ANOTHER YEAR - Calendar Review

[Lord Snooty]

ANOTHER YEAR 

 

 

Another year flashes by in the blink of that eye. And what a year it's been. On and off the field. Football and otherwise.

 

We went into Christmas looking quite positively at things. Though there was an underlying feeling that we were doing better points wise than we deserved. However you take any luck you can in this game and there was hope that a bright festive period might see us cement a place in the top six.

 

 

So we started the bright new dawn of 2020 in 8th place, two points outside the play-offs and hoping - for hope is all we ever have- that Monk would settle down on a regular side and we could put behind us a mini-Christmas blip which had seen us dip to Stoke City and Cardiff by the odd goal.

 

However we lost the first game of the New year going down a goal to nil against Hull at Hillsborough. Where Tigers manager Grant McCann said it served us right for making them park miles away turning off the power in their dressing room and not letting them pump out some top tunes. 

 

  

 

Monk said he had to park 15 minutes away too so he didn't see what the problem was.

 

It's hard to pin-point where the wheels came off. The truth is of course they were never truly on. But the myth of the Christmas part lingers.  But we still only lost those Christmas games by the odd goal ,and Fletcher hit the woodwork twice against Hull.  It's often this fine , fine margins. The width of a extra coat of paint can make a difference in the spirit of men.

 

The real problems, IMO, came when we put Fletcher who was still in comeback/recovery mode in the team to face Brighton in the FA Cup.  Of course, he could have broken down at any stage, that's the nature of niggling injuries. However, this was surely a needless use of the player in a competition we have no chance of winning and who's fitness and goal scoring was our only genuine hope of making the top 6.

 

So with 3 defeats and the talisman striker now looking at the best part of two months on the sidelines we set off to Elland Road against high flying Leeds.

And there produce probably our best display of the season. 

 

 

Winnall down the middle flanked by Murphy on the right and Reach on the left and a competitive but skilful midfield three of Lee, Bannan and Luongo mean we weather Leeds' early high pressure onslaught  and catch them on the break with two wonderful goals of quick precision counter-attacking football.

 

 

It was so typically Wednesday to do this.

 

 

 

And so as we prepared to take on Blackburn at Hillsborough a little bit of faith was starting to glow. An ember. If we could go and do that to Leeds then we could surely start to give the teams in the middle of the pack a pumping.

 

Oh, yes there was a pumping all right. As they hammered us 5-0 at home. A harsh red for Luongo saw us down to ten.  Though we were already a goal down by then. Winnall who'd looked actually quite lively against Leeds looked like he was running in sand and was hooked before the break. By this time we were already 3-0 down.

 

Dawson looking like someone with all the confidence of a man having to perform his conjugal rights in front of the father in law on the wedding night in days or yore.

 

Droves left before the half time whistle.

"How can this be the same lot that did that to Leeds" said the Cove behind me as he ushered his protesting grandson away.

 

 

We then drew with Millwall where Fernando Forestrieri made a long awaited comeback from the substitutes bench.

 

Forestieri was back after yet more drama missing most of the opening of the season with a 6 game ban by the EFL for alleged racist conduct in a pre-season game. Something he was cleared of in court. 

 

And though he was back and available as we went into November and was seen as many as the catalyst to help us make a concerted push the diminutive Argentinean still wasn't making the squad.  When pushed on it the manager made diplomatic comments about him not quite being at the fitness and sharpness levels they were looking for.

 

The player responded via social media with open palmed innocent faced gestures and "ready to play" messages for the fans , who plenty of took at his word.

 

Barry Bannan backed the manager and was less reserved than his boss when he said -:

 

 “We train day-in, day-out and you’ve got to work hard in training to get into the team.

 

It’s up to Fernando. We know the quality that he’s got, but if you’re not working hard in training and not working hard on the pitch, you’re not going to play."

 

 

We then got a draw with Dingles but were now losing our grip on the sides above us and they were pulling away.

 

With Fletcher out we turned to the loan market, and as is often the Wednesday way we looked back to try and look forwards and brought back Connor Wickham who had had such a good loan spell with us bagging 8 goal in 11 games during the 2014 season.

 

However Wickham arrived looking portly around the middle and as if wearing concrete boots. Now looking desperately short of ideas and having given him some runs from the bench Monk decided it was time to give Forestieri a start.

 

And he did.

 

At wingback....

