Your name and Club Supported
Nick, Sheffield Wednesday
Your League Position last season
12th
Your Prediction For this Season’s Position Finish
8th
Transfers In
Darren Purse (Cardiff), Tommy Miller (Ipswich), Darren Potter (Wolves)
Transfer Out
Wade Small, Kenny Lunt (released)
Have you made enough signings for the new season? Are they the right signings?
Wednesday fans expected a few more to come through the door but they’re happy with the three that have signed permanently over the summer. We desperately needed to strengthen the centre midfield, which we have done, and also get an experienced head at the back, which we have done in Purse. I think we were still lacking a proven goalscorer at this level,m but the current bunch have proved they could be up for it this season over the pre-season campaign.
What are the expectations amongst the fans for this year?
It’s really a mixed bag from Wednesday fans, but I think the majority will be looking for us to really push for the play-offs this season after what we achieved last year. Hopes of a takeover are still on, and if this comes off and the club give Brian Laws the funds to further strengthen the squad, then we should be up there. With a bit of luck on the injury front, I think our squad is a good shout for the top six, just.
Key player(s)
Akpo Sodje. When he plays, he’s great. Trouble is, he doesn’t play enough! He scored two on the first day of last season but an injury in the same game put paid to the majority of the season. If he’s fully fit, he’ll be a real handful this season.
Darren Purse. Our defence was strange last season – probably the best in the league at home, but terrible away. Hopefully Purse will add some steel and experience to the back. He’s also the captain for this season.
Lee Grant. Literally saved us many points last season with his performances in goal, which rightly saw him linked with moves to the Premier League. As vital as anyone else in the squad.
Your thoughts ahead of the new Championship campaign, are you confident or worried going into the new season? How do you think your year will pan out?
I’m quietly confident. We haven’t chabged the squad around too much so I think we’ll definitely be a safe mid-table bet, I don’t think relegation will trouble us. If the squad stays fit – big if – then we can challenge for honours at the right end of the table.
Predict the Top 2 and Play-off winner and the 3 clubs to go down
Top 2? As much as they’re getting ridiculed at the moment, I think, given time, Newcastle will get their act together this season and be up in the top 2. I’ll go for West Brom in second, but it’ll be interesting to see how Di Matteo does. Play-off shout I’m going for Forest. Spending the cash, and have a manager who has experienced it all before.
