Barry Bannan has claimed there is ‘something different’ about the ‘special’ Sheffield Wednesday manager.
Danny Rohl was appointed as Xisco Munoz’s successor in October and, despite a slow turn of results, received hefty praise from his players from the outset.
Barry Bannan was one man in particular that was left blown away by the new head coach, hailing him as the ‘best manager’ he has ever had – among a career that was led by the likes of Martin O’Neill, Neil Warnock and Ian Holloway.
Danny Rohl has now started to reap the rewards for his brilliant management and training, with Sheffield Wednesday picking up ten points from a possible 15 in their last five outings.
The Owls still sit in the relegation zone, but continued form over the festive period could see them slowly claw their way to safety.
Bannan has now applauded Rohl once again, hailing him as ‘special’ and a ‘powerful tool’.
Speaking to The Star, the midfielder said: “Obviously winning games breeds confidence and belief, but we’ve also got a top, top manager that has come in and added to it. I’ve worked under a lot of managers and thought that they were good, but there’s something different about this guy that – even at 34, having played for so many managers – I’m still learning.
“The things that he does, and shows us, happen in games and you just think, ‘Yeah, you told us that before the game’. You can see why he’s been where he’s been, because he’s a top manager and once you get a group of lads believing in that manager then, no matter what he asks, they’ll do it. And this is what happens.
“It’s his tactical side of the game, the things that he does with the shape of the team in training… We’re a team that has probably gone from 30% possession to having a lot possession, a lot of attacks, in the space of two or three months. To turn something around that quick is special in itself.”
“I can’t sit here and say that it’s one thing that is impressive, it’s loads of things that he’s brought to this club. The biggest, though, is that the boys believe in him and what he’s doing. Once you get everybody going in one direction it’s a powerful tool.
“I’ve been here for nearly 10 years now, and I’ve never seen this fanbase take to a manager the way they’ve taken to this one. We were bottom of the league a few weeks ago and they still loved him, so that shows you the job that he’s doing.”
What exactly has Danny Rohl changed at Sheffield Wednesday?
Sheffield Wednesday have played eleven games under Danny Rohl now – the same amount that they had played prior to his arrival at Hillsborough.
After the first eleven matches of the campaign, the Owls had picked up three points, won zero games, scored five goals and conceded 18.
If the Championship season had started when Rohl was appointed, they would be sitting in 16th place – five points above the drop zone.
Sheffield Wednesday have picked up another 13 points, four wins, scored eleven goals and conceded 17.
Their defence may be taking a bit longer to stabilise, but they have only conceded six in their last five games – the same amount that they let in in their first two matches of the season.
The Owls now have a young, exciting goalscorer in Bailey Cadamarteri, achievable ambition and some excellent team spirit.