 

 

 

They really don't help themselves sometimes these managers do they? Of course there's more than one way to play a wing-back. It will always conjure to the fan eyes someone like Ashley Cole, or Cafu...or in his own way our own Zico Sterland, as adept at putting a man in the stand as bombing on.

 

But it can be done with wingers. Anderton performed the role creditably for England un Glenn Hoddle, though at that level and pace of game he was absolved of defensive responsibilities . Not so easy perhaps in the rough and tumble of the Championship and probably easier to do when you have Sol Campbell mopping up behind, rather than Tom Lees.

 

However, it was a role which suited  Jacob Murphy and latterly he probably enjoyed the best spell of his loan spell in such a role.

 

 

Seeming to learn from this disastrous idea we then played Reading with Forestieri restored to a deep-lying striker role behind Adthe Nuhi , a partnership which had worked on previous occasion. There was another start too for youngster Osaze Urhoghide who had made his debut at Brighton in the cup and not looked fazed. However today the youngster was visibly upset after receiving his marching orders for two yellow cards, and the Wednesday sunk to a 3-0 defeat.

 

Wednesday were now 9 points outside the play-offs and fans were demanding that these youngsters be taken out of the firing line and the "toxic" atmosphere of Hillsborough. Hutchinson was touted as a possible replacement for Urhoghide as Wednesday picked up a series of niggles in the back four and calls for the experienced Westwood to be recalled for Dawson who looked like the pressure was mounting. When back are to the walls you need experience , not just for what they bring on the pitch, because we can all argue all day about that. But because they can take it. And besides, when you get to that age you're not ruing their careers by playing them in a struggling side!

 

Monk responded by saying he knew what a winning dressing room looked like and that those two players would not be in it.

 

A creditable 3-3 draw with Birmingham and a victory over Charlton with a 95th minute winner from the returning Fletcher bought the manager some time on his comments.

 

Despite being moved back to an attacking role Forestieri looked a shadow of his former self, only the odd glimpse of a jink and run, and Wickham still looked laboured.  Jordan Rhodes meanwhile had to content himself with getting his handicap down up at the Hallamshire course.

 

There followed on a battering by Brentford by five goals to nil which left the manager saying that his players were "hiding". This would be Fernando Forestieris last game for the club.

 

Then...Covid.

 

 

 

The disease had entered the country early on in the year but the full effects of the devastation it would cause to families wasn't fully understood.

By the time it was many had already been hospitalised and died. Including many among our fanbase. Football was, eventually, put on hold.

 

It was hoped that this period would give Monk the chance to work with the players and iron out a proper system of play and work with the players (who were regularly tested) as he had, from day one made much of not having a full pre-season to work with the players. He now had 3 months.

 

 

We returned to action against Forest and did actually have the best of the play at an empty Hillsborough whose towering stands were eerily quiet  but for  the echoes of player shouts and calls from the bench that rattled around our famed home.

 

 

We should have been 4 goals to the good but for the woodwork denying Wickham and Forest keeper Brice Samba producing a stunning performance between the sticks to keep out Rhodes and Kieran Lee.

As it was Forest scored on a rare foray and we were left once more chasing until Wickham nabbed one at the death to rescue a point.

We then won at Bristol City and Rhodes and Wickham was looking a half decent partnership in the two games since lockdown. It's long been known that the ONLY way you'll get anything from the Record signing is to play him with a unit alongside and Wickham certainly is a unit these days.

 

Against West Brom , now with Wildsmith in the nets instead of Dawson we again looked the better side, and it seemed that maybe the lockdown break had come at the right time for us. However, once more despite dominating the first period of the game our inability to put our chances away and defensive frailty and panic at the other end left us coming away with  a head scratching 3-0 defeat.

 

New Contract offers were made to Fox and Fletcher. Neither of whom accepted the reduced terms contracts.  In the case of Fox who had a torrid time after arriving at the club and taking some real flak along the way it came as little surprise. Monk admitted to be being desperate to keep the Chelmsford born full back who he praised as having "A player a great character and human" and "a terrific lad with a model professional attitude".

 

 

 

Fletcher who hobbled from play after a six minute cameo against Forest got no such send off and perhaps the manager, like many of the fans, saw that as someone just desperately not wanting to pick up a knock which might scupper their next move.

 

As it was, Fletcher who didn't play after Covid, and Fox who did play right up until the day his deal expired both ended up at Stoke.

