Owl Save You - A Sheffield Wednesday Story

[leckuno]

The Long Road Back: A Football Manager 2026 Journey with Sheffield Wednesday

There’s something irresistibly dramatic about taking charge of a fallen giant. Some clubs don’t just carry history—they drag it behind them like an anchor, heavy with expectation, triumph, heartbreak, and the stubborn belief that better days must return. Sheffield Wednesday are exactly that kind of club.

A Club Built on Glory, Scarred by Turmoil

Founded in 1867, Wednesday are one of England’s oldest professional clubs and, for decades, one of its most decorated. League titles, FA Cups, European nights, and a fanbase that fills Hillsborough even in the darkest times—this is a club with pedigree.


But history can be a cruel companion. Since relegation from the Premier League in 2000, Wednesday have lurched between hope and crisis. Administrations, points deductions, ownership disputes, and financial mismanagement have repeatedly dragged the club back just when momentum seemed to build.


The 2020s were supposed to be a reset. Instead, they became another chapter of instability. Mounting debts, questionable spending, and strained relationships between ownership and supporters created a perfect storm. The club is once again fighting for its life.

A Financial Mess That Can’t Be Ignored

We begin the save in a precarious financial state. Transfer funds are non‑existent but there is space in the wage budget to bring some players in. With the club in such trouble administrators have been appointed meaning that we are under a transfer embargo and the administrators are in charge of any transfer offers that come in for our very small squad.

Hillsborough remains a magnificent but ageing stadium, expensive to maintain and symbolic of the club’s ongoing struggle to modernise. Revenue streams are inconsistent, and the club’s long-term sustainability is under threat unless drastic action is taken.

This isn’t a rebuild. It’s a rescue mission.

Starting the Season 18 Points Behind

As if the financial chaos wasn’t enough, the Owls begin the 2025–26 season with a brutal 18‑point deduction. It’s the kind of punishment that can define a campaign before a ball is kicked. Survival becomes the first objective. Pride becomes the second.

Every match matters. Every point is a lifeline. Every decision—tactical, financial, or developmental—carries weight.

This is not a save for the faint‑hearted. It’s a challenge that demands patience, discipline, and a willingness to embrace the chaos that has become synonymous with Sheffield Wednesday.

Why This Save?

Because there’s something compelling about trying to restore dignity to a club that has lost its way. Because Wednesday’s fanbase deserves better. Because dragging a historic club out of the mud and back toward the light is exactly the kind of narrative Football Manager was made for.

This will follow the journey from day one:​

• stabilising the finances​
• rebuilding the squad​
• navigating the deduction​
• reconnecting the club with its identity​
• and, hopefully, writing a new chapter worthy of the badge​

The road back to respectability starts now. The climb will be steep. The pressure will be relentless. But the potential reward—reviving a sleeping giant—is irresistible.

Let’s get to work.
​

 

[leckuno]

The Squad

We take a look at the current squad with this update as we have a total of 23 senior players at the club with 7 of them wanted by other clubs and we also have a number of players who's contracts run out at the end of the season and at the moment we're unable to offer them any new deals either. At best this is the squad we're going to start the season with as the administrators try and sort out a sale of the club.

Goalkeepers

Pierce Charles

At only 19 he already has 8 caps for Northern Ireland and we will look to make him our No.1 straight away and believe he can have a great future at the club

Ethan Horvath

A solid backup keeper with experience. Reliable, experienced, and steady. Strong shot‑stopping and composure make him ideal for a deep defensive block.

Centre‑Backs

Liam Cooper

Veteran left‑sided centre‑back. Brings leadership, positioning, and aerial strength. Not quick, but perfect for organising a low block.

Ernie Weaver

Youth prospect with potential. Physically developing and technically limited for now — a long‑term project rather than a first‑team option.

Dominic Iorfa

Athletic, versatile defender who can play centrally or at right‑back. Excellent pace for recovery runs but decision‑making can be inconsistent.

Gabriel Otegbayo

Another young centre‑back option. Raw but physically capable. More of a depth piece at this stage.

