Sheffield Wednesday have much higher expectations of themselves next season after some brilliant summer business.
The Owls were tipped for relegation when Danny Rohl arrived at the club nine months ago, before narrowly avoiding the drop on the final day of the campaign.
However, it hasn’t taken long for fans to quickly start upping their predictions for the German’s first full season in charge.
Sheffield Wednesday have now made eight new signings and are expected to make even more, while the head coach and a number of key players have extended their contracts.
Rohl is eager to finish in the top half this time next year, but journalist Joe Crann doesn’t actually think Wednesday need to do ‘much’ to start competing for promotion.
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When asked what the Owls need to do to be around the top six, Crann told Owls Heaven podcast: “I don’t think much, if I’m honest. You look at the positions – you’re probably looking at centre midfield as still a bit stretched.
“You look at someone like Vaulks, we don’t really have a designated defensive midfielder. Palmer can play there and has done well there on occasion. I think we will see Liam playing defensive midfield, right back, right wing-back and right centre-back. I think we’ll see all that again from Liam this season. But I think you look at centre midfield and it needs a little bit of strengthening.
“I think of Di’Shon Bernard stays, defence may be ok, but if he doesn’t then obviously another centre-back is probably something they should be looking at. Then we spoke before about a proper goalscorer, and Ike Ugbo is one that fills that position.”
Sheffield Wednesday’s success could rely on 10-plus goal striker
Palmer will likely show exactly why he was offered a new contract this summer – and not just because of how long he has been in Yorkshire.
While Rohl is desperate to add squad depth and huge amounts of quality, Palmer’s versatility can still prove pivotal in those key moments of the season.
That shouldn’t prevent him from bringing in a new defensive midfielder though, as Wednesday are currently relying on Barry Bannan, Josh Windass and Svante Ingelsson in the middle of the park.
Bernard’s future remains up in the air, while it could very much come down to a striker.
Championship squads can be full of talent, but if they don’t have a proven goalscorer then they are always going to struggle to battle for promotion.
Dejphon Chansiri needs to be prepared to spend proper cash on a new forward this summer, because that could be a real game-changer for this brilliant team Rohl is building.