 

 

FOX- Could have faked an injury to protect his next move but played whenever selected right up until his contract ended. 

 

At the Liberty Stadium it was the same story again for Wednesday - amazingly, away from home, Wednesday dominated a side highly fancied for promotion and praised for their football, but again couldn't take their chances. Da Cruz missed two sitters which would have given us a two goal lead from which there would have been no way back.

As it was we headed into the break goal-less.

 

Sloppy marking from a rare Swansea attack saw them take the lead and a needless challenge from Reach gave the host an undeserved chance to go two ahead from the spot which they duly took and never looked back.

Wednesday were genuinely not getting what they deserved from games. But...it will always boil down to taking chances. You can go all out attack or you can sit and defend but you must take the chances when they come.

 

Rhodes and Wickham were dropped to the bench and Monk put in loan signings Da Cruz and Windass. Little changed however. Infact Wednesday Only took four more points. A win at Loftus road which surprised everyone as we barely got out of our half yet won by 3 goals and a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield sandwiched either side of spankings by Preston North End and Fulham.

The season finished, and it would wouldn't it, with a defeat to Warnocks Middlesbrough who had looked like sinking into the third division until the wily old fox took them on a run of four straight away wins.

 

---------------------------------

NEW SEASON

 

Over a bright and hot summer two clouds hung ominously over the people of Sheffield.

The Coronavirus and the EFL.

 

The lockdown of the country kept the virus restricted for long spells and with our combined efforts we managed to keep the NHS at operational levels and ticking over. The EFL however could not be put off  no matter how much hand washing the Chairman did.

 

 Many hoped that Monk might be able to bring in some players who could replace those they had lost. Many more hoped Monk would be gone.

 

As it was he was kept in place and as the EFL gave us the punishment of a minus 12 pts start for the season and a slap on the wrist to keep our spending down.

 

So we lost Fletcher, Forestieri, Fox, Winnall and probably my favourite of all Kieran Lee and had to set about replacing them with a budget of 45 pence, two toffos, and piece of string.

 

In came Fisayo Dele-Bashiru a promising young midfield player from Manchester City but with no first team football experience. Elias Kachunga , a player who no-one including the manager  seemed to know what position to play and who was deemed surplus to requirements at Huddersfield .

And Josh Windass who signed permanently after last seasons loan spell.

 

We further strengthen with the signing of Chey Dunkley, a centre half who has impressed many Wednesday when in opposition, but who in typical Wednesday fashion we sign while he's out injured with a broken leg.

 

WELCOME MR DUNKLEY!

 

In all honesty though, whilst it was hardly a transfer window which had anyone unzipping their fly with anticipated joy... with the -12 points and the EFL spending limits it's a wonder we could attract anyone at all!

 

Despite the spending cuts Chansiri sanctions the signing of some backroom staff for Monk, because for all many might not have liked or rated Monk even his most ardent critic would admit that having to do every aspect of the football related side of things stretches a man a bit thin.

 

So in came James Beattie , Darryl Flahaven and Andrew Hughes. Hughes seems to be a very popular appointment with the playing squad, a vivacious character, full of beans.

 

In Beattie it is hoped that they might have someone who can help Wednesday toothless attack find their scoring boots again.

 

 

 

Wednesday get off to a good start!

 

With a well balanced 3-5-2 with Penny operating at left wing back , Harris at right wing back and a midfield 3 of Bannan and Brown infront of a patrolling Luongo it allows Wednesday to be positive and play two up top where Rhodes and Windass look a lively pairing and both get off the mark with a super 2-0 away win.

 

DAWSON

IORFA     LEES     VAN AKEN

HARRIS   BROWN   LUONGO   BANNAN   PENNEY

RHODES     WINDASS

 

The back line of Lees ,Iorfa and Van Aken actually look quite solid after all the 90+ minutes conceded goals of the previous 12 months (including Bruces' spell)

We keep 4 clean sheets in the first 4 games. 2 in the League against Cardiff and fancied Watford, where we would have won but for the woodwork once more after Lee's fine header had left  and two in the League Cup.

 

Despite it all there's a real feeling Wednesday can pull this 12 points around. Monk inexplicably drops Rhodes for the visit to Bristol City after he looked to be forging a decent link with Windass and we come unstuck 2-0.

 

 

Wednesday sign Callum Paterson from Cardiff for an undisclosed fee after the Bristol game.

