da esoccer bet： Sheffield Wednesday’s plans on the pitch seem to be continuing forward despite all of the uncertainty they face off it.
da dobrowin： The Owls boss Garry Monk revealed earlier in the week that he would like to keep hold of top goalscorer Steven Fletcher after his contract ends in the summer.
He also claimed that discussions with several other out of contract players will ensue when owner Dejphon Chansiri returns to south Yorkshire later this month.
However, everything could hinge on whether or not the club are severely punished following their charge from the English Football League.
The Thai businessman could be banned from football as a result while the likelihood of being slapped with a 21-point deduction isn’t out of the realms of possibility, which you’d imagine makes any move to extend contracts all that more difficult.
Given all the circumstances and the fact that Wednesday possess the oldest squad in the division, is extending a player who will be 33 come May worthwhile?
Here’s what the writers at Football FanCast think…
Viji Jeevathayalan
“Age is just a number, so whilst your club’s top goal-scorer may be turning 33 next year, that shouldn’t be the defining factor in contemplating whether to offer him a contract or not. Steven Fletcher has been banging in the goals this season for Sheffield Wednesday, notching 12 times in 22 games across all competitions. The striker has scored six in the Owls’ previous four Championship games, and offers Garry Monk a proven finisher at this level.
“Whilst it’s all the rage now to have a squad tearing at the seams with fresh-faced academy players under the age of 21, they undeniably do not offer the same sort of consistency that a more experienced star would bring. The Championship is an unforgiving place, and you need battle-hardened men to guide you through it. Offering Fletcher a new deal – whether it’s for one or two years – would help protect the future of the one man who has shown he has stardust in his locker. Monk must not hesitate.”
Matt Dawson
“Regardless of how old Steven Fletcher is, Wednesday must renew his contract. If you look at Garry Monk’s squad this term, he is leading their goalscoring charts by quite some margin. He’s currently on 12 for the campaign with Kadeem Harris and Jordan Rhodes behind him on three. That tells you all you need to know about just how crucial the former Sunderland man is to their chances.
“A deal has to be struck between the club and Fletcher, but it might be out of their hands given the doubts surrounding their EFL charge and owner Chansiri. A relegation scrap could quickly put any thoughts of a new contract on the backburner with the potential of losing him for free becoming a greater reality. This squad might need a lick of fresh paint, but getting rid of the 32-year-old would not be the way to achieve it. They must hold onto him.”
Charles Jones
“Despite being 32 years old, Steven Fletcher seems as if he’s getting better and better under Garry Monk as he’s netted 12 goals in 21 Championship games. Is he a long-term solution to Wednesday’s striking problems? Definitely not, but he’s not showing any signs of declining just yet, and it’ll be tough for the Owls to replace his goals if they let him go at the end of the season. The Yorkshire outfit could be in trouble if the EFL decide to charge them, and perhaps the worst thing they could do is to lose arguably their best player. Fletcher should be offered a new deal as soon as possible.”
Lewis Blain
“Steven Fletcher has been integral to Wednesday’s fortunes this season – his six goals in four matches has pushed the Owls back into playoff contention. The number nine is showing no signs of decline as he gets older either. Come to the end of the season he’ll be 33 years of age, but that’s not stopping him from recording one of his best-ever seasons in English football. The only thing he appears to be losing is a bit of hair on his head. Given all the uncertainty facing the club off the pitch, keeping hold of a player who has been around for three-and-a-half years is a no-brainer. Not just because of his scoring exploits, but he’ll understand what it means to those at Hillsborough.”
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In other news, Sheffield Wednesday have suffered a major setback over one player this week….