Articles by Raymond

Wayne Rooney has ‘an idea’ about who will face Sheffield Wednesday for Plymouth Argyle

31/07/2024 Raymond 0

Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney isn’t entirely certain of the starting eleven that will face Sheffield Wednesday, but he does have a general idea of how the team will shape up. The Owls will meet the Pilgrims on August 11th at Hillsborough, marking the ninth encounter between the teams since early 2021. This matchup has become a familiar battle in recent years.

However, the upcoming clash will feature changes, with Wayne Rooney now leading Plymouth and Danny Röhl having conducted a summer rebuild at Sheffield Wednesday. This means the teams will look quite different compared to their last encounter in March, when the Owls secured a 1-0 victory at Hillsborough. For Rooney, this game will be his first official match as Plymouth’s manager following his appointment in May. He emphasizes the importance of players proving themselves in training sessions to earn a spot in the lineup.

Goalkeeper could leave Sheffield Wednesday this summer – but no decision made yet

24/07/2024 Raymond 0

Pierce Charles, the promising 19-year-old goalkeeper for Sheffield Wednesday, may be heading out on loan this summer, though the final decision is yet to be made. Despite his impressive performances for Northern Ireland in the U19 European Championship, Charles is unlikely to see much playing time for his club this season, with James Beadle and Ben Hamer ahead of him in the pecking order. An injury to Hamer, however, has created an unexpected opportunity, and the club has brought George Shelvey in on trial. Sheffield Wednesday’s manager, Danny Röhl, is considering the best path forward for Charles, emphasizing the importance of his development and the possibility of a loan move.

Move over Mendy: Sunderland could reignite interest in exciting attacker

23/07/2024 Raymond 0

According to football journalist Darren Witcoop, many EFL teams are eyeing Fulham’s promising talent Jay Stansfield during this transfer window, following his impressive stint with Birmingham City last season. Birmingham City, with their substantial financial resources, seem to have an edge in the competition for Stansfield, having already entered negotiations for his return to St. Andrew’s despite his hefty price tag of over £5 million. While Sunderland has shown interest in the 21-year-old, Fulham’s high asking price might deter them. However, if Sunderland wants to make a strong statement after a disappointing 2023/24 season, they might consider going all in for Stansfield, who could be a significant upgrade over their current target.

Uncertainty over Sheffield Wednesday transfer target as training picture emerges

23/07/2024 Raymond 0

Uncertainty surrounds the future of a key summer transfer target for Sheffield Wednesday. As the Owls prepare for the 2024/25 Championship season, they have paused transfer activities to focus on a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen. Despite a recent 4-0 defeat to Red Bull Salzburg, anticipation remains high for the team’s performance.

Sheffield Wednesday aims to bolster their squad, pushing to re-sign Ike Ugbo from Troyes and submitting a bid for Karamoko Dembele from Brest. Dembele’s future remains uncertain, as he has been told he can leave Brest despite a strong loan spell with Blackpool and a contract until 2026. Amidst multiple bids and ongoing speculation, Dembele’s latest social media post suggests Brest may want to reassess his role, possibly delaying any move to Sheffield Wednesday until later in the transfer window.

Danny Röhl pushing for Jürgen Klopp ‘Heavy Metal’ excitement at Sheffield Wednesday

23/07/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl is drawing inspiration from Europe’s elite, aiming to incorporate the dynamic styles of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City into his team’s play. Following a remarkable turnaround that secured the Owls’ safety last season, Röhl is utilizing a full pre-season and an active transfer window to implement exciting new ideas and philosophies. During their second summer training camp in Germany, the team’s commitment to a progressive passing style was evident in a friendly against Red Bull Salzburg. Röhl highlighted the importance of experimenting and gaining experience during pre-season, emphasizing their focus on fast and effective transitions. He humorously described their approach as “Heavy Metal” football with a blend of ball possession tactics, underscoring the need to adapt to players’ strengths and maintain an attacking mindset both in pressing and possession.