He's a former wing back but found himself latterly at Cardiff playing in midfield with a licence to bomb on.  Discussing Paterson with Chris Kamara his former boss Warnock was asked why he deployed him in midfield and the Sheffield born manager replied "Have you ever seen him play full back?!"

 

Nevertheless none of this means a jot as the amiable Scot arrives at S6 telling the assembled media that Monk has signed him a s centre forward!

 

 

He is instantly thrust into the starting line-up against QPR. Wednesday look hit and miss not helped when youngster Shaw is taken off injured after 4 minutes and his replacement Palmer also limps from the action at the close of the first half.

 

Wednesday edge  ahead when Reach, looking better on the left, cuts the ball across and their lad scores an own goal. Though Windass was waiting behind for the easy tap in.

 

Frustratingly Wednesday concede in the 96th minute.

It would take a sadder better boffin than me to work out how many points we've lost after the 90th minute mark in the last two years but I'd wager it's a few.

 

We win at Birmingham when Bannan puts away a spot kick after Windass is dragged down. The former Wigan man might not be the biggest name signing, but he gives us something we haven't had for years. Someone willing to get in behind, and already it's proving it might be a useful weapon for us in our battle to escape the points deduction fuelled drop!

 

There is still frustration however with Monks tinkering.  Marriot comes in and looks lost. Though I gather from a Derby chum they were quite surprised we took him as he'd had major surgery in the summer. Well, he might have been surprised but it certainly won't have come as a shock to anyone with a Wednesday connection. Reach starts getting punted out to the right again and Harris find himself at left back.

 

 

We fall to Brentford , despite a first goal for the club for Callum Paterson, sunk by Ivan Toney the young quick striker Wednesday fans have been desperate for since ...well. Forever.

 

Against Luton , a game which has to be considered a 6 pointer we look lost and could have been behind after just 15 seconds when Dawson got completely caught out by Hylton which Aiden flint did well to keep out.  In the second half Van Aken walks for a soft and needless kick on their lad 10 yards outside their box.

 

 

Against Rotherham , a huge game table wise as much as locally we look completely lost. Aiden Flint, who's been one of the bright sparks limps of the action and might not be seen again. The front pairing of Paterson and Marriot look toothless but are feeding on complete scraps as we struggled to get into the game.

 

Already behind when Borner, who was having a worrying start to the season was leaden-legged as he was beaten to a header after just 5 minutes.

 

Dawsons hesitation left Lees little option but to haul a runner to the ground and in doing so receive his marching orders as the suspension started to pile up as high as the injuries , and the Millers made it 2 from the spot.

 

Dawsons misery was compounded when he pushed a shot back out for their striker to casually slot home a third and Wednesday misery was further compounded when Flint, who had looked tough and resilient was injured.

 

 

Wycombe was now a do or die game in many a mind. This trio of fixtures against those in an around us were collectively "The 9 Pointer".

And so far we'd been abysmal.

 

Against Wycombe who had never won a game at this level of football Monk persisted with Jack Marriott, who's lost puppy scampering put one in mind of crisp packet blowing aimlessly around Fargate on a windy day .

 

To achieve this Windass was sent back into midfield where his pace and ability to stretch teams was nullified.   Due to the suspensions of Lees and Van Aken, and Injury to Flint Palmer had to sit in at centre half.

 

We dipped 1-0. Wycombe's first win of the season and their first ever at this level.

 

After this disastrous run -and there is no other word if was with resignation that Wednesday fans started looking at the table mournfully expecting certain defeat by Promotion favourites Bournemouth.

 

With Monk learning his lesson about the ineffectual Marriot Windass is restored up front and it is via his darting run that we take the lead from Bannans penalty after Windass is dumped to the floor.

We cling on but owe much of the points to two terrific saves from the recalled Joe Wildsmith.

 

 

 

It should have been well celebrated, and probably would have been at any other time, but all it really brought was a sense of "If only..."  about the 3 previous games against Luton, Rotherham and Wycombe.

For results against sides like Bournemouth are bonus points, they aren't the points that keep teams battling the drop in the division, that is always the games against the teams around you.

 

The very next day an independent panel rules against the EFL and Wednesdays points deduction is reduced to 6 points.  Making those pathetic losses against Luton, Rotherham and Wycombe all the more painful.

 

Still...it does give a tiny glimmer of hope once the fog of despair clears a little.

