Sheffield Wednesday have some Premier League talent in their ranks, both on and off the pitch.
One Sheffield Wednesday man who is quite literally Premier League is James Beadle.
There’s been a lot of talk about the Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper during this month’s international break.
The 20-year-old Beadle trained with England’s senior team during the international break, then making his England U21s debut in a 4-1 win vs Austria.
It comes after a mixed start to the season for Beadle who’s started all four league games so far, but hasn’t kept a clean sheet since the opening day win vs Plymouth Argyle.
During that time, Beadle has conceded nine goals, with manager Danny Rohl coming under criticism for his style of play, which heavily relies on Beadle passing out from the back.
But Beadle remains young. He’s got a whole season on loan in S6 to work on his game, and a tried and tested goalkeeper coach in Sal Bibbo to learn from.
James Beadle makes Sal Bibbo Premier League admission at Sheffield Wednesday
When Sheffield Wednesday appointed Rohl in October last year, the club went about changing their whole backroom team.
Owner Dejphon Chansiri earned praise for giving Rohl whoever he wanted in his backroom, including names like Chris Powell and Henrik Pedersen.
Another who joined was Bibbo, who’d worked as goalkeeper coach for Arsenal for four years before joining Sheffield Wednesday.
Speaking to the press ahead of this weekend’s Championship clash vs QPR, Beadle said of Bibbo: “The manager was really good with me last year, gave me my oppurtunity.
“And then Sal, I know him very well. He’s an unbelievable goalkeeper coach, it’s mad to think he’s working at this level.
“He should really be in the Premier League, so for me to be able to be here, and still playing the games and still being able to improve with Sal, it’s really good.”
Sheffield Wednesday have Premier League foundations in the making, one thing is needed
With Rohl in place, and names like Powell and Bibbo behind the scenes, there’s definitely the makings of a Premier League team starting to show.
Chansiri has finally made some positive-looking, long-lasting changes at the club since Rohl’s arrival.
Now all that’s needed is time. We’ve seen this season, Sheffield Wednesday’s expectations quashed after a few defeats, and it’s a reminder that building a team capable of winning promotion isn’t done over one single summer.
Sheffield Wednesday need time. But in names like Bibbo, they now have a platform to build upon, and eventually thrive upon.