Sheffield Wednesday should be nowhere near bookies' favourites for League One title - here's why
Have the bookies been living under a rock?
Sheffield Wednesday should not be the second favourites to win League One next season.
The bookies are offering early odds of 7/1, only behind 5/2 favourites Leicester City. That does not mean they should not be among the contenders when the campaign kicks-off in August. But, at the moment, there is so much work to do. They are miles off it. There is a whole club to rebuild.
The odds are lazy, based purely on name. It makes me think that some people have been living under rock for the last 12 months and don’t actually realise what a mountain of a rebuilding job needs to be done. There are a number of other stable clubs in the division that are far better placed to mount a promotion charge than Wednesday. Again, I must stress I am talking about the here and now. By the start of the season, those odds could be reasonable and more accurate. Look, they are only predictions, guesswork, based off potential. Maybe that is the angle they have taken.
As we sit here right now, the likes of Stockport County, Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and possibly one or two more are in a much stronger position. For a start, they will have the foundations of squad. Wednesday don’t even have the bare-bone of one. They are a carcass. There is no meat on their bones.
It is also worth pointing out that Wednesday have never been promoted at the first time of asking when relegated to League One. On all three recent occasions, they went up in the second season, once automatically and twice via the play-offs. Honestly, right now, I think Wednesday should be considered the same odds as those around mid-table.
On another note, what would success actually look like this season? I think for many fans it would be improving the infrastructure and seeing promising signs for the future on the pitch. Win some actual football matches. Score some goals. Make Hillsborough a tough place for opposition. See academy players progress. Develop some assets. Feel the connection between the supporters, players and club again.
There will, of course, be some who expect instant results and promotion. You are always going to get that. But the last year or so has made most re-think what they want from their football club. They don’t want short-term fixes. They want long-term planning. A proper plan. And so far David Storch and Arise, guided by David Bruce, are hitting all the right notes and have given everyone reasons to be encouraged.
If Wednesday bring back Barry Bannan and pull of a Jamie Vardy coup, then fair enough. The bookies would be right to place them up alongside the favourites. But they should be nowhere near them for now.