LUHUKAY COULD BE JOS THE JOB
Dutch boss getting best out of troops
THE last time Sheffield Wednesday made the 200-mile trek to Ashton Gate, they got a four-goal hiding for their trouble.
It is a mark of the Owls’ unexpected progress under Jos Luhukay that nobody would back a similar scoreline today.
On that icy Saturday afternoon in March, Wednesday were a mess. Toothless, depleted, bereft of shape or organisation. By half-time they were 3-0 behind and by full-time a bleak formbook read one win in ten.
Adam Reach, the skipper that day, called it a “transitional phase”. With some 16 players injured and a new manager finding his feet, many in the Atyeo Stand feared only a transition to League One.
Luhukay, though, has worked a quiet sort of magic at Hillsborough.
Having inherited an injury-riddled and imbalanced squad from Carlos Carvalhal, the fag end of last season brought three wins from the final four games to ensure survival with a month to spare.
This year, despite a transfer embargo that precluded any summer strengthening, he led the Owls to their best start since 1990.
In fact, in the last 20 games of Luhukay’s tenure, Wednesday have collected 35 points. That’s 1.7 per game which, over a 46-game season, equates to 80 points.
In other words, play-off form – which is perhaps no surprise from a man who has won three promotions to the Bundesliga.
There is an argument, of course, that Carvalhal would have achieved the same with a full complement of players. The Portuguese certainly made it often enough.
And there is no doubt that Wednesday’s fortunes improved when Tom Lees, the defensive lynchpin, and playmaker Fernando Forestieri climbed from the treatment table.
Equally, however, Luhukay appears to be wringing more from certain players than Carvalhal ever did.
Reach, so often consigned to the left wing where his lack of pace was exposed, has been a revelation in a roving attacking role. The 25-year-old has two assists and four goals this term, continuing an upsurge in form that can be traced directly to the Dutchman’s arrival.
Barry Bannan, another player frequently condemned to wide roles, is in the form of his life after being granted control of central midfield.
“We could speak for one or two hours about how good Barry is and how important he is to the team,” said Luhukay before a 2-2 draw with West Brom on Wednesday. Missing through suspension against the Baggies, Bannan will return to conduct affairs today.
Similarly, Luhukay has squeezed goals from Atdhe Nuhiu, the giant Kosovan who was only ever a bit-part player under Carvalhal. Lucas Joao is – marginally – more consistent.
“The gaffer now is very different to Carlos,” said Cameron Dawson, one of several homegrown youngsters to be given a break by Luhukay.
“He’s quieter, more thoughtful. But he’s someone who gives you confidence. It took everybody a while to get to grips with what he wanted but I think he’s getting his ideas across now and you can see it working. We’re all buying into it.”
Wednesday are far from perfect. They haven’t kept a single clean sheet this term and have twice let leads slip in recent days. Without reinforcements in January, the play-offs will be a stretch.
But the suspicion is growing that in Luhukay, they have a manager who can inspire performances greater than the sum of Wednesday’s parts.