Yan Valery, Tayo Adaramola, training camp insight and goalkeepers - Sheffield Wednesday questions answered
We asked Sheffield Wednesday supporters to pose some questions to our man Alex Miller. Here are the answers.
Good evening. This will be published Monday afternoon but I’m writing this deep into Sunday night in what is my 16th hour in Vienna airport. I’m a little delirious and now speak passable German.
For those who haven’t paid attention to the ramblings on social media, the Owls’ flight back to Manchester from Austria, originally scheduled for 10:35am, is most recently targeted for 00:50 and has gone from a pleasant mid-morning journey to a stinking hellhole overnight trip. I obliviously booked onto the same flight - Stoke City are here too - and we’ve all fought this battle together. My enormous thanks to Wednesday for allowing me a pass into the airport lounge.
We’ve spent the week following their efforts on their pre-season training camp on the outskirts of Budapest and followed them to Vienna where they took on Stoke. As these camps always are, it’s been a fascinating week.
Anyway, what about what’s next? We jumped onto social media to gather some questions and are delighted to answer them below - not least because it’ll pass some time. Thanks for subscribing and UTO.
How much can we take from the Stoke result?
Honestly, I’m not sure a great deal can be gleaned from any pre-season result. Teams have been promoted after winless summers and have been relegated having swept all before them. But it did highlight a couple of things.
Personally, I paid little attention to the ‘second half’, with a team of youngsters torn apart by a stronger Stoke side particularly after the substitution of Billy Mitchell. But it does confirm what we already knew; that depth is required in the coming weeks. Henrik all but admitted as much in his post-match and appeared relaxed as to their chances in the market. Let’s see what happens.
What we saw in the first 70 minutes from what looked like a first string was some attacking play that we haven’t seen from a Wednesday side in quite some time; identity, edge and players operating on a wavelength both in and out of possession. Granted, last season was a low bar, but it was very encouraging to see.
The new boys looked good; Louie Barry and Callum Slattery notably. Bringing Mitchell into the heart of things is an exciting prospect and Jordi Liongola could strengthen things on the right. A 2-0 scoreline against strong Championship opposition ultimately felt harsh. But goals are gold and Wednesday could do with more danger up top. There’s time.
Where does the statement leave the hunt for a number nine?
Oh they be hunting. I think a deal for Colby Bishop looks a bit more difficult now and though a cheeky offer at the back end of the window offering to cover wages might work on some level, you’d think other clubs would be able to offer more if he were to become more available. Will check in on that. The Yūki Ōhashi report some weeks ago was one of interest only and never seemed like the most likely deal.
Wednesday have options they are exploring and the plan would be to bring in at least one striker, more ideally, with more to come on the right wing. Clearly the lack of outright spending power directs their business in a certain way but there are ways deals can be done with wage contributions and so on. It’s a vitally important position and - as is the case at every club at this level - getting it right could ultimately be the difference between who-knows-what. There was no sense of panic in conversations we had last week.
What about goalkeepers?
Again, Wednesday are looking to bring in at least one other goalkeeper. I wouldn’t be blown over if they signed two. Names are on short supply as things stand but there is stuff being worked on. Joe Lumley is in the door and looked good in training, he’s confident and vocal and has plenty of experience - I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him start the first league game.
Cam Dawson has been a big, bubbly character on tour and is hugely popular. You can see his positive impact on the camp. At this stage I’m not expecting Wednesday to sign him but the door has been left ajar in things Pedersen has said. From my humble seat, it would be a deal that would make a lot of sense - but would Dawson prefer to go out and be an outright number one?
What’s the craic with Tommi O’Reilly?
Talks were had, there appeared to be progress with Villa but as things stand right here and now I’m not expecting that one to happen. It might be worth stressing that my understanding is that the reasoning has nothing to do with the restrictions - rather a case of progress slowing at the talks stage. It happens.
Another point worth stressing is that not every player Wednesday are going after is reported - between local and national media we don’t often miss out altogether as is the case with most big clubs these days - but things can reveal themselves at a late stage. What is immediately clear is that work is being done behind the scenes and targets are being discussed both in-house and externally. That right-wing spot is one they need to bolster.
What about Yan Valery?
