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It is time for The Yorkshire Post to bring you a summer update for some of our White Rose clubs and how well – or otherwise – they are preparing for the 2025-26 EFL campaign.
This week, Leon Wobschall and Stuart Rayner join host Mark Singleton to focus on the NINE Championship and League One teams that will be in action next season.
It has been a messy summer for a number of our clubs, most notably Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City and while Barnsley, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United will all be looking to recover from a poor second half to the 2024-25 season, their task will be made even harder by the arrival of two Yorkshire rivals from League Two in the shape of Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City.
Plus how will new faces in the dugout at Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield affect those club’s hopes of enjoying a promotion year?
This week, Leon Wobschall and Stuart Rayner join host Mark Singleton to focus on the NINE Championship and League One teams that will be in action next season.
It has been a messy summer for a number of our clubs, most notably Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City and while Barnsley, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United will all be looking to recover from a poor second half to the 2024-25 season, their task will be made even harder by the arrival of two Yorkshire rivals from League Two in the shape of Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City.
Plus how will new faces in the dugout at Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield affect those club’s hopes of enjoying a promotion year?
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Football Talk from the Yorkshire Post,
00:15where we will be discussing some of the latest talking points from the world of football with members of our football writing team.
00:20On this week's episode, we're joined by Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Stuart Rayner,
00:24and Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Neil Moffall, to discuss all of the latest developments affecting our local clubs.
00:29Don't forget you can keep up to date with all the football news across Yorkshire and beyond
00:33by logging on to our website at yp.sport at nationalworld.com,
00:37as well as checking out our various Twitter feeds, the main one being at YPSport.
00:42If you search for Yorkshire Post Sport, Yorkshire Post Football, or even Sheffield Sport on Facebook, you can find us there as well.
00:48And if you have any questions for our writers, you can get in touch using those various Twitter or Facebook pages,
00:53or email us directly with the subject matter as footballtalkpodcast at yp.sport at nationalworld.com.
01:00Yorkshirepost.co.uk
01:02As mentioned earlier in the intro, this week we're joined by Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Stuart Rayner,
01:07and Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Leon Wobshall. Good morning, guys.
01:10Morning.
01:11Hello.
01:12Morning.
01:13This season may be a little while away yet, but we still do have a number of things to discuss and see how they could impact our teams here in Yorkshire.
01:22So let's start this episode by looking at Huddersfield Town.
01:25And I wanted to ask you both about how you expect them to approach this season as they just seem to sort of lose steam as the last season came to a close,
01:35which meant that they missed out on the playoffs, Leon.
01:38I think losing steam is putting it pretty politely really, wasn't it? It was more sort of dropped off a cliff really.
01:44It was, yeah, of all the sort of look at the Yorkshire stories from last season and it was a particularly disappointing one at Huddersfield, wasn't it?
01:52I mean, they were, I remember doing the game at Wickham in early January and they won there and everything looked rosy.
01:59You know, we were talking about finishing in, you know, going for automatic promotion.
02:04There looked a bit of a window there.
02:06But yeah, a dreadful drop off.
02:08And yeah, I mean, they've met a, they've been quite early in the recruitment, which I think is a good thing.
02:15They, I think as much as sort of the qualities of the player, they need to sort of rebuild the identity of that, that sort of playing squad.
02:24And obviously there's, they've lost quite a few senior players.
02:30It's probably the sort of makeover that maybe they needed probably the summer before, but obviously a lot of players were senior players were still under contract.
02:39They've had the chance to sort of freshen up the squad.
02:42So, but as much as, I mean, there's obviously been deficiencies in terms of certainly the back four, they're pretty much building a new look back line really.
02:52And that's something they've had to, had to address. But for me, the interesting thing is just getting that sort of togetherness, that mentality, that durability, all those sort of things.
03:00The terrier spirit we've spoken about, how Huddersfield teams in the past have all sort of had that.
03:06They sort of lost their way in that regard in the second half of last season.
03:11I think as well, getting some players in who've got a, got a pretty good record in terms of availability.
03:17Cause they had hellish problems, didn't they, last season, but it wasn't just sort of three or four players being injured.
03:22You know, at some point there were, you know, eight, nine, 10, maybe even more players being out for a variety of reasons.
03:28So as much as it's the sort of quality of the player, I think there's, you know, other things that have been important, the mentality, the durability.
03:38And, you know, on paper, they've made some, I don't know what Stuart thinks, they've made some good sort of league one ready is the three signings.
03:46They've, they've brought in some players who know, who know the level, who've done well.
03:51Joe Lowe, I watched him at Wickham against Huddersfield and against Rotherham last season.
03:57He's a big, strong, commanding centre-half, played a lot of games, the sort of player that, that maybe been missing.
04:07They've obviously let Matty Pearson go and Tom Lees.
04:10Rodinho Ball could have signed in for a bit of money a year or two ago, but his, his availability record isn't, isn't sort of, isn't sort of the best.
04:19I think Murray Wallace is a decent signing. Second time around, he can, he can sort of play in a three and he can play in a back four.
04:26He sort of offers versatility. I've seen a bit of Watmo as well.
04:31If they can keep him in, you know, injury freeze, he's been promoted twice with Wigan and did pretty well at Preston.
04:40Ryan Ledson's a good signing, but I think more of it is just sort of building a, got to build a new look side,
04:48but building the sort of resilience and sort of, you know, getting that mentality and that sort of togetherness back, really.
04:56I mean, the quick jot down the figures, you know, they really did drop off last season.
05:01They lost eight of the last nine games. They lost 12 of the last 15.
05:05You know, it was, it was a horrendous finish to the season.
05:08So I just hope there's not, I mean, you just hope that it won't be any, surely it can't be any worse to start to the new season.
05:15And they will need a few results early on. I mean, the interesting one is to start the season against Leighton Orient.
05:21They finished the last season against them at home. They got hammered and pretty much most of the fans were only really there because Jonathan Hogg was saying goodbye.
05:30I think if it wasn't for that, there would have hardly been anybody there, to be honest.
05:33So hopefully it can psychologically show that they've sort of turned things.
05:38That might be quite an important game in that regard. But I think there's going to have to be a little bit of, a little bit of patience.
05:47It's a new look side sort of coming together, getting those relationships and combinations in the back four, which can take a little bit of time.
05:55And yeah, you just hope with the pre-season as well, obviously spent big money in January bringing in Joe Taylor up front, never quite happened for him.
06:04He had an injury early on, which didn't, you know, that's the last thing you need is a new player and you've, you've got a big price to come around your neck.
06:11And Dion Charles as well, he had a really tough time, didn't he, for, for all manner of reasons.
06:16You just hope that, you know, bending them in into a, into a pre-season, new season, new, new start for them, because they'll have a bit of a, you know, they'll have been eager to turn the page after a, you know, really difficult second half of last season.
06:29Difficult when you're, when you're a new player coming in as well and, and, um, form drops off a cliff and the fans were obviously really, you know, increasingly grumpy as the season went on.
06:39And it wasn't, um, I don't, it wasn't a particularly nice place to play football.
06:43So, yeah, I just hope they can get a few early results for their own wellbeing, but I think it will take a little bit of time to gel there.
06:50Yeah, I think, you know, they, they won't, excuse me, they won't be the only club we talk about in that respect, but they, they just need a bit of freshness about them.
06:58Yeah.
06:59More than anything else.
07:00And, you know, Leon quite rightly, excuse me, quite rightly used the phrase league one ready for, for some of these players.
07:06Yeah.
07:07I think the important thing as well is that they're, they're league grants ready.
07:10You know, they're players identified who can play league grants style of football.
07:14And, and I think they, I think they just needed that churn this, um, this summer, you know, there's, there's been players let go who've served put his field quite well in the past.
07:24You know, uh, Leon's mentioned Jonathan Hobbs obviously being a great servant for them, but it just felt like it needed, it got to that stage where it just needed new faces.
07:33It just needed a fresh approach. And of course, the summer's the time to do it. You know, we see managers coming in October, November, January, expected to take the team in a different direction, but it's a lot easier if you've got a preseason to work on things.
