Pol Valentin says that he’s ‘thrilled’ to join Sheffield Wednesday after completing a move from Sporting Gijon in Spain.
The 26-year-old completed his switch to Hillsborough on Thursday evening after a week or so of speculation about his future
in the Segunda Liga, and Owls boss, Xisco, spoke of his delight at the capture as he discussed his intensity and potential.
On Friday, with the game against Luton Town on the horizon, the Spanish full back has said how pleased he is to get the
move done – for an undisclosed fee – ahead of the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
“First day,” he posted on Instagram following his move. “Thrilled to begin this exciting new chapter.”
Meanwhile, his new teammate, Juan Delgado, also took to social media after his signing in the week, saying, “I’m very happy
to be here… New challenge, new ilusión, thanks God! SWFC, come on Owls!”
Both players, as well as fellow new signing, Ashley Fletcher, could all potentially play a part against Luton later this
afternoon, and fans will no doubt be excited to see what they can offer this season as they begin their first campaign back in
the Championship. The former Manchester United youngster spoke of how he was ‘honoured’ to join the club on loan a few
days ago.
Wednesday face Luton at 3pm this afternoon before turning their attentions to Friday night and the beginning of their latest
journey in the second tier of English football.
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Steve Bruce lifts lid on controversial Sheffield Wednesday exit
The veteran manager has recently shed light upon his Hillsborough exit in the summer of 2019
Managerially speaking, it would be fair to say that Steve Bruce cuts a rather divisive figure within English football.
Bruce fared well in stints with Birmingham, Wigan, Sunderland and Hull City, although later adventures in his career in the
dugout have turned out rather differently.
He was sacked by Aston Villa early into the 2018/19 campaign where they eventually clinched a return to the top-flight,
while Newcastle and West Brom both sat in the bottom three at the end of Bruce’s stewardship.
And with the subsequent magnitude of the Baggies’ improvement since last October under the refreshing tuition of Carlos
Coberan- who took over a side with just one August victory from their first 13 matches- the 62-year-old is not a popular
presence in the West Midlands, as the Spaniard’s successes further accentuate his shortcomings.
There is also a sour taste within the mouths of Sheffield Wednesday supporters given the nature of Bruce’s exit from South
Yorkshire in the summer of the 2019 to manage boyhood club Newcastle, and the veteran spoke recently to lift the lid on just
what went down four years ago.
What has Steve Bruce said about his Sheffield Wednesday departure?
Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Bruce explained: “Newcastle, for example, I’m on pre-season tour with Sheffield
Wednesday and my lawyer rang me and said ‘I’ve just had Lee Charnley on the phone who’s the CEO of Newcastle, would
you be interested?’
“I said ‘pardon? Would I be interested?’
“No disrespect to Sheffield Wednesday, which I had a really good four, five months there, they are a big club with a huge
fanbase who really really took to me, too.
“But the chance of managing my hometown club in Newcastle, and going back to Newcastle where I was born and raised
and from was just too big an attraction.
“And it came through him really, he said ‘would you be interested?’
“I said ‘I’ve got to be.’
“He said ‘well, I’ll tell them that’, and he called me two hours later and said ‘can I come and see you?’
“He flew out to Portugal and we met and had a conversation and went from there.”
Was Steve Bruce right to leave Sheffield Wednesday the way he did?
In fairness, it is easy to see why Owls supporters have never truly forgiven Bruce for the manner of his Wednesday exit.
Given that he had only been there for seven months, negotiating with another club while away on pre-season trying to
motivate players for the year ahead is not a good look, and it presents a school of thought that Wednesday may have always
just been a stepping stone for Bruce after his Villa sacking.
Had it happened at a different time supporters probably would have been understanding of Bruce’s desire to take the reins
at Newcastle due to his personal allegiances, as it is also easy to see why he wanted the move so much.
But the timing of the move was all wrong and you do feel that Bruce really should have remained loyal and stuck it out a bit
longer with Wednesday.
Daniel Farke issues Patrick Bamford verdict amid Leeds United exit talk
Daniel Farke issues Patrick Bamford verdict amid Leeds United exit talk
Daniel Farke believes Patrick Bamford can score goals for Leeds United if he stays fit and is confident
HIGHLIGHTS
- Leeds United boss Daniel Farke believes that if Patrick Bamford is fit and confident, he can score “several goals” for the club in the upcoming season.
- Bamford’s past performances and lack of goals have raised questions about his future at Leeds United, especially after the team’s relegation from the Premier League last season.
- Farke has highlighted Bamford’s experience and quality as a striker, emphasizing the importance of him staying fit and confident for the upcoming campaign.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has suggested striker Patrick Bamford has can score “several goals” for the
Whites in 2023/24 “if he’s fit and also full of confidence”.
Bamford’s future has been a subject of much speculation this summer but the 29-year-old found the net, with what his
manager has labelled a “really ice cold finish”, in last night’s 2-0 pre-season victory against Nottingham Forest.
Daniel Farke on Patrick Bamford
For the time being, Bamford remains a Leeds player and Farke’s only senior number nine. He started up top against Forest
in last night’s friendly and bagged the opener – seizing on a defensive mistake before producing a cool finish.
Reading too much into pre-season performances is a risky game but it was certainly a promising sign. Pressed on Bamford
after last night’s victory against Forest, Farke highlighted what he can offer Leeds if he remains at Elland Road for the
upcoming campaign.
“Also experience on this level he doesn’t have to prove, so last time we as a club played on this level he was there with many,
many goals and secured promotion so he doesn’t have to prove that he’s an outstanding striker with a cap for England, so
not the easiest nation to play for so we don’t have to speak about his experience, about quality, but also after difficult season
or seasons, the injury, each and every goal is important.
“I think he was there with a good performance today and the most important topic for Patrick is that he stays fit, that he
stays in this movement, if he’s fit and also full of confidence I’m pretty sure he’s capable to score several goals for us.”
- Leeds United boss Daniel Farke believes that if Patrick Bamford is fit and confident, he can score “several goals” for the club in the upcoming season.
- Bamford’s past performances and lack of goals have raised questions about his future at Leeds United, especially after the team’s relegation from the Premier League last season.
- Farke has highlighted Bamford’s experience and quality as a striker, emphasizing the importance of him staying fit and confident for the upcoming campaign.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has suggested striker Patrick Bamford has can score “several goals” for the Whites in 2023/24 “if he’s fit and also full of confidence”.
Bamford’s future has been a subject of much speculation this summer but the 29-year-old found the net, with what his manager has labelled a “really ice cold finish”, in last night’s 2-0 pre-season victory against Nottingham Forest.
Does Patrick Bamford have a future at Leeds United?
The 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns, which saw the striker bag a combined 33 goals and 12 assists as Leeds won promotion
to the Premier League and then stayed up, seem a long time ago now.
Injuries have hampered Bamford in recent years and when fit, he’s looked lacking in confidence and struggled to rediscover
his form in front of goal. His poor performances and lack of goals were a contributing factor in last term’s relegation from
the top flight, which has raised questions over whether he has a future at Elland Road.
A recent report from Mail Online added further fuel to the fire and revealed that with Farke evaluating his squad ahead of
the new campaign, the Leeds number nine is ready to leave the club.
The one-cap England international signed a new five-year deal in 2021, which keeps him under contract at Elland Road until
the summer of 2026. That would seem to protect his value were the Whites to look to move him on but finding a buyer and
one willing to pay the sort of money that the player is on at Leeds – with Capology reporting he was on £70,000 per week last
term – represents an issue.
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