Playing For Their Futures
- Louis
- Jun 9, 2020
- 8 min read
With the EFL confirming dates for the remaining fixtures to be played for the current season, football is once again just around the corner and whilst no fans will be present at games, there's still everything to play for.
For Garry Monk's Owls squad, the unexpected break could not have come at a better time as their disastrous dip in form and subsequent slide down the table saw them go from chasing down an automatic promotion spot to barely being in the play off picture.
Whilst an end of season surge into the play offs is unlikely, nothing can be written off.
With players from all clubs undergoing regular testing for Covid-19, some players refusing to play and a hamstring tightening 9 games squeezed into 33 days, a favourable combination of factors could benefit any number of teams, The Owls included.
Manager Garry Monk will surely have to utilise his full squad more than ever before if he is to keep legs fresh and minimise the risk of injury to his players as much as possible.
With several first team members out of contract at the end of the season, it's a chance to earn themselves a new contract at Hillsborough or elsewhere.
Promising full backs Osaze Urhoghide and Matt Penney both had their contracts extended during the current break, whilst The Owls also took up an option to extend Joey Pelupessy's contract for another season.
Below is a look at the main first team players whose contracts are due to end after the final match of the season and my opinion on whether they should be worthy of an extended stay at S6.
Morgan Fox
Age: 26
19/20 League Apps: 26
19/20 League Goals: 2
The left back has had a remarkable resurgence this season.
Fox started the season in and out of the team with fans on his back at every opportunity and with his contract in it's final season, he seemed certain to be heading for the exit door.
Fast forward to the current day and after the most unlikely of turnarounds, he has silenced the critics and got the fans hoping he signs a new deal.
Garry Monk has made no secret of his desire to get Fox tied down to a new deal and with rival Championship clubs and a few Premier League ones reportedly keeping an eye on his situation, Monk will hoping he's done enough to convince the former Charlton man to extend his stay at The Owls.
My verdict: I wasn't the biggest fan of Fox coming into this season. He seemed to find the pressure of playing for such an expectant and demanding fan base too much to handle (He wouldn't be the first) although I never thought he deserved the treatment he got from some sections of the support.
To then come back and put in some of the performances he has totally surprised me and many others and I think it would be a big mistake to let him leave when he seems to be hitting the best form of his career to date.
Sam Hutchinson
Age: 30
19/20 League Apps: 23
19/20 League Goals: 1
Hutch began the season in great style, scoring with one of the best diving headers you'll see in The Owls' opening day win away at Reading.
More typical, solid, combative performances followed from the long term fan favourite as he continued to break up play and protect the back four, picking up the customary yellow cards he's always been renowned for during his time at Hillsborough.
However, after initially playing a part under Garry Monk, he has been out of favour since the FA Cup win at QPR in late January and left to train with the under 23's.
It's looking highly likely that Hutchinson has played his last game for the club.
My verdict: Hutchinson showed during Carlos Carvalhal's first two years at the club just why he was regarded so highly at Chelsea before his injury woes forced him to retire.
Some fans think he doesn't offer enough to the team anymore, but you only have to look at our midfield to see it lacks any real leadership or bite without him in it.
Having said that, I can't see anything happening between now and the end of the season to suggest he will be offered a new deal. I still think he has lots to offer personally and would keep him for another year but unfortunately I think he'll be released.
Kieran Lee
Age: 31
19/20 League Apps: 23
19/20 League Goals: 0
Another fan favourite, Kieran Lee has shown glimpses this season of the player who has become known during his Owls career for being the midfielder who is best suited to breaking from midfield and running beyond the striker, into the box.
The former Oldham man has featured regularly since the turn of the year but has failed to find the net so far.
His energy, overall awareness and ability to turn defence into attack are all still evident, however he has struggled to make too much of an impact so far this season, something not helped by the team's overall poor performances of late.
Now 31 and having comeback from a long term injury, it's fair to say his best days are behind him and with Monk looking to bring more energy and youth into the club, this season could be Lee's last.
My verdict: It was great to see Lee come back from his long term lay off towards the end of last season without any recurrence of injury.
Whilst his game time and injury record this season has dramatically improved compared to the previous 18 months, he has struggled to hit a solid patch of good form.
He's been a great servant to the club and whilst he still has the ability to perform at a good level, he hit his peak during the first two seasons under Carlos Carvalhal and I think he'll struggle to be a first team regular in any Garry Monk team going forward once Monk has the chance to put together his own squad.
Fernando Forestieri
Age: 30
19/20 League Apps: 17
19/20 League Goals: 2
Nando, quite simply the most gifted individual the club has signed possibly since their Premier League days.
He was a revelation during his first season at the club and made the £3m fee that Wednesday paid seem an absolute bargain. A turbulent summer followed and whilst he remained at the club despite interest from elsewhere, some fans have always felt a need to question his commitment ever since.