07:46And as Leon says, if, if, if that's the way you're going, then getting players in early is important. They've been good in that respect.
07:54Um, Lee Grant's taken on a lot of responsibility. I think when this, when the summer started, we were expecting him to be the coach and, uh, sorry, a new coach and a new director of football.
08:05He's really taken the lead when it comes to recruitment, which is a, it's, it's kind of an eggs in one basket approach, but I think it's a positive approach that you, you know, you've got players who the manager, you know, he can see where he fits into how he plays rather than having to crowbar in somebody who the club, the club rates, maybe even the manager rates, but doesn't quite fit into that system and all that sort of thing.
08:30So I think there's lots of reasons to be positive as Leon says, it's going to need some patience.
08:35There will be a wobble along the way, whether it's immediately or, or down the line, but I think it, I think it should just be hopefully just an optimistic start to the season.
08:47You know, you turn up new players, new coach, new backroom staff, new kids, you know, even probably bits of the stadium tarted up a bit.
08:56So it just, it just feels a bit different. And the whole mood in that place needs to feel different because as Leon says, it was a difficult place to play at the back end of last season.
09:05And after sort of years of, you know, steady decline, there was just that one, really that one Carlos Colbert season was the exception to the rule of relegation battle upon relegation battle, you know, change of manager upon change of manager.
09:19It just needs to feel fresh and new. And I think it will, obviously, you know, that's only part of the equation.
09:27You need the results to back it up, but if they can start with that optimism, you know, you know, we've seen in the past, it can, it can take teams a long way.
09:35So, so I'm, yeah, I'm hopeful that, that they're moving in the right direction. And, you know, what, what exactly a good season represents for Huddersfield in terms of whether they, you know, there'll be a lot of pressure from the owner, I imagine, once things get going to, to be pushing for promotion.
09:56But exactly what a good season represents, I'm not 100% sure, but I'm confident that they can have one and that this can, this can be the start of them moving in a, you know, more positive direction.
10:09Yeah, you just hope they can keep their heads down a little bit. I mean, there possibly could be a school of thought where some supporters are thinking, well, you know, we've got rid of, we've got rid of Wrexham, Birmingham aren't there too, extensively backed and, you know, you know, well-mullied side with some really talented players.
10:26They're out of the way. Well, you know, we can sort of come through. It's not going to be easy, you know, as easy as that. Just speaking about the reasons, you know, and the numbers that Huddersfield, Huddersfield had, I mean, they were really sort of alarming and, you know, worrying numbers.
10:42And it's, it's, it's not just going to be a case of flicking the switches, is it really? They've obviously bought some, some pretty good signings on paper. And I don't think by this, from what I can gather, there's too much else to do really.
10:53They're still in the market for one or two players. Lyndon Gooch, you, you probably know a bit about Stuart from, yeah, the time at Sunland.
11:01He's, he's obviously decent calibre and I think they like the lad at Bolton as well, Thomas. And, you know, he's a decent, decent player at that level as, as well.
11:11So, you know, one or two pieces of business to do that they're sort of, I think they're more ahead of quite a few clubs, really, certainly a few in the, in the region.
11:21But, you know, it just, it just takes, it takes time to, to sort of, everything to gel together.
11:29And it's, you know, it's a hard league, you know, you'll soon get into the autumn and, you know, you get in a fair few sort of three game weeks, that sort of thing.
11:36Obviously, Grant's, you know, he's got, he's got a good CV in terms of the clubs he's, he's already worked with coaching wise.
11:43But he's a number one now, isn't he? And it's, it brings a different sort of pleasure.
11:47So I just hope there's a little bit of, a little bit of, obviously, they're going to be entitled to be positive from the business that they've done Huddersfield.
11:55It's been decent business, but I hope it's tempered with a little bit of realism as well.
11:59And maybe the owner can keep his head down a little bit as well.
12:03I mean, having, having spoken to Grant when he, when he first arrived, I think even he's going to be driving that expectation.
12:08He wasn't downplaying the ambition and that sort of thing.
12:11So they'll need good characters as well.
12:13And, you know, Leon mentioned Gooch, let's say I covered up a lot of his career at Sunderland.
12:19I think people like him, Ledson, what more, you know, good characters, players, to use a phrase, Leon likes players with wool on their backs, you know,
12:27players who should be able to deal with that expectation and hopefully ride it.
12:32And that's going to be important too.
12:33It's not, it's not simply a case of just getting a load of young, impressionable lads and moulding a team out of that.
12:42It's because of that difficult environment to play in that it's been, and understandably so.
12:48And yeah, they do, they do need some good characters.
12:50And it seems like that's been part of the thinking in the recruitment.
12:54So that's another reason for lots of this, I think.
12:56That's a new leader they've got to will merge, haven't they?
12:58I mean, the people who've left, you know, Hog, we can speak about Lees and Pearson.
13:04Obviously, it wasn't the best season for a lot of the senior players last season,
13:07but there's still sort of leaders in the dressing room and big voices.
13:10There's obviously a vacuum there for people who have got to come in there and step up and put their hand up.
13:17And I think that was possibly a bit of a theme in the recruitment so far.
13:20And I think certainly defensively, well, getting a bit more physicality in as well.
13:24I mentioned Lowe and, you know, Watmore's a big, strong lad who seems to be comfortable with the aerial stuff.
13:32So I think that's been a bit of a strand of the recruitment as well, certainly defensively.
13:37Wallace as well.
13:38I think Spencer going is a setback in terms of the leadership side,
13:43because even though he's a young lad, he looked like a future captain.
13:46But it's that kind of era that, yes, these people move on,
13:50and now it's time for the people to step up.
13:52And sometimes, you know, a figure like, figures like Hogg and Lees moving on
13:56can just bring other people out of their shell, and that's what Huddersfield needs to see.
14:00Yeah, I mean, it seems, I agree with you, actually.
14:02He offers versatility as well, and he's, for a young lad,
14:06you look at the amount of games he's played for Northern Ireland,
14:08and he's had a fair bit of responsibility just on his shoulders.
14:12But, you know, all the noises we get in there,
14:14as he was spoken to quite a number of times about a new deal,
14:17and he's made it play and that he wanted to go into the Championship.
14:20And I think Huddersfield did the right thing there, didn't he?
14:23I mean, he's a young lad.
14:25He's got a year left on his contract.
14:26Get a little bit of money back.
14:27And if he's not fully committed, sort of, you know,
14:30emotionally to the challenge ahead, it's better to cash in.
14:33Absolutely, yeah.
14:35Now, we've covered Huddersfield Town,
14:37but let's now have a general chat about how you both see things playing out
14:43for the rest of our teams in League One
14:45and what they need to do in order to have a chance
14:48to having a good season this year,
14:51seeing as there's been a fair few changes for our teams in this division, Stuart.
14:56Yeah, well, I think, really,
14:58A, it's going to be an exciting division for us in Yorkshire this season,
15:03just because of the sheer number of teams,
15:05but also, you know, the way they come into this season.
15:07And I think, really, they're in two groups.
15:10There's the teams who were already in League One,
15:14Huddersfield, Rotherham and Barnsley.
15:16And they're all in that position that we just talked about
15:19with regards to Huddersfield.
15:21All rebuilding, all need a bit of freshness,
15:24all sort of lost a bit of their way,
15:27a bit of their mojo in recent years.
15:29All got first-time managers,
15:31which kind of adds to that freshness feel.
15:33The difference with Barnsley and Rotherham
15:34is that they're two got a little taste a bit
15:37in the back end of last season.
15:38But really, that was just a bit of a recce for them.
15:41This is the quiz for them.
15:44This is when it really starts.
15:46And then you've got the other group.
15:47You've got Bradford and Doncaster,
15:50who their sort of optimism comes from the fact
15:52that they're coming in on the back of a promotion.
15:55And, you know, it's a difficult...
15:59We say this so many times on this podcast,
16:02it's a difficult division with League One.
