My Thoughts Ahead Of Season 21/22

 

Well, here we are again. Another season is upon us and as ever with Sheffield Wednesday there's a hell of a lot to talk about. It's been an interesting off and pre season. Several talking points, positives and negatives. I'll aim to look over some of them ahead of the big kick off.

Ins and Outs

Regardless of your opinion on last season I think we can all agree there needed to be a culture change at Sheffield Wednesday, the likes of Lees, Westwood, Reach and Pelupessy moved on and along with others there aren't many who could make a case for being kept on, be it wages or a general drop in performances there weren't many fans who were disappointed with the retained list.

In terms of ins, I've been really impressed with the business we've done. The likes of the returning Jack Hunt, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Dennis Adeniran, Marvin Johnson and Lee Gregory all could have moved to clubs in higher divisions but chose to come here, that suggests there is something here that players want. Darren Moore I believe is a massive reason behind it, well respected in the game, players want to play for the former West Brom defender. He speaks well as as was shown on the touchline at Derby in the rain back in May, he's shown that desire for Wednesday that we desperately needed to see from someone at the club.

Chansiri Changing?

I don't want to speak too much about the chairman, after relegation I said on twitter that we needed to see action. Words are all well and good but after the last few years Wednesday needed to see Chanrisi attempt to change the downward trajectory of the club. It appears in some aspects at least he has, a COO in Liam Dooley has been appointed, new kits, an acceptance that the manager should have control of who he wants to come into the club. It's all pointing towards Chansiri listening and taking that much needed step back. I've said before and I'll repeat that I don't believe Dejphon Chansiri wants anything other than the best for Sheffield Wednesday but it was clear that since the Play Off campaign of 2017 the club was heading backwards. I just hope that the low point has been reached, a long way to go and we won't really know how much has changed until this time next year I'd imagine.

Pre Season

I think pre season has been decent, we've signed 11 players as of writing with number 12 looking likely as well. It's hard to gel all that together in pre season, we played fairly well for 60 minutes against Celtic before good wins over Chester and Alfreton. Defeats against West Brom and Barnsley in behind closed doors games and a win over Port Vale rounded things up. Over all we're about where you'd expect, beating the teams you'd expect us to beat.

Obviously the season is already underway with last Sunday's game against Huddersfield, I'll come onto the overall occasion in a bit but as a game it was decent showing from Wednesday. You wouldn't know which of the two was a Championship or League One side if you didn't already know. Despite losing on penalties, much to the delight of Huddersfield's travelling fans (where have they found them from?). There were positives for Wednesday, Adeniran and Wing looked good in midfield alongside captain Barry Bannan who was also very good. Jack Hunt for me was the best player on the pitch, Jaden Brown did well after coming on for Olamide Shodipo. Bailey Peacock-Farrell made a couple of wonderful saves and fully looks to be the commanding presence we need in that position.

The main concern would have to be, where are the goals going to come from? Callum Paterson did well on limited service but never really carved out a decent chance for himself, new signings Florian Kamberi, Theo Corbeanu and Lee Gregory will be hoping for a few more chances that we created on Saturday, I'm sure we will given the quality in the club.

League One: My Predictions and How I See The Season Panning Out

I'm going to say this straight off the bat, this season isn't really about promotion for me, that isn't to say I don't think we're capable, I do. But after the last few years we've had, to just drop into League One and expect to come straight back up is naïve thinking. The club for me had never felt more away from the fans than it did back in May, I'll accept Covid played a part in that and from being at the game on Sunday there was a genuine good feeling around the place which was fantastic to feel and be part of.

For me I've predicted Wednesday to finish 12^th, is that a safe prediction? Yeah it absolutely is, it's me not wanting to put any expectation on it and just enjoy the ride, if we challenge for the Play Offs I'll be very pleased. Promotion? Well like everyone else I'll be delighted. The most important thing is the club having a long term future and a togetherness writhing the club and fanbase. Cliche I know but after the last four years it's been draining following this club.

I just think there are some clubs in the division that are better placed to challenge, Ipswich, Portsmouth, Sunderland to name a few. The first few games are tough, Charlton, Rotherham and Sunderland all in the first six games is a tough ask. Doncaster and Fleetwood at home will be no easy task either, we need to drop the big club attitude and respect the challenge that is there in front of us. Heading to the likes of Morecambe as well will be tough. They will want to beat Wednesday, make no mistake.