Di’Shon Bernard

One of our strongest defenders. Mobile, composed, and good in duels. Ideal partner for Cooper in a two‑man pairing.

Full‑Backs

Yan Valery

Attack‑minded right‑back with strong athleticism. Offers overlapping runs and energy but may need tactical discipline in a defensive system.

Reece Johnson

Another youth full‑back. Developing physically and technically — more suited to U21 minutes for now.

Harry Amass

Promising left‑back with strong athletic traits. Good engine and defensive awareness for his age.

Max Lowe

Our most complete left‑back. Balanced defensively and capable going forward. Fits well in a conservative full‑back role.

Defensive & Central Midfielders

Liam Palmer

A very versatile player who can play right across the back line but is more suited to a DM role. A very loyal player who has spent his full career at the club.

Sean Fusire

Young, versatile midfielder. Good technical base and mobility. Useful rotation option with room to grow.

Rio Shipston

Young midfielder with tidy passing and good composure. More of a rotation option but can operate as a deep‑lying playmaker or shuttler.

Barry Bannan

Still the heartbeat of the side. Elite vision, technique, and leadership. Best used as a deep‑lying playmaker in your midfield three.

Nathaniel Chalobah

Physical, experienced midfielder who can anchor the midfield. Strong ball‑winner and positional screen — ideal for a DM role.

Svante Inglesson

Box‑to‑box profile with work rate and tactical intelligence. Good link player between defence and attack.

Attacking Midfielders & Wingers

Olaf Kobacki

Direct, pacey wide player. Likes to run at defenders and stretch the pitch. Suited to an inside‑forward or wide AM role.

Jamal Lowe

Versatile attacker who can play wide or centrally. Good movement, work rate, and finishing. Likely your most reliable winger.

Strikers

Charlie McNeill

Young striker with good movement and finishing instincts. A developmental option who can contribute off the bench.

Bailey Cadamarteri

Energetic forward with strong physical attributes. Pressing threat and capable of leading the line in certain matchups.

Ike Ugbo

Our most complete striker. Strong hold‑up play, good finishing, and intelligent movement. Ideal lone forward.

George Brown

Youth striker — raw and still developing. More suited to academy minutes at this stage.​

 

[leckuno]

Preseason

The administrators acted quickly and arranged a CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement) to restructure our debt and make it a lot more manageable going forward and cuts it by nearly half. We are going to end up paying out for the next 10 years but at least its a lot more manageable. We're still not allowed to sign any players or staff though until we come out of administration.

The Tactic

We go into preseason having to make the most of what we have as a squad and we've settled on a 4-3-2-1 tactic where we are going to try and control possession throughout the game and try and get the ball forward through Bannan and Chalobah to Ugbo

These players are going to be playing pretty much every match for us as we don't have a lot of cover for rotation and injuries and if they happen we will need to look to our youth teams to fill the gaps.

Transfers Out

We had offers come in for a few players but only three players were sold in the end but they were going to be important players for us. Olaf Kobacki is probably the biggest loss as he was capable of playing down both wings. We make the most money from Cadamarteri as he had come through our youth ranks so its 100% profit.

The Games

A mixed sit of results over the course of the season but we did with the games we were expected to win and got a great draw against Arsenal and came close to an upset with Man City as well before a huge win on PAOK. We now go into the season with a sense of belief that we can pick up some wins quickly and start to aim towards a positive point total.

Expectations

We're expected to be relegated this season and the board are taking that into account so hopefully if we do go down then I'll still keep my job and we can then focus on a rebuild but the plan will be to beat the drop and establish ourself in the Championship over the next few seasons.

You can see here as well that if we do finally come out of administration then we plenty of money to bring in some players on free transfers and loans as I think it would be irresponsible to move any of the money to the transfer budget until we can afford to spend it and not go straight into the red.

