New Season, New Obstacles

So whilst the world continues to adjust to the new normal following the Coronavirus pandemic, football looks to get back to as much of the old normal as possible.

Games in empty stadiums will continue to be the way forward for the foreseeable future and whilst it's a massive blow to all clubs involved, both financially and from an atmospheric point of view, it's the best that can be done given the current climate.

For Wednesday, well it's just your standard season ahead. The club got smacked with a 12 point deduction after the end of last season that was applied to the team from the beginning of the coming season.

Whilst that decision saved The Owls from relegation to League One at the end of the previous campaign, it gives the club a big uphill task to overturn that deficit this season before chasing down the teams above them who will have a head start on them.

Factor the effect Covid-19 has had on football in terms of time frames etc and the amount of experienced first team players released by the club in the summer and it really does look like a tough season ahead on paper. But those are the negatives.

If you're more a glass half full kind of person then you'll be looking more at the following.

A new season, a free hit in some respects as many outsiders tip the club to struggle to find a way out of the relegation scrap, a new direction with a more sensible approach on and off the field as the club look to add to their squad whilst bringing the average age down along with the wage bill and in some respects, a clean slate. Yes the club are still at war with the EFL over the points deduction and have stated their intention to appeal the decision but for the first time in a couple of years, there's no mention of further financial embargo's or player disciplinary problems that have hung over the club in recent seasons.

Garry Monk has finally managed to put his personal stamp on his backroom staff

The fans will always want things done yesterday but this season has a different feel about it.

I haven't been Monk's biggest fan since he came in and have questioned whether he should even be at the club after last season's capitulation during the second half of the campaign, but even I have had a chance to think it's time to reset and go again.

Monk has spent the short summer getting in his own backroom staff with James Beattie coming in as assistant manager, Andrew Hughes as first team coach and Darryl Flahavan as goalkeeping coach.

He's released several players from last season, a few of whom will have been at the top end of the club's wage budget and has brought in younger players with proven ability and/or potential to be great investments over the next few years.

High earners Fletcher and Forestieri are just two of several players to have left the club during the summer

There seems to be a direction that everyone is going in together, from the board, to the management, to the fans.

The only worry for Garry Monk now is there isn't really anywhere to hide on the playing side of things. He's got his own staff in and recruited in a style he sees as best for the club going forward.

If results continue to be as bad as they were during the second half of last season, he will surely be on borrowed time.

Off the field, Chansiri and Monk will still be working hard together to secure deals for players to help bolster the squad. The need for a striker or two was glaringly evident during the Carabao Cup tie with Walsall as Monk went with two midfielders up front, deciding to leave Rhodes and Windass (who isn't particularly an out and out striker himself) on the bench.

For now though, the club look to start the season strong away at Cardiff. With nine games before November, you'd like to think the club will certainly have clawed back the 12 point deduction and be well on their way to closing the gap to the teams above.