Fans Back

As I mentioned I was at Hillsborough on Sunday for the League Cup first round tie against Huddersfield Town. I've spent a lot of the last few weeks wondering what it'll be like going back since we knew there would be fans there. Would it feel unusual or strange, would it be different. Well it felt normal and that's the best compliment I can pay it, it was great to be back in the ground, great to hear Hi Ho Sheffield Wednesday in person for the first time in 17 months, it was great to see Darren Moore in person and welcome him to the club.

My hope is that if we do have a tricky start we stick by this manager and team, it's the most positive summer for a few years and I really hope that carries on into the season.

Bring on Charlton, lets hope the 3000 Wednesday fans going down will be treated to an opening day win.

Hope you've enjoyed my rambling,

Thanks for reading.

Tom

WAWAW

My Thoughts On Saturday's Final Day Decider

 Well here we are, the final game of the season. A season that for many reasons I think most will be glad to see the back of. It all comes down to Saturday, if Sheffield Wednesday are to remain in the Championship then they will need to do something they haven't done since 2006, win at Pride Park.

Déjà vu

Casting our minds back to 2010, Wednesday were in a similar situation. We needed to win on the final day against Crystal Palace at Hillsborough while the Eagles only needed a draw. Of course the difference this time is Wednesday will still need help from elsewhere whereas 2010 was a straight shoot-out between the Owls and Palace.

That day of course turned into a very disappointing one, a 2-2 draw meant Wednesday were relegated, of course another coincidence from 11 years ago was that Palace had been deducted 10 points for going into administration. This time of course it's Wednesday who had had to deal with a points deficit.

So it all sets up for an interesting day from the narrative point of view, do I think we can do it? Yeah I do, not because I think we're a great side or that we've been unjustly put in this position. It's because the Championship is mental, it's a division that gets crazier by the year and a final day dramatic win wouldn't be so out of the question.

Derby and Rotherham

Lets have a look at our two main relegation rivals. If there happens to be a Wycombe fan reading this, yes I'm well aware you can still survive. But realistically it's between Derby, Rotherham and Wednesday.

Now oddly enough of the three Wednesday actually go into this game as the form team, neither Derby or Rotherham have been able to capitalise on the chances to condemn the Owls to the third tier. Something to cling onto heading into Saturday. We could have gone on each of the last three occasions we've played and we're somehow still alive.

Derby have lost six in a row and while they have some dangerous players I don't think there is much to fear there, like Wednesday they look brittle, a goal against seems to knock the stuffing out of them. Interestingly they haven't won since Erik Alonso's proposed takeover of the Rams was announced. Another factor to add to the growing list.

As for Rotherham, they know a win at least sends down Wednesday. They're away at Cardiff, a decent side who I don't think will let off. If ever we needed a favour from Mick McCarthy it's now. Aden Flint winner? Would be nice wouldn't it? It'll mean little if we don't do our job of course and with Wednesday's away from this season you can't really put too much faith on that happening. But when there's a chance, you have to hope.

12:30, Pride Park, Saturday

Derby away hasn't been the scene of many great moments. Since returning to the Championship in 2012 Wednesday have never won at Pride Park, drawing four and losing four. With some awful luck in there as well. Richard Keogh's blatant handball off the line in 2016/17 standing out for me as the worst. If ever there was a time to end that horrible run then it's now.

Both teams will be nervous, I don't think it'll be a thriller. Derby can't really afford to play for a draw as a draw and a Rotherham win would send them down. Wednesday have to win, that's one advantage I think the Owls have, we must win the game where as Derby don't have to but that indecisiveness from what should be an advantage can sometimes come into play in these scenarios could be a stumbling block for the Rams.

Personally it's hard to pick a favourite, Wednesday are in slightly better form, but Derby had the points advantage, they're at home, and certain off the field issues that have come to light in the last few days regarding Wednesday it might just mean that Derby are slight favourites. However I'd say a draw is the most likely outcome. Obviously I hope I'm wrong on that score but if I was a neutral I'd actually predict a draw between Derby and Wednesday and probably a draw between Cardiff and Rotherham meaning the Owls and Millers would go down.

