Whether Carvalhal remains in charge of the Owl’s or otherwise, I will always remember and take away the positives from his management reign. Obviously, the highlight being the play-off final at Wembley in 2016, a perfect day only marred by the result.
The loss was such a crying shame for everyone involved and even more so for Carvalhal who is now under overwhelming pressure. A victory that day would have made Carlos a modern day legend at the club.
The flourishing, free-flowing and eye-catching football that got us to Wembley was a joy to watch throughout the 2015/16 campaign. However, if I’m brutally honest, the pedigree of football has slowly reverted back to a ‘let’s not lose’ rather than ‘let’s go for the win’ mentality. Or so it seems, maybe I’m being harsh.
In addition to this, I understand the opposition have a huge influence as tactics and game-plans play a massive part in modern day football, ultimately restricting our efforts on the field. Yet, time after time we seem to only go up a gear after the the half-time break or when we fall behind. I think this is a fair statement, especially away from home.
With this in mind, my first apprehensive feelings towards Carlos was the 2-0 defeat at home to Reading last term, a game in which Wednesday were bullied in midfield and ultimately out-played, untill at least the last ten minutes of the ninety. On another day we may have come away with a point, but that is all in hindsight. Subsequently Reading overachieved and went on to reach the play-off final. I couldn’t help but feel Wednesday had taken a step backwards that day. Was that the beginning of the end? Maybe, I don’t know.
I am, as well as many other Wednesdayites a firm believer in stability and momentum, hence my admiration of Chairman Dejphon Chansiri after showing continuity and sticking with Carvalhal after the play-off semi-final defeat to Huddersfield Town. The question still remains, can Carvalhal guide Sheffield Wednesday to the Premier League? Baring in mind he has fallen at the final hurdles twice two-years running, the light at the end of the tunnel is slowly disappearing of late.
Personally, I really wish and hope that Carvalhal is the man to take the Sheffield Wednesday to the promised land, I think everyone associated with the club shares that dream. However, recent form, results and performances have fixture by fixture made me lose faith and that feeling kills me inside. I, aswell as any other fan, share a passion for the club and I don’t want this once in a lifetime opportunity given to us by Dejphon Chansiri to go a miss. Top flight football currently seems so near, but yet so far.
As the saying goes, ‘you win some, you lose some’, this is fair point and sometimes an element of luck is involved when you do walk away with 3 points on a Saturday at 5pm. But, luck seems to be wearing thin of late and recent defeats to Sheffield United and Bolton Wanderers have left me embarrassed as a fan. I wasn’t embarrassed about picking up no points or even losing to our steel city rivals, it was the manner of the performances that cannot be excused. Sheffield Wednesday were tipped as one of the promotion favourites this season, they have spent a vast amount of money and we all know deep down that the current squad has the capability of beating anybody in this league. It is that what hurts.
The simple conclusion to this all boils down to Mr Chansiri and the action he does or doesn’t take. It would not surprise me if Carvalhal is given until Christmas to try and overturn a very bang average start to the season.
Meanwhile, keeping Carlos in charge until at least December may just find Sheffield Wednesday falling short once again this term as a huge influx of firepower on and off the field is needed to kick start the season. I’m sure you will agree, this needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Whichever path Chansiri decides to take, I will accept it gracefully and in good faith. I just hope his head doesn’t rule his heart when making this decision.
Win, lose or draw I will always support Sheffield Wednesday, promotion contenders or not, they are in my blood. All I ask is for Chansiri to put his beloved club first and foremost. In the meantime, I’m intrigued to see what decision he will make.
I would love to hear your thoughts?