Wednesday – Who Stays And Who Goes?

With the international break upon the Championship teams and coupled with Wednesday having little to play for in the remainder of the season, other than pride and to top the Yorkshire league table. Vital Wednesday took time to look through the current squad, and those players who are out-of-contract at the end of the current season.

In fact there are 15 names on that list, that Gray and Chansiri must decide whether they are good enough to be part of Wednesday`s new owners Premier League target next season.

Chansiri has spoken only a few times to the clubs fans via the media and swfc.co.uk but his reoccurring statement, is Premier League football back at Hillsborough by the clubs 150th birthday in 2017. So with the 15/16 and 16/17 seasons to ascertain his target of promotion to the promised land.

There are a few high profile names included on Wednesday out-of-contract list such as former England and Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, goal machine Gary Madine, club captain Glenn Loovens and talisman Jose Semedo.

So are Wednesday lugging some needless weight in the player department, that Gray and Chansiri would be better casting off to free wages up for quality additions? Unfortunately it would appear that they are, and Vital Wednesday want to share our views on who should stay and who should go! But, it wouldn’t be Vital Wednesday if your input wasn’t part of the site so hit our forum or comments section with your views!

Giles Coke

Recently loaned out to lower half strugglers Bolton for the remainder of the current season. His forth loan from Wednesday to another club in his four years at the club others have included Bury (twice) and Swindon. Despite providing committed performances every time he pulled on a Wednesday shirt in the middle of the park. It appears he is not part of Stuart Gray`s plans going forward now, so doubt he will be next season. With new found fortune and transfer muscle Wednesday will have better option available to them. For Giles its best he finds a new club, possibly in league One who will need his workhorse like performances in the centre of the park.

Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Dejan Kelhar

possibly a non starter here signed on a free last summer following a successful trial spell prior to the start of the season. Kelhar he has spent the entire season on the sidelines with a knee injury. He has only just started to make a return of sorts taking part in reserve team games in the last few weeks. Similar to Coke there will be better, younger options available to Wednesday under Chansiri. so it would appear to be time to cut losses on this one.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Rafael Floro

Who? Signed rather quickly under the former regime of Dave Jones and once this season is complete will have only played a handful of times for the first team. Despite him being a regular for Portugal under-20 international side, but it is hard to see why. Floro is a player who will not be missed by the Wednesday fans so again best to cut this one loose.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Rhys McCabe

This could count as a huge missed opportunity for Wednesday but also for Rhys himself. Signed on a free transfer following Glasgow Rangers implosion a few summers ago seeing them fall from grace in a dramatic fashion. The young midfielder was highly thought of north of the border and represented intrigue from the Wednesday faithful. Could Dave Jones have pinched a quality player for free? Unfortunately not, never really ceased his opportunities in the first team spot light to make a name for himself and ensure he was in the first team regularly, he has barely featured for the club this season.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Will De Havilland

Another player who will be put in the same category as Floro. He has failed to make any impact at Hillsborough since arriving from Millwall. Wednesday fans will not even know if he is gone from the club.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Jacques Maghoma

Some fans will see Maghoma as a real marmite player, similar to Jermaine Johnson was a few years ago thankful Jacques doesn`t appear to have his temper. But also he doesn`t appear to have JJ`s pace or ability to change a game in seconds. Against Millwall recently he dominated the game and played a part in all three goals as Wednesday easily won. However in the following games he hasn`t reached those heights, it would be fair to say. He may not be having his best season in his career but he remains a regular for the first-team and with the English game lacking out and out wingers he may be worth keeping in the squad.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Stay


Glenn Loovens

The club captain and a regular in the first team and he has formed a phenomenal centre back partnership with the talented Tom Lees. Leading to Wednesday having one of the meanest and strongest defenses in the whole league this season. But the former Celtic man and Dutch International has suffered with injury problems this year and is currently on the side lines and expected to be out for the remainder of the season. Regardless he is a key asset in the dressing room and must be kept on to bring on younger players and new signings.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Stay


Chris Kirkland

Upon his signing from Wigan a few summers ago, following the clubs promotion from League One. He became a key asset for the cub and displaced quality keepers Nicky Weaver and Stephen Bywater. His form was said to have caught the eye of Premier League clubs according to local media. Thankfully those reports didn`t turn in to anything and Kirkland provided Wednesday fans with two superb seasons between the sticks, then last summer. Stuart Gray pulled out the fantastic signing of Ireland International Kieren Westwood. Kirkland has since seen his first team opportunity severely limited due to Westwood`s form and at the age of 33 he will want to play as much first team football as possible in his remaining career. Additionally his presence within the squad could be now seen as hindering the development of England youngster Cameron Dawson. With Kirkland said to be on a healthy wage at Wednesday and unlikely to feature in the first team it may be best all round for the tow to part ways.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Lewis Buxton

