How Garry Monk is looking to the past to check Sheffield Wednesday's progress under his leadership this season

Time and again this season Garry Monk and his players have ‘batted back’ questions about their league position and how they are sizing up in the race for promotion.
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But the fact is that approaching the halfway point in the season they are outperforming recent seasons, both in terms of points gained and league position.

After 21 matches Wednesday are eighth in the Championship on 33 points.

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That’s seven places and seven points better off than this time last season, seven places and six points better off than in 2017/18.

And asked how he feels the club is progressing under his leadership after their 1-1 draw at Derby on Wednesday, Monk suggested the failures of the last two years can be used as a measure of their success so far.

He said: “In the past couple of years, we have been nowhere near it and at this moment in time, we are in a really healthy position.

“We want more and it does not mean us and the players are happy to settle for what we have got.

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“We are competitive and we have made the team competitive and have a position to compete and take points.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk believes his side are heading in the right directionSheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk believes his side are heading in the right direction
Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk believes his side are heading in the right direction

“In the meantime, we will work on the other stuff.”

Compared with the play-off qualification seasons under Carlos Carvalhal, the Owls are more or less in-line at current, one place and three points ahead of their 2015/16 offering and just a place and a point behind the following season.

The Owls could have gone third with a 2-0 win in midweek and Monk expressed how well he believes the side are doing in a congested top half.

“The table will be [tight],” he said.

“From the bottom half to the top half, it will be probably until the last month of the season. That is the way it is going to be.

“No-one expected us to be where we are at this point.

“We are doing fantastic.

“Let's not forget that.

“But the key is everyone wants more.

“When you are a big club, everyone wants more and we have to abide by that and buy into that and show that mentality.”

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