Shedender's Journeyman Career

Some excellent stuff from you here with this mate. Shame about the MTN 8 though.

We are indeed still in touch with the leaders and clear of the drop zone and I'm pleased with that Dyrim. You ask are we strong enough to keep the form up? Honestly, no I don't think we are but we'll try.

If you suffer a 5-0 home defeat in the semi final first leg Charlie then you've little chance of progressing but I'm confident we'll be able to give it another shot next season.



The opening month of the New Year was going to be an extremely busy month as we had to face eight gruelling Premiership fixtures including games against Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and the team who have already tanked us twice this season, SuperSport United.


We would start twenty sixteen on the road as the side travelled to FS Stars and we left Bethlehem with a disappointing one all draw and it would be the home side who took a half time lead when Mabena scored on forty-three minutes but Mbongo, making his first appearance of the season, equalised on eighty-two minutes but we were unable to find a winning goal.

Four days later we visited Platinum Stars and picked up an undeserved 1-0 victory, Platinum Stars were reduced to ten men on eighty-one minutes when Mohwatseleng was sent off for two yellow cards before Badenhorst pinched the winning goal six minutes later.

And our unbeaten run continued with a two nil home win over Tuks in which my side took a second minute lead through winger Cele before the other winger Kaimbi finished the game off with a second goal on seventy-six minutes as we kept back to back clean sheets, we were the better side and could've won by a higher margin.

The side returned to Makhulong with a game against Sundowns and despite being second best we somehow managed to salvage our unbeaten run, the visitors missed an spot kick on nine minutes and it remained nil each until Shitolo found the net with fifteen minutes to go but that lead lasted all of eight minutes as Rodgers converted a penalty to get the visitors a point.

Currently seven games unbeaten we travelled to Johannesburg to face Orlando Pirates looking to stretch our unbeaten run to eight and we took a seventeenth minute when Bell found the net but an own goal from Cele on thirty-four minutes meant we went into the break all square. With ourselves looking good to picking up an undeserved point, Klate scored the winning goal for the Pirates as our unbeaten run ended.

Next up was a home clash against SuperSport United who have already beaten us 5-0 and 6-0 this season but this was an improvement as we unfortunately slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat despite being the better side and taking a fifty-sixth minute lead through McKenzie but two goals in the space of four minutes from Chabangu and Somma meant SuperSport had three wins and a draw against us this season from four games, left-back More had a gilt-edge chance to save us a point but he missed an eighty-fifth minute penalty.

We did return to winning ways when the side travelled to Amazulu and won two one in an entertaining game. It only took three minutes to break the deadlock when Cele gave my Jomo side the lead before Mokoena went on to double the lead on twenty-five minutes, Manaka pulled a goal back but we managed to hold on for a valuable, and much needed three points.

And the long month ended with a home game against Maritzburg United who we defeated two one at Makhulong as Badenhorst and Mokoena scored in either half to give us a two nil lead but we couldn't keep a clean sheet as the away side scored with three minutes to go and then had a man sent off with the game entering stoppage time.


It was a long month and it took it's tole with those two defeats against Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United and we're currently in fifth place with thirteen wins and three draws from our twenty-one games to date, five defeats and we have scored only thirty-nine goals and conceded twenty-eight.

I'm still having trouble with the striker scoring more regularly.

Cracking so far buddy. still in with an outside chance of winning the league in spite of those two defeats.

Not a bad month there matey, keep it going

Thanks for the comment EXODDUS, as much as I'd love to win the league this season it's not going to happen but does look like we've exceeded expectations for a second straight season in the Premiership.

Cheers Dan, despite those two defeats I'm just delighted that SuperSport didn't humiliate us for a third time this season.



It's been another successful Premiership season for my Jomo Cosmos side to date but we're still not officially clear of relegation, we headed into February with league games against Wits, Black Leopards and Chippa United along with a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round against Tunisian side Sfax.