16:03It's still going to be a difficult division,
16:05even with those teams that Leon's talked about
16:07dropping out of it.
16:10So we probably shouldn't put too much expectation
16:12on Bradford and Doncaster's shoulders.
16:14But, you know, we've seen from Wrexham and Ipswich,
16:20they've probably had a bit more money behind them,
16:22but the teams can keep going on that upward curve
16:25and that's what they'll be looking to do.
16:27I mean, you know, for Bradford,
16:29obviously having had six years of frustration
16:32in League Two, I guess the hope is
16:35it's a bit like a bottle of pot
16:37that's just been shaken for six years
16:39and finally the lid's going to come off
16:40and this is going to be it.
16:42I don't think it's going to be quite that spectacular.
16:44And then obviously Doncaster actually won the thing.
16:47You know, Bradford sort of scraped up
16:50in the very last minute of the season.
16:52Doncaster won the title,
16:53so they have good reason for promotion.
16:55Both of those clubs have got business done early.
16:58That's really good.
16:58I mean, that's been a real habit of Doncaster's,
17:01but I think that gives you such a help
17:03if you've just got that extra time
17:05to get your ideas together.
17:07So I think for all five of them in different ways,
17:10I think there should be lots of positivity.
17:13I'm a little bit surprised that Rotherham
17:16haven't done a bit more business,
17:18but maybe that's just, you know,
17:22a big thing for them, for Barnsley for Huddersfield
17:25is about changing the culture
17:26and maybe Matt Hamshaw thinks that he can get more,
17:29you know, sufficiently more out of these players
17:32simply by changing the culture.
17:34I mean, you know, decisions like moving on Johnson Clark-Harris.
17:38I think that was a fairly important thing for them to do.
17:41A big culture thing, isn't it?
17:42You know, we talked about Huddersfield
17:43moving on senior players.
17:45That, again, was a manager putting his marker down.
17:47This is fresh.
17:48I need new leaders to emerge.
17:51You know, in terms of Barnsley,
17:54but, you know, they pulled off a great signing
17:55in David McGoldrick,
17:57who, you know, is knocking on now,
17:59but he's still got it.
18:00You know, I saw him at Valley Parade
18:03at the back end of last season
18:04and it's all still there.
18:06And again, he's another one
18:08who can drive that culture
18:10and drive that attitude.
18:11And I think that's a big thing for those three.
18:17For the other two,
18:18it's really about riding the wave,
18:20but all of them have got lots of reason
18:23to go into it positive.
18:24I was speaking to a Bradford supporting friend of mine
18:28the other day who was saying
18:29how difficult it is already to get tickets
18:31for Valley Parade for the first few months of the season.
18:34I mean, that's a really good sign.
18:36That's a sign that, you know,
18:37this positive wave can continue.
18:40And that's all these clubs need, really,
18:42is just a positive autumn time
18:45and then see where it can go from there.
18:48But it's good to see that a lot of them
18:50have got their ducks in the line early on
18:52and, you know, can get a lot of work done
18:55so that they can hit the ground running.
18:57Because if any of them do get off to a bad start,
19:01there's going to be doubts creep in.
19:02You know, the first-time managers at these clubs,
19:05can they cut it?
19:06Clubs in a new division, can they cut it?
19:08But I'd say if they can continue this positivity,
19:12then who knows where it can take them.
19:14Yeah, it's been a little bit slower, hasn't it,
19:15in terms of recruitment for Barnsley and Rotherham.
19:20I think the thing with Rotherham is
19:21I obviously sort of remind you,
19:25a bit of years ago when Steve Gibson said
19:27we're going to smash the division,
19:28there was a bit of an element,
19:29felt like there's a little bit of an element of that
19:31with Rotherham last summer.
19:34Obviously, Steve Evans came back,
19:36you know, about his promotion record before
19:38and, you know, they made a hell of a lot of signage,
19:42didn't they, in the first half of the summer
19:44and, you know, some striking deals as well.
19:46But it never sort of happened for them
19:50and, you know, quite a lot of players as well.
19:51Senior players who are possibly on decent money
19:54and it will be difficult to move on
19:56if it didn't happen for them
19:59and it certainly didn't.
20:01And I imagine that Clark Harris
20:02was on decent money as well
20:03and obviously they've sort of
20:06effectively come to an agreement
20:08and paid him off.
20:09That will, you know,
20:11I think they've obviously got
20:11just a couple in at a minute.
20:13Maybe moving on,
20:14Clark Harris might free up a little bit of
20:16a little bit of the budget,
20:18potentially one or two as well.
20:20But they need a few in Rotherham, don't they?
20:23You know, you look across the pitch,
20:25they've obviously lost the likes of Humphys
20:27who they were keen on keeping
20:29and a Dauphin as well
20:30who's gone to Luton.
20:32They're making some good signings, Luton.
20:34They've obviously signed Nacky Wells as well.
20:37So, yeah, work to do for Rotherham.
20:39I think it was always going to be a case
20:40of just waiting for things to happen
20:42regarding, you know,
20:44one or two players sort of leaving
20:45to free up a little bit
20:47given the fact that they obviously
20:49spent a hell of a lot
20:50sort of last season
20:51and it didn't work for them.
20:52And, yeah, with Barnsley,
20:54I mean, the chairman spoke
20:55in the spring, didn't he?
20:58He mentioned in the sort of
20:59seven-figure money injection of equity
21:04that they're pumped in
21:05to sort of keep the club
21:06you know, keep the club
21:08sort of on a sound footing
21:11and he's made no bones
21:12about the fact that
21:13they're going to be looking
21:14to sort of balance the books really.
21:17So it's been pretty sort of
21:20pretty slowish there.
21:23I think there's still reasonable confidence
21:25at Barnsley that
21:25the sort of free agent market
21:28there's some good options there
21:30and also in the low market as well.
21:33You know, you'd expect
21:34one of the midfielders
21:36maybe to go there.
21:37There's been obviously
21:38publicised interest in Luke O'Connell
21:40from Wickham
21:41and from what led to believe
21:44there's other interests as well.
21:46Adam Phillips as well.
21:47He's the sort of player
21:47that you could maybe imagine,
21:50you know, teams at the bottom end
21:51of the championship
21:52or maybe the ones
21:54who are spending money
21:55in League One.
21:56They might have a little nibble
21:57for him as we get towards
22:00the end of the window.
22:02We'll have to see.
22:02But, you know,
22:03it looks like if one of those
22:04sort of,
22:06maybe even John Russell
22:07might come into the equation,
22:08one of those players
22:08that might free up a little bit
22:10for Barnsley to do
22:11one or two other things as well.
22:13The only little fear
22:13with Barnsley
22:14is if someone has,
22:15for me,
22:15is if somebody comes in
22:16towards the end of the window
22:18for Davies Keeler Dunn.
22:20Yeah.
22:20And they sort of,
22:22my fear a little bit
22:23is if they sort of lose him,
22:25you know,
22:26towards the end of the window,
22:27it potentially might not
22:29give them enough time
22:30to get in a replacement.
22:31I mean,
22:31they've obviously got in
22:32McGoldrick,
22:33right?
22:34Obviously,
22:34the idea is for both of them
22:35sort of,
22:37you know,
22:37play together.
22:38You could have McGoldrick
22:38could play behind you.
22:40Keeler Dunn could sort of
22:41play more as a conventional
22:43forward
22:44and maybe
22:44hold McGoldrick
22:46a bit behind.
22:47So that's my little bit
22:48of a fear
22:49with Barnsley.
22:51I think themselves
22:52and Rotherham,
22:52they've just got to,
22:53you know,
22:54we're talking about
22:54getting some
22:55identity togetherness
22:58and durability.
23:00You know,
23:00that's what both
23:02those sides need as well.
23:03I mean,
23:03Barnsley's home form
23:04was horrendous,
23:05wasn't it,
23:05last season?
23:06I think they only won
23:07five or six games.
23:09Rotherham's away form
23:10has been lamented
23:11for God knows
23:12how many times
23:13by myself
23:14and Stuart
23:15on this before.
