Another Championship mainstay, Sheffield Wednesday look all set for a campaign of washing around in the middle of the table after an uninspiring summer of transfer activity.

Last Season: 12th in Championship Did exactly what LFW thought they might and stagnated slap bang in the middle of the Championship table. With a run of the mill manager, an average squad and little financial muscle to improve either Wednesday’s seasons hinge on beating Sheffield United and they managed that twice last season so it was as big a success as they could possibly have hoped for. With the long awaited takeover now completed, by Wednesday fan Lee Strafford rather than a rich Middle Eastern nut case, it’s likely that Wednesday will continue to kick around in the middle of this league for many, many years to come. Strafford, founder of internet company PlusNet, is enthusiastic about the team he has always supported and it is good to see the club no longer owned by Dave Allen but both Strafford and Wednesday lack sufficient punch to take move any further than the middle of the league.

Head to Head: Wednesday beat QPR 1-0 at Hillsborough almost unintentionally. In a thoroughly dreadful match played in sub zero temperatures QPR, on a run of seven away games without a goal, missed a first half penalty when Lee Grant saved from Martin Rowlands and added another missed sitter to Heidar Helguson’s collection when Grant managed to palm away a gift from half a yard out. Wednesday seemed to have nothing about them that suggested they may win but late in the second half a defensive shamble sent the ball into the net off a surprised Leon Clarke, who had previously shown no ability to play football whatsoever, and won the game for the home side. Rangers exacted revenge at Loftus Road, coming from two down to win three two thanks to goals from Rowan Vine, gavin Mahon and Damion Stewart right at the death.
Sheff Wed 1 QOR 0
QPR 3 Sheff Wed 2

Odds: Wednesday average out at 17th in the betting, longest price 50/1 with Coral and shortest price 25/1 with Tote.

Manager: Brian Laws Former Nottingham Forest right back who built his managerial reputation in Lincolnshire with Grimsby and Scunthorpe. At Blundell Park he was in charge of one of the best Grimsby sides in living memory with Ivano Bonneti to the fore. Bonneti was better known for his time in the black and white stripes of Juventus than Grimsby and the unlikely relationship crashed to earth when Laws fractures his best player’s cheekbone after a match at Luton Town in the post match de-brief. At Scunthorpe Laws twice took the Iron from Division Three to Two and was on the verge of carrying them into the Championship when Wednesday came calling for his services – probably impressed by his knack of beating them in cup competitions. Since taking over at Hillsborough Laws has overseen mid table finishes in three successive seasons, although they went close to the play offs in his first in charge when they won nine and drew three of their final 11 matches and probably would have made the six had the season lasted another week or so. Apart from that it’s been a tale of mediocrity and looks likely to be the same again this season which, without significant investment in the team, is the best they can hope for in this part of the world.
Survival Chances: 6/10

Players: Wednesday started the summer be declaring their interest in pairing West Ham’s Freddy Sears and Everton’s Victor Anichebe in attack which, although only on loan, would have been a formidable partnership in the Championship. Ultimately they have signed neither, adding only ageing Cardiff City defender Darren Purse and Ipswich midfielder Tommy Miller to their squad. Both signings look like a cheap option, neither are particularly mourned by their former clubs, and Wednesday’s squad smacks of middle of the road mediocrity before the campaign has even begun. Purse though may well provide much needed experience and organisation to a defence that has a number of talented younger players in it – Beevers, Wood and Spurr are courted by others – but consistently does silly things like surrender two goal leads at Loftus Road. On paper Purse forming a four with those three will be a reasonable set up. Miller will replace crusty old Steve Watson in midfield after his release and, frankly, I’d be surprised if anybody notices one jot of difference in this team from last season to this. So much of Wednesday’s success and failure relies on the fitness of injury prone forwards Akpo Sodje and Francis Jeffers who would be a reasonable partnership in this league if either of them could ever get fit and stay that way for any length of time.
Likely Star Player – Akpo Sodje.

Transfers
In:
Tommy Miller from Ipswich Town – Free
Darren Purse from Cardiff City – Free
Out:
Kenny Lunt to Hereford United – Free
Sam Liversidge – Released
Liam McMenamin – Released
Steve Watson – Released

Prediction: Hardly even worth writing. Almost exactly the same squad with exactly the same strengths and weaknesses as last season. Same manager, same style of play, same players, same old, same old – I’ll actually be surprised if they do not finish exactly 12th again.
Verdict: Solidly mid table.

Photo: Action Images

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