Manager Dave Jones set straight to the task of remoulding the squad in his image with a series of captures of Championship experienced players.
Centre half pairing of Danny Batth and Rob Jones were (wrongly in my opinion) broken up - with Batth returning to Wolves following his loan and club captain Jones leaving for Doncaster Rovers on a free. Replacing them were Anthony Gardner, on a free from Crystal Palace, and Martin Taylor who we actually paid Watford money for!
A number of players including Clinton Morrison, Jon Otsemobor, Chris Sedgwick, Ryan Lowe, Mike Jones, Mark Beevers (initially on loan), Daniel Jones and Mark Reynolds were all allowed to leave the club, the majority for free. It was also announced that at the end of the season The Green ‘Un would no longer be produced.
Other incomings in a busy summer were former Liverpool and England international goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, Joe Mattock, Scottish shithouse Chris Maguire and Rhys McCabe. Importantly the club splashed a reported £1M to secure the services of Michail Antonio on a permanent transfer. Bolstering the squad further were youngsters Danny Mayor, Paul Corry and a rightback from Oldham named Kieran Lee.
Adding some international flair were young Portuguese left back Diego Amodo, Slovenian Nejc Pečnik and Spanish striker Rodri who arrived on a season long loan from Barcelona B.
Preseason saw the owls take on a tour to Portugal for ties with Sporting Lisbon and Reading. This was followed up back home with a goalless draw at Doncaster. The Owls home warm up tie saw us take on premier league West Brom. Nejc Pečnik put the owls in front but we were held to a 1-1 draw.
21st Aug - Owls 3-2 Birmingham City
We had begun the season with a fantastic fight back to draw at Derby. Our first home tie back at this level saw us take on the brummies in an evening kick off. Reda Johnson’s second of the season put us one up before Rodri opened his account by lobbing Jack Butland from about three yards. Jermaine Johnson made it 3-1 on 89 minutes before a late penalty made the score line appear tighter.
25th Aug - Owls 3-2 Millwall
It was becoming apparent that we were certainly capable of scoring goals at this level. But conversely we did look like conceding with great regularity. Jermaine Johnson put us ahead but we went in at half time behind. Miguel Llera equalised before netting again in the last minute, another dramatic afternoon at Hillsborough.
28th Aug - Owls 1-0 Fulham (Lge cup 2)
We claimed a premier league scalp only the league cup 2nd round. Gary Madine’s second half penalty was enough to beat Martin Jol’s Cottagers to secure a trip to Southampton in round three.
22nd Sept - Owls 1-2 Bolton
Wednesday made it four defeats in a row in a poor game. My lads first ever defeat watching Wednesday too! We were second best all over the park despite some loan additions in the shape of Ross Barkley from Everton and Jay Bothroyd, who had gained an England cap despite playing at Championship level, from QPR.
19th Oct - Owls 1-1 Leeds
Rampant Derby day at Hillsborough in front of the sky cameras. Bothroyd put in his only decent performance, scoring the only goal in the tie. We held out until the 77th minute when ex-blade Tonge equalised. The game was overshadowed when an idiot from the away end ran on the pitch and attacked goalkeeper Chris Kirkland on the pitch. Luckily he wasn’t seriously hurt however idiotic comments from Leeds manager Neil Warthog describing Kirkland as “went down like a sack of spuds” did little to build bridges in the football community.
27th Oct - Ipswich 0-3 Owls
After nine winless games loanee Ross Barkley, of future Chelsea and England fame, inspired Wednesday to a surprise win in Suffolk
27th Nov - Owls 1-4 Watford
This tie came 5 matches into a 7 game winless run. Dave Jones has been under mounting pressure and this dog-shite performance was the one where he lost me.
Antonio gave us an early lead but 15 minutes later Daniel Pudil pulled the ball back for Fernando Forestieri to equalise. Chris Lines has a first half penalty saved before the referee had to be replaced, Wednesday’s football probably making eyes bleed. In the second half Watford ran away with the tie for an emphatic win. After the game Jones gave an interview that was arrogance personified, insisting of referring to the club as “You’s” and stating If people think somebody else will do a better job, go get him. And if he doesn't do it, then what? Go and get someone else?’. Which for me, I now believe we should do. And after appearing to be a god signing Jay Bothroyd mouthing off at Wednesday fans when he blazed a last minute effort into the Kop just about summed him up in a blue & white shirt. Lazy with an over inflated sense of his own importance. He can go as well.