The Start of the Season

Not the start we were wanting as its going to be tough to pick points up in these games but with a bit of luck anything is possible.​

 

[leckuno]

August 2025: The Climb Begins

With an 18-point deduction hanging over Hillsborough like a storm cloud, August was never going to be easy. But we didn’t flinch. We fought, we scored, and we showed signs that this season might just be about more than survival.
​

Leicester City 2–2 Sheffield Wednesday​

We kicked off our campaign with a spirited draw away to Leicester. Ike Ugbo opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, only for Luke Thomas to respond instantly. Jamal Lowe’s tidy finish gave us a half-time lead, but Julian Carranza’s header in the 64th minute denied us all three points.

Carabao Cup First Round
Barnsley 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A professional cup performance saw us edge past Barnsley thanks to a clinical finish from Ugbo in the 29th minute. The defence held firm, and Charles command of the box was key in preserving the clean sheet.
​

Sheffield Wednesday 2–3 Stoke City​

A rollercoaster at Hillsborough. Ugbo struck early in the 15th minute, but Stoke hit back through Bozenik, Baker, and Bae Jun-Ho in a devastating 25-minute spell. Ugbo’s second in the 50th minute gave hope, but we couldn’t find the equaliser.
​

Wrexham 1–4 Sheffield Wednesday​

A statement win in Wales. After Josh Windass gave Wrexham an early lead, we exploded with goals from Chalobah, Ingelsson, and Fusire. The midfield dominated, and the attacking transitions were lethal.
​

Carabao Cup Second Round​

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Derby County​

Cup hopes ended in Round Two. Rhian Brewster and Andreas Weimann struck for Derby, with Fusire’s 61st-minute goal offering brief hope. A rotated side lacked sharpness, and Derby’s experience told.
​

Sheffield Wednesday 4–0 Swansea City​

A demolition job at Hillsborough. Chalobah opened the scoring early, and Ugbo ran riot with a stunning hat-trick. Swansea had no answers. The most complete performance of the month.

August Summary

Administration Exit

We got the news we finally wanted come the final week of the month as we have finally exited administration and can now look to bring in some new staff and players.

Transfers In

We had no more players leaving the club thankfully but we did manage to add some wingers to the club with 2 loan deals and one permanent.

Shea Lacey

The Manchester United youngster joins the club on loan for the rest of the season as he adds good depth across both wings for us.

Ronny Bardghji

What a signing as we snap up Bardghji on loan from Barcelona for the rest of the season and I truly believe he could run riot in this league

Emmanuel Dennis

The final signing of the window as we sign somebody with experience in English football with clubs like Nottingham Forrest and Watford he can hopefully hit the ground running for us and bring some attacking power down the left wing

​

We did try and bring in a number of other players during the window for other positions as well but sadly they chose to go elsewhere and we wish them all the best at their chosen clubs.

September

​

 

[leckuno]

September 2025: Progress Meets Pain

September was a month of contrasts. Two clean-sheet wins hinted at a team finding its rhythm, but defensive lapses and late collapses reminded us that the climb from -18 points is never smooth. Still, standout performances from Dennis, Ugbo, and Bannan kept the dream alive.


Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Bristol City

A confident home win kicked off the month. Ingelsson opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a composed finish, and Emmanuel Dennis doubled the lead in the 34th with a sharp strike from the edge of the box. The defence looked solid, and Charles claimed a deserved clean sheet.

Portsmouth 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A gritty away win at Fratton Park. With the game heading for a stalemate, Barry Bannan stepped up in the 89th minute, curling home a late winner that sent the fans into raptures. A captain’s moment.


Sheffield Wednesday 3–4 QPR

A seven-goal thriller that ended in heartbreak. Dennis struck twiceand Ugbo added another, but QPR’s attacking quartet ran riot. Dembélé opened the scoring early, Koné bagged a brace, and Sonne’s 39th-minute goal proved decisive. Defensive frailty cost us dearly.


Birmingham City 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday

Another narrow defeat, this time at St Andrew’s. Demarai Gray struck twice to put Birmingham in control. Ugbo’s 51st-minute goal gave us hope, but the equaliser never came. A frustrating end to the month.