 

We then play Millwall and I witness as we all did something that even now I can't really explain - Joost Van Aken deployed in a bizarre right sided attacking sweeper role, bizarre because the lads struggled enough on his natural left side never mind the right.

 

Despite this we play well but cannot finish out chances, and it's actually VanAken that comes closest with a header which really should have nestled in the back of the onion bag.

 

With the deduction reduced , fans up in arms and results only coming in fluke spikes the Chairman acts and gives Garry Monk the chop.

 

 

Monk for his part shows a bit of class and leaves with dignity  and a well worded thank you and good luck to the club and its supporters.

 

Now the hunt is on for a manager that can save our bacon.

 

Fan polls are done all over the usual social media drivers. Facebook, Twitter and right here on Owlstalk.

 

What is clear from these results is that though no one can agree on who the right man is to lead Wednesday to safety the one man no one wants to attempt to lead us to saftey is former Stoke boss Tony Pulis.

 

It came as little surprise then that Wednesday announced ....former Stoke boss Tony Pulis...

 

At his unveiling he said the right things, as they do.

 

More interestingly was Chansiri who via Satellite link as we used to say , said he wanted Pulis because he didn't want a 'yes man' . There was the intonation as he said these these words and others that previous incumbents may have been just that. Yes men. Happy to stay on the pay roll. Whether he meant Monk, Jos, Carlos or even Bruce who spivved his way to an extended holiday and an early exit was unclear. Possibly he meant them all!

 

 

Pulis's first game in charge is one no one really expected him to win anyway. A Preston side struggling at home might have seemed ideal to anyone on the outside. But Wednesday fans know better. We never get anything at Deepdale. And so it proved. Windass was dismissed after 15 minutes for nearly decapitating their man and the rest of the game was a case of stemming the tide. As soon as they scored in the 48th minute after Westwood, recalled from the wilderness at the expense of Joe Wildsmith who'd just kept two clean sheets, plopped a cross back out,  that was very much that.

 

Against Swansea we change things up and go 5-4-1. Rhodes gets a start, which many wouldn't have minded....had he had a strike partner...because as we all know....

 

Anyway the game has a typically Wednesday start when Westwood has to be replaced after 14 minutes pulling a muscle stretching for a deep cross to the back stick.

One bonus is that Reach is deployed on the left and looks a bit more like his old self. Infact he gives us the lead on 27 minutes from a superbly executed corner routine. One of the things that many people had actually said they weren't looking forward to about Pulis's tenure.

 

We clung on and there was hope we might do it. The lads were resolute, but Andrey Ayew came from the bench and showed his class with a jinking run and finish. There were some fingers of blame at Van Akens door, but the truth is once Ayew got in the box and on the inside of Van Akens on the dutchmans right foot he daren't make the tackle. Maybe he should have taken one for the team. But with the Way Wednesday had been picking up cards and Pulis's insistence he was putting measures in place for the indiscipline he probably daren't anyway!

 

 

 

We welcomed high flying Reading to Hillsborough with Pulis still searching that first win and you just knew that Joao would score. They always do. And it caused much debate about why we let him go.  But the truth is, and remains it was a deal we had to do because of the financial mismanagement of the previous 4 years. It was a deal we couldn't turn down.  His form for the Royals of course stings and brings a lot of 'what ifs' but the truth is just because he's doing well there doesn't mean he'd have clicked here.  We saw the evidence of that with our own eyes.

 

Paterson scored again though and all in all it wasn't a bad result for us. But still left the manager looking for that first win. By this stage he admitted he was already drawing up shortlists of players and that we didn't have enough quality and competition up front. The manager admits he doesn't even know who jack Marriot is.

 

Questions start popping up? Are we still paying Marriot even though he's back at Derby getting his treatment? No one seems to know.

 

Then some worrying signs. Are there ever any other types of sign at Hillsborough?

A local press-man says Tony must be pleased to have offered Lees and Reach new deals.

 

I haven't offered them new deals , he replies, the Chairmans inThailand, you'll have to ask the money people, the people who run the club.  And there's a look on his face when he says it, that you think that he's not been privvy to everything that's going on at the club.  Somewhere in the mist a warning light is flashing that there are rocks ahead.

 

 

Carrow Road was the last place we wanted to be going at this stage. The manager was just desperate to get a win on the board. But don't you just know it. We go there and give a terrific display.