23:16So there are two
23:16obvious areas
23:18that they need
23:18to improve.
23:20So,
23:20yeah,
23:21I think they've still
23:21got one or two things
23:22to,
23:24incoming pieces
23:25of business
23:25to,
23:25key pieces
23:26to sign off.
23:28Sign off,
23:29hopefully.
23:29Yeah,
23:29a bit more optimistic,
23:30isn't it?
23:31The others,
23:31as Stuart said,
23:34you know,
23:34bringing in players,
23:36you know,
23:36nice and early.
23:37I think
23:38the interesting one
23:39with Bradford
23:40and another player,
23:41you know,
23:41pretty well,
23:42Stuart,
23:42Max Power,
23:43he's got big
23:44shoots to fill
23:45there,
23:45hasn't he,
23:46in coming in
23:47for Richie Smallwood.
23:48It was a big call,
23:50you know,
23:51by Bradford
23:52in that regard
23:54to allow Smallwood
23:55to leave,
23:56given what he's done.
23:57But,
23:58you know,
23:58he's got proven
23:59calibre power,
24:00hasn't he?
24:00He's done well
24:02at the likes of
24:03Wigan and
24:04Sunderland.
24:05He's a good leader
24:07as well,
24:07which is obviously
24:08needed to replace
24:09Smallwood.
24:10It was ruthless,
24:11but it kind of
24:13put a marker down,
24:14didn't it,
24:14that we mean business?
24:15Yeah,
24:16absolutely.
24:17I mean,
24:17it's important
24:19if they were going
24:19to get rid of Smallwood
24:21to get somebody
24:21of that calibre
24:22in pretty quickly
24:23and they did.
24:24They were pretty
24:25decisive in doing it.
24:26Obviously,
24:27the director of
24:29football operation,
24:30David Sharp,
24:31knows him very well
24:32from his time
24:32at Wigan,
24:36wasn't it,
24:36when he was also
24:38chairman.
24:39I'm interested in signing
24:39as well,
24:40Stephen Humphries.
24:40I mean,
24:40he was quite keen
24:43on keeping him,
24:43Connor Horan,
24:44by all accounts.
24:46I mean,
24:46I think he'll offer
24:48some sort of flexibility
24:49to Bradford
24:50in that front line.
24:51I mean,
24:51he's spoken before,
24:52Humphries is a big,
24:53strong lad,
24:54but he's not really
24:54a number nine,
24:55is he?
24:55I think he prefers
24:56sort of playing
24:57on the left,
24:58running at defences.
25:00I think that's a decent
25:01signing for Bradford
25:03and obviously,
25:05Swan as well up front
25:07and they've got
25:07Andy Cook
25:08to hopefully he'll be
25:09back in the fray
25:10in the autumn
25:14and yeah,
25:15Doncaster,
25:16it's,
25:17yeah,
25:17they've had obviously
25:18one or two deficiencies
25:20in terms of who
25:20they lost in defence.
25:22Obviously,
25:23Joe Ollawa
25:23and Tom Anderson
25:24went and obviously
25:25Richard Wood
25:26retired.
25:28I think Matty Pearson
25:29is a good signing
25:29for them.
25:30Stuart,
25:30I don't know
25:31what you think.
25:31I think he needed
25:32a change,
25:33didn't he?
25:33He definitely.
25:34He'd had a few years
25:35at Huddersfield
25:38and I think
25:38he needed a move
25:40and he'll offer
25:42that sort of
25:43League One
25:44sort of savvy
25:45and sort of leadership
25:48that will certainly
25:50come in handy
25:50for Doncaster.
25:51But yeah,
25:52there's a sense
25:52of newness
25:52for them
25:53and Bradford,
25:53isn't there?
25:54Yeah.
25:54I just hope that Bradford,
25:55I mean,
25:55the home form was excellent.
25:57It would be nice
25:59if they could get
26:00a few church
26:00off early on
26:01but equally,
26:02they're away for them
26:02as well.
26:03That was a bit
26:04of a problem,
26:04wasn't it,
26:04last season?
26:06If they've not gone up,
26:07we'd be talking
26:07about that a lot,
26:08wouldn't they?
26:08Yeah,
26:09yeah.
26:09So I just think,
26:11I think it's a little
26:11bit jewelfold for Bradford.
26:13They need to get
26:15a few wins
26:15in front of those
26:16amazing home crowds
26:17to get to sort of
26:18buoy the confidence
26:19a little bit
26:20and sort of carry
26:21on the momentum
26:22from last season.
26:23But equally,
26:23it'd be nice,
26:24wouldn't it,
26:24if they could just
26:26nick a winner,
26:27winner two in August
26:28and September
26:28on the road
26:29just to sort of
26:31add to the
26:32sort of sense
26:34of well-being
26:35and Doncaster as well.
26:36But I think it's just
26:36great for them as well,
26:37isn't it?
26:37You look at Bradford,
26:39they've got a derby,
26:40a big derby again
26:41with Huddersfield,
26:42they've not played
26:42for 19 years
26:44in the league.
26:45Doncaster as well,
26:46renewing acquaintances
26:47with the two sides
26:48who probably it's fair
26:50to say they like to beat
26:51more than any other,
26:53probably,
26:53I'd probably say
26:54Rotherham just above
26:56Barnsley
26:57for the majority
26:58of Doncaster fans.
26:59So yeah,
26:59it's just great,
27:00isn't it,
27:00for them when they
27:01look at that,
27:01when it starts,
27:03they'll look at those
27:04fixtures and
27:05some mouth-watering
27:06fixtures for them
27:07and games for the
27:08supporters to really
27:09embrace.
27:10I think for Doncaster
27:12and Bradford,
27:12excuse me,
27:13after the season
27:14they have,
27:14you're kind of
27:15in the luxury of,
27:16right,
27:16we've got this
27:17that works,
27:18we just need
27:18upgrades,
27:19we just need
27:19light for light.
27:20So Doncaster
27:22lose Tom Anderson
27:23and Richard Wood,
27:23right,
27:24we need another
27:24leader,
27:25we need another
27:26no-nonsense centre,
27:27let's go and get
27:27Matthew Pearson.
27:28You know,
27:28Bradford,
27:29we need another
27:30captain,
27:31we need another
27:31central midfielder
27:33who can dominate
27:34things,
27:35right,
27:35we'll go for
27:35Max Power sort
27:36of thing.
27:37For Barnsley
27:38and in particular,
27:41their squad's been
27:41built around about
27:42three for so many
27:43years,
27:43now Conor Horan's
27:44going to play
27:44with wingers and
27:45things.
27:45Wingers,
27:46yeah,
27:46they need
27:46wingers.
27:47They need that
27:48churn of players,
27:49don't they?
27:49That's the worry.
27:50I suppose with
27:51Rotherham,
27:53it might be a case
27:54of playing a
27:55similar formation
27:56to the way
27:56Steve Evans played,
27:58but doing things
27:58a bit better.
27:59So maybe it's
28:00kind of more of a
28:01priority for Barnsley
28:02than Rotherham
28:03to have that
28:04turnover of players,
28:05but that's kind of
28:06why you'd like to
28:07see that a bit more.
28:08But again,
28:08it's the reality
28:09of the transfer window.
28:11Those clubs can't
28:12always be at the
28:13front of the queue.
28:13Sometimes you have
28:14to wait for the
28:15clubs to do their
28:15business.
28:16I think in fairness
28:17quickly with Barnsley
28:18as well,
28:19they haven't done
28:20too much business
28:21as obviously this
28:22podcast is coming
28:23out,
28:24but in effect
28:24you'd hope
28:26they've got two
28:27new signings as
28:28such.
28:29Obviously Jack
28:30Shepard's come
28:30back after an
28:32excellent loan
28:32spell at Bradford.
28:34He was really
28:35embraced by the
28:36supporters there
28:36and played a lot
28:37of football matches
28:38and part of a
28:39promotion winning
28:40side.