There's a lot to talk about with Wednesday on and off the pitch, I'll do a couple of these blogs over the summer to have a look at some of it. For now, lets just get behind the lads, one last game of this weirdest of seasons. Forget everything else, lets just hope we stay up and we'll go from there.

Hopefully we'll end that Pride Park run and remain a Championship club next season.

Thanks for reading,

Tom

WAWAW

My Thoughts On: Moore, The End Of Season Run In, The Future And What Needs To Happen.

 It's been a while since I wrote a blog, there has been so much going on at Sheffield Wednesday over the last few months it was hard to find the moment to sit down and take it all in. Since my last one we've appointed a new manager, played a different style of football, won some games, lost some games. I'll go through my thoughts on it all as well as a bit of a view to next season regardless of what division we will be in.

Darren Moore

After the disappointing collapse down at Luton, where Wednesday had lead 2-0 at half time and should have been 4-0 up they conspired to lose 3-2 and social media was, as you can imagine awash with Wednesday fans wanting answers to the questions that had been fired at Chansiri since Tony Pulis had left. Just on Neil Thompson, while it started fairly well under him, I think it was clear we needed some other voice in there. I like Thommo and from all accounts he's a great coach but I'm not sure how much of that came into effect, I don't think the enforced Covid break helped after the Exeter Cup tie. I think some of his team selections and game management was poor and unfortunately has probably played a big part in why we are, as things stand 23rd in the division. I'm not blaming Thompson as he was put in an unfair position.

After all that, Darren Moore was appointed, while his name had been mentioned it did come a bit from left field. Mostly as that it seemed clear prior to Luton that a new manager didn't seem to be on the horizon. I think personally that it potentially could be a very good appointment. He's a well respected figure in the game, has a good reputation for brining young players either into his club from higher divisions or through the club's academy. He's also played some decent football, in his first few games I think you could see a difference. We've been playing it out from the back more, while it splits opinion if done right it can be very effective.

It's an appointment that, if we're being honest may well have been made with League One in mind, a chance to bring someone in who knows the division we may well be heading into. A good knowledge of the players in that division and knowing how to get a team playing that style of play he wants in that division as he did at Doncaster.

The Moore Era So Far

Life at Sheffield Wednesday didn't exactly begin well for Moore in terms of results, a painful last minute goal won Rotherham the points in his first game before Reading took 10 man Wednesday apart down in Berkshire. I got a bit of stick on certain platforms for saying that while the result against Rotherham was obviously terrible the performance had it's positives. I thought we edged the first half and played OK in spells, if we don't make a mistake at the end, the game ends 1-1. 

Reading we started OK, Borner getting sent off and conceding the resulting penalty kills us. But even in defeat we again played OK. This isn't me saying it's acceptable or that I'm happy with the situation but this is where we are. Norwich were next at Hillsborough, again we started well, for 60 minutes the better team, but then Norwich did what Norwich so often do, turn on the quality and Pukki and Cantwell delivered the knockout blows. This Norwich team for me are up there with one of the best Championship teams ever so it was always going to be an uphill task.

A 1-1 draw with Huddersfield followed, while not the greatest game again I thought we edged it before heading to Barnsley where we got the better of this season's surprise package. We out played them, often we've gone to Oakwell and not delivered, this time we did and fully deserved the 2-1 we came away from. Moore deserves a lot of credit for the performance and set up.

The Easter period saw us face Watford and Cardiff. I actually was more optimistic about the Watford game than the Cardiff one. While we weren't amazing at Watford there again were some decent signs, again good passing and composure on the ball. It just seemed to lack that ball into the final third. Obviously this was the first game without Moore in the dugout as he was self isolating after testing positive for Covid. It goes without saying we all wish Darren well and hope he'll be feeling better soon. His team however certainly will have gone some way to improving his mood after Easter Monday's thumping 5-0 win over Cardiff City. It was a fantastic performance, five well worked goals, effort and desire from the first whistle, some body on the line defending at times. It's not very often a Mick McCarthy team gets five put past them and Wednesday fully deserved it.