 

Pulis springs a surprise by throwing Big Dom Iorfa into midfield. And it has to be said the big lads does a half decent job and adds a layer of physicality which we've otherwise been short of since....since...blimey. I don't even know when. 

 

 

 

Julian Borner, who is looking back to his old self from his first season after looking lost early on in this seasons chapter nearly gives us the lead from a corner routine with a deft glancing header only for Zimmerman to head clear with the keeper beaten.

 

Reach is back on the left. Windass is up front and it's from that combination we take the lead.  Bannan prodding the ball wide and Reach looking up and putting in a Beckham-esque cross which Windass headed home with aplomb.  Harris operating on the other flank was also having a good game and had two penalty claims. One which wasn't but we've seen given...usually against us. And one, the first one, that definitely was. And frankly if we get that the games dead.

 

FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE REF MARK HALSEY SAYS HARRIS'S FIRST PENALTY CLAIM AT CARROW ROAD WAS  ABSOLUTLEY NAILED ON 

 

 

As it is we concede late, Palmer on as a second half substitute falls asleep to the one two run and then with minutes remaining we're sunk from the other side.

2-1 loss i a game where we played really really well.

 

We had a balance to us. Odubajo and Harris linked really well down the right.  Reach out on the left was putting in terrific delivery and Bannan, unshackled by having Patterson and Big Dom in there doing the donkey work got things ticking. And yet. We' got nothing.

Still. If we could keep this up against Huddersfield then we'd be sure to get the points!

 

1:30

 

One minute and thirty seconds.

That's how long we were into the Huddersfield game when I knew we would get nothing.

Something was foot.

 

A player has a bad game. It happens. Always has always will. Sometimes a coupe of players have a bad game. It can happen. It does happen.

But when, after 1:30 of a game you know, beyond all doubt that every single player on the park is about to embark on 90 minutes of absolute dogger. Well, you know there's something not right. In fact there's something wrong.

Very wrong.

 

The two performances couldn't have been more different, and with the same personnel in the squad. And after what I ca honestly describe of one of the most horrid performances of the entire time I have watched the Owls the truth did come out.

They hadn't been bloody paid!

 

Knocks and injuries start to pile up too.  Chey Dunkley, the chap we signed with  a broken leg has to be thrust back into the action. And he looks all right too.

His voice can be heard echoing around the ground barking out orders and instruction.

 

I like the cut of his jib. Talked well at his unveiling. Talks well on the radio and now I can hear him talking well on the pitch. If his body can match then he might still prove a very good signing.

 

 

We dip to the Dingles in a close but scrappy affair and there's a more crushing blow when Big Dom is taken from the field and it's later revealed he's out for the season with his achillies.

 

It's just one thing after another.

 

Against Forest we again lose narrowly. Riberio gives them an early  lead in a tight half. Wednesday have plenty of the ball but are struggling to break teams down. That's nothing knew. We had this issue all the way back to Carlos' glory season when we replied on moments of genius from Forestieri or a 35 yard spanker from Wallace. And now, with no cunning midfielder like Kieran Lee who can play pockets and bounce ball and get in and beyond I'm not sure we will again anyway for a very long time.

 

Then they get the second. A clear foul on Tom Lees. Right through his shin.

There lad goes on an scores and then... and then Odubajo.

 

 

Odubajo  whether he's being honest or not and I'll be honest, I do tend to believe him....he knows he can't be doing what he's done there. It can never look right. It can never look good. Whatever the reasoning.  It's a shame as he's been one of the brighter sparks since Pulis arrived. But for many that'll be him done. 

 

Pulis eventually gets his win at Coventry!

 

 A game where I was convinced we'd dip. Which shows why the bookies are rich and my fortune dwindles.  Lees the man to seal the points and we get a point at Blackburn where again I didn't fancy our chances. Shows what I know. The sweet sum of sod all. Reach again, with a wonderful goal. A highlight he's been since Pulis got here. And....then.....the hamstring...and he's injured.

 

 

You couldn't make it up at this club.

What will the new year bring? A walking manager? A host of new signings? (freebies!) Maybe we'll click and put a run together. There's part of me thinking we will. A win at Derby in the new year would be a cracking way to start that little run.

 

But typically. After what has been a horrible year. For everyone the world over. But especially for Wednesday fans it ends with a visit from our favourite panto villain...

 

 

 

Well it bloody would wouldn't it!

 

-------------------------------------------------------

 

UPDATE

 

And just as things start to stack against the Chairman.