A trip to Wits started the second month of twenty sixteen as we picked up a well earned two nil victory courtesy of a goal in either half, striker Bell broke the deadlock on twenty-nine minutes and then Cele added a second goal with sixteen minutes remaining to seal the points.

We were then on the plane to Tunisia for my first ever Confederation Cup game and despite it being extremely entertaining (both sides had 22 shots on goal each) it would finish 0-0, which would surely put us in the driving seat in the return leg at the end of the month.

Four days later we returned to Premiership action with a home game against Black Leopards who we defeated three two but it should have been more commanding as we were the better side throughout. It took only eight minutes to take the lead when Bell struck but the Leopards equalised on the half hour through Nyathi before a Jali own goal had given us the lead for the second time but on thirty-seven minutes the away side levelled for the second time through Ngcombo but a penalty, on seventy-nine minutes, from Kaimbi sealed the win for ourselves.

We then recorded a convincing home win over Chippa United, winning three nil as all the goals arrived in the first half - Motau scored on sixteen minutes, Bell made it two on twenty-one and then McKenzie made it three with eight first half minutes remaining.

As the month concluded we hosted CS Sfax in the Confederation Cup preliminary round second leg and crashed out on away goals following a one all draw, the Tunisian side took a second minute lead through Gwar but we could only muster a point when Cele made it one all in the fifty-fourth minute.


Expectations beaten again!

For the second straight season we have exceeded expectations in the Premiership as we're currently in third place following another successful month bar the unfortunate crashing out of the Confederation Cup so early on but we're only two points behind the league leaders Kaizer Chiefs who we play next but I still guarantee we won't win the league.

We have officially entered the business end of the season as their is only a handful of games remaining in the twenty fifteen twenty sixteen campaign. Last month I managed the site to an unbeaten month, three league wins from three with the only disappointment crashing out of the Confederation Cup.


As much started we couldn't have required a tougher test as we had to welcome league challengers Kaizer Chiefs to our home venue and they defeated us two one, the Chiefs had a two nil lead before central defender Bereng managed to find the target with nine minutes left.

Six days later and the side headed to Swallows and produced a stunning six two away victory against the basement club - Bell, Kaimbi, Bereng and Cele all found the target as we took a four one half time lead away from home, Bell struck twice more in the final twenty minutes to complete his hat trick and a stunning away win.

We welcomed manager-less FS Stars to the Makhulong to the Nedbank Cup first round in our final fixture of the month as all the goals arrived in the second half in a four nil win. Bell struck on fifty-three and sixty-five minutes to give us a two nil lead before we struck twice more in the final six minutes through Motau and Bereng to complete the big cup victory.


Our remarkable season continues with just four games remaining and still in the hunt for an unlikely league title but I still think Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport or current champions Sundowns will be too strong and we'll come up short but we'll give it a try.

Well much closer then expected. So nothing but smiles I guess. Just give it a push, you might end up second!

It's been a second promising season Dyrim, unfortunately I still think more than likely Kaizer Chiefs will end up champions.



Season twenty fifteen twenty sixteen is coming to an end as we only have four league games remaining, this month saw us head to Sundowns and host Bloem Celtic in the Premiership along with two Nedbank Cup games as we progressed to the semi finals.


Sundowns away started the penultimate month of the season and we suffered a setback against the current champions, losing three one as Bell struck our only goal on thirty-nine minutes.

One week later we travelled to Martizburg in the Nedbank Cup second round and we advanced to the quarter finals following a four two success, goals from Cele and Makhanya had us two goals up at half time before Cele's second of the game and Bell added further goals in the second half.

Four days later was the quarter final of the Nedbank Cup and we progressed to the semis following a four three win after extra time. Kaimbi, Bell 2 and Cele were on target and we'll face Tuks in the last four next month.

The month ended on the final day of April as we hosted Bloem Celtic and defeated them two nil as both Bell and McKenzie struck in either half.


