Sheffield Wednesday - Mid Season Review

Megson has created a new era at Hillsborough

It is little over 12 months ago now, since Sheffield Wednesday found themselves in deep trouble financially, and at the risk of administration, after years of abuse of the football clubs. finances. Since the clubs' drop from the riches of the Premier Division in 2000 the club has suffered financial problems which has hampered their journey back to the promised land of the Premiership. In the past 12 seasons the club has endured slipping to League One twice, and the second time of slipping down the club struggled to come back, after finishing in a lower mid-table position last season.

Fast forward around a year or so, and the club sits 3rd in League One, with new owner Milan Manderic celebrating his years anniversary at the club, hailed as a hero to some Owls fans for saving them at the death. Who knows where the club would be now if the judge that day decided to put the club out of its misery and let them at the mercy of the administrators. Gary Megson was drafted in mid way through last season, and now he has had a full summer of re-shaping his team. The club looks more on the up than ever, a new buzzing feeling is around Hillsborough, something that fans haven't been able to do for a while.

'You'll never get past Semedo'
Jose Semedo has been a key player for The Owls

Signings such as Jose Semedo, David Prutton, Danny Batth and Ben Marshall all coming in (the latter two on loan) The club recorded 3 points at home against Rochdale on the first day of the season, in which The Owls won 2-0 and David Prutton netting his first goal for the club, a stunning goal in front of the kop sent The Wednesday into raptures. Then the season, especially away took a sour turn, with defeats to Bury and Stevenage and such hampering the teams morale. With calls of 'Megson Out' and fans walking out 20 minutes into the away trip to Stevenage, frustration was high as fans don't want another season in the third tier of English football, a sad mark for a club, rich in football history.

But, every cloud has a silver lining, and the turning point of our season came after the 5-1 defeat to Stevenage, since then, The Owls have lost 2 games in 16, and are also unbeaten at Hillsborough this season in all competitions. Having only dropped points to Brentford (0-0) and Huddersfield (4-4). The club are also into the 3rd round of the FA Cup where they play West Ham United, after defeating Morecambe and Aldershot respectively.

A new unity at Sheff Wed is clear to see

A new sense of fight is also at the club, something which wasn't seen much last season, The Steel City Derby is a fine example of fight, the squad didn't give in until the last minute of the game, and got their just reward of a 2-2 draw and Gary Madine writing his name into Sheffield Wednesday folklore with his goal in the last few minutes. The Huddersfield game could be seen as the team showing fight, as the side went 2-0 down to two Jordan Rhodes goals the side fought back and went 4-2 up at one point, to only throw it away in the literally last minute of stoppage time.

The club has had problems defensively of late, leaking six goals in the last two games, two of the goals coming in the last minute of matches. Six points which should have been claimed didn't. January poses a tough month for Sheffield Wednesday, with trips to Scunthorpe, which seems to be a bogey ground for the club, and a tricky test at MK Dons in the mix too, with a huge clash against Charlton at Hillsborough. January will be a big month, but the league won't look certain for any club until start of April to Mid April. The league its self is so close, a few bad results and your out of the play-offs, a few good ones and your in with a shot of promotion.

To say where the club has come from in the past 12 months. The re-building work has been amazing a huge tribute has to be made to the board the new owners, the supporters for backing the team, our loyal fan base has kept this club running for years, without the fan support we have had, this club would be in a lot worse of a state than it was.

So far so good in my opinion for this season, lets hope the club can sort this little blip of form out against Preston on New Year's Eve at Deepdale and get three crucial points. The season is far from over, but if we continue like we are doing, we will be in the mix come May. Our return to the promised land continues until then, but our time will come, the club is upon a new era, and exciting and happy times will soon be back at S6.

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dedicated for Milan Mandaric