5 reasons why Sheffield Wednesday should be aiming for automatic promotion

Prior to yesterday’s trip to the iPro Stadium to take on Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday sat fifth in the Championship table having won seven of their opening 14 league games.

The Owls, who lost out on promotion to the Premier League against Hull City in the 2015/16 play-off final at Wembley Stadium, are once again on course to finish in the top six this campaign and stake a claim at securing their place in the English top-flight next term.

Carlos Carvalhal’s men, who next host Ipswich Town at Hillsborough on November 5, will be hoping to rectify May’s defeat and mount another serious Premier League promotion bid.

However, someone believes the Owls should be aiming a little higher than just a play-off spot, so here is SHOOT‘s Louis Shackshaft’s five reasons why Sheffield Wednesday should be aiming for the top two automatic spots…

1. Best upfront trio in the league

Seriously, is there a better upfront trio in the Sky Bet Championship than Gary Hooper, Steven Fletcher and Fernando Forestieri?

I think not. Without question, many teams in the league have talented individuals who can win a game, Dwight Gayle of Newcastle United or Tammy Abraham at Bristol City are the first names that spring to mind.

However, I am also sure that 99 per cent of teams in the league would give up half their stadium for a strike force as talented as the one at Hillsborough.

For me, each player is still to hit fifth gear and all have a lot more to offer this season.

Hooper, Fletcher and Forestieri can not be divided as they all share a handful of goals this term, and in my opinion, 50 goals minimum by the end of the campaign has to be a realistic target for these three alone.

2. January transfer window

Thankfully for Wednesdayites, the Owls have a Chairman who is willing to do what it takes to get to the Premier League.

Dejphon Chansiri stated himself that by the end of this season, promotion is the main aim. Although Sheffield Wednesday have had a steady start, if come January the Owls are falling short of the top six as a minimum, I only expect more money to be spent as a last ditch effort to reach an automatic/play-off spot.

This may become a get out clause for the Chairman, who is willing to put his money where his mouth is and spend in areas of weakness, if any. Worryingly, as Christmas will arrive in the blink of an eye, and if Wednesday sit below a play-off spot, questions may also be asked of manager Carlos Carvalhal.

However, I am confident enough that a change in management would not be the answer at that stage as Wednesday seem to find themselves slowly climbing the table month by month.

3. Home form

Hillsborough became a fortress last season and a repeat scenario would not go a miss this term either. Wednesday lost only two games at home all campaign and managed to pick up 42 points in total which was the second highest in the league behind Hull City (47).

With a plus 25 goal difference at home last season, Wednesday proved they could match any team in the country at home and were rarely out thought, out played or out witted.

Just ask Chris Hughton after the play-off semi final, or even Arsene Wenger for that matter, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Owls in the League Cup.

A couple of home defeats this term have already slightly overshadowed last campaign’s epic home form that helped lead the Owls to the play-off final. With a little more confidence and with a stroke of luck, talent will prevail once again at Hillsborough this season and with the continued backing of the huge crowd, the fans will be cheering the Owls to victory on more occasions than not, I am sure.

4. Carlos Carvalhal

If Carlos Carvalhal isn’t a Premier League manager, then who is?

He has previously been heavily linked with the Everton and Swansea City jobs in the past, and for me, this tells its own story.

Carvalhal has the key attributes to be a world-class manager at the top level. His knowledge of the game, confidence, swagger, likeable persona and coaching ability all determine why the Championship is a better league with him present.

He doesn’t just talk a good game, he generally delivers too. In a season of transition, last year’s play-off final defeat was definitely an over achievement for the Owls, and Carlos for that matter.

Can Carvalhal take his men one step further this campaign? I say, why not.

5. Lesson learnt

Trial and error helps us in many walks of life, the same goes in football. How many times do you think it’s played on the mind of the players, the coaching staff, the management and the fans, ‘what if’ in the play-off final against Hull City at Wembley?

Sometimes you have to get knocked down to come back stronger. I certainly believe Wednesday have a stronger squad this term, more so in the final two thirds of the pitch.

With the addition of Fletcher especially, the Owls have strengthened in all the key areas where they fell short last season.

Again, if only we’d have had Fletcher for the play-off final, I may be sitting here discussing five reasons why Sheffield Wednesday were promoted too soon, right?

WAWAW