Liams… Liams everywhere - The Heroes and Villains from Sheffield Wednesday’s Carabao Cup exit against Fulham
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While nobody wants to lose a game of football, cup football is certainly not the bread and butter priority for the Owls this season, so to go out with a fighting performance from a very young side against Premier League opposition isn’t the end of the world.
We took a look at some of the heroes and villains from Craven Cottage…
Liam(s)
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Hide AdIt was quite a successful night for Liams, really. Wednesday started with three Liams on the field in Palmer, Shaw and Waldock, with one leading the team out as captain, one continuing his progression in a new position at centre back and one making a very tidy debut appearance.
Maybe Monk could make a move for Liverpool’s Liam Millar to complete a quartet…
One Liam in particular
It was a big night for young Liam Waldock, who made an impressive first impression after being thrust into the thick of things following a knock to Alex Hunt that meant he had to drop out of the starting XI.
Waldock is a lifelong Owl, has been with the academy since he was eight, and put on a really good showing on his Wednesday debut in the heart of a young side. He became the 1083rd player to play for the club, and didn’t look at all out of place against Premier League opposition.
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Hide AdAlso, he said in his post-match interview, “Obviously I always want to play for Sheffield Wednesday… It’s my club.” – And that’s just lovely.
Some credit for Monk
For me, it’s good to see the Wednesday manager sticking to his guns in terms of trying to get as much of the squad playing to make sure they’re geared up for the bigger task of maintaining their place in the Championship.
Given that they were going up against Premier League opposition it would have been easy for him to scrap the team that beat Rochdale and bring back the Barry Bannans and Izzy Browns, but he didn’t.
Now he’s got a better idea of where is squad is at, and he’s used 25 different players already as he gauges who is – and isn’t – ready to scrap it out in the Championship.
And the villain...
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Hide AdBlasted paperwork! I don’t think I’m the only one who was quite excited to get a look at new signing, Korede Adedoyin, at Craven Cottage.
He travelled with the team to London and was meant to be part of the 18-man squad, but a hold-up in his registration meant that he was sadly left out, and an injury to Alex Hunt meant that the Owls were left with only five on the bench.
Adedoyin has been signed as one for the future, no doubt, but with other teenagers getting a chance already under Monk, it would’ve been good to see what the former Everton youngster is all about.
“Everything is with the EFL. We expected it today right up to lunchtime. We’ve been assured it’s imminent, it’s not the club’s issue it’s the EFL and they’ve told us it’ll be done ASAP.”