leckuno - Comments

Preseason

We know that we needed to build momentum right from the start of the season we took a gamble and arranged a lot of friendlies to try get some and it paid off.

6 wins, 2 draws and 2 loses which isn't bad considering but I would of much preferred a win against Lubeck but we did put out a weaker side and it cost us. On the other hand draws and a win against teams in the league above us was much more encouraging and gives us hope.

Thanks to Dortmund singing Danilho Doekhi from Union Berlin for £7million we made a small cut of £143,000 which we were then able to use to put it against the wage budget to allow us some room to sign players on loan to help us out.

We needed more depth on the wings and Cruz is the first player in the door and at this level he looks like he'll be a decent player bringing some pace down the right for us.

Next the middle of the park we bring in Cruz's team mate from Feyenoord as he is a capable player at this level and his high work rate will work well for us.

Another winger comes in with Razak joining from Sparta Rotterdam who can play down both sides of the midfield but we will look to utilise him down the left.

Expectations

As mentioned earlier the board don't expect much from us this season which is good as it allows us to start our rebuild. One other thing you can notice is we still have some wage budget left to bring in some players if we can lure them down the leagues.

August

We have two tough opening games here which could go either way after preseason but we will be looking to take 6 points in the final 2 games of the month against the youngsters of Utrecht and Ajax.

First Day in Charge

As with any other job the first day involves meeting a lot of people and learning more around the company and this job is no different as we sit down with the owner of the club as he lets us know more about the situation we will have to deal with and what the expectations are for the season ahead.

The Finances

We know its going to be bad after everything that has happened over the summer and its clear that there is zero money in the club and we're going to have to look at rebuilding the finances along with the squad.

We are already £1.4 million in the red and the projections for the end of the season make grim reading as well. We have no space in the wage budget for bringing in more players and there is a pittance to spend on transfers which could be moved to the wage budget but realistically isn't going to make a difference. There is scope to increase revenue though as we don't currently have any sponsors at the moment. The club has a bit of debt as well at just under £5m.

Thankfully though when taking a deeper dive into the debt we only have to pay back £13,030 back every month over the next 20 years so its very manageable and won't cripple us going forward.

The Expectations

We start the season on -12 point and the one good thing about that is there is no relegation from the league so it gives us the base to grow and the board have made it clear as well that its ok if we finish bottom this season as well but they would prefer it if we avoid bottom spot.

With the squad that we have which we'll come to later I fully believe that if we can get the confidence flowing then it won't be a problem, especially since I think we have a better team than some of the Jong teams (reserve teams) that are in the league thanks to some experience among the ranks that we will be able to pick points up against them at least.

The fans on the other hand expect us to finish in the top half so have much higher expectations and hopefully they won't hold that against us if we don't finish there.

The Squad

Its now time to meet the threadbare squad and then see where we will be able to promote from the youth team where needed for cover when injuries arise. We only have 9 players who will definitely be with us next season as well.

We'll now take a deeper look at the squad.

Goalkeepers

Maximilian Brüll

23 | GK

Brüll is a modern keeper: good reflexes, decent distribution, and still young enough to grow. Not elite, but reliable — and reliability is gold in the Eerste Divisie.

Connor van den Berg

24 | GK

A capable backup who may push Brüll in spells. Less polished, but physically strong. A classic “cup keeper” profile.

Defence

CentreBacks

Marcus Steffen

  22 | CB

  The most valuable defender in the squad. Strong, composed, and a natural leader. He’ll anchor the back line.

Valon Zumberi

  23 | CB

  A mobile defender with good anticipation. Ideal partner for Steffen.

Justin Bakker

  27 | CB

  The experienced head in the group. Limited on the ball but dependable.

Michel Driezen

  21 | CB

  A depth option with room to grow. Useful rotation piece.

Omar Achouitar

  20 | CB

  Raw but promising. One for the future.

Hylke van der Mast

  19 | CB

  Raw but promising. One for the future.

FullBacks

Alexander Büttner

  36 | LB 

  The veteran presence. Leadership, experience, and a cultured left foot — but limited physically.

Solomon Bonnah

  22 | RB 

  One of the most valuable players in the squad. Quick, technical, and versatile.

Nathan Markelo

  26 | RB

  A solid, wellrounded rightback. Not spectacular, but consistent.

Chiel Olde Keizer

  22 | LB

  Depth option with pace.

Midfield

Defensive Midfield

Marco Schikora

  31 | DM

  The midfield anchor. Experience, positioning, and tactical discipline.

 Central Midfield

Adam Tahaui

  20 | CM

  The most valuable midfielder in the squad. Pressresistant, technical, and a key longterm piece.

Mathijs Marschalk

  20 | CM

  A tidy passer with excellent vision. Could become the heartbeat of the team.

 Attacking Midfield

Ricardo-Felipe Schwarz

  21 | AM

  Creative spark. Can unlock defences but inconsistent.

Yuval Ranon

  19 | AM

  A young talent with flair and upside.

 Wingers

Dillon Hoogewerf

  22 | LW

  One of the highestvalue attackers. Direct, fast, and dangerous.

Nino Zonneveld

  20 | LW

  A promising wide player with good technical ability.

Strikers

Elias Huth

  28 | ST

  Experienced forward with good movement. Likely your starting No.9.

Naoufal Bannis

  23 | ST

  A strong contender for the striker role. Good finisher, good instincts.

João Pinto

  21 | ST

  Young, raw, and full of potential. A longterm project.

Next we move onto preseason and look at the start of the season

I've been looking for a new save in Football Manager for a while and not been able to settle on anything until now. After my last save with Sheffield Wednesday it showed that I'm up for a challenge and this time I'm looking to taken on an even harder one.

There are fallen giants… and then there is Vitesse.

A club founded in 1892, one of the oldest in the Netherlands, a name woven into the fabric of Dutch football. A club that once danced under European lights, produced elegant academy talents, and stood proudly as the heartbeat of Gelderland. And yet, by 2024, Vitesse had become something unthinkable: a cautionary tale.

Financial collapse. 

Licensing revoked. 

Professional status gone. 

A century of history reduced to rubble.

For many clubs, that would have been the end. A tragic footnote in Dutch football history. But Vitesse has never been a club that dies quietly. The supporters refused to let the story end. Volunteers kept the academy alive. Local businesses stepped in. The community rallied. And slowly, painfully, the club began to breathe again.

Now Vitesse re‑enters the professional pyramid in the Eerste Divisie — battered, humbled, but alive. And that is where our story begins.

 A Club With Scars — And Something Worth Saving

This isn’t a typical rebuild. This is a resurrection.

