Alan Biggs: Only one opinion really matters as Sheffield Wednesday head into crunch week

It’s the same for those writing about the game.

Monk knows what is expected of him, certainly by Sheffield Wednesday fans, after nine summer signings.

And he accepts he will be judged on the whole of his record as Owls boss, not just his results with a reconstructed team.

And while it is still far too early, in my view, to make a judgment on the latter, the reality is that this is a highly pressurised season for everyone at the club. Only one opinion really matters; that of owner Dejphon Chansiri, not a man to be stampeded.

The bottom line is that Wednesday can’t afford to fall into League One. Regardless of the 12 point deduction - pending appeal - the club has a fighting chance of staying up.

Monk and his players have to rebuild that hope to carry the supporters with them, whether they are in the stadium or not.

Writing here ahead of the Wednesday night visit to Rotherham, several things are obvious.

One is that the Owls do not have the depth in quality to cope without an injured trio of Izzy Brown, Massimo Luongo and Dominic Iorfa, not to mention Tom Lees.

Another is that, with or without them, Wednesday are struggling to score in an otherwise more compact 3-5-2 system.

You wonder if this will have to be revised at some point. In a team not blessed with pace, the two most athletic outlets - Kadeem Harris and Adam Reach - are often hampered by their defensive duties as wing-backs.

Wednesday need one or other further upfield more often, and earlier, to then deliver crosses more effectively - with fewer defenders back.

Across the two home defeats last week, with Jack Marriott starting in both, I can’t recall the on-loan Derby striker receiving a single ball that might have led to a goal.

There was little or no progression through midfield, leading eventually to a long ball approach which I believe was in desperation rather than design.

Somehow the players at Monk’s disposal, while more together as a unit than before, need to be harnessed better in the offensive side of the game.

In one sense it doesn’t matter how Wednesday get the points they need. But draws certainly won’t save Wednesday this season. Only wins can do that.

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