'They can't afford to...' - Chris Waddle makes Sheffield Wednesday claim ahead of League One season
The Owls are back in League One after three seasons in the Championship
Sheffield Wednesday need to make a ‘statement’ as soon as the League One season gets underway.
That is the view of Owls legend Chris Waddle, as the clock continues to tick towards the big kick-off on August 15, with Henrik Pedersen’s men starting at Leyton Orient. Despite having to build a whole new squad, the bookies still fancy Wednesday’s chances of promotion, ranking them second behind only Leicester City.
Wednesday’s players, including Barry Bannan, have made no secret that they want to clinch the title, something they have not managed to do in their three previous spells in League One. As well as the Foxes, Luton Town, Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle are being backed to be challenging at the top.
There is always going to expectation and pressure on Wednesday when they are in the third-tier and Waddle is in no doubt that they will have to hit the ground running or there could be some grumbles from the home faithful aimed towards the dugout.
“Expectations are high, as they should be for a big League One club like Sheffield Wednesday,” he told OLBG. “They can't afford to sit back, they need to come out of the blocks quickly and make a statement right from the start that they intend to get out of this division this season.
“Henrik Pedersen knows he cannot afford to wait. If the team isn't performing well after six or seven games, his position will come under pressure, everyone understands that. With the club making positive moves off the field and securing some interesting new signings, I see no reason why Sheffield Wednesday can't bounce straight back.”
Wednesday have made nine new signings this summer, with a nice mix of youth and experience added. Waddle has expressed that they need to build a squad capable of holding its own, at least, in the Championship, so that they don’t have to keep recruiting double-figures every year.
He added: “The signings Sheffield Wednesday have made are about getting out of this league, not the Championship yet. Barry Bannan, however, is an experienced player who knows the club inside out and provides a good influence on the pitch. He brings so much experience. Having played for Wednesday in this division before, he knows exactly what to expect and the younger players can really benefit from his advice.
“He’s an experienced footballer at this level, so I think having Barry back will have a big impact on the team. We'll see how they go. Expectations are always high, we know that. You have to live with that when you join a club like Sheffield Wednesday. Can these players handle playing in front of 28,000 to 30,000 fans every week? That is the question we will find out.”