The books are clean, but the wounds are fresh. The squad is thin, the finances tight, and the expectations modest. The club’s infrastructure — once a point of pride — now feels like a relic of better days. The academy, though, remains the beating heart of Arnhem. It’s the one thing the crisis couldn’t kill.

And that’s where this save finds its identity.

This is not a story about buying stars. 

This is a story about growing them.

 The Mission: Restore Vitesse to Where They Belong

The board’s ambitions are cautious. The fans’ ambitions are emotional. Mine sit somewhere in between.

Short-term goals:

Stabilise the club in the Eerste Divisie 

Rebuild the academy pipeline 

Establish a clear tactical identity 

Reconnect the club with its community 

Long-term goals:

Return to the Eredivisie 

Reclaim Vitesse’s reputation as a youth‑development powerhouse 

Build a sustainable, modern footballing model 

Bring European nights back to Arnhem 

This isn’t a one‑season sprint. It’s a multi‑year climb, step by step, promotion, identity before glory.

 The Philosophy: Arnhem First, Youth Always

If Vitesse is going to rise again, it must be built on:

Homegrown talent 

Smart recruitment 

Tactical clarity 

Financial discipline

The academy will be the cornerstone. Every intake matters. Every 16‑year‑old is a potential chapter in this story. The goal is simple: create a squad where the spine is born in Gelderland.

The tactical approach will reflect that:

Energetic 

Technical 

Brave in possession 

Relentless without the ball 

A style that feels like Vitesse. A style that fans can believe in again.

 The Challenge Ahead

The Eerste Divisie is unforgiving. Promotion is never guaranteed. Some clubs have bigger budgets, deeper squads, and fewer scars. But none of them have what we have: a history worth fighting for.

This save isn’t about instant success. It’s about rebuilding a club’s soul.

And that’s what makes it compelling.

 Chapter One Begins

The gates of the GelreDome open once more. The yellow and black shirts return to the pitch. The supporters — bruised but loyal — take their seats with cautious hope.

This is the start of a new era.

A club reborn. 

A community reunited. 

A story waiting to be written.

Welcome to Rebuilding Vitesse — a journey from the ashes of collapse to the heights of Dutch football. The road will be long, the setbacks inevitable, but the destination is worth every step.

The only question now is: 

How far can we take them?

March 2028: Cup Control, League Setbacks, and a Powerful Response

March brought a mix of authority, frustration, and a strong finish. We opened with a confident FA Cup win over Fulham, struggled in back‑to‑back league defeats against Manchester City and Crystal Palace, then closed the month with an excellent home performance against Tottenham. A month defined by resilience and the ability to bounce back.

Sheffield Wednesday 4–1 Fulham  

FA Cup Fifth Round

A dominant cup display. Wimmer’s opener set the tone before Kjærgaard doubled the lead with a composed finish. Fulham briefly threatened through Kevin, but we responded instantly as van Persie and Shpendi rounded off a convincing win.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–4 Manchester City  

A difficult evening against a ruthless City side. Haaland struck twice early on, Vinícius added a third, and Rodri capped it off in stoppage time. Shpendi pulled one back late, but City’s quality was overwhelming.

Crystal Palace 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A frustrating defeat at Selhurst Park. Palace’s Uche scored either side of Kjærgaard’s equaliser, and despite pushing late on, we couldn’t find a second breakthrough. A tight match decided by sharp finishing.

Sheffield Wednesday 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur  

A superb response to the earlier setbacks. Van Persie struck twice with clinical finishes, Patterson added a third, and Bellingham sealed the win late on. Spurs briefly levelled through Williams‑Barnett, but we dominated throughout.

March Summary  

Youth Intake

We had a decent youth intake this year with one standout player in Ethan Crawford who at 15 already looks like he could cut it for us in some games.

He's not the fittest player in the world but he looks like he could be a great defender for us one day.

April

February 2028: Big Home Wins, Heavy Away Defeats, and a Dramatic Finish

February swung sharply between dominance at Hillsborough and struggles on the road. We opened with two superb home victories over Newcastle and Arsenal, stumbled through tough away trips to Blackburn and Liverpool, then closed the month with a dramatic late win against Manchester United. A month of extremes, but one that ended on a high.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Newcastle United  

A perfect start to the month. Bellingham struck inside the first minute and added a second before the break, giving us full control. Van Persie sealed the win late on as we produced one of their most complete home performances of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Arsenal  

FA Cup Fourth Round

A superb cup performance. An early own goal from Hincapié set the tone before Kjærgaard doubled the lead with a composed finish. Bellingham added a third late on as we controlled the tie from start to finish.

Blackburn Rovers 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A disappointing afternoon at Ewood Park. Blackburn struck through Kargbo and Zorgane, and we struggled to create clear chances. A flat performance that never really sparked into life.

Liverpool 4–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A difficult night at Anfield. Liverpool’s intensity proved overwhelming as Gravenberch opened the scoring and Wirtz added a brace before Barcola completed the rout. We were second best throughout.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–2 Manchester United  

A dramatic and emotional win at Hillsborough. Mainoo put United ahead, but Bellingham levelled early in the second half. Van Persie then took over, scoring twice — including a stoppage‑time winner — to seal a thrilling victory. Cunha briefly equalised late on, but we refused to be denied.

February Summary  

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March

January 2028: Late Drama, Extra‑Time Chaos, and a Statement Win Over Norwich

January delivered a bit of everything: a steady point at Fulham, an exhausting extra‑time cup classic at Preston, two very different home performances against Forest and Norwich, a narrow defeat at Arsenal, and a controlled away win at Brentford to close the month. It was a stretch that showed our resilience, depth, and growing maturity at Premier League level.

Transfers

We let a number of players go in this window (some did leave in December but we never mentioned it last month as we thought we'd keep it for the rest of the transfers. We managed to bring in over £30 million to help boos the clubs finances and war chest which we used to bring in some new players.

St. Juste and Ndombele just weren't up to the standard for the Premier League as their legs had started to go and both wanted new big contracts so we cashed in. Diop and Almog weren't happy with their gametime so again it made sense to let the two of them go. Max Lowe was a deadline day sale as it was too big an offer not to accept it in my eyes as we'd never get that sort of money for him again.

We now look at the players coming in with a number of them being players who's contracts were expiring at the end of the season but we were able to make deals to bring them in early.

First in was a pre arranged deal for the young Serbian who looks like a promising striker even if he does have a poor first  touch I expect big things from him as he joins from IMT for £700,000

Next was a new midfielder who we agreed to sign for £7million from RB Salzburg which was annoying as I missed that his contract was expiring and if I'd held off a week or two we could of offered him a precontract deal but at least we got him which is the main thing.

