Owls look stronger thanks to key additions
When Steve Bruce walked out on Wednesday with less than 3 weeks to kick-off in the Championship it was a big blow for the Owls. Bruce had injected a positive atmosphere into the Owls in his 5 months at the helm and his decision to leave for Newcastle seemed like a hammer blow.
The Owls are yet to appoint a full-time successor to the former Manchester United defender but despite this there is plenty to be positive about, not least on the transfer front.
The end of the 2018-19 season saw the club part company with a number of high-earning players such as Hooper, Jones and Abdi, none of which had made a telling contribution over the past 12 months or more.
As the summer transfer window closed Wednesday had managed to bring in 7 new players in key positions. Kadeem Harris and Jacob Murphy bring pace and wide attacking threat that the Owls have been short of for some time. David Bates and Julian Borner add to the central defensive options, full-back Moses Odubajo has proved his worth over many seasons at this level and you only have to view the reaction of QPR fans to see what an influence Massimo Luongo has been for them in the Championship. Goalkeeper Paul Jones comes in initially as 3rd choice to cover the injury to Joe Wildsmith and provide competition for Westwood and Dawson.
With 1st team regulars Westwood and Palmer signing new contracts along with Kieran Lee - who will be like a new signing having spent so long out injured, Wednesday look to be in good stead.
The departure of Lucas Joao to Reading has left fans with mixed feelings but most acknowledge that the club needed to move on at least one striker and the potential fee received is encouraging.
Of course the return of Michael Hector would have been desirable having had such a positive impact last season but Chelsea appear to have priced the Owls out of a move for the defender.
Wednesday appear to have a stronger squad on the whole than last season with a strong 1st 11 and genuine options to change things in terms of options from the bench.