A win for Kaizer Chiefs against bottom of the table Swallows will secure the league title.

We are currently in third place in the league as we yet again unable to win the league title (can't see the Chiefs losing to the bottom side) but with a bit of luck we won't finish any lower than fifth place. Bottom of the table Swallows look more and more likely to be relegated to the National First Division next season.

Still a great season, shame about the Confederation cup but into semis of Nedbank is good. KIU

Fantastic season chum! Not quite finished yet though! go win that cup! I think next season COULD be your year for that title!

We deserved to progress in the Confederation Cup Sniper but unfortunately it wasn't to be as we didn't take our chances.

It has been another fantastic season, next year we could win the league? I disagree Dan, we're just simply not good enough to do that.



With the final month of the season upon us we had just two league games remaining as we looked to better last season's finish of sixth place along with attempting to retain the Nedbank Cup that we had won last season - the end of season didn't exactly go to plan though.


Our penultimate league fixture of the season was against Ajax Cape Town and we picked up a good draw on the road as it finished two each. Attacking midfielder Roscoe McKenzie scored on forty-two minutes and central defender Samukelo Makhanya headed home on fifty-three but we were unable to be victorious.

Three days afterr that draw in Cape Town we entertained Tuks in the final of the Nedbank Cup and we failed to retain our trophy after a disappointing single goal defeat but we were the better side, just couldn't take our chances though.

The final league game of the season was a home game against FS Stars and the side lost two one as Tshwarelo Bereng scored our one and only goal on the stroke of half time, not the greatest end to the season.


We have finished the season in fifth place, which I'm delighted with as it's been another productive season for my Jomo Cosmos side. Kaizer Chiefs won the league as Sundowns failed to win the league for a third season, it was a sad day for Swallows as they were relegated to the National First Day and Chippa United had to deal with a relegation play-off spot.

Great league finish mate unlucky in the cup though.

Thanks George, I'm not that disappointed about losing the cup final as we had won it last season and the board don't consider it a competition that we should take seriously but I would have loved to win the Telkom Knockout though.



Couple of months ago I decided to myself that the season twenty fifteen twenty sixteen would be my last in charge of South African side Jomo Cosmos as I felt to enjoy life in management I needed to move onto pastures new. I saw one job available that immediately caught my eye and had to apply.


I didn't even bother "declaring interest" but straight out applied for the vacancy at former Premier League club Sheffield Wednesday but I'm not viewed as the favourite to land the post but I was hoping I could have at least got an interview to convince them that I'm the man for the job.

It's stated that it may come as a "surprise" to some, and it should because I chose to keep it secret that I was looking a new job until it was time. During my time at Jomo Cosmos I won the National First Division in 2014 and the Nedbank Cup in 2015 along with a sixth and fifth place Premiership finish and coming runners-up in the Telkom Knockout too.


They're flattered by my interest, which as everyone knows, means nothing if they don't offer you an interview/a job.


Stunned! I must of wowed them a lot more than I expected in the interview as they've offered me the job and it's one I don't think I can turn down. So far it's only a one year deal but I'm going to try and add a second year while they've offered me an excellent wage and transfer budget too, too good for the league we're competing in.

The only thing I've promised the chairman is that we'll try and play attacking football, so I may need to properly evaluate the squad and if we need to be busy in the transfer market so be it should I take the job.


Did anyone really think I was going to turn down the chance to manage this "big" side? I'm not stupid. I've managed to make the contract a two year deal as I look to get the side promoted to the Championship but it's going to be difficult as we have a few players in the late twenties and also in the thirties so that will need to be addressed as quickly as possible.

Despite being predicted to finish fifth in League 1, Sheffield Wednesday occurred a difficult season as my new side finished the season in thirteen place which ultimately cost the previous manager his job. Can I do better? Perhaps. Am I confident? Well, you need to be. Changes will be made this summer as I'll look for a play-off spot.