Next in we sign former wonderkid Ansu Fati from Barcelona for £1.7million, he has never quite reached what was expected from him at a young age but I feel he has something to over us over the next couple of seasons.

More cover for the wings as Tella joins from Bayer Leverkusen for £2.4m, he provides cover for the right wing as we bring him with the idea of selling him for a big profit within the next season or two.

Fulham 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday

A solid point on the road. Bellingham’s composed finish put us ahead, but Fulham grew into the game and Smith Rowe’s late strike ensured the points were shared. A fair result in a balanced contest.

Preston 3–4 Sheffield Wednesday

FA Cup Third Round

A wild cup tie full of twists. Preston struck early through Smallbone and Small, but Kjærgaard and Bellingham dragged us back into it. Extra time was pure chaos: van Persie put Wednesday ahead, Smallbone equalised again, and Gómez finally settled it with a late strike. A breathless, dramatic win.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Nottingham Forest  

A tight, tactical battle. Kjærgaard opened the scoring with a well‑placed finish, but Forest responded after the break through Jota Silva. Both sides had chances, but neither could find a winner in a cagey affair.

Sheffield Wednesday 4–0 Norwich City  

A dominant home performance. Kjærgaard set the tone early before Darvich took over with a quickfire brace. Sarmiento added a fourth after the break as we controlled every phase of the match.

Arsenal 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A narrow defeat at the Emirates. Arsenal struck through Martinelli and Rice, but Bellingham pulled one back to set up a tense finish. We pushed hard late on but couldn’t quite find the equaliser.

Brentford 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A composed away win to close the month. Darvich broke the deadlock with a sharp finish, and Bellingham sealed the result with a late strike. We controlled the tempo and defended with real authority.

January Summary  

February

December 2027: A Brutal Start, Chaos in the Middle, and a Powerful Finish

December was a month split cleanly in two. We opened with four straight defeats against top‑half opposition, struggling to find rhythm or defensive stability. But everything flipped in the final week: a nine‑goal thriller against Brighton sparked a surge of confidence, followed by a composed win over Bournemouth and a stunning four‑goal performance away at Tottenham. What began as a nightmare ended with real momentum.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–3 Liverpool  

A tough night against a relentless Liverpool side. An early own goal put us on the back foot, and Chiesa and Frimpong extended the visitors’ lead after the break. Collyer pulled one back late on, but Liverpool’s control was never really threatened.

Manchester City 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A narrow defeat at the Etihad. We defended bravely and kept City quiet for long spells, but Marmoush found the breakthrough shortly after half‑time. A disciplined performance that deserved more.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Crystal Palace  

A flat performance at Hillsborough. Palace struck early through Nketiah and doubled their lead via Pino after the break. We struggled to create clear chances and never looked like turning the tide.

Ipswich Town 3–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A chaotic match that slipped away late. Gómez converted from the spot and Bellingham added a second as we raced into an early lead, but Ipswich fought back through Isaksen and Ramsay before Szmodics struck deep into stoppage time to complete the turnaround.

Sheffield Wednesday 5–4 Brighton  

A wild, breathless classic at Hillsborough. Abdelli opened the scoring before a flurry of goals from both sides turned the match into chaos. Gómez, Shpendi (twice), and Wimmer all struck as we edged a nine‑goal thriller that swung constantly from end to end.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Bournemouth  

A composed and confident home win. Abdelli struck early and Wimmer added a second late on as we controlled the match from start to finish. Bournemouth rarely threatened, and we looked assured throughout.

Tottenham Hotspur 1–4 Sheffield Wednesday  

A stunning away performance to close the year. Shpendi opened the scoring, and although Bergvall equalised, We took over after the break. Bellingham, Darvich, and Sarmiento all found the net in a dominant second‑half display.

December Summary  

January

November 2027: A Tough Start, a Strong Response, and a Statement Win at Old Trafford

November brought a sharp swing in momentum. We opened with a difficult night at Newcastle, responded with a composed home win over Blackburn, and then produced one of their most impressive Premier League performances to date with a dominant victory away at Manchester United. A month that started slowly ended with real authority.

Newcastle United 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A frustrating evening on Tyneside. We struggled to find rhythm against a well‑organised Newcastle side and were punished by goals from Baleba and Woltemade. Despite improved spells after the break, they couldn’t break through a stubborn defence.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Blackburn Rovers  

A confident and controlled home performance. Sarr powered in the opener before Wimmer doubled the lead moments later. We dictated the tempo throughout and never looked threatened, securing a deserved clean‑sheet victory.

Manchester United 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A stunning performance at Old Trafford. Abdelli opened the scoring with a composed finish, and Bellingham took over from there with a brilliant brace. We were disciplined, incisive, and ruthless — one of their most complete Premier League displays to date.

November Summary  

December

October 2027: Big Away Moments, Cup Heartbreak, and a Hard‑Earned Point

October delivered a mix of resilience, frustration, and grit. We opened with an impressive away win at Everton, pushed Chelsea all the way in a narrow defeat, went toe‑to‑toe with Forest in a cup tie decided by penalties, and closed the month with a solid draw at Villa Park. The performances showed maturity and competitiveness across all four fixtures.

Everton 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A disciplined and impressive away performance. We defended with real organisation, frustrated Everton throughout, and took their chance when it came as Shpendi finished clinically. A mature display that earned a deserved three points.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Chelsea  

A tight contest against top‑level opposition. Shpendi struck just before the break, but Chelsea responded immediately after half‑time through Caicedo and snatched the win late on via Jackson. We competed well but were punished by two decisive moments.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Nottingham Forest

Carabao Cup Fourth Round

A dramatic cup tie. Abdelli put us ahead before Gibbs‑White equalised. The match remained tight throughout, leading to a tense penalty shootout. We converted four but fell short as Avdić’s miss proved decisive. A harsh exit after a competitive performance.

Aston Villa 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A well-earned point on the road. Shpendi struck early to give us the lead, but Villa responded through Watkins. Both sides had chances, but our defensive structure held firm to secure a solid draw.

October Summary  

November

September 2027: Cup Firepower, Mixed League Form, and Signs of Growth

September delivered a blend of explosive attacking moments and frustrating league setbacks. We opened with a dominant cup win at Grimsby, suffered a narrow defeat at Brighton, responded with a confident home victory over Brentford, and then fell just short against West Ham. The performances showed promise — especially going forward — but consistency remained the next step.

Grimsby Town 2–5 Sheffield Wednesday  

Carabao Cup Third Round

A ruthless attacking display. We tore through Grimsby with pace and precision, with Bellingham opening the scoring before Sarmiento, D’Costa, and Morrison added to the tally. Grimsby fought back through Soonsup‑Bell, but our quality in the final third was far too much.