His second season was by no means a poor one as he helped Wednesday reach the play offs for the second consecutive season.
However, a combination of injury problems and suspensions have made the last 3 seasons a lot more stop start than he, Wednesday managers and fans would have liked.
The gifted attacker has shown flashes of the brilliance he still possesses, Norwich away last season been a stand out example. A game where fans saw the Forestieri of old, carrying the ball, drawing fouls, opening defences, tracking back and scoring an absolute beast of a goal.
He has struggled to feature regularly under Monk so far but will surely feature in the run in which could decide whether Wednesday offer him a chance to extend his stay with the club.
My verdict: Some say he's well past his best. I personally believe that Forestieri still gets into any Championship team on his day. That's the key bit though, fans have not seen enough of Nando "on his day" for a while now but the ability is definitely there and you sometimes feel all it takes is an arm around the shoulder from the manager to give him the confidence and platform to perform.
A reported deal was being spoken about during the first half of the season but nothing materialized.
I think it would be a huge mistake to not offer a player as talented as him a one year deal at the very minimum. If the club can reduce his wages a little and tie him down to a contract then it's a no brainer. The last 9 games could be a deciding factor in which way both the club and Forestieri go.
Sam Winnall
Age: 29
19/20 League Apps: 13
19/20 League Goals: 1
It's been yet another frustrating season for the ex Barnsley striker.
Having returned to action midway through last season from a long term injury, this season was supposed to be his real return to regular football.
He made a great super sub appearance in Monk's first game away at Huddersfield, scoring with a perfectly placed flicked header into the far corner.
Unfortunately that has been his only goal so far (bar his goal against QPR in the FA Cup) and only telling contribution.
He's struggled to find any sort of form and whilst his workrate and determination can't be faulted, his Wednesday career has never really taken off.
My verdict: I wasn't really sure why we signed Winnall when we did. He was doing great at Barnsley but the style of play we had at the time and the type of strikers already at the club didn't really call for this type of addition.
Unfortunately, the move hasn't worked out well and I think a fresh start is best for both parties. I wouldn't be surprised to see Winnall resurrect his career elsewhere and find himself back in the goals next season, I just can't see that ever been with Wednesday.
Atdhe Nuhiu
Age: 30
19/20 League Apps: 30
19/20 League Goals: 3
What to say about this guy?!.. Fans are somewhat divided on the giant Kosovan. He's been at the club since their return to this level 7 years ago and whilst supporters have found themselves moaning and groaning at the sight of his name in the starting XI in the last couple of seasons, you'll struggle to find a more popular goalscorer amongst the Hillsborough faithful.
The man affectionately known as "Big Dave" in the stands has played under 7 different managers to date during his time with The Owls and whilst fans are divided, you can't argue with the fact that every manager has found a place for the striker.
He definitely is something different to what Wednesday or many other clubs have available, but too often when he's started he has little impact on the game and no positive influence.
His highlight so far this season was his super sub appearance at Elland Road when he came on to play a pivotal role and help The Owls record an unlikely victory over Leeds United.
He's scored a few last minute goals along the way as well during this current campaign.
Despite all that, I can't call this one. Managers tend to take a liking to Nuhiu and whilst I think a contract renewal would be straight forward for both parties, it's whether Monk sees him as an integral part of his plans.
My verdict: You can't argue with the facts. Nuhiu has served this club as loyal as anyone during this time. He's goes quietly about his business and seems to gel well with the squad behind the scenes. Team mates and fans possibly celebrate most when he scores a goal out of any other player. He also hasn't had any real injuries during his time at Wednesday.
Whilst he scored some technically stunning goals and shown outrageous dribbling ability for a guy of his stature, at 30 years old, he's not going to get any better.
His influence on seasons overall has dropped off dramatically and like Winnall, I'd suggest a fresh start and enjoying some consistent first team football elsewhere could be best for him.
Steven Fletcher
Age: 33
19/20 League Apps: 26
19/20 League Goals: 13
The Scot is enjoying his best season to date with the club and possibly the best of his career both for goals and form.
A niggling injury halted his progress just before Christmas and then a knee injury kept him out for a further spell just after his return at the start of the year.
He had returned to the starting XI prior to the recent break and like Morgan Fox, Monk has made no secret of his desire to keep Fletcher at the club beyond the end of the season.
With other clubs keeping an eye on his situation, Wednesday need to make inroads and get a deal done soon.
Fletcher has stated how settled he is and that he'd want to see out his career with the club, but the longer it is dragged out, he may be tempted to look elsewhere to secure his future.
My verdict: At 33, Fletcher is one of the oldest of an already ageing squad but he seems to have found a second lease of life in his footballing career.
He might not be getting any faster but he has never been known for his pace. What he will do is hold play up well and challenge for any ball in the air. He's a clever striker and one which any young, pacey forward would love to play off.
I would definitely look to sign him up for next season and see what happens from there.
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