The signings, the expectations and the predictions: Our Sheffield Wednesday writers look into the season ahead

Taking everything into account, there’s a very strange season on the horizon for Sheffield Wednesday and ahead of their opener away to Cardiff City, Owls writers Joe Crann and Alex Miller, and Football Editor Chris Holt have assessed their transfer activity and offered predictions on how things will stand by the time we wrap up in May.

What do you think of the signings?

Alex Miller: When you consider the likely nature of the season ahead, I'd say the work done so far by Sheffield Wednesday has been nothing short of exceptional. Getting players of the quality of Chey Dunkley and Izzy Brown in amid competition puts them in good stead and for all some sections of the Owls support think of Garry Monk, shows the pull he and his coaching staff have. They desperately need a goalscoring number nine, though.

Joe Crann: I think they’ve done really well on the signings front to be honest. They’ve signed players who are hungry and with a point to prove, whether that be trying to make a name for themselves at senior level, showing that their best is not behind them or turning over a new leaf. And they’ve done it on a budget, too.

Chris Holt: I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the standard of player coming in, given the circumstances, and I suppose it goes to prove just how big a draw Sheffield Wednesday are as a club. There are so many players in this squad who never have and never will play for a club of this size and get to – hopefully – play in front of such big, passionate crowds. I think Dunkley could be the pick of them as there’s been a real lack of quality and leadership in the backline, probably since Glenn Loovens was on the wane.

Who will be the key players this season?

AM: There are lots of players in the squad who are very capable of making a big impact for Wednesday this season. It's been said plenty of times before, but the fact is that when Sheffield Wednesday are on form, Barry Bannan is often at the centre of things and he'll be keen for a return to form after an injury-addled 2019/20. If Izzy Brown stays fit can be a huge player for the Owls. And reigning player of the year Dominic Iorfa can really press on with his Premier League ambitions if he is able to put a more consistent season together.

JC: Dominic Iorfa at the heart of defence and Barry Bannan at the heart of midfield will be key, but I don’t think there’s any surprise in that statement. For me, Izzy Brown could be huge for Wednesday this season, especially because he should give Bannan a bit of an opportunity to flourish given that the Scotsman is no longer the Owls’ only creative outlet.

CH: Again, Dunkley, when fit, and Iorfa should solidify the defence which I think will be hugely important. I get the impression that Monk is going to make the team difficult to beat and they will be key components of that. Bannan’s importance is obvious but he is going to have to start chipping in with more goals because looking at the team, only Josh Windass looks capable of getting double figures – Elias Kachunga might prove me wrong.

What are the expectations?

AM: The expectation should be simple; finish 20th, nothing more, nothing less. Cup runs? Play-offs? Not this year. Dust this points deduction off and go again a year down the line. Miserable maybe, but survival alone would be a fabulous achievement.

JC: Expectations are tough, because I think it very much depends on how things are looking 1) after a few games and 2) once the transfer window is closed. If we’re being realistic though, given the 12-point deduction I think that has to be the original aim. Should Wednesday stay up this season given their situation, anything else should be seen as a bonus really. It’d be nice to not be worrying about the final stretch though.

CH: I don’t think there’ll be too many Wednesday fans who wouldn’t be happy to stay up, write this season off as one of development and then go again next year. If we’re honest, this is a mid-table quality squad anyway so, with 12 points to chase down, anywhere from 21st upwards should be the aim.

Where do you think they'll finish?

AM: I see no reason they can't finish outside the bottom three, but only if they add goals to an otherwise promising squad. Monk and Wednesday are doing all they can to do so and there's no doubt a striker or two will be added, but for all their qualities I'm not convinced an arsenal of Rhodes, Windass and Kachunga are capable of clawing back a 12-point deficit.

JC: With the squad currently available, with the boost given to the technical team and the new air of positivity coming out of Hillsborough, I think they’re good enough to stay up. With a couple more signings though – most importantly a real goal-getter – I don’t see why a mid-table finish isn’t achievable. And Monk’s done it before.

CH: I think they’ll stay up relatively comfortably. I don’t think this is going to be a season that will live long in the memory, I can’t imagine it’s going to be one blessed with swashbuckling football and on-the-edge-of-your-seat entertainment – be prepared for a lot of low scoring matches – but that will all be enough to get through it and then hopefully build for a more ambitious challenge next time around. I’ll go for a finish somewhere around 17th or 18th.