Let's Röhl With It

 

On Friday, Danny Röhl became the thirty-eighth man to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday. It’s an intriguing and potentially exciting appointment and one that seems to, in the main, have brought some much needed togetherness within the fan base.

What Do We Think?

Considering Röhl hasn’t been a manager before, there is a genuine sense of optimism in the fan base. After a nightmare spell under the previous manager, there does seem to have been a really warm reception to the appointment of the thirty-four year old German.
From a personal point of view, I agree. I think it’s a really progressive move and one Sheffield Wednesday haven’t done enough of over the years. Lets get the main things out of the way first. Yeah, it doesn’t change the fact we need wins, it doesn’t change the ongoing situation with the owner, it doesn’t change the fact we’re not in a great place as a club. What it does do though, is show that maybe there is some sort of long term thinking going on at Hillsborough.

While I, and many other fans, thought maybe a more experienced firefighting manager was the more sensible choice on paper, there is a lot of logic to taking on someone like Röhl who has worked under some big names and at some stellar clubs. We need someone who can get the best out of this squad, that is a coach, someone who can actually instil a playing style on this group of players, it’s very unlikely the squad will change too much between now and the end of the January window, so making the most of what he has will be a key feature I’d imagine.

Speaking Well and Different Röhls.

I was really impressed with Danny’s opening interview. I know I said that about Xisco, and to be honest that was about as good as Xisco’s interviews got, but with Danny I got a real sense of someone who has a genuine belief in what he’s setting out to do.
He’s worked at different clubs with different jobs involved on that journey and that adaptability is something that I think could be a real asset to us. His video analysis background will help in terms of helping players improve, also working with the analysts here to improve training, in match situations and potentially recruitment. Being a younger coach as well might make the initial integration period easier for him as well.

I think it’s important he already has some experience of English football, he isn’t coming in totally to a new culture and from what Southampton fans have said, it all sounds very positive. After his spell as a Saint, he went onto to assist Niko Kovač and then Hansi Flick as German giants Bayern Munich won the treble in 2019/20. That winning mentality can only be a good thing.

Key Details

I think there are some really positive signs from Danny Röhl. First of all, the fact he wanted the job in the summer and that interested didn’t die down after missing out to Xisco. That wanting of the job for me, is massive. I always think it’s better to have someone who says yes straight away rather than have to try and convince someone. The desire to work here is worth something at the very least.
It’s also an excellent sign that the off the field events of the last few months haven’t put him off. That shows a strength of character and a belief in the squad he has inherited. I think some managers would look at what has gone on at Sheffield Wednesday since promotion and run a mile. It tells you something about Röhl’s character that he seemed to run the other way. He wants to be here.
Another big thing he did in his initial interviews, he mentioned last season’s incredible Play Off comeback and win at Wembley. While yes, that doesn’t have any impact on this season, it does create a certain bond between the fans and manager. Understanding the football club you have walked into is a massive thing and sadly, one I think the previous manager failed to grasp. Understanding the way that the majority of the squad got into this division is important. It wasn’t just a great comeback, it was a defining moment in the recent history of the club. That Peterborough second leg will go down in history as one of the greatest nights in Sheffield Wednesday history. Whoever is in the dugout needs to understand that.

It’s also a good sign that he got stuck in straight away with attending the Under 21’s game at Hillsborough against Sheffield United. It would have been easy after a long day to head back to a hotel and chill out, I’d imagine but attending the game and watching the entertaining 2-2 draw in person is a good sign. Will any of the young lads have caught the eye? Maybe. I think it’s a key area we need to get better at, not just producing players but knowing when to put them in and when maybe to take them out. I’d like to think a conversation has already been had or will be had in the next few days between Neil Thompson and Danny Röhl, even if only brief, about who is where in the set up.