28:41He was one of
28:41Bradford's top
28:43players last season
28:44and obviously the
28:45young lad as
28:46well,
28:46Yogan Nathan,
28:47who had a really
28:49eye-catching and
28:51rewarding loan
28:52spell with Oldham,
28:53a big football club
28:54in the National
28:55League and helped
28:56them to get over
28:58the line and get
28:59back to the
29:00Football League.
29:01I watched a little
29:01bit of him in the
29:02playoffs and he was
29:03very good,
29:04admittedly,
29:05at National League
29:07level,
29:07but he did catch the
29:08eye for me in both
29:10the games against
29:11Halifax and York,
29:14wasn't it?
29:15Perhaps he's now
29:17ready to step up
29:18and compete and
29:21put his hand up for
29:23a regular run in
29:24the bars this
29:25side because he
29:25certainly looked
29:26apart from what I
29:27saw at Oldham
29:28and he looked to
29:28be ready for me.
29:30Those two could
29:32come into the mix
29:34and certainly help
29:36Conor Horan in that
29:38regard.
29:40And now in the
29:41Championship, I
29:42wanted to discuss
29:42the challenge that
29:44is facing Ruben
29:45Sellers at
29:45Sheffield United,
29:47who will want to
29:48go one step further
29:49than last season in
29:50game promotion to
29:51the top flight.
29:52What do you think
29:53will be top of his
29:54to-do list to ensure
29:56that he can hit that
29:57target, Leon?
29:59We'll keep a few
30:00of the key players,
30:01I think.
30:01They've obviously
30:01lost Sousa, who's
30:04a big player.
30:05Stuart will go on
30:07to speak about
30:07a bit more of
30:09Sheffield United
30:10than I did, but
30:10he was a big
30:11player and a big
30:12character in that
30:13dressing room.
30:15You look at some
30:16of the other
30:16players, obviously
30:17everyone knows
30:18about Gus Hamer,
30:19one of the top
30:20players in the
30:21Championship and
30:21even going back to
30:22the final, I think
30:25most observers are
30:26probably right in
30:27saying that it was
30:28when he came off
30:29the pitch that
30:30things really started
30:31to change and
30:31ultimately unravel.
30:34Sellers coming in
30:34he'll be desperate
30:35to hopefully keep
30:36hold of him and
30:38all the players
30:39as well, Armand
30:40Odjic and
30:41Cooper as well.
30:45There have
30:45obviously been
30:46some transfer link
30:47stories with him.
30:49He was an
30:49excellent performer
30:50and yeah, I mean
30:51it's sort of like
30:53it's not saying
30:55that Sheffield
30:55United have got
30:56one more go
30:57at promotion but
30:58obviously the
30:59parachute payments
30:59will go down
31:00quite a bit if
31:01they're in the
31:01division for a
31:02third season so
31:04they've got to
31:05make the most of
31:05this sort of
31:06second chance and
31:07obviously you look
31:07at what Leeds did
31:08last season and
31:10they harness that
31:12disappointment in
31:13outstanding fashion
31:14and yeah, so I
31:15think the main
31:17thing for him is
31:17he'll want to
31:19work and he'll
31:20rely on those top
31:21players and he's
31:21hoping he can get
31:22to the end of the
31:23window and as
31:24many of those as
31:26possible are still
31:28there really.
31:29Yeah, I mean we
31:30just talked in the
31:31League One terms
31:32about teams that
31:33needed a fresh
31:33start and teams
31:34that didn't.
31:35Sheffield United
31:36didn't in my
31:37opinion although
31:38they missed
31:39promotion, they
31:41missed it so
31:41narrowly and you
31:42know the elements
31:43were there.
31:44I think we
31:44talked in a
31:45podcast after the
31:47playoff final about
31:48the sort of
31:49precedent of Leeds
31:49last season of
31:50Sunderland in the
31:511990s of having a
31:5390 point season
31:54losing in the
31:54playoff final going
31:55up as champions
31:56the next year and
31:57they didn't do it
31:58by ripping things up
31:59and starting again
32:00they did it by
32:02improving on that
32:03core they had.
32:03Now that's not an
32:05option to Ruben
32:06Sayers because he's
32:07the big change for
32:09starters but as
32:10Leon says you
32:11know the sensible
32:13thing sometimes
32:14managers like to
32:15come in and put
32:16their imprints on
32:17a squad.
32:17Sometimes the
32:18sensible thing is
32:19actually not to do
32:20too much and the
32:20question is how
32:22much that is in
32:23his hands because
32:24the Vultures will
32:25be circling around
32:26Hamer.
32:26He was the
32:27Championship Player
32:28of the Year.
32:28They'll be circling
32:29around Michael
32:30Cooper because he
32:31was right up there
32:33as one of the
32:33best goalkeepers.
32:35It's going to be a
32:36bit of a struggle to
32:36keep them together
32:38and Sayers was
32:40talking when they
32:41were on pre-season
32:42in Girona about
32:42how the focus at the
32:45moment is just on
32:46free transfers and
32:46loans which suggests
32:48there might be that
32:50temptation to cash in
32:52and do it and if
32:54they are in that
32:54position then it's
32:56exactly like Leon was
32:57saying with regards
32:58to Davies Keeler
32:59done up at
33:00Barnsley.
33:01You want it done
33:01as early as
33:02possible.
33:02You don't want to
33:03be having to make
33:04these decisions like
33:07Sheffield United did
33:08with Illum and
33:09Jai and Sander
33:10Berg just as the
33:10season's about to
33:11start or worse
33:12still after it
33:13started.
33:14So they need that
33:15sort of clarity.
33:16They could do with
33:18it a fair degree of
33:20continuity.
33:21They kind of shot
33:22themselves in the
33:23foot a little bit
33:24by falling out
33:26with the manager
33:26they had and
33:27sort of forcing a
33:28bit of a new
33:30start but they
33:30have got a man
33:32who you know
33:33Leon and I both
33:34saw at close
33:34quarters with
33:35Hull last season.
33:37He's a bit of an
33:39expert about coming
33:40into chaotic
33:40situations and
33:42keeping it in
33:43the head.
33:44You know
33:44Sheffield United
33:45are a million miles
33:46away from well
33:47A being the most
33:48chaotic team in the
33:49city and B being
33:51on the level that
33:52you know Reading
33:53were a couple
33:54of years ago.
33:54So this for
33:56Sayers probably
33:58doesn't even qualify
34:00as difficult in
34:01terms of the
34:02background situation.
34:04The more continuity
34:06and steadiness they
34:08can have I think
34:09the better they
34:10will be because
34:10they were not
34:11far away from
34:13being a really
34:14good promoted
34:15side.
34:16You know Leon
34:16quite rightly says
34:17Vinicius Tuzer will
34:19be a loss.
34:19He definitely
34:19will be a loss.
34:21But again we talk
34:22about you know
34:23people leaving
34:23other people
34:24having to step
34:25up.