September Summary

October

 

[leckuno]

October 2025: Punches, Pushback, and Progress

October was a month of extremes. Two home defeats sandwiched between two spirited wins showed a squad still searching for consistency. Defensive lapses remain a concern, but the attacking unit continues to deliver — especially Ugbo, Dennis, and Ingelsson.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Coventry City

A frustrating afternoon at Hillsborough. After a cagey first hour, Coventry broke the deadlock through Haji Wright, who struck twice in quick succession to stun the home crowd. We lacked cutting edge and failed to respond.

Charlton Athletic 2–3 Sheffield Wednesday

A thrilling away win. Dennis opened the scoring in the 17th minute, and Ugbo added two more to give us a commanding lead. Late goals from Tyreece Campbell made it nervy, but the we held on.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Middlesbrough

Another home defeat. Dávid Strelec struck just before half-time and Sverre Nypan added a second to seal the win for Boro. We struggled to create chances and looked leggy after the Charlton thriller.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 Oxford United

A return to form. Ingelsson scored inside the first minute, Ugbo added a poacher’s finish just before half-time, and Liam Cooper powered home a header to seal the win. Tyler Goodrham pulled one back for Oxford, but we were in control.

October Summary

We are finally on a positive points total and we can now look to try and climb up the table out of the relegation zone.

November

 

[leckuno]

November 2025: Goals, Grit, and a Derby Blow

November was a mixed bag: emphatic wins, hard-fought draws, and a painful derby defeat. The squad showed attacking depth and midfield control, but lapses in discipline and late-game management continue to haunt. Still, the climb up the table continues.

West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A solid away point to kick off the month. Jed Wallace converted a 12th-minute penalty for the hosts, but Nathaniel Chalobah equalised with a composed finish in the 51st minute. We controlled large spells but couldn’t find a winner.

Sheffield Wednesday 5–1 Norwich City

Fireworks at Hillsborough. Ingelsson opened the scoring early, and Dennis, Bannan, Cooper, and Lowe piled on the misery. Kenny McLean’s goal just before half-time was a mere consolation. A complete performance.

Southampton 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday

A tactical stalemate. Both sides cancelled each other out in midfield, and chances were few. Horvath kept a clean sheet, and the back line held firm. A valuable point away from home.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–3 Sheffield United

The derby disappointment. Ingelsson gave us an early lead, but Dennis’s red card on the stroke of half-time flipped the momentum. United capitalised with goals from Campbell, Cannon, and Hamer to seal a painful defeat.

Millwall 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A gritty draw at The Den. Jake Cooper headed Millwall ahead, but Ingelsson responded with a well-placed finish in the 74th minute. We showed resilience but lacked cutting edge to win it.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Preston North End

A dominant finish to the month. Chalobah and Bannan struck in quick succession, and Dennis converted a penalty late on to seal the win. The midfield ran the show.

November Summary

December

 

[FM_TNSSO]

Gradually closing that gap on the teams above. A few more games and hopefully you'll be out of that relegation zone! Great effort so far!

 

[leckuno]

Gradually closing that gap on the teams above. A few more games and hopefully you'll be out of that relegation zone! Great effort so far!

Cheers, we're ticking along nicely and its going better than I expected so far

 

[leckuno]

December 2025: Ruthless Rhythm and a Festive Surge

December delivered exactly what Wednesday needed: goals, momentum, and a climb up the table. Five wins from six matches showcased the squad’s attacking depth, while Ugbo, Lacey, and Chalobah led the charge. Only Ipswich managed to halt the run, but the response was emphatic.

Blackburn Rovers 2–4 Sheffield Wednesday

A thrilling away win. Ugbo struck twice, Valery added a rare goal, and Lacey capped it off in stoppage time. Yuki Ohashi’s quickfire double gave Blackburn hope, but we held firm.

Watford 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday

Another strong away showing. Chalobah opened the scoring, Lacey doubled the lead, and Bannan sealed it late. Adeyemo’s 90th-minute strike was mere consolation.

Sheffield Wednesday 4–0 Derby County

A demolition at Hillsborough. Bardghji opened the scoring, Chalobah added another, and late goals from Denny Oliver and Ugbo sealed the rout.