8th Dec - Owls 2-3 Bristol City
Two goals in two minutes saw Bristol steal the win with a late Albert Adomah free kick in front of the Kop, despite Wednesday having led twice. The game turned on an incident where Wednesday were seemingly denied a penalty, resulting in a goal being chalked off after a Wednesday player grabbed the referee in frustration. In fairness the referee had clearly lost control of the game
26th Dec - Bolton 0-1 Owls
A large travelling contingent saw Wednesday make it three wins in a row in this Boxing Day fixture. Having won the previous two Christmas ties - 1-0 in the televised Barnsley derby and 2-0 at home to Charlton (McCabe and Manchester City loanee Jérémy Helan with their first goals) another loanee Mamady Sidibe, who came on a temporary deal from Stoke, scored his only goal. Sidibe came in clearly unfit and worked hard but only managed this sole goal from his 9 appearances.
5th Jan - Owls 0-0 MK Dons (FA Cup)
An utterly dreadful game. MK could have easily won the game. I sat behind the dugout due to the Kop being closed. Abiding memory is I tweeted a young player who came off the bench to run the game, tearing Lewis Buxton apart. The players replied thanking me for my compliments, and that player was Dele Alli.
26th Jan - Charlton 1-2 Owls
Until 2019 our last win at Charlton which was secured with a late winner from loan striker Leroy Lita on his debut after signing from Swansea City. Versatile left sided player Danny Pugh also joined on loan for the remainder of the season, from Leeds United. Jeremy Helan would extend his loan until the end of the season a few days later.
During January Chris Lines and Chris O’Grady we’re both allowed to leave the club, initially on loans. Young striker Caolan Lavery also left on loan to gain experience at Southend United. Danny Mayor and Paul Corry would make similar moves in February. It was clear that the summer transfer business hadn’t been a particular success.
9th Feb - Owls 2-2 Derby County
Wednesday mirrored our opening day encounter by again coming from two behind to draw with Derby - Antonio and Llera with second half strikes. Meanwhile another loanee striker made his debut - Connor Wickham, having joined on loan from Sunderland on an initial one month loan.
9th Mar - Leicester 0-1 Owls
Loanee Connor Wickham scores his first and only goal of this loan spell as we pick up only our second win in 6 games. Form had picked up over January and early February but had begun to trail off. Despite this we remained in the unusually high patch of clubs fighting relegation.
In the old days the end of March would be the last time clubs could add to their squads before the end of the season and Dave Jones added more reinforcements at the end of this one. Nigerian international midfielder Seyi Olofinjana of Hull City joined until the end of the season and injury plagued American international Stuart Holden of Bolton Wanderers signed one a one month loan. 37 year old experienced striker Steve Howard also joined on loan until the end of the season from Hartlepool United in what would be the final move of his long career.
9th Apr - Millwall 1-2 Owls
Chris Maguire struck late against struggling Millwall as we came from behind in this basement tussle - ensuring pandemonium in the away stand! This result made it four wins from six games for Jones’ men post the Leicester City victory. Just a couple more results going into the final five games would be enough to keep us up.
27th Apr - Peterborough 1-0 Owls
A win would have guaranteed survival in this tie against our fellow strugglers. Wednesday were poor and rarely threatened in this televised clash. Grant McCann scored the only goal of the game to set up a nervy final day, knowing only a win would do!
After all the hard work would we really mess it all up after one season?
4th May - Owls 2-0 Middlesborough
Survival at last! In the final game of the season Wednesday recorded our first win in five to guarantee another season in the championship. Veteran loanee striker Steve Howard with his only goal for the club early in the first half, then Leroy Lita signed off his productive loan spell on the half hour by taking advantage of a defensive mix up to fire home. Joyous scenes at the final whistle included a bit of a pitch invasion, and we finished the season in the lofty position of 18th on 58 points and strangely just ten points off of a play off spot, but having lost 20 of our 46 matches.
Hopefully we will learn from this and now kick on and re-establish ourselves at this level proper.
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