Brighton 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A tight match decided by small margins. Brighton struck twice after the break through Hinshelwood and Rutter, and although Sarmiento pulled one back, we couldn’t find the equaliser despite a strong push late on.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Brentford  

A composed and confident home win. Shpendi broke the deadlock with a sharp finish, and Darvich doubled the lead before the break. We controlled the tempo and kept Brentford at arm’s length throughout.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 West Ham  

A frustrating evening at Hillsborough. We saw plenty of the ball but struggled to break down West Ham’s defensive shape. Grealish’s early strike proved decisive, and despite late pressure, we couldn’t find a way through.

September Summary  

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October

August 2027: A Tough Start, Late Drama, and Early Signs of Fight

Our first month back in the Premier League delivered a bit of everything: a harsh welcome from Arsenal, a gritty comeback win at Norwich, a strong home showing against Fulham, a comfortable cup victory, and a seven‑goal thriller at Forest that slipped away late. The performances showed character, resilience, and flashes of real top‑flight quality — even if the results were mixed.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Arsenal  

A difficult opening night against a ruthless Arsenal side. We competed well in spells but were punished by two clinical finishes from Havertz and Rice. A reminder of the step up in quality at this level.

Norwich City 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A brilliant comeback win. Norwich struck early through Kakita, but we stayed patient and grew into the match. Darvich levelled late on before Shpendi produced a dramatic stoppage‑time winner to seal the club’s first Premier League points of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Fulham  

A strong home performance. Smith Rowe put Fulham ahead, but we responded superbly after the break. Gómez equalised before Wimmer completed the turnaround with a composed finish. A deserved win built on second‑half intensity.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Wrexham  

Carabao Cup Second Round

A comfortable cup victory. Sarmiento struck twice in quick succession, and we controlled the match from start to finish. A professional performance that secured safe passage to the next round.

Nottingham Forest 4–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A wild, breathless encounter. Abdelli opened the scoring, van Persie added another, and Darvich struck to level the match late on, but Forest’s Gibbs‑White produced a stunning hat‑trick before Sangaré’s dramatic stoppage‑time winner settled it. A harsh defeat after a brave attacking display.

August Summary  

Transfers

Over the month of August we continued to look for new players to come in and we managed to sign 2 new players after the Arsenal game before going mental on deadline day and bringing in a final 3

A player we were hoping to bring back earlier but were made to wait for Feyenoord to see sense and let him join us again on loan but the important thing is that a van Persie graces the Premier League again.

With the need to bolster our wider options we continued to look at the players available on free transfers and Sarmiento stood out as an ideal candidate with proven experience in England

The first of our deadline day loan signings as we agree to bring Bajcetic back to the club on loan. He made 11 appearances during our first season and he will provide cover in a number of positions for us.

​When we saw Kambwala was available for loan we had to go for him as he's a top class centre back who has pace and should help when we play against the bigger teams.

Our final deadline day loan signing and I'm nit sure how we've pulled it off as we're only covering 30% of his wages but he brings so much creativity to the middle of the park for us.

September

Season 3

Transfers Out

Well we've had a few players leave the club and a couple are probably a surprise but it was done for the good of the team as Sterling, Ingelsson and Bernard were all asking for new contracts and they were wanting to effectively quadruple their wages. I tried to offer them lower deals but they rejected them and then their started to spread the unrest across the squad so we decided to cash in on them while we could and then repair the morale issue.  Everybody we sold was for pure profit as well which helped the bank balance as we brought in just shy of £28million which we can also reinvest partly in the squad as we currently get 50% of transfer fees added to our budget

Transfers In

We've brought in 11 players by the end of preseason which is a lot in footballing terms, well unless your Nottingham Forest but we had to replace players and bring in quality. Our aim for this window was to bring in players with experience playing in England where we could and our budget would allow. We had quite a few players reject our efforts to sign them due to not having a big enough reputation and we were also beaten to a good few players as well for the same reason.

Morrison's transfer was agreed in January at a cost of £500,000 from Liverpool as we sign an exciting young talent who has plenty of room to develop into a top player for us.

We wanted another keeper to come in with experience in the Premier League and we sign Rushworth for £650,000 from Brighton and whats even better is he's happy to play backup as well

​We sign the Swiss international centre back for £4million from Montpellier . He's played 50 game for them in Ligue 2 for them over the last 2 seasons and I feel he can make the step up here.

Wimmer is the marquee signing for us this window as we bag him for only £6million from Wolfsburg as he was transfer listed but his value sky rocketed as soon as he signed for us and I feel he'll be a huge player for us this season.

Gomez was transfer listed by Brighton and we could not pass him up for £3.2million. He has premier league experience as well which is huge for us.

Malang Sarr's contract at Lens expired at the end of the season and we snapped him up on a free transfer. He sadly never made many experiences during his time at Chelsea but he will hopefully get his chance here.

Another free transfer as we sign another experienced centra back as Diop comes in and has plenty of experience at this level over his time at West Ham and Fulham where he has made 180 Premier League appearances.

We sadly couldn't find a striker with Premier League experience in our budget so we had to look further afield and we sign Shpendi from Augsburg for £4million. We hope he can get the goals as he'll lead our attack.

We felt like we still needed appropriate cover in defence as we know its going to be vital to have a strong defence this season and we sign Edwards from Wolves for £6.75million.

With Kharebashvili still not having a work permit we needed to send him out on loan again and bring in more competition in the left back position and we have signed Avdic from Crvena Zvezda for £4.5million. We see him as a big investment with having a high sell on value if he performs as expected this season.

We finally get a deal for Collyer over the line as he rejected us in both windows last season when we tried to sign him on loan but this time we get him on a permanent deal as he joins from Manchester United for £4.9million.

Now that we have all our players in we will continue to stick with the formation which got us promoted last season

We are still lacking suitable cover for a few areas and we will continue to look for players to bring in over August where we think they will improve the squad or be a suitable backup for us.

Expectations

We're not expected to do much in anything this season but we will hope for a cup run like we did in our first season as I feel we have a much better team now but it is all down to the luck of the draw.

Predicted Table

This shows how difficult the league will be this season as we're predicted to finish 2nd bottom but I'd happy take 17th this season and use it as a platform for the following season.

August

Would have preferred to start the season against somebody else but at least it gets one of the bigger teams out the way and then have a good chance for points the rest of the month

To be fair I had the fear we would lose the final game and drop into the playoffs instead but I'm happy we've gone up and now we can really look to take the club forward with the money that the Premier League brings

April–May 2027: Derby Drama, Late Goals, and a Chaotic Run‑In

April brought turbulence. Wednesday battled through a tense derby draw, followed it with two strong away wins, then hit a wobble with dropped points at home and a wild seven‑goal thriller at Stoke. May opened with a confident, goal‑filled performance that closed the season on a high. The theme: unpredictable, energetic, and full of individual brilliance.