Fixtures Present An Opportunity

I think the first three games of Röhl’s time in charge do give him a chance of a good start. Watford aren’t in great form, Plymouth have hit a sticky patch and Rotherham don’t tend to travel well. Now, I’m fully aware that we could lose all three of those games. That wouldn’t surprise me, but the point remains, it’s a chance of Danny to maybe get an early win under his belt. He, and just as importantly, we all need that win. We’re in a difficult situation, I know some people have already written us off. I don’t think you can do that with thirty-five games of football left to play. So much can change between now and May. If we can go to Sunderland on the final day of the season with a chance, then I’d take it. I genuinely think this squad has more gears to go. The previous manager didn’t get anywhere near enough out of this squad.

Lets Give It Some Time

I don’t think this will be a quick fix. It’d be amazing if there is an instant impact and we could suddenly be winning more than we lose. I think it’ll be a process and we need to understand that and stick with it. A big reason why it unravelled so quickly under the last manager was his poor communication in interviews, refusing to answer questions and a lack of a tactical plan. If Röhl can avoid those pitfalls then he’ll get the time from me. His initial interviews and write ups have been good. I’m fascinated to see how this all plays out. There will be tough moments, he’s a young manager, starting his career and in a different country. Lets give him the time he needs.

Sometimes Patience And Perspective Is Needed

One thing I did notice during the last week since the initial report of Röhl being interviewed was the amount of people who after a few days just gave up on the idea of Röhl and thought it had to be finished because he hadn’t been announced.

If you’re appointing a manager or signing a player from Europe then there is going to be red tape, especially one who has just left the role of Assistant Manager of the German National Team. Add to that the fact he’s bringing in a number of coaches from Germany and the other logistical factors that come with moving countries. It’s just one of those things, the process takes as long as it takes. I think it’s a sad sign of how the club has handled a lot of situations that naturally, people expect the worst. ‘This exciting, progressive, young coach can’t possibly be coming here because of X, Y, Z’, that kind of thing. Always best to wait and see. Always go with trusted sources rather than what ‘some guy’ has said on social media.

So, there we go. Those are my thoughts on the appointment of Danny Röhl. I really really hope it works out for him and for us all. It’s been a tough time after the joy of promotion. It is time to look forward now.

We’ll see how it goes. Willkommen in Hillsborough, Danny.

Thanks for reading,

Tom

WAWAW

Sheffield Wednesday Season Preview 2023/24

 

Well, here we are. Another season is upon us and one in which The Owls return to the Championship. So much for a quiet summer after the fun and games of the Play Offs. A new manager, press conferences and statements, prices debates, rumours of protests. It’s never dull, is it?

This is my first blog in a year. You might ask why I didn’t do one after last season’s preview? Or why I didn’t do one after the Play Off miracle or why not one after Wembley? Well, to tell you the truth, I enjoyed last season probably more than any other season and a lot of what I’d want to say and document had already been said and documented.

I wanted to write one after Peterborough but even now I still can’t quite comprehend what happened that night. I still find myself thinking “did that actually happen?” It was the most surreal night I’ve ever had following this club, for so many reasons.

Wembley is easier. Again, another amazing moment with Windass’ 120+3 winner. But it was Play Off Final. You know the stakes, the significance. It was an amazing day and I loved it and whenever I turned my attention to the idea of doing a blog, I’d just see something that summed it up better. Be it in articles or on social media.

But now to this season. Darren Moore has gone, Xisco Muñoz has arrived. We’ll get to that later. It’s yet another new era at Hillsborough. Let’s take a closer look.

How are we looking?

While a new manager has arrived, the majority of the players are still the same. The same team that achieved 96 points, that won a record amount of away games, that went on the longest unbeaten run in the club’s history and that smashed the clean sheet record. All that can’t be forgotten. Personally I’d say a lot of this squad have something to prove at this level. There are plenty like Josh Windass and Will Vaulks who will feel that they were maybe playing below a more natural standard to get Wednesday promoted. Others maybe have that tag of “Great for League One, not good enough for the Championship”. I think ultimately time will tell on that one.