The Run In

So, after all that. We are seven points from safety with seven games to play, baring in mind Rotherham who are in 22nd and just ahead of Wednesday on goal difference have three games in hand. Now I'll be honest, I don't think Sheffield Wednesday will get enough points to stay up. While I think we have a slight chance with some of the fixtures coming up It just feels, and has done for a while, that it's just too much of a gap to bridge. We do play a lot of sides who have little to play for, that could be a big positive, my main issue with this Wednesday team when it comes to looking at those kind of games is we always seem to suit being the underdog, that doesn't always work when you are the team that needs to win, there isn't that other side of it like there was on Easter Monday. I think Wednesday will win a few more games between now and the end of the season but I would firmly have one eye sadly on League One and hope the club are already working out a plan. By all means have one for the Championship but failure to prepare.. well you know the rest.

The Future, Chansiri And What Needs To Happen

So we come to probably the most important part of this blog. What needs to happen next? Regardless of whether we stay up or go down the needs to be changes at Sheffield Wednesday. Four years on from losing to Huddersfield in the Play Off Semi Final at Hillsborough the club has only gone backwards. I'll say again, I don't believe Dejphon Chansiri is a bad man, I don't believe he has ill intentions. I do however think he has been naive and stubborn. You can't afford to be either of those two things as the owner of a football club.

The lack of structure at the club is a persistent problem. No Director Of Football, No Commercial Director, No CEO. You can't run a football club like that. These things need to change if Wednesday are to progress. I don't think it's even a debate anymore.

The appointment of Moore will only be a good one if you allow him to do the job, let Moore identify the players he wants, let him work on a style of play and give him time. I don't believe if Wednesday go down that next season will be a promotion charge in League One. The club needs a reset, it probably, as painful as it is to say, a year of mid table mediocrity. That isn't to say we'd have no chance but clubs in the division are already well ahead of Wednesday off the pitch.

We also have to touch, once again on ticket prices. If all goes well and according to plan fans should be back inside Hillsborough for next season. Charging the prices we do for Championship football is bad enough, in League One It'll only be worse. I already think Covid may well have had a big impact on Wednesday's crowds. How many will be out of the habit? How many will have found other things to do? How many just won't be able to afford it?

For me, if I owned a football club I'd be doing everything I can to put an arm around the supporters who hadn't been inside the ground for what will be 16 months. I appreciate the club will need to make money but we've seen during this period of time, football without the fans is nothing. We're still owed money for last season, things like that, Chansiri has to understand what he owns, the potential ally he has with the fans. Like I've said before, talk to the fans, listen to them, we all want the same thing.

Whatever happens I'll return at the end of the season, or sooner if anything significant happens, for an end of season roundup. Fingers crossed, somehow we're still a Championship club.

Thanks for reading,

Tom

WAWAW

My Opinion On Sam Hutchinson's Potential Return

 

As the pace gathers on Sam Hutchinson's impeding return to Sheffield Wednesday I thought I'd write this quick piece giving my opinion on it.

Personally while I understand the argument people are making about brining Hutchinson back to Hillsborough, I don't think it's the right decision. Firstly he's a player we released back in the summer, now I fully appreciate circumstances can and have changed, not least the manager, it still doesn't change other factors.

We know Hutchinson has a track record of not being able to stay fit, that's beyond question now. In a season where we will probably be playing two games a week until the end of it, is it really wise to bring back an injury prone, ill disciplined player the wrong side of 30? This isn't to take away from Hutchinson's past at Wednesday, he was very good between 2014 and 2017. The Sam Hutchinson of the first half of 2016/17 probably gets into most Championship sides at centre half or his usual central defensive midfield role. But that was a long time ago and he hasn't shown anywhere near that level of consistency for a while. He's been frozen out twice by two different managers and while you can argue both those managers suffered results wise it doesn't mean they both weren't in the right in that aspect.

There's a romanticism about Hutchinson with Wednesday fans, I'm not taking away from his story, his battle with depression and coming back from retirement is a great story and one that should be used to inspire others, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is the club and results. I don't believe Hutchinson can come back and provide what Wednesday need. It's all very well saying he'll add “fight and spirit” and he “loves the club”. You could find loads of people who offer those qualities, doesn't mean they should be signed. As a fanbase we seem to constantly look to the past for answers. Is it so bad to look for something new, something fresh? I don't think so personally.