Sheffield United 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A fiercely contested derby where both sides had their moments. Burrows put United ahead, but van Persie struck back to level things. We pushed late on but couldn’t quite find a winner in a match defined by intensity rather than clear chances.

Charlton 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A strong away performance. Charlton took the lead through Leaburn, but we responded with real composure. Bardghji equalised before Almog completed the turnaround late on, sealing a deserved victory.

Preston 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A commanding display at Deepdale. Sterling opened the scoring, Potts added a second, and after Preston briefly threatened through Small, Potts struck again to put the game beyond doubt. We were sharp and efficient throughout.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Luton Town  

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A frustrating afternoon at Hillsborough. Watson put Luton ahead, but Bardghji responded almost immediately. We controlled much of the match but couldn’t find the breakthrough to turn one point into three.

Stoke City 3–4 Sheffield Wednesday  

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A chaotic, breathless encounter. Stoke struck early and often, but our attack was irresistible. Sterling produced a stunning hat‑trick, Bardghji added another, and despite Stoke’s pressure, we held on for a dramatic victory.

Sheffield Wednesday 4–2 Huddersfield Town  

A confident end to the season. Bardghji struck twice, Darvich converted from the spot, and Mulattieri added another. Huddersfield battled through Taylor’s brace, but our quality in the final third proved decisive.

April–May Summary  

Budgets

With us going to the Premier League then we have been given a decent war chest to be able to stay up next season and of course we will continue to utilise the free transfer market as well. Our finances  are relatively healthy and will take a hit when we start signing players but we will look to boost it with selling players as well.

March 2027: Sharp Starts, Setbacks, and a Confident Finish

March was short but eventful. We opened with a strong home win over Middlesbrough, stumbled away at Southampton despite a spirited second‑half push, and then closed the month with a composed, professional victory against Derby. The theme was simple: when we controlled the tempo, we looked assured — and when we didn’t, the margins showed.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Middlesbrough  

A bright start set the tone, with us taking control early through Bardghji and van Persie. Middlesbrough pulled one back through Strelec, but we managed the game well and protected their lead with maturity.

Southampton 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A difficult evening on the south coast. Southampton struck twice before the break through Hirst and Manning, and although Darvich pulled one back, we couldn’t quite find the equaliser despite a much improved second half.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Derby County  

A controlled and confident home performance. Abdelli opened the scoring shortly after the restart, and Darvich doubled the lead from the spot. We dictated the tempo and never looked in danger.

March Summary  

Youth Intake

Three elite players coming through the intake but sadly none of them look like world beaters but we can hopefully get them into the first team squad in a couple of seasons and see how they develop.

The Run In

February 2027: Swings, Setbacks, and a Five‑Goal Finale

February was a month of sharp contrasts. We opened with a resilient home win, stumbled through a difficult run of defeats, steadied themselves with a battling draw against Leeds, and then exploded back into form with a dominant five‑goal performance to close the month. Inconsistency was the theme — but the ceiling on this team remains clear.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Burnley  

A composed home performance where we recovered well after conceding first. Almog levelled from the spot and Mulattieri completed the turnaround, with the side managing the game confidently once ahead.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Everton  

A frustrating defeat shaped by a slow start. Everton struck twice before the break, and although van Persie pulled one back, we couldn’t find the equaliser despite a much improved second half.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Leeds United  

FA Cup Fourth Round

A tense cup tie that slipped away. Darvich converted from the spot to bring us level, but Leeds regained control through another penalty. A late red card for St. Juste ended hopes of a comeback.

Oxford United 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A superb away performance defined by van Persie’s hat‑trick. We were ruthless in transition and controlled the match from the early stages, with Oxford unable to cope with the attacking intensity.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–2 Leeds United  

A breathless start saw Abdelli and Bardghji fire us into an early lead, but Leeds grew into the match and clawed their way back. A draw felt fair, though we felt we could have killed the game earlier.

Sheffield Wednesday 5–0 QPR  

A dominant performance from start to finish. Potts’ brace set the tone, van Persie added another, and further goals from Almog and Cozier‑Duberry capped off a ruthless display. One of our most complete performances of the season.

February Summary  

March

January 2027: Edges, Fightbacks, and a Cup Kick‑Start

January was a month of tight margins. We opened with two home wins, battled through a draw at Leicester, hit a setback against Blackburn, then steadied themselves with a gritty away win at Watford before closing with a lively draw in Wales. The overall theme: resilience, even when performances weren’t always smooth.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 West Brom  

A strong start to the year. Sterling struck first with a composed finish, but Melia equalised just before the break. Van Persie restored the lead with a clinical effort, and we managed the closing stages well.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Cardiff City  

FA Cup Third Round

A cup tie that burst into life late on. Grieves put Cardiff ahead (63’), but Wednesday responded instantly: Heaven levelled (70’) and Mulattieri completed the turnaround a minute later (71’). A rapid, ruthless comeback.

Leicester City 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A well-earned point at the King Power. Mulattieri struck first after a slick move, but Page equalised late. A balanced contest where a draw felt fair.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Blackburn Rovers  

A frustrating home defeat. Guðjohnsen opened the scoring, Bannan equalised from the spot, but Cantwell’s penalty swung it back Blackburn’s way. A tight game decided by fine margins.

Watford 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A gritty away win. Ingelsson struck early and we defended with discipline for the remaining 75 minutes. Not glamorous, but highly effective.

Swansea City 2–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A lively draw in Wales. Ndombele stunned Swansea with a goal inside two minutes, Cooper equalised, Almog restored the lead, and Inoussa levelled again. A fair result in an open, entertaining match.

 January Summary  

Transfers

We let got of a number of players who were taking up high wages and were no longer regular players so it made sense to move them on while their stock was high to do the best by the club. We moved on 9 players bringing in just over £16million

We now look at the players coming in.

First in is young left back Saba Kharebashvili from Dinamo Tbilisi for £3million. He did fail to get his work permit so he has been sent out on loan to Metz for the remainder of the season.

Nathan Patterson then comes in from Everton for £1.8million to who brings in plenty of experience and was a regular for Everton this season so it was strange they let him go but he adds a lot of pace down the right.

Roony Bardghji had a great spell with us last season and he's struggled for game time since going back to Barcelona so we're happy to have him back for our promotion push.

Our final transfer of the window as former Barcelona wonderkid joins from Stuttgart for £2.5million comes in to bolster our midfield which has been ravaged by injury this month. 