Ipswich Town 3–0 Sheffield Wednesday

A rare off day. Szmodics and Hirst punished our defensive lapses. The attack never clicked, and the midfield was overrun.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Hull City

A festive draw. Ugbo gave us an early lead, but Palmer equalised for Hull. Chances came and went, but the finishing touch was missing.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 Blackburn Rovers

Ugbo’s hat-trick powered usto a convincing win. Cantwell’s late penalty denied the clean sheet, but the result was never in doubt.

December Summary

Finance Update

We're still not on a good financial footing but we do have money to spend going into the January window as we will be looking at new loan deals and free players to try and strengthen the team.

January

 

[leckuno]

January 2026: From Fireworks to Frustration

January began with a bang and ended with a bounce-back, but the middle stretch was a sobering reminder of the Championship’s grind. A five-goal away win and FA Cup progress were highlights, but three straight defeats threatened to derail momentum. Thankfully, the month closed with a clean sheet and a sense of renewal.

Transfers

We've lost Harry Amas and Ethan Hovath as their loan deals have come to an end but it frees up a bit more in the wage budget as we look to strengthen the squad for the 2nd half of the season. We've managed to bring in 5 new players with 4 being on loan and 1 on a permanent deal.

Aaron Batt

Not an exciting signing but he comes in to be our backup keeper for the 2nd half of the season

Justin Devenny

A great signing from Palace here as Justin Devenny joins us as a versatile midfielder and he will go straight into the starting XI where he can pull the strings for us in the middle of the park

Stefan Bajcetic

Another great signing as Bajcetic is another versatile player who can provide cover at centre back and in midfield

Jairo Riedewald

We take a big gamble on the former Ajax, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United player and pay a lot in wages but I feel that he can add a lot to our squad over the next few seasons with his experience.

Chido Obi

Ugbo has been brilliant for us up front so far this season but we don't have anybody capable of filling those shoes so we take a chance on Obi who is a cracking young player and hopefully we can help him start to reach his potential.

Preston North End 0–5 Sheffield Wednesday

New Year, new statement. Dennis opened the scoring before a Liam Lindsay own goal and a Cooper header put us in control. Ugbo added two more to cap off a dominant display.

QPR 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday

A cagey affair at Loftus Road. Both sides struggled to create clear chances, and our midfield lacked its usual spark. A point gained, but momentum stalled.

Barnet 1–4 Sheffield Wednesday

Cup professionalism. Cooper and Dennis gave us control, Devenny added a third, and Bardghji sealed it. Hugill’s late goal was a footnote.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Portsmouth

A tight win at Hillsborough. Devenny converted a 76th-minute penalty to secure all three points. Defence was resolute, and Charles earned his clean sheet.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Birmingham City

A frustrating loss. Willum Þór Willumsson struck just before half-time, and we couldn’t break down Birmingham’s low block. Missed chances and poor tempo cost them.

Bristol City 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday

Back-to-back defeats. Riis converted a 15th-minute penalty, and Twine added a late dagger. We looked leggy and lacked bite in the final third.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Millwall

The slide continued. Danny McNamara’s 74th-minute strike punished us. The attack lacked urgency, and the crowd grew restless.


Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Wrexham

A much-needed response. Ugbo broke the deadlock, and Shipston added a second to secure the win. The defence looked sharp, and the midfield regained control.

January Summary

February

 

[FM_TNSSO]

Devenney was quality for me at Watford so it's great to see he has hit the ground running for you too!

 

[leckuno]

February 2026: Obi Ascends, Ingelsson Delivers, and the Derby Cuts Deep

February was a month of sharp contrasts. We showed resilience and edge away from home, with a brilliant FA Cup win and two clean sheets in the league. But the derby defeat and a late stumble against Southampton reminded us how thin the margins are. Still, the emergence of Chido Obi and Svante Ingelsson’s consistency give cause for optimism.


Swansea City 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday

A composed away win. Chido Obi opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a confident finish, and Reece Johnson sealed the result in stoppage time (90’). The defence was disciplined, and Horvath earned another clean sheet.