Shame to end on a poor note but a great season there mate, good luck with the new job!

Good luck with with Wednesday matey.

Good luck with the new role.

Great budgets to play with as well.

It's the second straight season I believe that we've ended poorly Dan so it's no real surprise. Cheers mate, I'm surprised Sheffield Wednesday actually offered me a job as I didn't think I "wowed" them enough.

Cheers Rick.

Thanks Charlie, it's a challenge I'm looking forward too as I don't usually enjoy managing in England so early on.



So as I embark on my first season at Sheffield Wednesday I had to wait patiently for the budgets to be announced for the forthcoming season as changes needed to be made if we wanted to launch an expected promotion bid back to the Championship.


You can see that the minimum expectation is to reach the play-off spots in League 1 as we're predicted to finish the season in fourth place but obviously I'd love to better that and I'm confident in my own abilities to do so.

I was offered with three options to choose from - play-off's, promotion and winner and I've decided that I feel that we would get promotion to the Championship and I've been rewarded with a transfer budget of £3.7 million and a decent enough wage budget but I might see if I can extend the wage budget slightly.


An eight game pre season has been announced.

Things will start with a home game against Leicester City before we head to Wales to face Wrexham before our toughest task of the program against Premier League side Chelsea. We will then travel to feeder club Chester before hosting Wolves and then Sheffield is next and our final game of the pre season program is away to Buxton.

I say the Buxton game is our final game because the Chesterfield game has been cancelled as it clashes with our League 1 opener.


Our final piece of news in this update is that we've announced a link with Premier League giants Liverpool who will pay us near eighty five thousand pound per year. I had two other options to choose from but neither Aston Villa or Newcastle United were going to offer anywhere near as much as Liverpool did.

As per usual, we will host an annual friendly against Liverpool bar this season but I do also have the option to loan players from Liverpool and I plan to do so.

Brilliant budgets to have in league one, astonishing! And great link with Liverpool pal!

Good luck with sheff wed mate ! Great budget ! Good decision to move as well

A nice Reds link and loads of cash to splash. I think your up for a great season.

I'm going to get the chance to "splash the cash" a bit and that's a welcome change Dan, changes need to made dramatically though as some players currently at the club just aren't good enough.

Cheers George, it's an astonishing budget to have as a League 1 club but I won't be wasting any of it as it'll be used wisely.

It's pleasing to have a link with Liverpool Dyrim and I'm hoping it'll come to some use when I want to loan players from them. It'll only a great season if we win promotion to the Championship, other than that then it's a failure.



As I start my journey at Hillsborough with League 1 side Sheffield Wednesday I realised that drastic changes needed to be made after I evaluated the current squad and I was less than impressed with what I had currently got.The plan was to try and get as many players into the club who were good enough before the end of pre season and I feel I've done good business.


Using my link with Liverpool I managed to capture both Tom Brewitt and Adam Morgan on season long loan deals while striker Tom Hooper and defender John Egan joined from Leicester and Coventry respectively , Joe Riley and Joao Teixeira arrived on the opening day of the transfer window from Bolton and Swindon after agreeing pre-contracts.

Former Huddersfield Town winger Danny Ward signed on a free transfer while we "splashed the cash" to sign Robbie Thomson from League 1 winners Carlisle United and then James Knowles cost six hundred and fifty thousand from Chesterfield, we parted with seven hundred thousand to bring Tyler Blackett from Millwall while our biggest capture of the summer saw Jon Taylor arrive from Swindon for £1.2 million.

Heading out of Hillsborough:

Darren Lucas went to Worcester on loan, Roger Johnson cost Charlton sixty-five grand, Don Cowie went to Dundee United for twelve thousand and Medo headed to Ipswich Town for two hundred and twenty-five thousand pound.