February

December 2026: A Month of Edges, Narrow Margins, and Hard‑Earned Points

December was a grind. Eight matches in 27 days pushed the squad to its limits, and the results reflected it: tight wins, late heartbreaks, and a couple of bruising defeats. We showed resilience, especially away from home, but inconsistency in front of goal kept the month from becoming something bigger.

Birmingham City 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A fast start undone by a rough second half. Van Persie struck early, but Birmingham flipped the match with two goals in two minutes — Willumsson and Mehmeti (who we tried and failed to sign in the summer). We couldn’t recover.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Preston  

A controlled home win. Williams‑Barnett broke the deadlock just after the restart with a clean finish. We managed the game well and kept Preston at arm’s length.

Luton Town 2–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A wild one at Kenilworth Road. Sterling opened the scoring, Ingelsson added a second, and Abdelli struck what proved to be the winner in stoppage time. Adebayo’s brace kept Luton alive, but we held on.

Huddersfield Town 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A gritty away win. Van Persie struck early and the defence did the rest. Not pretty, but effective.

Bristol City 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A late sucker punch. Riis scored in stoppage time to hand us a painful defeat after a tight, scrappy match.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Birmingham City  

A strong response to the earlier defeat. Van Persie and Almog found the net, with Fujimoto briefly equalising. We controlled the second half and saw it out well.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Millwall  

A frustrating Boxing Day. Ivanović struck early, and Millwall sat deep for the remaining 70 minutes. We pushed but couldn’t break them down.

Bolton Wanderers 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A cagey stalemate to close the month. Few chances for either side, and welooked fatigued after the festive schedule.

December Summary  

January

November 2026: Control, Composure, and a Quiet Surge Up the Table

November delivered exactly what a promotion‑chasing side needs: consistency. Three wins, two draws, and no defeats — we tightened up defensively, found timely goals, and showed they could manage games with maturity. Abdelli emerged as the month’s standout, while the midfield dictated tempo throughout.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Oxford United  

A comeback win built on Abdelli’s brilliance. A Max Lowe own goal put us behind, but Abdelli struck twice with composed finishes to turn the match around. A confident home performance.

Leeds United 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A hard‑fought draw at Elland Road. Ingelsson put us ahead with a clever finish in first‑half stoppage time, but Ramazani equalised late. A point that felt fair.

QPR 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A controlled away win. Dunne’s own goal broke the deadlock, and Abdelli sealed it in stoppage time. We managed the game superbly and never looked threatened.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Charlton  

A frustrating evening at Hillsborough. We dominated possession but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Charlton defended deep and held on for a point.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–2 Stoke City  

A chaotic but thrilling win. Thomas stunned Wednesday early, but Almog equalised. Manhoef restored Stoke’s lead, only for Mulattieri and Ndombele to complete the turnaround. A gritty, emotional victory.

November Summary  

Transfers In

We continue to look to stregnthen the team anyway possible and we continue to look at the free market and we sign two huge players for the Championship after their deals were torn up during the summer and then nobody else was willing to take a chance on them apart from us.

Jerry St. Juste comes in and adds quality at the back as he can play in the middle and at right back to add depth there as well.

A huge signing for the club as we take a gamble on a 31 year old Sterling who has showed plenty of skill over the years as he got 82 caps for England over his playing career and for only £10,000 a week its a no brainer to bring him into the squad.

December

yeah sorry that was my mistake, too use to them being at Goodison the last 132 years haha.

Yeah been a much better season so far and looking forward to see how the rest of it goes

October 2026: Big Wins, Narrow Losses, and a Cup Exit

October was a month of contrasts. We opened with a ruthless demolition of Millwall, stumbled at Derby, steadied themselves with two strong home displays, and then bowed out of the Carabao Cup in a tight contest at Newcastle. The response at Blackburn to close the month showed character and resilience.

Millwall 0–4 Sheffield Wednesday  

A perfect away performance. Williams‑Barnett set the tone early, Potts doubled the lead, Mulattieri added a third, and Almog finished the job deep into stoppage time. Total control from start to finish.

Derby County 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A frustrating defeat. Brewster stunned us inside the first minute, and although Mulattieri equalised with a sharp finish, Clarke’s late header snatched the points for Derby.

West Brom 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A hard‑earned draw. Potts struck early with a composed finish, but Johnston levelled for West Brom just before the break. Both sides had chances, but neither found a winner.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Bolton  

A confident home win. Van Persie was electric, scoring twice, and Potts added another in first‑half stoppage time. Bolton never recovered from the early pressure.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Leicester City  

A tight contest. Page put Leicester ahead early, but Almog equalised with a tidy finish. We pushed late on but couldn’t find the winner.

Newcastle United 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

Carabao Cup Fourth Round

Cup exit at St James’ Park. Wissa’s strike proved decisive in a tight match where we defended well but struggled to create clear chances.

Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A strong finish to the month. Abdelli put us ahead, Wharton equalised, but van Persie delivered the winner with a clinical strike. A gritty, deserved away victory.

October Summary  

November

September 2026: Cup Brilliance, League Stumbles, and a Strong Finish

September was a month split cleanly down the middle. We opened with a stunning Carabao Cup win at Leicester, then hit turbulence with back‑to‑back league defeats. But the response at Hillsborough was emphatic: nine goals across two home games, van Persie catching fire, and the midfield asserting control again.

Leicester City 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

Carabao Cup Third Round

A superb away performance. Ingelsson struck twice in quick succession before Cozier‑Duberry buried a penalty in first‑half stoppage time. We controlled the tempo and never looked threatened.

Burnley 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A frustrating afternoon at Turf Moor. Broja struck early and Humphreys doubled the lead. Cozier‑Duberry pulled one back with a sharp finish, but we couldn’t find the equaliser.

Everton 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A tough night at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Awoniyi powered in the opener and O’Brien added a second. We struggled to create clear chances and were second best throughout.

Sheffield Wednesday 4–1 Watford  

A brilliant response. Almog opened the scoring , van Persie added a brace, and Potts smashed in a fourth. Reale’s goal was little more than a consolation.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Bristol City  

A gritty home win. Van Persie struck just before the break, Armstrong equalised, but Silvera delivered the winner with a composed finish. Hillsborough roared the team home.

September Summary  

Transfers

We sign yet another midfielder to help provide cover and Ndombele on a free deal who we have been chasing the last 7 months since he was released from his contract at Nice and he brings a wealth of experience with him

October

August 2026: Flying Starts, Cup Progress, and a Derby Win

August couldn’t have started much better. Five wins from six, two clean sheets in the Carabao Cup, and a commanding away performance at Middlesbrough. Svante Ingelsson, Shaqueel van Persie, and Amario Cozier-Duberry all made their mark, while Freddie Potts delivered in the derby. Only Swansea spoiled the party — but the signs are promising.