Southampton 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday

Cup magic in the south coast. Obi was electric, scoring twice (13’, 55’) and causing havoc throughout. Ingelsson added a third (58’) to put the tie beyond doubt. Archer’s early goal (18’) was quickly forgotten.


Sheffield United 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday

Derby heartbreak. Myron van Brederode struck in the 70th minute, and we couldn’t find a response. The midfield struggled to impose itself, and the attack lacked bite. A bitter pill to swallow.


Norwich City 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A gritty win at Carrow Road. Ingelsson struck early and the defence held firm. Norwich pressed late, but our shape and discipline saw us through.


Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Southampton

A frustrating end to the month. Obi gave us hope with a 60th-minute goal, but Downes and Romeu had already done the damage. The squad looked tired, and the spark from the cup tie was missing.

February Summary

March

 

[leckuno]

March 2026: Penalty Drama, Home Grit, and Away Implosion

March was a month of two halves. At Hillsborough, Wednesday were composed, clinical, and cup-worthy. Away from home? It was chaos. A penalty shootout triumph over Brighton and a comeback win against Watford showed character, but three straight defeats — including a five-goal collapse at Stoke — exposed defensive fragility. Still, the FA Cup dream lives on.


Sheffield Wednesday 2–2 Brighton

A classic cup tie. Gruda stunned Hillsborough with two early goals, but we roared back through Ingelsson and Dennis. The shootout was ice-cold: Bannan, Lowe, Obi, Chalobah, Ugbo, and Cooper all converted. Through to the quarter-finals.


Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Watford

A comeback win. Doumbia gave Watford the lead, but Lowe and Ugbo turned the game on its head. The midfield pressed high, and the front line delivered.


Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Ipswich Town

A frustrating home defeat. Akpom struck early, and Hirst added a second. Devenny’s goal gave hope, but we couldn’t find the equaliser. Missed chances proved costly.


Hull City 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday

A dominant away win. Bernard headed home early, Ugbo added two more, and Matazo’s red card sealed Hull’s fate. Ruthless and efficient.


Stoke City 2–5 Sheffield Wednesday

A goal-fest. Obi struck twice, Dennis added a brace, and Devenny chipped in as well. Stoke’s Phillips and Cissé kept it interesting, but our attack was relentless.


Youth Intake

It was a positive looking intake with 5 elite players coming through the intake and hopefully at least one of them are able to make some first team appearances for the club over the next few seasons. Cody Poole is the pick of the pack through.

March Summary

April

 

[leckuno]

April–May 2026: Cup Glory, League Grit, and Wembley Heartbreak

April and May brought the full emotional spectrum. We marched to the FA Cup Final with penalty drama and a semi-final masterclass, but league form wavered — a mix of draws, narrow defeats, and flashes of brilliance. The final chapter at Wembley was painful, but the journey was unforgettable.


Nottingham Forest 2–2 Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup Quarter-Final

A dramatic cup tie. Igor Jesus scored twice for Forest, but Riedewald and Devenny kept our hopes alive. In the shootout, Gibbs-White and Neco Williams missed, while Devenny, Chalobah, Ingelsson, and Palmer converted to send us through.


Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Leicester City

A tense stalemate. Both sides had chances, but defences held firm. Horvath made key saves, and the midfield lacked spark.


Coventry City 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A frustrating loss. Despite Liam Kitching’s early red card, Haji Wright struck twice before Dennis pulled one back. Wednesday couldn’t break down ten men.


Derby County 2–3 Sheffield Wednesday

A fast start and a clutch finish. Bardghji bagged a brace, Bannan added a third, and we held off late goals from Agyemang and Redmond.


Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Charlton

A frustrating draw. Campbell gave Charlton the lead, and Obi equalised late. We dominated possession but couldn’t find a winner.


Middlesbrough 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday

Another narrow defeat. Morris and Browne struck for Boro, while da Costa’s late goal wasn’t enough. Defensive lapses proved costly.


QPR 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup Semi-Final

A semi-final masterclass. Esquerdinha’s own goal set the tone, Obi added a second, and Bannan sealed it with a penalty. Wembley awaits.