34:26A few months
34:27from now you
34:27know we might
34:28see Oli Arblast
34:29as a regular
34:32midfield but it
34:33will be a few
34:34months from now
34:34because you know
34:35although he's
34:36talking about
34:36getting back in
34:37mid-September
34:38coming back from
34:38a crucial he's
34:40not going to be
34:40the Oli Arblast
34:41we remember you
34:43know on week one
34:44it's going to
34:44take a while but
34:45that's quite exciting
34:46for Sheffield
34:47United and that's
34:48the thing having
34:49had quite a lot of
34:50young players last
34:51season there's a
34:53lot of scope for
34:54those players
34:55themselves to
34:56improve without
34:56you know without
34:58the need for new
34:58faces so I don't
35:00think all is lost
35:01but I just think it
35:02needs a bit of
35:03steadiness and
35:03calmness and it
35:04probably helps that
35:06there's been lots
35:07going on and we've
35:07got lots to talk
35:08about other clubs
35:09this season this
35:11summer sorry and
35:12you know despite
35:13that big you know
35:15decision to get
35:16rid of Chris
35:17Wilder Sheffield
35:18United have been
35:19a little bit a
35:20little bit under
35:21the radar and
35:21that's that's
35:22probably what
35:22they need to
35:23be yeah yeah I
35:24mean a nice
35:25reasonably quiet
35:26stable window
35:27would a bit
35:27suffice wouldn't
35:28it with you know
35:29just a couple of
35:30signings here and
35:31there and you
35:31sort of look at
35:32the division it's
35:33yeah it it doesn't
35:36sort of frighten me
35:37as much as it as
35:39it has done in
35:40previous seasons if
35:40that makes a little
35:41bit of sense I
35:42think I think that
35:44Southampton and
35:44Leicester look like
35:45they've got a few
35:46sort of issues going
35:47on there it's a
35:47little bit of a
35:49state of flux there
35:50I think the one I
35:52probably would say
35:53who I think will
35:54have a pretty strong
35:56season are probably
35:56Ipswich especially
35:57if they get
35:57obviously Kieran
35:59McKenna they look
36:01well placed there
36:01obviously you'll get
36:02one or two who
36:03come from the
36:05sort of department
36:07you know you don't
36:09expect Coventry to
36:09be up there with
36:10Frank Lampard but
36:12it doesn't quite look
36:13as scary I don't
36:14think Birmingham as
36:15well I mean they've
36:16got plenty of
36:16momentum they might
36:17have a little nibble
36:18for the top six
36:19but first impressions
36:21it doesn't quite seem
36:22as perhaps as scary
36:24as it might have
36:25been you know it's
36:26probably the best
36:27way of putting it
36:28so if things are
36:29kept on an even
36:30keel at Sheffield
36:31United and they
36:33can not lose any
36:34more of the big
36:35hitters maybe out
36:36of a couple of
36:37it should be a
36:38decent loan
36:39destination as well
36:40you would have
36:40thought when Premier
36:41League clubs come to
36:42deciding which
36:44players they want
36:47to send out to
36:48the Championship
36:49should be a
36:50valuable destination
36:50we'll see in that
36:52regard but yeah
36:53you just hope there's
36:55not too much
36:56there's no need for
36:58revolution certainly
36:59at Sheffield United
36:59you just want to
37:00acquire a nice
37:01sensible solid
37:02summer
37:02yeah
37:03and now we look to
37:06another new pairing
37:07in the form of Rob
37:08Edwards and
37:09Middlesbrough who
37:10also just seemed to
37:12lose steam as the
37:13season was drawing to
37:13a close last season
37:14and just missed out on
37:16the chance to fight for
37:17promotion in the
37:18playoffs
37:18how do you believe he
37:20should approach this
37:21season with his new
37:23team Stuart
37:23well I don't know what
37:26Leon feels but it
37:28feels to me like
37:28Middlesbrough are kind
37:29of a couple of steps
37:30behind where they
37:31need to be
37:32you certainly
37:35couldn't accuse him
37:36of rushing the
37:36decision over Michael
37:37Carrick they took a
37:38long time thinking
37:39about it to the
37:40point where I remember
37:41being on a podcast
37:42with you Mark and
37:43saying it looked like
37:44he was going to stay
37:45just simply because it
37:45had taken so long
37:46and you know I think
37:48I was quite positive
37:50about the suggestion
37:52quite heartened by the
37:55fact that you know
37:56they're going to be
37:56giving him another
37:56chance but really
37:58Carrick would have
37:59no complaints he
38:00would have got sacked
38:01at most other clubs
38:02it just looked like
38:03Middlesbrough was sort
38:04of going that extra
38:05step as Steve Gibson
38:06sometimes does to
38:07really back a manager
38:09but we're in a new
38:10era if that's not
38:13too overblown
38:14and I don't think
38:16Rob Edwards is going
38:17to play exactly the
38:18same way as Michael
38:19Carrick did you know
38:20his Luton team were
38:21a lot more direct so
38:22it's a bit of a
38:24concern as we speak
38:25now in the middle of
38:26July there's no new
38:28signings in yet you
38:29know like I said with
38:29Barnsley when you're
38:31changing the style of
38:32play like with
38:33Huddersfield you want
38:34lots of bodies in early
38:35to work on that new
38:37way and it might not
38:38even mean spending a
38:39lot of money it might
38:40be sort of like for
38:42like in terms of
38:42ability but just
38:43different styles of
38:44players coming in and
38:45out so it's a it's a
38:47bit of a concern for me
38:49that that Middlesbrough
38:50aren't further ahead in
38:51that process but they
38:53do have a good manager
38:54you know who's got got a
38:56good record in this
38:57division so there's a
39:00bit of confidence in
39:01terms of who they've
39:02chosen but I just think
39:03the new direction
39:04probably means that
39:06they're not going to
39:08hit the ground running
39:09in August essentially
39:10and you know I hope that
39:13recruitment team are
39:14working really hard at
39:15the moment I'm sure they
39:15are to you know
39:17identify players who can
39:19really fit with Rob
39:20Edwards style of play
39:21rather than trying to
39:23crowbar people who
39:25were bought to play
39:25Michael Carrick football
39:26into a into a Rob
39:28Edwards style team I
39:29don't I don't know what
39:30Leon thinks yeah I just
39:31wonder if they're
39:32reining it in a little
39:33bit you know you look
39:35at that a lot of
39:36speculation about Hayden
39:37Hartley maybe it is the
39:38time for him to go on
39:39to pass you and
39:41Middlesbrough to
39:41cashing on the fact
39:42that he's still
39:43reasonably young and
39:44obviously his name is
39:46out there they've
39:47obviously knocked back
39:47a few bits from
39:48from Porto in in the
39:51I think it was the
39:52last summer window
39:52wasn't it and he's a
39:54player who's who I'm
39:55sure is on he's on
39:57the radar of a lot of
39:58you know a lot of
40:01clubs you know sort of
40:02lower end championship
40:02clubs as as a player
40:04that they might sort of
40:05sort of push for in the
40:07second half of the
40:08of the summer you know
40:09Vanderberg as well he's
40:11he's by all accounts
40:12he's got a lot of
40:12admirers at home and
40:14on the continent I just
40:15wonder if it's a case
40:16of Middlesbrough getting
40:17one of those out first
40:18and then yeah maybe
40:20Edwards knowing what
40:21he's what he's sort of
40:22got to play with but
40:23you know you look at
40:24last season they spent
40:25they spent big on on
40:27Conway didn't eat sort
40:28of five million in the
40:29last summer window
40:30Whittaker as well who's
40:32who's had a slow start
40:35and you know there'll be
40:36a big hopes that he
40:37can you know after get
40:38a get in a preseason
40:40behind him he can show
40:41some of the form that
40:42he that he displayed at
40:44Plymouth so I don't see
40:45those sort of signings
40:46for Middlesbrough when you
40:47look at some of the some
40:48of the ones who would
40:49have been this sort of
40:50link link with as well
40:51Stuart they're sort of
40:51the most I'm not saying
40:53the bad but there's
40:54more horses for courses
40:55championship players you
40:56look at obviously the
40:58lost Dykes the Dykes
40:59deals contract expired
41:02and so he's gone he's
41:04he's left the club
41:05apparently he was on
41:05decent money as well so
41:07they'll there'll be a
41:08bit of a vacancy at
41:09right back Callum
41:10Britton he's the one
41:11that everyone's talking
41:12about and it sounds like
41:13he's keen on a move you
41:15know he's a he's a
41:15reliable decent
41:16championship right-sided
41:19defender isn't he really
41:20and so there's a lot of
41:21talk of Callum Jones
41:23Alfie Jones at Hull as
41:25well yeah he's proven
41:26himself at that level but
41:27he's you know I think
41:28it's he's not not one of
41:31the stellar he's not a
41:32stellar defender in the
41:33division he's a he's a
41:35sensible solid signing
41:36really so I think that's
41:37probably the way that
41:38that Middlesbrough are
41:40putting on maybe it's no
41:41bad thing as well I mean
41:43you sort of look at some
41:44of football they played it
41:45was it was very nice and