Pre season has brought about it’s usual mix of inconsistent starting elevens, games against local sides where intensity is lacking, trips abroad where it’s too hot and social media overreacting to anything and everything. I take everything with a pinch of salt personally. You can only ever tell so much from a friendly, good or bad. What I have found interesting is the use of a back four instead of the back three we’ve been used to over the last eighteen months. We’ve played it out more from the back and it’s been clear that it’s something the younger lads seem slightly more comfortable with than the older lads. But again, it’s pre season.

Have we overplayed too much at times? I don’t think so personally. I thought against Luton last weekend we played well. Certainly in the first half an hour. Again, any momentum in the game was stopped by the nature of pre season, the changes that were made gradually. You can see something is coming together. It’s going to take time.

Transfers

After a slow start to the summer in terms of signings, things have heated up since then. Personally I think even if we hadn’t have had the managerial change, we’d have still be one of the clubs doing business in the middle and towards the end of the window. Adding that change in clearly had a big impact and one set of targets changed to another. I don’t want to go into the whole list debate in this blog because I think it’s part of a wider conversation about the owner.

As things stand, Reece James, Juan Delgado, Ashley Fletcher, Pol Valentin, Di’Shon Bernard, Bambo Diaby and Anthony Musaba have all checked in through the door.

James, we all know. I think it was a good deal to get done. He’s useful and can play in a number of different positions. When you look his career he’s one of those who has struggled to hold down a regular place in Championship sides. At Wednesday though he’s certainly found a fanbase that has taken to him and he to them and the club. I have no worries there.

Delgado looked good in his first home 45 minutes against Luton. He looks the type of player who can excite and drive us forward up the pitch which we need if we are going to be playing the way it seems we are.

Ashley Fletcher is an interesting one. Highly talented as a youngster, he excelled in a loan spell at Barnsley that earned him a move to West Ham. A year later he went up to Middlesbrough and had a mixed spell in terms of goalscoring. While his record isn’t amazing overall, that doesn’t take into account the fact that he’s probably not played in the right team or under the right managers to get the best out of him. Xisco signed him at Watford when a lot looked at that move and thought it was an odd one. Clearly Xisco feels he can get something out of him. If he can repeat for us in this loan spell what he did for Middlesbrough in 19/20 (11 in 40) then he’ll have done alright. Sometimes it’s the right club, the right time and the right manager. Take another former Manchester United youngster and ex Owl, Will Keane. Keane didn’t hit double figures for goals until he was 27 (same age as Fletcher is now), season after that he scores 26 in a title winning Wigan team and 12 last season in the Championship. My point here is that late developers still happen in football. I still think Fletcher can be one of them.

Valentin and Musaba, I don’t know much about and won’t pretend to either. Both look interesting signings though and both at good ages as well. We certainly need to sign more players of that profile, early to mid 20’s with the room to develop.

Di’Shon Bernard and Bambo Diaby will add some much needed depth at the back. I think both look to be again, that good profile of age and development. Diaby is no stranger to South Yorkshire having played for Barnsley. Bernard has played at the level before with Hull. I wouldn’t expect either to come in immediately but you never know.

Who Still Needs To Come In?

You could argue we still need a striker and it’s one I’d probably agree with. I think if you’re fully honest about the situation none of Smith, Paterson, Gregory, Windass and Fletcher are likely to be a 20 goal striker for us this season. Not that that is a requirement, if they can all chip in and we can get a good output from the rest of the team then it starts to look a lot more positive. My worry is if we are going with one up front, how many chances will we create and while last season we were excellent and very clinical at times. There were games where we were profligate. You can’t really afford that at the level above.

Another winger would add some much needed depth. We don’t know exactly where Delgado and Valentin will play long term. They could be answers to that particular question.