There's also a practicality point to all this, Hutchinson has been playing, or rather not playing in the top division in Cyprus, not exactly the highest of standards. Can he really just walk back into a Championship side, in this season like no other, with his track record? Would be some story if he did I'll give you that.

At some point, Sheffield Wednesday need to move on as a club. Look to the future and personally I'd rather take a chance on a young player from a lower division or invest in someone like the hugely impressive Liam Shaw than return to a player we binned off six months before. What does this say about Wednesday's long term transfer strategy?

I don't want this to come across too negative, end of the day I support the team. If Sam Hutchinson, as I expect he will, re-signs for us. I'll support him if he's in the team, like every other player. I'll be the first to hold my hands up and order a slice of humble pie if he comes in and has a huge impact. I just don't see it happening the way people are imagining.

Thanks for reading,

Tom

WAWAW

New Year Thoughts

 

Well, another year and the first blog of 2021 and it's certainly not been a quiet start on the Sheffield Wednesday news front. 2020 was of course a hugely challenging year for us all and that was not just limited to life away from football.

I was always planning to do a blog after the Derby County game on New Years Day, little did I know I'd be discussing another managerial change at Hillsborough. Lets get on into it.

Tony Pulis

So as I'm sure anyone reading this is well aware, Tony Pulis lasted just 10 games as the manager of Sheffield Wednesday, when the news broke last week I have to say that while it was a surprise it wasn't a shock. There had been rumours he was unhappy and to be honest apart from the odd decent game here and there, it hadn't exactly been the best start.

There were positives to his appointment, experienced, several contacts and I think most of us agreed that if he was allowed to do the job then he'd probably keep Wednesday up, which is the aim for this season, nothing else. However the performances and results were poor, I've always been someone who doesn't really care about a style of play as long as we get results but even I had to accept the football was awful. Huddersfield away is probably up there with one of the worst displays I have seen as a Wednesday fan. No attempt to go forward, defensive errors and a general dull feel meant it was hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel. The players for whatever reason, and we'll get into them later, were not performing for him. If Pulis had tried to change it, there's a chance he'd still be here but he didn't.

Who next?

I'll start off by saying I don't think there is a standout candidate. Obviously Paul Cook's name keeps doing the rounds and if rumour is to be believed Wednesday have contacted him about the job. There are positives to him, he's done a good job wherever he has been, he has recent Championship experience on his CV. He's a good communicator and personally I think his interviews would go down well with Wednesday fans. The drawbacks for me would be, the fact he's already got rid of our best attacking player so far this season in Josh Windass where there was a clear falling out while they were together at Wigan. Also, would the club and expectation of the fans be too big? Honestly I don't know the answer to that but knowing the expectation of Wednesday fans, I'd fear so. There is also the fact I'm not sure Cook would work with Chansiri, I don't think with the current structure in place at Hillsborough that Cook would want the job. It didn't work for Pulis who again if Rumour is to be believed was warned against the job.

The names also doing the rounds include Joey Barton, Gus Poyet and Danny Cowley as well as a number of other foreign managers. It wouldn't surprise me if we went down the foreign route again. It seems we operate a more continental approach to running the club and that doesn't seem to suit the English 'Manager' type of role.

Personally for me, I'd take Cook but there is a big doubt for me about him wanting it. I don't see it happening with the current infrastructure. I'd again put forward the name of David Wagner as someone with recent Championship experience who did such an excellent job at Huddersfield. Neil Thompson who is currently in caretaker charge for me should also be considered, he knows the players and has been here for a while so knows the club well. He's in the best position at the moment being in caretaker charge and it has a Stuart Gray feel about it.

Chansiri, Advisors and The running of the club

I'll start this section by saying I still firmly believe Dejphon Chansiri wants the best for Sheffield Wednesday and the fans. I don't buy into this idea that he is doesn't care or has some hidden agenda. Where I think he has gone wrong is he still seems to view 'football business' and business as the same thing, which as we all know, it isn't.

