[FM20] Sheffield Wednesday Team Guide

Football Manager 2020 Team Guide: Sheffield Wednesday

In association with cplatts85, we’re proud to present team guides for Football Manager 2020. With the new club vision feature for FM20 it’s even more interesting for us to yet again serve team guides. Today we’ll bring you the team guide of Sheffield Wednesday in FM20, looking closer at the club and hopefully bring the club in your attention as one club to manage in Football Manager 2020.

Background

Sheffield Wednesday have been seen as a ‘sleeping giant’ for some time now due to the Clubs history. Having been relegated from the Premier League in 2000 the club had been in financial turmoil since then. Suffering relegation to the 3rd tier of English football in 2003 and 2010 this further exacerbated the situation with winding up orders filed against the club in 2010 before being rescued by Milan Mandaric. Since then the club has been further sold onto Dejphon Chansiri who has spent a significant amount of his fortune trying to secure promotion to the Premier League. In more recent times the club has under Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions due to Chansiri over spending during 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, failing both times in the Play Offs.

Club Vision

The culture of the club is to play attacking football. Trying to play easy on the eye football with plenty of goals will see you do well for the club. As it is set as desirable, it is not essential for you to keep your job, but it will set you in good stead with the Chairman and fans.

As the club has been struggling with FFP over recent seasons, staying within the wage budget is key. The transfer budget is £0 and very little room for manoeuvre within the wage budget. The squad has plenty of high-profile players very close to being past their best so it might be a good idea to get rid of few of them to make sure you keep well within the budget. However, making sure you get rid of the right ones without affecting on field results will be key.

The club has fallen away from being Play-Off contenders a few years ago. The first season for you as a manager is to make sure the club is turned around from last seasons slump and move back towards being in the top half of the table. From there you are expected to work towards pushing for the Play Offs with promotion being expected by your 4th season at the latest. Not improving on a yearly basis will definitely be seen as a failure and more than likely end with the sack.

Squad

Key Player

Barry Bannan is the creative heart of the squad. Playing as a deep lying playmaker in any of the 4-5-1 variants (4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1, etc.) or a 4-4-2 will get the most out of the player. Always looking for the killer through ball for the attackers, as well as being a key set piece taker, it is essential to make him a key player in any tactics.

Fringe Player

Jordan Thorniley rose to prominence during a struggling time for the team under previous Manager Jos Luhukay. Thorniley proved that he is equally comfortable at centre back and left full back. Due to his flexibility across the back he is always a contender for one of the substitute positions and as a starter for any injuries to more senior players ahead of him. With a potential of 4½ stars he is definitely one for the present and future of the squad.

Potential Star

Matt Penney is another player who rose to prominence during Jos Luhukay’s reign as Wednesday Manager. Currently on loan at Luhukay’s St Pauli in Germany, Penney is developing into a strong left sided player. Coming through the youth team as a left back, in more recent times he has been pushed forward into a left midfield position due to his attack prowess. Given the right amount of playing time he has the ability to become a good Premier League player in the future.

Conclusion

Sheffield Wednesday is a good challenge for anyone looking to start in the Championship. A club with a proud history and a good squad to build from. With a tight transfer and wage budget it’s about getting the most out of the current squad, while looking to progress the potential stars of the future from the Under 23’s.