Another central midfielder would be another sensible addition. Injuries have been an issue in the past in that area of the pitch. Can we rely on Byers over a 46 game season? I’d like to think so but the reality is we do need to add some depth. Liam Palmer’s switch in position in the 2^nd leg of the Play Offs and the final do offer a possible solution here but long term I don’t know if Palmer will play there under Xisco.

The New Manager

After several names did the rounds, Xisco Muñoz, was the man that took the reigns from Darren Moore. A recent promotion winning manager from this division. Not many expected one of those to be heading through the door. Now, don’t get me wrong, that certainly shouldn’t be what he’s judged on here. There are a few things I think you have to acknowledge about Xisco. First of all, like Moore, he’s a young manager. He’s not going to get it all right. He’ll make mistakes, like we all do. Every interview he has done he has been positive and clearly wants to look forward rather than in the past. The fact he knows the division and has had some success in it is key for me.

Some Watford fans have said he’s more of a “vibes” manager than a tactician. I don’t think you can win as many games as he did with them without being alright in the tactics department. Yes I’m aware of the squad they had that season and I know we’re not at that level. But actually being able to motivate players and get the best out of them is something we’ve lacked at this level for a while now. You also have to remember that he’s still a young manager and he was only in his first full year when he took the job at Watford. Everyone is better for three years more experience, aren’t they?

It’s clear he wants his players to have more than one string to their bow. I like that, it’s become a bit of a theme at Wednesday in recent years that players will play out of their natural positions. Famewo at left back on Saturday being the perfect example of this. If you can solve problems on the pitch with the players that are already on there then that suggests a good level of tactical knowledge and coaching ability.

We need stability. Like any manager, I hope Xisco is here a long time. Because it means he’s done a good job. He seems to be a very likeable bloke and I hope the fans take to him. Results, of course, will dictate that in the main.

Expectations

I’ve learned over the years that regardless of what has gone on at Sheffield Wednesday over the summer, some peoples expectations never changed. They’re either eternally optimistic, think we’ll do really well and should be up there or down in the dumps, won’t get out the bottom three all season and will struggle to win many games. You get those who, regardless of who the manager is and what players we have, think we should be right at the top of this league.

I don’t think you can look at this season and not think that survival should be the main aim. It’s a strong Championship on paper. We’ve had a summer of upheaval and there is a general mood around the fan base that suggests it’s had enough for some of the off the field nonsense clouding the club. I’ll probably do another blog about that because I do think the two things are separate. On the pitch I’m more positive but we saw in 20/21 that chaos off the pitch can have a massive effect.

My Prediction

It think it’s fair to say that Sheffield Wednesday are one of the favourites for relegation. I can’t argue against that point. We came up through the Play Offs, we’ve changed manager, we’re gambling on a lot of the signings and there is the previously mention off the field woes.

However, this is still mostly a group of players that achieved 96 points last season. Turned round a 4-0 defect to get to Wembley. Won at Wembley with a last minute winner. Only lost twice at home in all competitions last season. I wouldn’t back against a team that had done all that to go and achieve what needs to be achieved.

It’ll be tough, we will have some tough Saturday afternoons and midweek evenings. It might go all the way to that final day up at Sunderland. But if it does and we come out of it 21^st or above. I’ll be delighted and the aim for the season will have been achieved. I’m sure we’d all love for it to be a much smoother ride than that. I can see it being similar to the last time we came up in 2012/13 where we had a pretty poor first half of the season and a much stronger second half of the season when the team was more settled.

I’ll put a position out there. If we do have a decent start and can maybe avoid too long a settling in process then I think we’ll be fine. I’ll say 20^th. I think we’ll do it. Like I say, I think it’ll be tough. But we didn’t do everything we did in that miracle back in May to chuck it away at the first attempt.

End of the day, nobody really knows. We just have to get behind the lads. They’ll need us this season, of that I have no doubt.

Thanks for reading,

Tom

WAWAW