41:46pleasing on the eye we've
41:47spoken about it a lot of
41:48times haven't we sure but
41:50it was a little bit
41:50increasingly naive wasn't
41:52it you know Middlesbrough
41:55really lacked a bit of
41:56backbone didn't they last
41:57year there was a lot of
41:58games where they were
41:58going in front and then
42:00conceding silly needless
42:02concessions really and
42:03shooting themselves in the
42:04foot and you know it
42:05wasn't it was a failure
42:06really that they didn't
42:07get into the into the
42:08sops top six given the
42:09fact that you know no
42:11disrespect again to
42:12Bristol City but it was
42:13the lowest points total
42:14but it's 64 points or
42:16something 65 points to
42:17get very you know a very
42:19low total and they're
42:21still finished above
42:22Middlesbrough as did
42:24Middlesbrough's reserves
42:26as I was jokingly said
42:27with Millwall finishing
42:29above them a lot of
42:30ex a lot of ex a big
42:32ex-borough contingent in
42:34in the squad there so
42:35Middlesbrough did under
42:36well as much as it is
42:38about signings I think
42:40there's a it talks about
42:41mentality all the clubs I
42:42think there's a thing
42:43there at Middlesbrough as
42:44well that they need to
42:44they need to get right as
42:46well and I think they've
42:48obviously had a training
42:49camp in Portugal and I
42:51think a lot of it for
42:52Edwards is obviously
42:53getting his tactical
42:54imprint on the squad
42:55getting to know them as
42:56individuals and as
42:56people and and finding
42:58out what he's got in this
42:59dressing room because
43:00obviously last season
43:02they were all there and
43:03it was ultimately a
43:04failure yeah I mean I
43:05wouldn't be too heads up
43:07if I was a Middlesbrough fan
43:08about the net spend being
43:10you know in in the
43:11negatives it's just about
43:13getting people in and
43:14fit the system that's
43:15what that's what he
43:16showed at Luton you
43:17know and it's just a
43:18little bit frustrating
43:19they've got the Josh
43:19Coburn money as well as
43:20Leon says there's others
43:21with in the waiting room
43:23and you do have to wait
43:24sometimes but it will be
43:26nice to see him to have
43:28as much training time as
43:29possible to get these guys
43:31drilled in the way he
43:32wants to play because
43:32that's what he's about as
43:33a coach yeah yeah and as
43:35Leon says that's probably
43:35what they need after the
43:37caricature of sort of
43:39pretty pretty but
43:40ineffective football this
43:41might be you know a long
43:43way the other way but
43:44great if it works yeah
43:46yeah yeah and next we
43:49look at Hull City who
43:50after being briefly put
43:51under two transfer
43:52embargoes and a three
43:54window fee restriction
43:55that they are currently
43:56appealing should the
43:58fans be be worried
44:00about the health of the
44:01club that their new
44:02coach Sergei
44:04Jakirovic has come into
44:06Leon
44:06well Stuart knows he
44:08knows a bit more about
44:09Hull than me but I would
44:09say definitely definitely
44:10definitely yeah there's
44:12this sort of red I read
44:14somewhere it was quite
44:15nicely put one piece I
44:16read about you know the
44:17red flags appearing at
44:19Hull you know we had the
44:21incident of players wages
44:22being paid a little bit
44:24late it was sorted out and
44:25there was there's some
44:26local suppliers who
44:28haven't been paid and
44:30it's like there's a things
44:31are sort of adding up
44:32obviously there's the
44:33the other thing with the
44:34the sort of loan
44:35payments to it was a
44:38couple of players wasn't
44:38it was it was Barry and
44:40Finn Burns and Finn Burns
44:42sort of maybe there's the
44:44sort of themselves out but
44:45it adds to the sort of
44:46impression that you know
44:48cash flow problems things
44:49being you know not not as
44:53they should be really I mean
44:54obviously you look at the
44:55last set of accounts as well
44:56they lost was it 60 million
44:57pounds 60 60 million that
45:00they that was that was in
45:02those accounts that's that's
45:03a really sort of worrying
45:04number isn't it really so
45:05yeah I mean they the
45:07supporters trust have you
45:08know they've expressed their
45:09concerns in a in a statement
45:11really and yeah totally I
45:13mean you've got to totally
45:14agree with them it is it is
45:17worrying I mean you talk I
45:18mean I mentioned sort of
45:19Jones there a little bit in
45:21regards to Middlesbrough if
45:22you're a if you're a whole if
45:24you're a whole player and
45:25another of a decent stature
45:27and another championship club
45:29comes in for you who were you
45:31know more of a solid stable
45:34club which I think Middlesbrough
45:35are compared to Hull you would
45:37have thought that Jones and
45:38you know he's probably going to
45:39say yeah if Middlesbrough really
45:40want me out I'll sort of walk
45:42up there really and you know
45:44I'd say a few other players as
45:45well if there's going to be if
45:47they're if they subject to a
45:49serious championship interest
45:50they're probably going to be
45:51keen to go aren't they really
45:52yeah you know so yeah we're
45:54just going to have to I mean
45:55the new the new guy Kirovic has
45:59come in he's got a decent
46:00track record on paper you look
46:01at him you know in one or two
46:03European countries did well in
46:05Croatia didn't he and he
46:07obviously did very well in Turkey
46:09obviously there's the side of
46:11relegation trouble and he dragged
46:13them away from it so he's
46:13obviously capable as a as a coach
46:16and his record in saving a club
46:19from relegation suggests he's
46:20probably you know a little bit
46:21pragmatic as well and he's a you
46:23know he got the results that they
46:25needed but yeah they're going to
46:28need a few early season results for
46:30me their home form was was pretty
46:32lousy wasn't it last year so take a
46:35couple of those off early on will
46:37you know pacify supporters a little
46:41bit and obviously we know about the
46:42the opening sort of sort of third of
46:45last season and they were on the
46:46back foot all season all weren't they
46:48under under after bringing in
46:50Walter yeah they didn't hardly won a
46:53game did they until they had that
46:55week in week in mid-autumn that was
46:57about it really wasn't it yeah so yeah
46:59you just hope for the whole say that
47:01they can they could just get a get a
47:03couple of results early just to sort
47:05of keep keep a lid on things but
47:06it's away from the football it is
47:10pretty concerning I mean you sort of
47:11look at Sheffield Wednesday that was
47:12a they had sort of a sort of a similar
47:16sort of list list of sort of
47:19indiscretions misdemean and then
47:21obviously culminating this absolute
47:23crisis ridden summer and yeah there's
47:27certainly alarm bells not not saying
47:28that holds in that sort of
47:31category by no means but it is still
47:34alarming isn't it yeah I mean you
47:36know the football league don't want to
47:38step into these clubs and take these
47:40sort of measures so you know when they
47:42do they they are worried yeah and as
47:45for the reasons Leon's outlined they've
47:47they've they're right to be worried I
47:49mean it's okay the owner coming out and
47:50saying oh it's no problem I'll cover the
47:52bills sort of thing he's not been able to
47:54cover the bills on time and that and
47:57that's the worry it's the worry that it's
47:58it's the start of something so yeah I'm
48:01afraid hope fans are right to be
48:03concerned on the financial issue and
48:05also on the on the football side as well
48:07I think I mean you know Leon's right
48:09Akirovic has got a good pedigree in
48:11Turkey but
48:12um Ilijali has not got a good pedigree you
48:15know if you if you look at the managers
48:17he's appointed he's three overseas managers
48:21have all struggled you know the the two
48:23that have had success had experience of
48:26English football and we've seen you in
48:27Sayers and both were sacked and went on to
48:30you know with the greatest of respect to
48:32whole bigger better better clubs you know
48:35um it hopefully not but it it looks like
48:39it's got the potential to to be another
48:41mistake and and you know regardless of
48:43regardless of that if you are a new
48:45manager and Akirovic has come out and said
48:46that you want to make changes you know
48:48they need to address the lack of goals
48:50last season and you know bringing the
48:53centre forward in is difficult when they're
48:55under there as you say Mark they're
48:57appealing it but when they're under these
48:59fee restrictions it's gonna be difficult
49:00to bring in the you know the calibre of
49:02um centre forward and and goal scorers
49:05generally that they need so I'm afraid to
49:07say all fans have got good cause to be
49:11worried but as Leon says this guy has had
49:14a really good 2024 um you know hopefully
49:17he can sort of book the trend and uh and
49:21get things going again because they did
