Big-name Pulis has brought 'massive' Sheffield Wednesday back into the national consciousness

Ding, ding! Who had six seconds in the ‘massive’ sweepstake at the press unveiling of Tony Pulis on Monday?
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Better yet, who had two seconds marked out before tuning into Craig Gardner’s first interview with the club?

It’s long been a right of passage for new faces at S6, a must-have inclusion to any debut interview and a fun game for all the family; guessing just how long will it take the newbie to describe Sheffield Wednesday as ‘massive’?

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In truth, it’s one that’s grown a little old on some supporters, some of which don’t exactly revel in ‘The Massive’ nickname, which is used by both Wednesdayites at rival fans to poke fun at a club that has been over 20 years outside the top flight.

The fact is that despite all the gags, it is a massive club. Both home and away, it boasts one of the country’s largest fanbases, has a stake in football history that most clubs can only dream of.

And so when Pulis, grin thrust to the side of his face, glint in his eye, rolled out the fan-grabbing line and poked into the ribs of those across the city, he had a point.

“When you look at the football club and in respect to the enormous support they get, you know, no disrespect to Sheffield United, but I think if you got this club into the Premier League it would be the biggest club in Sheffield.

“At the moment we’re not because Sheffield United are.”

New Sheffield Wednesday boss Tony Pulis has attracted national interest in the club.New Sheffield Wednesday boss Tony Pulis has attracted national interest in the club.
New Sheffield Wednesday boss Tony Pulis has attracted national interest in the club.
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The key is in the final sentence. In ways even the most ardent Blade wouldn’t argue against, Sheffield Wednesday are a bigger club than Sheffield United. The problem is, to quote a former Owls player I spoke to later in the week: “It doesn’t f****** matter”. League position is key.

The reality is that for several seasons, interest in Sheffield Wednesday outside the city has been at an all-time low in recent seasons.

A school of thought to suggest the Owls would replace Leeds United as Sky Sports darlings was brushed past early doors – it transpires the place you’re most likely to find them mention the club is on yellow ticker tape and in reference to points deductions.

And covering the club day-to-day for the past 18 months it is evident that national media interest in Wednesday rarely goes beyond the scope of match reports and news updates.

That was until Tony Pulis walked through the door.

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You expect to see a handful of national newspaper journalists on a Zoom call at a manager unveiling, but with Pulis at the wheel, we should expect more crowded press boxes, more interest, more exposure. When the Welshman speaks, people listen.

It flickered in Steve Bruce’s brief time at the club, but for all the nay-saying over Pulis’ style of football, he is a big name. Folk seem to care about what he says. And that brings with it attention.

Again, to more politely paraphrase the outburst of that grumpy former player, ultimately it doesn’t matter. But people are interested in ‘The Massive’ once again. Now, to tackle that league position..

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