It seemed to everyone involved as if he would almost certainly set sail for the distance, but it seems Wednesday might have a craic at convincing him to stick around. Pedersen alluded to as much in his post-match after Stoke and it would make some sense ultimately - that right side looks a great deal stronger with a player of Valery’s quality. He’s due back in this week.
He’s also a player they could sell to throw more into the wage pot. I would expect to get a clearer view on things in the next week or so but let’s see.
Any additions to the coaching staff?
I’d expect at this stage for Craig Mudd to head back to Manchester City and for a replacement to come in. Background chats are being had with potential incomings in preparation for his exit - though it isn’t signed or sealed just yet as I understand it.
The likes of Giles Coke and Andy Holdsworth stepped into the breach last year and that coaching staff seems such a tight unit and they are popular with the players. The club are looking for coaches in their under-21 and under-18 ranks, which would suggest those two will stay put in the seniors. Pete Shuttleworth and Darryl Flahavan are experienced campaigners. Watching up-close this week, there’s clearly a respect there throughout the staff and their personalities compliment one another.
What about Tayo Adaramola?
This is an interesting one that I’ll look to chase up in the next couple of days. The only line The Star has had on this one so far is that there is an interest there with some of the other guys reporting that they’d prefer a permanent deal. Instinct would say that would remain possible with add-ons and what have you, though without a fee to speak of it could be trickier.
There is a firm understanding that Wednesday are hoping to bring in a new left-back to challenge Max Lowe and provide depth in that area. Adaramola would provide a different style of play and fits the profile. My understanding is that he’d be very open to it.
What was the player reaction to David Storch and co arriving to tour?
Positive. Though there will be an inevitable feeling of the bosses arriving, there seems to be a really relaxed atmosphere building between the club hierarchy and the playing staff and that’s something they’re trying to harness; an ‘all in it together’ feel.
Storch always makes a point of shaking every hand in the room from fully-fledged senior to academy back-up and from manager to chef. His promise to the players and staff in a few talks in the last week has been that he will look to be the best owner he can be and that he expects the same in return. Michael Storch spends a bit of time with Henrik and the coaches and appears relaxed with them, he’s an easy guy to chat to.
The executives arrived later and again threw themselves into the squad feel. Just about everyone had a go at karaoke by all accounts and some of the rumours on what was sung by whom would shock you, including one left-field duet. As said in a previous piece, we’ll leave those to the winds of mystery. All in all, it feels to be running smoothly.
How did that training camp compare to others you’ve covered?
Very similar but also different. The facility was great and far removed from the dated site in Portugal in 2022 when players battled busted air conditioners and the pitch was so dry Darren Moore had stern words with the groundstaff. The hotel was excellent and the spaces great. They took their own chef and it was a really meticulous camp - sessions had been drawn-up weeks and weeks before they even arrived.
I think from time to time some players felt a little ‘cooped-up’ - beyond a coffee shop 20 minutes down the road there’s very little to do in Telki - but after a few days the opportunity was delivered for them to head into Budapest in some downtime and that seemed to relax everyone. Storch laid on a barbecue when he arrived, then there was the bonding event on the last night that seems to have gone down exceptionally well. The camp Danny Röhl led in Germany a couple of years ago was a little bereft of proper downtime and some found it to be very intense.
In terms of feel around the place, it was similar. Footballers ultimately are just lads and there’s always good craic; it’s so much more relaxed than the routine of sticking a microphone under a nose after a tiring away draw. As a journalist, I can’t remember a remotely negative experience with anyone on any of these camps. Henrik and his staff were very approachable - he took time out to explain their training methods to us at stages which I’ve never experienced before - and folk were generous with their time. It’s a really positive exercise for everyone.
And finally... who would be your three dream festival headliners?
An interesting question. As far as I’m concerned there wasn’t a single acceptable answer in the video the club put out of players answering this query last week and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
Are we talking at their peak or right here and now? At their peak I’m going Oasis, the Beatles and Bowie to headline. Stone Roses and REM can support with Stevie Wonder. Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, Arctic Monkeys and Frank Sinatra also on the bill. It’s an eclectic festival.
Right here and now I’m calling on Oasis, The Libertines and I’ll chuck in Reverend and the Makers, partly in the hope Jon sees this and will sort me a couple of tickets to their gig at Leeds Beckett Students Union on November 16.