I forgot to post this in the last update but it shows who we are up against this season after promotions and relegations

Expected to finish just outside the play off positions so fingers crossed we can finish a bit higher than the press are expecting for us.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Southampton  

A tight opener at Hillsborough. Svante Ingelsson broke the deadlock in the 74th minute with a composed finish, and Ryan Manning’s red card helped see out the win. A disciplined start.

Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Wrexham  

Carabao Cup First Round

A dominant cup display. Van Persie opened the scoring, Cozier-Duberry added a second, and Susoho sealed it. The attack looked fluid and confident.

Middlesbrough 1–5 Sheffield Wednesday  

A statement away win. Van Persie bagged a brace, Potts struck, and Cozier-Duberry added two more. Aidan Morris pulled one back for Boro, but we were rampant.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Sheffield United  

Derby delight. Freddie Potts struck in the 78th minute to settle a tense affair. The midfield battle was fierce, but we edged it with grit and composure.

York City 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

Carabao Cup Second Round

Cup progression continues. Luca Williams-Barnett scored twice and Silvera added a late third. Alex Hunt’s goal gave York brief hope, but we were too strong.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Swansea City  

A disappointing end to the month. Ronald struck twice to punish our sluggish display. The attack lacked rhythm, and the midfield was overrun.

August Summary  

Transfers

We had one outgoing on deadline day and it was a huge deal for the club as we ended up selling Emmanuel Dennis who we signed on a free transfer at the start of the first season. He's off to Derby for a whopping £10million which is a huge return on him.

We now get to the players coming in and we have another 6 players coming into the club on permanent deals

Susho is an exciting young defensive midfielder who looks like he could develop into a good player at the club as he joins on a free after his contract at Man City expired

We needed cover for the left wing and the Australian international Silvera comes in on a free transfer as well after his contract at Middlesbrough expires. 

Cover for the other wing this time as Bri signs on a free contract. He was playing in Liga 2 last season and has experience with the Atletico Madrid B team as well.

We needed a player to come in and replace Dennis and we wanted somebody to come in with experience who could hopefully hit the ground running as we spend £800,000 on Almog from Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

​With only van Persie upfront for us it was vital we brought in some proper support and Mulattieri is a steal on a free transfer. He scored 14 goals for Deportivo last season so we know he can chip in with goals when needed.

Finally we added even more creativity to the middle of the park as we sign the Algerian international on a free transfer from Angers where he played 31 games in Ligue 1.

Finances

Well there has been a huge swing  in our finances since we started the save as we are finally in a much healthier space. Its looking like we won't have much come the end of the season but fingers crossed we maintain it.

Season 2

Transfers out

We knew we were going to have to sell players in this window and we did our best to ship off players who never featured for us last season or could bring in a good bit of cash as well. Now the money was most important as before we started to sell players I managed to get the board to agree to let 15% of of the sales go towards the transfer budget and while it might not seem a lot its 15% more than we were getting last season and every penny counts for trying to rebuild the squad. Ugbo was brilliant for us last season but Obi came in and outshone him so it made sense to cash in on him. Ernie Weaver was a strange one as clubs came in for him in January and we knocked them back but I just couldn't see him getting game time so £3million pure profit is a great piece of business for us.

Transfers In

We've brought in a whopping 9 players so far and its still early in the transfer window as we start to build out the squad. We acted quick on the loans to make sure we could bring in the best players possible. 

First in Heaven comes in to gain some first team experience and feel he can do great things here. 

Shaqueel van Persie may seem a strange addition but he spent the 2nd half of last season on loan at QPR where he scored 7 goals in 12 appearances so he can hopefully he can build on that with a full season in the Championship. 

Cozier-Duberry is making a step up from his loan at Bolton last season and hopefully he can do well here. 

Williams-Barnett comes in from Spurs as cover for van Persie along with cover for both wings as well.

​Potts joins to add a bit of skill to the middle of the part as we'll look to use him as he looks like he should stay calm and collected in the middle and his work rate will help the people around him.

We now move onto the permament deals

Bree comes in with plenty of experience in the Championship and we will look for him to help some of the younger players in the squad.

We needed a backup keeper to come in for cover and Gril fits all the needs and he won't be looking for first team football.

Some well needed cover at CB as again we bring in an experienced player and he brings in plenty of experience from across a number of European Leagues.

Not the fastest player in the squad but again he brings a lot of experience which is the most important part here while trying to go on a decent run in the league.

​Starting XI

We've got a pretty strong starting XI in my eyes for the start of the season and we still have some space for a few more players to come in as well.

Expectations

Nothing too much is expected of us this season as we just need to finish midtable again which hopefully it should be easy enough to do without the point deduction. We still have money to spend in wages as well if players become available or any early injuries happen

August

A tough start to the season for us but it does mean we get those games out the way. We also face recently relegated Wrexham in the Carabao Cup First round so fingers crossed we can get a result.

Cheers, the cup run has saved us financially even if we're still in the red at the moment. Really hoping we can bring in some new players in the summer to build out the squad push for the top half of the table since we don't have the point deduction this time

@HockeyBhoy yeah happy for them to be closed. Cheers pal

April–May 2026: Cup Glory, League Grit, and Wembley Heartbreak

April and May brought the full emotional spectrum. We marched to the FA Cup Final with penalty drama and a semi-final masterclass, but league form wavered — a mix of draws, narrow defeats, and flashes of brilliance. The final chapter at Wembley was painful, but the journey was unforgettable.

Nottingham Forest 2–2 Sheffield Wednesday

FA Cup Quarter-Final 

A dramatic cup tie. Igor Jesus scored twice for Forest, but Riedewald and Devenny kept our hopes alive. In the shootout, Gibbs-White and Neco Williams missed, while Devenny, Chalobah, Ingelsson, and Palmer converted to send us through.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Leicester City  

A tense stalemate. Both sides had chances, but defences held firm. Horvath made key saves, and the midfield lacked spark.

Coventry City 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A frustrating loss. Despite Liam Kitching’s early red card, Haji Wright struck twice before Dennis pulled one back. Wednesday couldn’t break down ten men.

Derby County 2–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A fast start and a clutch finish. Bardghji bagged a brace, Bannan added a third, and we held off late goals from Agyemang and Redmond.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Charlton  

A frustrating draw. Campbell gave Charlton the lead, and Obi equalised late. We dominated possession but couldn’t find a winner.

Middlesbrough 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

Another narrow defeat. Morris and Browne struck for Boro, while da Costa’s late goal wasn’t enough. Defensive lapses proved costly.