“Break the bank” – Pundit urges Stoke City to take strong Bae Jun-ho stance amid Feyenoord interest

18/07/2024 Raymond 0

It is hard to disagree with Palmer that Stoke should reject any bids for Bae this summer, unless Feyenoord makes a significant offer. Bae’s performances were a highlight in an otherwise disappointing season for the Potters, and he will be crucial as Schumacher aims to improve the team’s standings next term. While Stoke may need to sell players this summer to balance the books and provide Schumacher with funds to strengthen the squad, Bae is one player they should not consider cashing in on.

“Would pay 7 figures” – Bolton Wanderers urged to splash the cash for Derby, Portsmouth & Sheff Wed target

18/07/2024 Raymond 0

Bolton Wanderers are being encouraged to pursue the ambitious signing of Brest attacking midfielder Karamoko Dembele, who is also attracting interest from Championship clubs Derby County, Portsmouth, and Sheffield Wednesday. Dembele gained worldwide attention at the age of 13 when he appeared for Celtic’s under-20 side and seemed destined for a bright future at Parkhead. However, he made just one senior appearance in Glasgow before moving to Brest two years ago.

Despite struggling for regular playing time at Brest, managing only 164 minutes in Ligue 1 during the 2022/23 season, Dembele thrived during a loan spell with League One side Blackpool last season. There, he scored eight goals and provided 13 assists, significantly contributing to the team, although Blackpool narrowly missed out on a top-six finish by just two points.

According to a recent report by Darren Witcoop via X, Brest is looking to offload Dembele this summer, which has led to interest from Derby County, Portsmouth, and Sheffield Wednesday. Witcoop’s report also mentions Bolton Wanderers, with the Bolton News revealing that the Trotters have initiated contact to sign Dembele on a permanent basis as they prepare for a promotion bid in the upcoming season.

Leeds United now ready to grant permission for Crysencio Summerville to leave

14/07/2024 Raymond 0

According to a recent report, Crysencio Summerville looks set to depart Leeds United, potentially making a return to the Premier League. The Sunday Mirror revealed that Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace are all vying to secure the winger’s services, with his market value estimated at £40 million. Paris Saint-Germain had also previously expressed interest in the 22-year-old talent.

Legendary Wolves defender Geoff Palmer talks about life after football once he had hung up his boots.

14/07/2024 Raymond 0

Certainly! Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

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**What did you miss most about football?**

Everyone always says it’s the camaraderie and the dressing room that you miss, and it is really because I spent 15 years at Wolves and I met some fantastic blokes. I talk regularly with John Richards, Scouse [John McAlle], we all got on well together, because at the end of the day, you had 11 blokes who worked hard together to get three points – or two points as it was. There was great camaraderie here and there were plenty of jokers in the pack, but there were serious ones, professional ones – Scouse and Derek Parkin were really good professionals and they were people I really looked up to. There was also the build-up to the matches on the Saturdays which I miss. I used to get butterflies and would hate the two hours before the match, but that’s what I always would get, and I genuinely missed it when it was gone. When I go to Molineux now and watch the games and hear the crowd, I always wish I was out there again because that’s what you miss.

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Sheffield Wednesday could miss out on defender with Championship rivals ‘one step ahead’

14/07/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday has had a successful summer, nearing ten new signings. However, they might miss out on one potential addition, Mickaël Nadé. Reports surfaced that Nadé has become a target for the club to strengthen their defense. The 25-year-old center-back, whose contract with Saint-Étienne recently expired, is also being pursued by West Bromwich Albion. Le Progrès indicated that West Brom is ‘one step ahead’ and hopes to finalize the deal by early next week. Despite having defenders like Dominic Iorfa and Michael Ihiekwe, Wednesday could benefit from Nadé’s natural left-footedness, which adds balance to their current options. However, if West Brom succeeds in securing Nadé, it won’t matter for the Owls.