Nine players left the club on free transfers - Johnny Fenwick, Jeff Hughes, Jay Tabb, Jack Stobbs, Sean Mullan, Seanan Foster and Glenn Law all departed when their contracts had expired while Vitolo was released as I didn't deem him good enough and Chris Kirkland, who is retiring at the end of the season, was also released.


Pre season didn't go that badly as we won four of our seven games, losing as expected to Chelsea and then disappointedly Chester.

A seventy-seventh minute own goal saw us beat Championship side Leicester while goals from John Egan and Joao Teixeira saw off Welsh side Wrexham, David Bell struck against Wolves and against Sheffield Adam Morgan, Stephen McLaughlin and Tom Brewitt were on target in a three goal win. Two Nick Blackman goals saw us end pre season with a two goal win in Buxton.

The time had come, we would welcome recently relegated Millwall to Hillsborough for my first competitive fixture in charge of the Owls as I would give nine summer signings their début in front of an expectant crowd of just under twenty two and a half thousand.


We would have to come back from three one down to salvage a well deserved point despite taking the lead on forty seven seconds through Joao Teixeira but goals from Hogan Ephraim and Souleymane Coulibaly had turned the game around for the Lions and then Nnamdi Oduamadi added a third on fifty-eight minutes. Winger Danny Ward pulled a goal with fifteen minutes remaining and then an unlikely point was gained when James Knowles scored with only two minutes remaining.


Seems a little pointless posting this as only one league game has been played but Oldham are the early season pacesetters after they tanked league favourites Queens Park Rangers 5-0 at Loftus Road.

A good building summer but a tough result to start the season, least its a point!

Millwall are predicted to finish above us Dan so to come back from 3-1 down to rescue a point is a good result in my book.



After starting the season with a hard fought but well deserved three all draw against Millwall we headed into August in what proved to be a tough month with my new charges having to play seven games - four in League 1, two Capital One Cup and a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie too.


We would start the month with a Capital One Cup home tie against Mansfield Town and we had to come from behind to progress after Ryan Hall had given the away side the lead ten minutes into the second half, that lasted seven minutes as John Egan headed home to equalise and then fellow central defender Bailey Wright finished in the final minute.

We returned to league action with a trip to Boundary Park and we returned to Yorkshire with all three points after a three one win with all the goals arriving in the second half. It took sixty-one minutes for the first goal to arrive when Tom Hopper scored but Oldham levelled on seventy minutes but two goals in the final thirteen minutes by James Knowles (pen) and Jon Taylor sealed the deserved three points.

The side then went on to defeat Rotherham three nil at Hillsborough in an entertaining affair - John Egan and a Tom Hopper double were on target.

Unfortunately my new side suffered their first defeat of the season as we crashed one nil at Stevenage, Kurtis Byrne scored on twenty-eight minutes to seal the points for the hosts at Broadhall Way.

Our next game was in the League Cup and at home to Brighton as we caused a slight cupset, central defender Bailey Wright scored in either half to seal a well deserved two nil victory at Hillsborough.

Port Vale would be our next obstacle in our final league game of the month as we won four one at Hillsborough. Goals from Tom Hopper and John Egan had us two goals up at half time and then James Knowles made it three early in the second half, Vale pulled a goal back on sixty-two minutes through Kodi Lyons-Foster but Danny Ward added a fourth four minutes later to seal the big home win.

We concluded the month with a JPT advancement as we dumped out Hartlepool. Danny Ward scored twice but Lewis Hornby also scored twice for the home side. We would advance 4-2 on penalties.


It's been a decent start to the month but it's still hard to judge how we're going to do as only five league games have been played but we are currently in fourth place with just one single defeat from our opening five games.

Good start mate !

cracking month buddy! keep it up!

Thanks very much George.

Cheers Dan, I'm just disappointed we slipped up to the unfortunate Stevenage defeat.



Life has started well in League 1 as we've only suffered one disappointing defeat from our opening five league games while we've managed to progress to both the Capital One Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy. September saw us play four league games and a third round League Cup trip to Doncaster Rovers.