He sacks the manager at midnight and we then go and beat Colin.

 

Sometimes all you can do is sit here and shake your head in disbelief. 

 

So we now head into the New Year looking for our 3rd manager of the season.

Debates will rage about who to have. What style of football is acceptable.

Whatever. Whoever. They must keep us in this division.

They must keep us in this division to make us more attractive to potential buyers and to ensure we don't plummet further, both football wise and financially. 

There's a wall ahead and we're in massive, massive danger of hitting it, smashing through it and over the cliffs of the other side.

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2020 by Lord Snooty
photo issues

[Blatter]

Forever the optimist  I voted yes on the basis  that I couldn’t see how a crappy year get worse.

 

Then I realised there are many ways it could actually get a lot lot  worse. 
Can I put in a request for a second vote.

[Guest]

2020 was just the start for the clusterfook that will happen at this club 

 

In 3 years time we will be looking back at this year as 'better times' 

 

Enjoy championship football this season because we won't be seeing it for a long time after we go down 

 

DC and stuffing man have royally shafted this club 

[Morepork]

No doubt I will spend next year flicking between OT and my favorite nihilist websites.....

 

There is literally no reason for optimism. Next year will most likely be exponentially worse than this one.

 

We are the football equivalent of the movie "The Road" anyone that has seen that will know what I mean. Thoroughly depressing........

 

Edited December 28, 2020 by Morepork

[meggoisgod]

Woeful 12 months...simply woeful and pathetic

[northeastowl]

In ordinary circumstances you’d say it couldn’t get any worse, but I’d like to bet it’s going to get worse than we can even imagine. 

[Guest Bulgaria]

Cracking read, really enjoyed that.

 

Nice one.

[camffiti]

TLDR Version ... 

 

SWFC 2020 = 

[Manwë]

I'll feel better when I feel we've bottomed out.  As it stands, I think we are still sinking, selling our buckets and replacing them with plastic spoons.

 

 

[prowl]

Nice write up Snoots. I enjoyed reading that.

[Morepork]

17 minutes ago, Bulgaria said:

Cracking read, really enjoyed that.

 

Nice one.

 

Enjoyed.....!!!!! F@ck me @Bulgaria what kind of things do you do for fun??? 

Edited December 28, 2020 by Morepork

[areNOTwhatTHEYseem]

39 minutes ago, Morepork said:

No doubt I will spend next year flicking between OT and my favorite nihilist websites.....

 

Owlstalk is my favourite nihilist website.

 

 

Anyway, as much as I admire @Lord Snooty for trawling back through that lot all over again, I've been drinking pretty heavily in order to erase it all from my memory banks and simply don't have the stomach to revisit the vast majority of it.

 

My review would be much shorter: 'Sh*t'.

[Wor’Jackie]

Excellent read Snoots, thank you!

 

There may not be a club next season. We’ve gone well beyond the on-field problems at this point.

 

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Administration within the next 12 months.

[myHero]

What a horrible year, and early votes think next year will be worse for Wednesday...

 

Sheffield Wednesday: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Why retain Monk? Why release Nuhiu? Why bring in Pulis and a month later don't pay the players? Why sign players with broken legs? Why is our has our Desso pitch turned to a quag mire? 

 

Why, why why?

 

[Tommy Crawshaw]

Wow Snooty that's a frightening read.

 

At first I thought it must have taken you ages to write that but you've just copied and pasted most of it straight from a Stephen King novel, haven't you?

[Kendo Nagasaki]

Thanks Snoots, great review and read. Not looking forward to this year, was hoping to get to the new year and make a couple of shrewd signings but that doesn’t look likely now. 
We live in hope it is the way of a Wednesdayite. UTO 

[torryowl]

not too worried about what happens on the field, off it though  is a very different matter .......

[Morepork]

5 hours ago, Lord Snooty said:

had to set about replacing them with a budget of 45 pence, two toffos, and piece of string.

 

I'd bet money we've used up the 45 pence and the two toffo's so the prospective new manager is going to want to know how long that piece of string is before accepting the role, in the event he/she...... needs to use it as a makeshift noose.......obviously we'd never have a real noose that would be too professional....

[beswetherick]

Excellent write-up that m’lud, thanks.

 

“You couldn’t make it up at this club”

 

How about that for timing eh?

 

 

[@owlstalk]

 

It'll need an edit after tonoeeeeeet