Sheffield Wednesday is aiming for a significantly better season in the Championship this year.
Last season, the Owls seemed headed for a quick relegation back to League One due to a poor start under Xisco Munoz. However, they managed to secure their place in the Championship with an impressive recovery under the guidance of Danny Rohl, finishing 20th in the standings.
A major positive development for Wednesday came when Rohl signed a new long-term contract with the club in May. Since then, the German coach has been actively revamping the team, bringing in nine new players to Hillsborough during the summer.
| Sheffield Wednesday – 2024-25 Signings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player Name | Signed From | Loan/Permanent |
| James Beadle | Brighton & Hove Albion | Loan |
| Ben Hamer | Watford | Permanent |
| Yan Valery | Angers | Permanent |
| Max Lowe | Sheffield United | Permanent |
| Svante Ingelsson | Hansa Rostock | Permanent |
| Nathaniel Chalobah | West Bromwich Albion | Permanent |
| Olaf Kobacki | Arka Gdynia | Permanent |
| Jamal Lowe | Bournemouth | Permanent |
| Charlie McNeill | Manchester United | Permanent |
Alongside the new signings, Liam Palmer, Dominic Iorfa, Di’Shon Bernard, Barry Bannan, and Josh Windass have all committed to new contracts. However, Cameron Dawson and Will Vaulks declined extensions and have left the club, while Ciaran Brennan, Reece James, George Byers, Tyreeq Bakinson, Juan Delgado, and Lee Gregory were released.
Sheffield Wednesday will kick off their season by hosting Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough on Sunday. This match marks the first game for Plymouth under their new head coach, Wayne Rooney. The Owls will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season’s outcome when they faced Rooney during his tenure as Birmingham City’s manager.
Sheffield Wednesday will be keen to forget previous Wayne Rooney meeting
Last November, Sheffield Wednesday found themselves at the bottom of the Championship table with only six points as they headed to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park to face Birmingham.
Birmingham, sitting in sixth place, had controversially replaced John Eustace with Wayne Rooney in early October. However, Rooney had managed to secure only one point in his first five games before facing Wednesday.
Under Rooney’s management, Birmingham was edging closer to the relegation zone. With the home fans already turning against their new manager, the Owls were hopeful of capitalizing on the hostile atmosphere and securing a vital win.
Their hopes seemed to be materializing when George Byers scored in the 45th minute to give Wednesday the lead. However, Juninho Bacuna equalized just two minutes later with a stunning strike, and Birmingham clinched victory late in the game through Jordan James.
The defeat was a severe blow to Wednesday’s slim survival hopes, while Rooney would have hoped his team could build on this win after a rough start at Birmingham.
Ultimately, Rooney managed only one more win before being dismissed after 15 games in charge in January. Remarkably, Sheffield Wednesday managed to stay in the division at Birmingham’s expense, a scenario that seemed impossible following their 2-1 loss in the Midlands in November.
Plymouth Argyle fixture is a big opportunity for Sheffield Wednesday
Wayne Rooney made an unexpected return to management with Plymouth in May and will take charge of the Pilgrims for the first time on Sunday. Sheffield Wednesday, however, are determined not to allow him to secure his first win in his new role.
The Owls have struggled against teams managed by Rooney, including a painful relegation to League One after a 3-3 draw against his Derby County side at Pride Park in May 2021. This history could provide additional motivation for Wednesday this weekend.
Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last season, and with doubts surrounding Rooney’s appointment, they are considered among the relegation favorites in the Championship this year.
This scenario presents an excellent opportunity for Wednesday to start their season positively with a win against Argyle. Given the optimistic atmosphere at Hillsborough, Rohl’s team enters the game as strong favorites.
Nevertheless, the match won’t be easy, and Plymouth should not be underestimated. Still, the Owls will be disappointed with anything less than a victory.