New team, new hope as Moore makes his mark
Having been relegated on the final day of last season, with stories on financial problems hitting the headlines and with a host of first team players leaving for nothing, there was plenty of doom and gloom in relation to Sheffield Wednesday as the close season started.
Fast forward three months and the mood is far more positive as the start of the 2021-22 league campaign approaches. Owls boss Darren Moore may not have vast managerial experience but he does have a wealth of knowledge within the game and a blossoming reputation. His influence has undoubtedly aided a summer of recruitment that has brought renewed optimism to Owls supporters.
It wasn’t so much the loss of so many players at the end of their contracts this summer that was the main concern – of the players that have departed since the end of last season, there aren’t many that the majority of Wednesday fans would have been desperate to keep hold of. The greater issue was concerned with who would replace them, especially with a transfer embargo hanging over the club as the previous season came to a close.
As August begins, the Owls have signed 11 new players, many of which it is somewhat of a surprise to see drop down to third division level, such is their standing. In Bailey Peacock-Farell Wednesday have a goalkeeper that undoubtedly improves their options. The additions of Jack Hunt and Jaden Brown add a mix of experience and attacking intent to the full-back positions.
Lewis Wing and George Byers have proved themselves more than capable of performing in midfield in the Championship, never mind League One, while Dennis Adeniran’s youthful enthusiasm and background having spent the past four years at Everton makes him an exciting prospect to watch out for in the centre of the park.
Marvin Johnson, Olamide Shodipo and Theo Corbeanu provide genuine attacking threat from wide positions. Lee Gregory and Florian Kamberi bring different attributes in the striker positions for which Wednesday were severely lacking last season.
When Darren Moore to charge of the team in March it seemed like he was severely restricted in playing the game he wanted to play due to the squad at his disposal. The new additions he now has to work with makes this genuinely feel like a fresh start for the Owls, a squad he has clearly shaped in terms of identifying what is needed and as a result the days of having no option but to put square pegs in round holes will hopefully be a thing of the past.