His latest press conference covered a number of topics, some of his comments I agreed with but I think most took issue, as did I, with the comments regarding fans again being to blame for sponsorship deals falling down. Now while I accept that social media comments can be harsh, Chansiri himself said that they didn't have the best interest of the club at heart. So why be so bothered about them? If you know they don't have good intentions, tell the sponsors that. I'm not for a moment suggesting I don't believe this to be true I just find it strange how big companies are so bothered about what people have to say. At the end of the day, football is an emotive game and when you charge the highest prices in the league for a fourth season of underwhelming and underachieving results then you get this malaise of negativity. Does it go to far? Yeah it does, I've seen it many a time over the last ten years since being on Twitter. I feel for Chansiri a bit as it's clear it gets to him and nobody should just accept blatant abuse, that much is obvious.

Where Chansiri for me could help himself is, as I've said before, appointing a Director of Football and a Commercial Director. A big football club like Sheffield Wednesday can't be run by just one or two people. Especially when one isn't in the country. It needs a structure and a plan. There doesn't really seem to be either at the moment. The off the pitch stuff while less important has a hug impact on the mood of the fans. You can't guarantee results but if you can win the small battles off the pitch it makes a massive difference. When fans are allowed back into the ground (whenever that may be) making the matchday experience better needs to be a priority because when you charge the highest prices and fans don't get value for money they are more than entitled to complain.

The refund situation also has been a source of frustration, while I accept it was always going to be an administrative nightmare to do it still shouldn't have taken this long, remember we're not just talking about this season. We're on about last season as well for the five matches at Hillsborough people didn't get to go to due to Covid. I also found it strange that Chansiri said they didn't expect as many people to say they wanted a refund as they did. Again it goes back to making the fans feel like they aren't important, apathy has more than set in and I, as well as others, do fear that with the Covid situation when fans are allowed back the crowds won't be what they once were. The habit isn't there and it's not impossible to think given the current situation that it won't be until well into 21/22 that fans are back. You have to try and keep that connection as strong as possible, we're not on about the hardcore here, we aren't referring to the die hards, we're talking about people who maybe have to make a choice between football and something else they enjoy. Price them out and make them feel like they aren't really part of it and they'll go.

It also broke during the last week that another advisor has been on the scene. Erik Alonso. While I think most of us will admit that aside from a quick google we know little about him. It is good that Chansiri has looked elsewhere for advice. While I'd prefer him to appoint a Director of Football this is still a small step in the right direction. This isn't to say there is a problem with Amadeu Paixao, I don't know. I don't really know his role other than advisor and to be honest, I don't really think many do. Nobody had an issue with him when were were finishing 6^th and 4^th , again when things are going badly people tend to go all in on people and things they don't know. I'm not saying they're wrong about Paixao, as I say I don't know. But even if he is doing a good job at advising Chansiri, it never hurts to look at other options. It also shows Chansiri's commitment to the club I feel.

Aims for the rest of the season

The aim for me is, as it has been all season, to stay up. Nothing more. On New Years Day we moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, a massive moment in the context. Especially given some of the results prior to the Coventry game on December 19^th. I, like a lot had pretty much resigned myself to the fact it'd be very hard to stay up after the defeat at Nottingham Forest. But since then 10 points from 12 and some decent performances have shifted the believe back into focus. We have enough in the squad providing we keep everyone fit and there isn't another collapse. Twice already we've lost four on the spin, you can't do that when you have a points deduction and battling against the drop.

Whoever the next manager is they will have to deal with some of the off the field issues that have been going on. The late payment of players is a worry and to be honest I believe it to be a massive factor behind some of the results, if you are contracted to receive a certain amount of money per week and you don't then you aren't going to pub maximum effort in. I don't care what anyone says, the amounts are irreverent, they're human beings, it's a natural reaction. For me while I think they will appoint someone from outside the club, Neil Thompson has put himself in a very good position with two wins from two. Games, should the Exeter game go ahead then you'd hope he'll make it three from three before a massive pair of games against Coventry and Wycombe. If you offered me a Director of Football and Commercial Director and left it with Thompson until the end of the season, then I'd take it. I can think of a lot worse things to happen.

Thanks for reading

Tom

WAWAW