The argument for keeping long-serving Sheffield Wednesday pair who will split opinion
A busy summer of recruitment is expected at Sheffield Wednesday
‘We need a clear out,’ is a common phrase used by fans of any club just relegated.
Normally, falling through the trap door creates a lot of anger and supporters want blood. They demand the removal of those who, in their eyes, have stunk the place out. Although, in fairness, there is not much to clear out at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls have got an opportunity for a fresh start built on exciting young talent. New heroes to celebrate. They need some youthful assets, for sure. Players they can develop, enjoy success with and then sell on for profit. But I am going to make a case for keeping a couple of older individuals whom some people would seemingly prefer to see leave. Some will think their time is up and that it is best that they move on.
In my previous role, I was lucky enough to interview four-time title-winning manager Paul Cook on a weekly basis. Someone with a reputation for building clubs up from the bottom. He often spoke about the importance of continuity, consistency and habits. As a manager, you don’t really want to sign 15 to 20 players in one summer. You want to add steadily each transfer window and build over time.
Obviously, managers rarely get the chance to do that. They talk about needing at least three windows to reshape a squad and some don’t even last three weeks or three months. If you were Henrik Pedersen, you could understand why he might see the benefits in keeping long-serving pair Liam Palmer and Dominic Iorfa, for example. Two players who probably split opinion. Supporters might be torn on their futures. But if you have a load of new faces coming in at once, you need players who already know what the club is about, the culture, and are vastly experienced. They also have promotions from League One on their CVs.
Wednesday are not going to turn this ship fully around in a few months. If you were Pedersen, you would want the likes of Palmer and Iorfa to set the standards, run the dressing room and lean on their experience of the division. They don’t have to start every game. But they would be worth having around. Every manager has used them, which says a lot. There is a lot of know-how there to tap into, including for the new owners. A squad does not always have to be made up of the best players, it is about the overall package, the team.
Perhaps it would be a totally different discussion had Wednesday still been in the Championship but I think with a wave of change coming at Hillsborough a bit of continuity will be vital.