Wednesday`s longest serving player having signed from Stoke City in the summer of 2008. A regular in the first team making over 190 appearances for the club, until last season following a serve injury that he hasn`t quite recovered from enough to force his way into Stuart Gray`s thinking this season. With the addition of Belgium under-21 International and former Manchester United player Marnick Vermijl and the rise of Liam Palmer in the right back position. Buxton, has found it increasing difficult to break back into the team and similar to Kirkland will want to be playing first team football again. It seems likely that will mean departing Hillsborough after seven years to ascertain this.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Kieran Lee

A quality utility player who offers Wednesday options in defense and midfield, signed on a free transfer from Oldham Athletic on a three-year deal back in the summer of 2012. He offers the team balance as well as quality passing and creativity, he has recently added goal scoring to his game coming up with important goals against Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham United. Too many fans it would be mad to let a talented and committed player like him go.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Stay


Chris Maguire

Another regular in the first-team and similar to Kieran Lee offers Wednesday options both up front and as a winger. Signed by Dave Jones in the summer of 2012 and daftly unused and loaned to Coventry City for a short time where he scored goals and was playing regularly. Upon his return to Hillsborough he hasn`t looked back and provided goals for others and scored the odd one himself including many important strikes. At only 26 and fighting to achieve a full national call up with Scotland and on his day he`ll put a thorn in the side of any defender and opposite fans. He is one of the blocks that Stuart Gray should look at building his team around.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Stay


Jose Semedo

What can be said about fan favorite and club talisman Jose Semedo? He is a vital part of the squad and similar to former club talisman Reda Johnson gives the fans a huge boost when named on the team sheet. He must surely have at least another year at Hillsborough. But Wednesday are fortunate to have strength in depth in the central midfield area with Watford loanee Lewis McGugan, who appears to be willing to stay full time with the club. Sam Hutchinson, Kieren Lee and new signing Melo all vying for a starting place under Stuart Gray. However Jose Semedo offers a different option a veteran head and a selfless attitude in how he plays to ensure that the team benefits rather than him obtaining any personal glory. His attitude and style of play has won over the fans who will keep him in their heart if he does go, but a promotion push needs experienced heads at the clubs to help along the younger players.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Stay


Joe Mattock

Its hard to think that he is only 24 years-old as he seems to have been around the game a while now having featured for Leicester, West Brom and Brighton prior to Wednesday. Despite playing over 50 times for Wednesday he has not been a regular player and can be prone to mistakes and bookings but can be a top back. A new deal could finds its way to Mattock but as mentioned earlier in the article with Wednesday having new found transfer clout there will be better option out there come the summer.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Kamil Zayatte

Journey man and Guinea international defender Zayatte, has struggled this season to break into the central defensive pairing of Looven and Lees. When presented with the opportunity unfortunately he picked up another injury which is not the first during his Wednesday spell.
Prior to this, Zayatte slotted in well as he does work hard and is willing to put his body on the line to protect Wednesday`s goal. With a short time remaining this season and the chance to partner Lees in the defence, he will also be striving to ascertain a new contract extension with his present deal expiring in the summer. So expect him to do all he can to achieve this but with him being injury prone and Wednesday targeting a top six finish could Chansiri and Gray aim for better?
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go


Gary Madine

Lastly, the Goal machine himself Gary Madine. He has endured a troublesome spell at Hillsborough and never really hit the heights of the clubs promotion season in 2011/12 where the team`s style of play suited him under Gary Megson. An unfortunate timed injury ended his chances of an England under-21 call up and since making the jump to the Championship. He has struggled to become a first team regular and only scored four times for the club, with the last being against Notts County in the League Cup earlier this season. Loaned out to Coventry and Blackpool, he has shown good form at Blackpool in a weak side destined for relegation, which does show he can score if given the first team run at the clubs current league level. But perhaps his previous actions outside of football will be a factor, when the decision is made by Wednesday to stick or twist with Madine.
Vital Wednesday Verdict – Go

Now you’ve heard our thoughts, feel free to let Vital Wednesday know yours, in our comments section or via our forum.