Crawley away started the month as we played out a one all draw despite a fast start as Jon Taylor gave us the lead inside the opening minute but Crawley equalised a minute later through Cedric Baseya with their only shot on target.

Our first home game of the month was against Preston North End and a single goal from Tom Hopper on forty-two minutes was enough to separate the sides.

Seven days later we travelled to the Bescot to entertain Walsall and single goal from Tom Hopper for the second consecutive game sealed back to back single goal victories when he struck on fifty-nine minutes.

We headed to the Keepmoat Stadium to face Doncaster in the Capital One Cup third round tie and we had to come from behind to advance to round four as Giles Barnes had given Donny a fourth minute lead but James Knowles made it one all on eighteen minutes, Tom Hopper scored the winning goal on seventy-six minutes as we advanced to round four.

The month would end with a third single goal league victory on the trot against Swindon Town, John Egan scored what turned out to be the winning goal on fifteen minutes as we restricted visiting Swindon to zero chances on target.


Our good start to the season continues as we have moved up into second place after a trio of single goal victories on the trot. Stevenage remain the shock leaders as they're two points clear of ourselves.

Another good month and climbing the table well mate! Would be good to see a cup run!

Good month matey, well aside from beating the mighty Walsall anyway.

As much as I'd love a League Cup run Dan it's going to be difficult as we host Newcastle in round four.

Haha, sorry Rick but when I am chasing promotion then everyone has to be a victim - Walsall included I'm afraid.



With my side currently on an eight game unbeaten run in all competitions and currently sitting second in League 1 we headed into October looking to maintain the unbeaten run as we faced four league fixtures and three cup games in three different competitions.


A tough trip to Yeovil Town would start October but things would get easier when Femi Ilesanmi was shown a straight red card after only six minutes and it would take another half hour for Tom Hopper to break the deadlock before Bailey Wright added a second with the game entering stoppage time but Yeovil pulled a goal back in first half stoppage time when Ashley Harris scored. John Egan added a third Sheffield Wednesday goal ten minutes into the second half.

Three days later we crashed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the hands of Notts County but I couldn't care less as I don't consider it a worthwhile trophy. Charlie Dickson and Paul Robinson both struck to give the hosts a two goal lead, Danny Ward halved the deficit four minutes before half time but Jamie Vardy struck a third late on.

We returned to league action as we had to come from behind to beat Rochdale two one at Hillsborough as Danny Rose had given "Dale" a first minute lead but Joao Teixeira levelled on fourteen minutes before a seventy-first minute goal from Danny Ward turned the game around and sealed the three points.

We made the trip to Barnsley next and picked up a second straight two one win and my side broke the deadlock after only three minutes when Ryan Seager put through his own net but Lee Tomlin equalised on thirty-eight minutes, however with only fifteen minutes remaining Jon Taylor struck what turned out to be the winning goal.

Our second straight away game took us to Peterborough and a stunning away performance saw us head home with a three one victory as Danny Ward gave us a twelfth minute lead at London Road, John Egan then made it two nil just before the half hour. Peterborough pulled a goal back on sixty-four minutes through Curtis Main but five minutes later Jon Taylor made it three one.

Our hopes of progressing in the Capital One Cup came to an end as Newcastle eased to a three one win at Hillsborough. Teemu Pukki scored a hat trick for the Premier League high-flyers while central defender Bailey Wright scored what turned out to be our consolation goal two minutes before half time.

An FA Cup trip to Barnet completed the month as we won four nil at The Hive. Tom Hopper scored all four goals after thirty-seven, forty-three from the spot, sixty-three and ninety-one minutes.


The excellent form in League 1 has seen us move to the summit as we currently sit four points clear of second and third place Stevenage and Crewe Alexandra respectively. League favourites Queens Park Rangers remain to struggle at the wrong end of the table and their manager, only appointed like a month or two ago is already under-pressure.