Alan Biggs: The only people that can really stop Sheffield Wednesday being relegated

Forget “managers”, even owners for the moment, only players can keep Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.
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And right now, they, and interim chiefs Neil Thompson and Lee Bullen, are making a fantastic fist of it.

They have to be the focus now, not least because homing in on anything else is too depressing. Late accounts, wage issues, another unseemly public spat with a highly successful manager.

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To their great credit, Thompson’s team have cocooned themselves from the chaos - four wins in five games would be outstanding for a side in any position.

Sheffield Wednesday caretaker boss Neil Thompson alongside Lee Bullen    Pic Steve EllisSheffield Wednesday caretaker boss Neil Thompson alongside Lee Bullen    Pic Steve Ellis
Sheffield Wednesday caretaker boss Neil Thompson alongside Lee Bullen Pic Steve Ellis

As for any other debate, how on earth do you discuss the club’s overall plight without trotting out stuff you’ve said a thousand times before?

They say that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If that’s true, the same applies to saying the same thing over and over again.

Best leave what I believe to be the glaring message unsaid this time and refer you to any of many previous columns.

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It appears anyway that, even amid a crescendo of criticism from supporters, nothing fundamental seems likely to change in the way the club operates. Which is fine - if it has worked.

The hope comes from on the field rather than off it, despite a dreadful outcome to the window which failed to deliver even one desperately needed out-and-out striker.

It might still not be beyond the players in this squad to finish outside the bottom three, if not by much.

Allowances here for confusion beyond their control; three “managers” this season, three styles of play, and maybe even a fourth to come. Who knows? But hopefully Thompson has done enough to continue indefinitely.

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You couldn’t blame players for metamophorical outstretched arms, palms upward. But shrugging shoulders is a different matter entirely and it’s been demonstrated that there’s not a single player in this group who doesn’t care. Deeply.

That’s often the first suspicion levelled by fans and you could hardly blame Wednesdayites for lashing out on all fronts.

However, while there might be a lack of natural leaders in the squad, I do think the players care and not least about their own careers.

Does any regular member of the side see himself as a League One player? Is anyone happy to take a drop in pay? Is anyone actually pushing to leave the club?

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One fair criticism is that generally they have been over-rewarded. The relatively successful team that needed breaking up much earlier was too comfortable, subconsciously that is.

For a high wage bill, they have under-delivered. But that comfort no longer exists and their livelihoods are on the line.

That’s also why the scapegoating of individuals on social media is not just plain wrong but also self-destructive.

Whatever else, these guys want to win. No-one enjoys what comes with losing.

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This is by no means a criticism of supporters - who continue to be much missed inside the stadium - but their remote support can be important in these next crucial months.

As for things higher up, wait and hope. It does seem that financial issues are becoming ever more acute; hopefully to be overcome.