QPR 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

FA Cup Semi-Final

A semi-final masterclass. Esquerdinha’s own goal set the tone, Obi added a second, and Bannan sealed it with a penalty. Wembley awaits.

Oxford United 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

Late heartbreak. Ugbo gave us the lead, but Romeny and Brown turned it around. A cruel blow.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 West Brom  

A dramatic draw. Bardghji scored, but Maja equalised in stoppage time. A familiar story of late lapses.

Arsenal 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

FA Cup Final

Wembley heartbreak. Gyökeres was unstoppable, scoring a hat-trick, and Lewis-Skelly added another. Obi’s late goal was a consolation. The dream ends, but the journey was unforgettable. It shows how far we have to go to compete with the elite in England never mind Europe

Summary  

Budgets

Budgets are tight going into the season ahead, our squad is threadbare as it is but with loan signings leaving that will free up some of the wage budget to bring new players in as well. We're going to have to do some proper wheeling and dealing to improve the squad and hopefully finish higher up the table next season

March 2026: Penalty Drama, Home Grit, and Away Implosion

March was a month of two halves. At Hillsborough, Wednesday were composed, clinical, and cup-worthy. Away from home? It was chaos. A penalty shootout triumph over Brighton and a comeback win against Watford showed character, but three straight defeats — including a five-goal collapse at Stoke — exposed defensive fragility. Still, the FA Cup dream lives on.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–2 Brighton

A classic cup tie. Gruda stunned Hillsborough with two early goals, but we roared back through Ingelsson and Dennis. The shootout was ice-cold: Bannan, Lowe, Obi, Chalobah, Ugbo, and Cooper all converted. Through to the quarter-finals.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Watford  

A comeback win. Doumbia gave Watford the lead, but Lowe and Ugbo turned the game on its head. The midfield pressed high, and the front line delivered.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Ipswich Town  

A frustrating home defeat. Akpom struck early, and Hirst added a second. Devenny’s goal gave hope, but we couldn’t find the equaliser. Missed chances proved costly.

Hull City 0–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

A dominant away win. Bernard headed home early, Ugbo added two more, and Matazo’s red card sealed Hull’s fate. Ruthless and efficient.

Stoke City 2–5 Sheffield Wednesday  

A goal-fest. Obi struck twice, Dennis added a brace, and Devenny chipped in as well. Stoke’s Phillips and Cissé kept it interesting, but our attack was relentless.

Youth Intake

It was a positive looking intake with 5 elite players coming through the intake and hopefully at least one of them are able to make some first team appearances for the club over the next few seasons. Cody Poole is the pick of the pack through.

March Summary  

April

February 2026: Obi Ascends, Ingelsson Delivers, and the Derby Cuts Deep

February was a month of sharp contrasts. We showed resilience and edge away from home, with a brilliant FA Cup win and two clean sheets in the league. But the derby defeat and a late stumble against Southampton reminded us how thin the margins are. Still, the emergence of Chido Obi and Svante Ingelsson’s consistency give cause for optimism.

Swansea City 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday  

A composed away win. Chido Obi opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a confident finish, and Reece Johnson sealed the result in stoppage time (90’). The defence was disciplined, and Horvath earned another clean sheet.

Southampton 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday  

Cup magic in the south coast. Obi was electric, scoring twice (13’, 55’) and causing havoc throughout. Ingelsson added a third (58’) to put the tie beyond doubt. Archer’s early goal (18’) was quickly forgotten.

Sheffield United 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

Derby heartbreak. Myron van Brederode struck in the 70th minute, and we couldn’t find a response. The midfield struggled to impose itself, and the attack lacked bite. A bitter pill to swallow.

Norwich City 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday  

A gritty win at Carrow Road. Ingelsson struck early and the defence held firm. Norwich pressed late, but our shape and discipline saw us through.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Southampton  

A frustrating end to the month. Obi gave us hope with a 60th-minute goal, but Downes and Romeu had already done the damage. The squad looked tired, and the spark from the cup tie was missing.

February Summary  

March

January 2026: From Fireworks to Frustration

January began with a bang and ended with a bounce-back, but the middle stretch was a sobering reminder of the Championship’s grind. A five-goal away win and FA Cup progress were highlights, but three straight defeats threatened to derail momentum. Thankfully, the month closed with a clean sheet and a sense of renewal.

Transfers

We've lost Harry Amas and Ethan Hovath as their loan deals have come to an end but it frees up a bit more in the wage budget as we look to strengthen the squad for the 2nd half of the season. We've managed to bring in 5 new players with 4 being on loan and 1 on a permanent deal.

Aaron Batt

Not an exciting signing but he comes in to be our backup keeper for the 2nd half of the season

Justin Devenny

A great signing from Palace here as Justin Devenny joins us as a versatile midfielder and he will go straight into the starting XI where he can pull the strings for us in the middle of the park

Stefan Bajcetic

Another great signing as Bajcetic is another versatile player who can provide cover at centre back and in midfield

Jairo Riedewald

We take a big gamble on the former Ajax, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United player and pay a lot in wages but I feel that he can add a lot to our squad over the next few seasons with his experience.

Chido Obi

Ugbo has been brilliant for us up front so far this season but we don't have anybody capable of filling those shoes so we take a chance on Obi who is a cracking young player and hopefully we can help him start to reach his potential.

Preston North End 0–5 Sheffield Wednesday  

New Year, new statement. Dennis opened the scoring before a Liam Lindsay own goal and a Cooper header put us in control. Ugbo added two more to cap off a dominant display.

QPR 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

A cagey affair at Loftus Road. Both sides struggled to create clear chances, and our midfield lacked its usual spark. A point gained, but momentum stalled.

Barnet 1–4 Sheffield Wednesday  

Cup professionalism. Cooper and Dennis gave us control, Devenny added a third, and Bardghji sealed it. Hugill’s late goal was a footnote.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Portsmouth  

A tight win at Hillsborough. Devenny converted a 76th-minute penalty to secure all three points. Defence was resolute, and Charles earned his clean sheet.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Birmingham City  

A frustrating loss. Willum Þór Willumsson struck just before half-time, and we couldn’t break down Birmingham’s low block. Missed chances and poor tempo cost them.

Bristol City 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday  

Back-to-back defeats. Riis converted a 15th-minute penalty, and Twine added a late dagger. We looked leggy and lacked bite in the final third.

Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Millwall  

The slide continued. Danny McNamara’s 74th-minute strike punished us. The attack lacked urgency, and the crowd grew restless.

Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Wrexham  

A much-needed response. Ugbo broke the deadlock, and Shipston added a second to secure the win. The defence looked sharp, and the midfield regained control.

January Summary 

February