49:23come very close a couple years ago um to
49:25making the playoffs yeah yeah and finally
49:28for this week we look at Sheffield
49:30Wednesday who and I know this is going to
49:32be uh looked at as quite an
49:34understatement um but I think it's fair to
49:37say that they are in a bit of a mess
49:39at the moment uh with the future of Danny
49:42Roll still very much uncertain and the
49:45club now being placed under a three window
49:47transfer embargo due to payment delays as
49:49well um what do you make of the current
49:52state of affairs at Hillsborough Stewart
49:53well it's difficult talking about it in
49:56podcasts because who knows where we're
49:58going to be in a couple of days time and
50:00when people are leaving but I'm pretty
50:03sure that wherever we are it's going to
50:05be a bit of a mess yeah you know there's
50:07a we say year after year looking back
50:10oh you know the value of a good pre-season
50:13the value of a good pre-season um this
50:15has been a horrendous pre-season you know
50:18for your manager not even to be there for
50:19the first you know couple of weeks for
50:22players to be going unpaid for you you
50:24know for players to have the option of
50:26walking out for free uh for some players
50:28to be getting and the manager to be
50:30getting paid while others aren't because
50:32they're seen as more of assets that could
50:33be sold you know when even the even even
50:37your best sort of 14 and 15 year olds are
50:40being sold off that's a worrying sign
50:42because you know ordinarily you'd look to
50:44the academy to to sort of fill a bit of
50:46the hole um obviously the unpack the very
50:49justified unpopularity of the owner you
50:52know it's all a mess and and a new owner
50:54coming in which you know we hope we hope
50:57is going to be soon it's not going to be
50:58the panacea to all of this you know these
51:00these charges and these embargoes won't
51:03simply be lifted because in a new uh a new
51:06owners come in the charges are against the
51:08club for not paying um you know paying their
51:11their way and and whilst there might be a bit
51:13more leniency if there's appeal against these
51:15things it won't it won't mean oh there's new
51:17owners you know this is all forgotten we've
51:19drawn a new line um they're going to have to
51:22get the managerial situation sorted out i mean we
51:24know danny roll is a really good manager but we
51:28also know he's been engineering for half a
51:30year to get out of this club yeah you know he
51:32said a lot of quite brutal things about the
51:35players um at the back end of last season
51:37he tended to fluctuate a bit but lots of talk
51:40about how these players weren't good enough
51:41well if they're under all these embargoes and
51:43fee restrictions he's lumped with them is that
51:47is has that trust broken down you know and and
51:50somebody said to me the other day quite rightly
51:51you know football fans are quite fickle if
51:54danny roll comes back and wins his first few
51:55games all will be well with the world and
51:57that's probably right would you put any money
51:59on sheffield wednesday having a good start to
52:01the season after this background i certainly
52:04wouldn't um you know so there's an there's an
52:07awful lot of mess that needs to get sorted out
52:10the good thing the good thing i mean you could if
52:13you're a sheffield wednesday fan you'd be
52:15saying you know why couldn't the football league
52:17have come in stronger harder earlier but the
52:20good thing is that they have come in and
52:22whatever else happens i'm optimistic that
52:25there's still going to be a sheffield
52:26wednesday i mean you know it's it could have
52:29it could have been that bad but they are
52:31going to be starting from a low base i mean
52:33danny roll in one of his gloomier press
52:35conferences at the back end of last season
52:37was you know muttering about how a relegation
52:39battle might be a possibility well i'm afraid
52:42to say that he chancery and everything else
52:44have conspired to make that to make that more
52:47likely so wednesday hopefully say need a new
52:50owner quickly and then just to get just to
52:52survive this season in a footballing and a
52:55financial sense and get on a proper season as
52:58footing to get back to the football club that
53:00you know we know that they should be
53:03yeah i totally agree with that i mean it's
53:05been an extraordinary summer that you know for
53:07all the wrong reasons it's you know it's not
53:11necessarily saying that things on the pitch
53:13don't matter but you know the actual the future
53:15sort of direction and the the sort of um stability
53:18of the football club is and that's going to take
53:20precedence this season isn't it desperate for
53:23regime change and the right sort of owners as
53:26well yeah that's that's imperative you know
53:28there's so much to do i mean we've mentioned all
53:30the the charges against sheffield wednesday
53:31they'll be they'll be owing money left right and
53:34centre as well yeah i mean to sort of satisfy the
53:37the creditors you know i mean if they if they
53:41manage to sort of stay up it would be a
53:43remarkable achievement but you know the main
53:45thing is is the is the club as a whole isn't it
53:47and uh just getting it frankly sorted out i mean
53:50was mentioned about hall i mean the sort of
53:52problems that sheffield wednesday have had
53:55they're not they haven't just happened
53:57overnight have they sort of four or five years
54:00in the making almost aren't they they've had
54:01issues with unpaid taxes paying money late they
54:04had issues in you know in in the uh in the period
54:08when covid sort of stopped football and they sort
54:11of never sort of sort of recovered from that
54:13really have they and um you know it's plain to
54:16see that the chance there is as well-meaning as he
54:19was when he first came in is he increasingly
54:21beleaguered and out of his depth quite frankly
54:23isn't he and uh you know the main thing for
54:25sheffield wednesdays you know for a club of immense
54:28potential is sorting themselves out getting
54:32themselves somehow on an even keel and if it
54:35means that they got you know as a lot of realists
54:38may suspect they end up being in copying a
54:41relegation i mean they could well you know
54:42there's a good chance of getting points deductions
54:44as well isn't they given the things that are
54:46going on you know so be it i think you know deep
54:49down the wednesday ice would it would be a blow
54:51that would they would sort of take that if it
54:53meant regime change getting the proper owners
54:56in and sorting the football club's finances out
54:59to to um to hopefully um go again and and for it
55:03to be a lot more a lot more stable because it's
55:06frankly it's been a bit of a basket case
55:08haven't it um so far this year yeah as leon
55:12says you know the problems have been building
55:14up for such a long time yeah they're across
55:16the board you know there's lots of things
55:17you can't i mean they literally need to fix
55:19the roof yeah so they could get so they can
55:22get a safety certificate um there's there's all
55:25sorts of elements um that have gone wrong at
55:28that football club when it's going to be a big
55:30and expensive job for new owners so it won't
55:33be a flicker switch and everything is sorted
55:35this is going to be a bit a bit of pain to go
55:38through but as leon says if people can see
55:40owners that they believe in and that seem to a
55:43have the funds to do this yeah be their hearts
55:46be in the right place then hopefully you know
55:49it's a big tanker to turn around hopefully it can
55:52be turned around and and because as leon says
55:54there's a lot of potential at that football
55:57club but there's a there's so much investment
55:59needed to allow them to start realizing that
56:03potential and so we've just got to hope that
56:07that work can start as quickly as possible
56:09really yeah it's not just for the players i
56:12mean just everyone there's some good people at
56:13that football club and uh they will probably
56:17have a lot to offer but they're desperate for
56:19a sort of new room in a new direction
56:21many thanks to stuart rayner and leon wobbrell
56:37who will doubtless join us again soon for more
56:38discussions on the yorkshire football scene
56:40but don't forget you can keep up to date with all
56:42the football news across yorkshire and beyond by
56:44logging on to our website at yp.sport at
56:47nationalworld.com or if you search for yorkshire
56:49post sport yorkshire post football or even
56:51sheffield sport on facebook you can find us
56:53there as well if you have any questions for
56:55our writers you can get in touch using those
56:57various twitter or facebook pages or email us
57:00directly with the subject matter as football
57:01talk podcast at yp.sport at nationalworld.com
57:05as ever many thanks for listening look after
57:08yourselves and bye for now
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