Oxford United 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday

Late heartbreak. Ugbo gave us the lead, but Romeny and Brown turned it around. A cruel blow.


Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 West Brom

A dramatic draw. Bardghji scored, but Maja equalised in stoppage time. A familiar story of late lapses.


Arsenal 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup Final

Wembley heartbreak. Gyökeres was unstoppable, scoring a hat-trick, and Lewis-Skelly added another. Obi’s late goal was a consolation. The dream ends, but the journey was unforgettable. It shows how far we have to go to compete with the elite in England never mind Europe


Summary

Budgets

Budgets are tight going into the season ahead, our squad is threadbare as it is but with loan signings leaving that will free up some of the wage budget to bring new players in as well. We're going to have to do some proper wheeling and dealing to improve the squad and hopefully finish higher up the table next season​

 

[FM_TNSSO]

What a season!! And an FA Cup Final that was never expected as well...100% you have to be going into season 2 as one of the favourites for at least the playoffs surely!

 

[leckuno]

What a season!! And an FA Cup Final that was never expected as well...100% you have to be going into season 2 as one of the favourites for at least the playoffs surely!

I'm not sure now that we've lost the loan signings but the one good thing is the FA Cup saved us financially but I don't expect a run like that again for a while as we got lucky

 

[leckuno]

Season 2

Transfers out

We knew we were going to have to sell players in this window and we did our best to ship off players who never featured for us last season or could bring in a good bit of cash as well. Now the money was most important as before we started to sell players I managed to get the board to agree to let 15% of of the sales go towards the transfer budget and while it might not seem a lot its 15% more than we were getting last season and every penny counts for trying to rebuild the squad. Ugbo was brilliant for us last season but Obi came in and outshone him so it made sense to cash in on him. Ernie Weaver was a strange one as clubs came in for him in January and we knocked them back but I just couldn't see him getting game time so £3million pure profit is a great piece of business for us.

Transfers In

We've brought in a whopping 9 players so far and its still early in the transfer window as we start to build out the squad. We acted quick on the loans to make sure we could bring in the best players possible.

First in Heaven comes in to gain some first team experience and feel he can do great things here.

Shaqueel van Persie may seem a strange addition but he spent the 2nd half of last season on loan at QPR where he scored 7 goals in 12 appearances so he can hopefully he can build on that with a full season in the Championship.

Cozier-Duberry is making a step up from his loan at Bolton last season and hopefully he can do well here.

Williams-Barnett comes in from Spurs as cover for van Persie along with cover for both wings as well.

Potts joins to add a bit of skill to the middle of the part as we'll look to use him as he looks like he should stay calm and collected in the middle and his work rate will help the people around him.


We now move onto the permament deals

Bree comes in with plenty of experience in the Championship and we will look for him to help some of the younger players in the squad.

We needed a backup keeper to come in for cover and Gril fits all the needs and he won't be looking for first team football.

Some well needed cover at CB as again we bring in an experienced player and he brings in plenty of experience from across a number of European Leagues.

Not the fastest player in the squad but again he brings a lot of experience which is the most important part here while trying to go on a decent run in the league.

Starting XI

We've got a pretty strong starting XI in my eyes for the start of the season and we still have some space for a few more players to come in as well.

Expectations

Nothing too much is expected of us this season as we just need to finish midtable again which hopefully it should be easy enough to do without the point deduction. We still have money to spend in wages as well if players become available or any early injuries happen

August

A tough start to the season for us but it does mean we get those games out the way. We also face recently relegated Wrexham in the Carabao Cup First round so fingers crossed we can get a result.​

 

[leckuno]

August 2026: Flying Starts, Cup Progress, and a Derby Win

August couldn’t have started much better. Five wins from six, two clean sheets in the Carabao Cup, and a commanding away performance at Middlesbrough. Svante Ingelsson, Shaqueel van Persie, and Amario Cozier-Duberry all made their mark, while Freddie Potts delivered in the derby. Only Swansea spoiled the party — but the signs are promising.

