking the note from Huddersfield's Elias Kachunga) and you could see it meant a lot to him on Sunday with hordes of fans wanting photos and signatures. Like Loovens I wish Ross all the best in wherever he goes next. Whoever gets him is getting a fabulous player and a great character. Good luck Rosco.
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Glenn Loovens and Ross Wallace with Owls Chairman Dejphon Chansiri
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A nod to the Chairman
During what has been a difficult season Dejphon Chansiri has taken a lot of criticism. Now criticism itself isn't a bad thing provided it's done in a respectful and constructive manner. Let's not forget this man has put his own money into this club and has only ever wanted to do the best for it and it's fans. Some of the things that have been said about him have been very unfair and I hope he realises that the majority of fans are very much behind him and appreciate his efforts. His decision to bring in former Charlton Atheltic CEO Katrien Meire in a similar position at Hillsborough caused some debate and I was one of those who was critical and while it's only been a short while it appears to have not been a bad appointment. Small changes that have been made at the club since her arrival have no doubt been partly down to her. It's been good to see her at games and getting involved in things like the kids fun day at Easter. I hope she's a huge success for years to come. I still and always have believed that Dejphon Chansiri only wants to do the best for the club and when things have gone wrong he has fronted up and explained why. Some fans who have wanted him out have short memories, lets not forget we were crying out for someone like him. Has he made some mistakes? Yeah, but who hasn't, nobody is perfect and he'll be a much better chairman for dealing with a season like this than before.
If you've made it this far, thanks very much for reading. Let's hope for a better season next year.
WAWAW
Tom.