I forgot to post this in the last update but it shows who we are up against this season after promotions and relegations

Expected to finish just outside the play off positions so fingers crossed we can finish a bit higher than the press are expecting for us.


Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Southampton

A tight opener at Hillsborough. Svante Ingelsson broke the deadlock in the 74th minute with a composed finish, and Ryan Manning’s red card helped see out the win. A disciplined start.


Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Wrexham
Carabao Cup First Round

A dominant cup display. Van Persie opened the scoring, Cozier-Duberry added a second, and Susoho sealed it. The attack looked fluid and confident.


Middlesbrough 1–5 Sheffield Wednesday

A statement away win. Van Persie bagged a brace, Potts struck, and Cozier-Duberry added two more. Aidan Morris pulled one back for Boro, but we were rampant.


Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Sheffield United

Derby delight. Freddie Potts struck in the 78th minute to settle a tense affair. The midfield battle was fierce, but we edged it with grit and composure.


York City 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday
Carabao Cup Second Round

Cup progression continues. Luca Williams-Barnett scored twice and Silvera added a late third. Alex Hunt’s goal gave York brief hope, but we were too strong.


Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Swansea City

A disappointing end to the month. Ronald struck twice to punish our sluggish display. The attack lacked rhythm, and the midfield was overrun.

August Summary

Transfers

We had one outgoing on deadline day and it was a huge deal for the club as we ended up selling Emmanuel Dennis who we signed on a free transfer at the start of the first season. He's off to Derby for a whopping £10million which is a huge return on him.

We now get to the players coming in and we have another 6 players coming into the club on permanent deals

Susho is an exciting young defensive midfielder who looks like he could develop into a good player at the club as he joins on a free after his contract at Man City expired

We needed cover for the left wing and the Australian international Silvera comes in on a free transfer as well after his contract at Middlesbrough expires.

Cover for the other wing this time as Bri signs on a free contract. He was playing in Liga 2 last season and has experience with the Atletico Madrid B team as well.

We needed a player to come in and replace Dennis and we wanted somebody to come in with experience who could hopefully hit the ground running as we spend £800,000 on Almog from Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

With only van Persie upfront for us it was vital we brought in some proper support and Mulattieri is a steal on a free transfer. He scored 14 goals for Deportivo last season so we know he can chip in with goals when needed.

Finally we added even more creativity to the middle of the park as we sign the Algerian international on a free transfer from Angers where he played 31 games in Ligue 1.

Finances

Well there has been a huge swing in our finances since we started the save as we are finally in a much healthier space. Its looking like we won't have much come the end of the season but fingers crossed we maintain it.​

 

[leckuno]

September 2026: Cup Brilliance, League Stumbles, and a Strong Finish

September was a month split cleanly down the middle. We opened with a stunning Carabao Cup win at Leicester, then hit turbulence with back‑to‑back league defeats. But the response at Hillsborough was emphatic: nine goals across two home games, van Persie catching fire, and the midfield asserting control again.


Leicester City 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday
Carabao Cup Third Round

A superb away performance. Ingelsson struck twice in quick succession before Cozier‑Duberry buried a penalty in first‑half stoppage time. We controlled the tempo and never looked threatened.


Burnley 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A frustrating afternoon at Turf Moor. Broja struck early and Humphreys doubled the lead. Cozier‑Duberry pulled one back with a sharp finish, but we couldn’t find the equaliser.


Everton 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday

A tough night at Goodison. Awoniyi powered in the opener and O’Brien added a second. We struggled to create clear chances and were second best throughout.


Sheffield Wednesday 4–1 Watford

A brilliant response. Almog opened the scoring , van Persie added a brace, and Potts smashed in a fourth. Reale’s goal was little more than a consolation.


Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Bristol City

A gritty home win. Van Persie struck just before the break, Armstrong equalised, but Silvera delivered the winner with a composed finish. Hillsborough roared the team home.


September Summary

Transfers

We sign yet another midfielder to help provide cover and Ndombele on a free deal who we have been chasing the last 7 months since he was released from his contract at Nice and he brings a wealth of experience with him

October