Sheffield Wednesday have a number of new favourites emerging alongside Danny Rohl.
This recent upturn in form which has seen Sheffield Wednesday go three games unbeaten, claiming seven points from a possible nine, has earned Rohl legendary status almost immediately.
His side have yet to achieve anything, and relegation remains a probable outcome for the Owls this season, but the way he’s turned Sheffield Wednesday’s fortunes around has been incredible to watch.
Whilst Rohl is earning most of the plaudits, his players have come into high praise too.
Will Vaulks have been instrumental in this turnaround, whilst Bailey Cadamarteri is stealing headlines, and names like Di’Shon Bernard are earning praise as well.
Bernard’s centre-back partner Bambo Diaby has also earned a lot of praise too, after what was a shaky start to the season for the Spaniard.
Bambo Diaby’s turnaround in form at Sheffield Wednesday
Diaby looked like an under-whelming signing at first.
He was in the doldrums at Preston North End beforehand, then after his first few appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, fans were calling for him to be ousted.
Criticism of the 25-year-old wasn’t unjust, and Diaby became a consistent source of criticism as he kept his place in the XI under Xisco Munoz and then Rohl.
He’s now played more minutes than any other Sheffield Wednesday player this season. But as times gone on, he’s gotten better and better, becoming a vital player in the side.
Diaby has been a brick wall for Sheffield Wednesday in the last few games. His performance against Blackburn Rovers in particular was an impressive one, with Joe Crann rating Diaby as a 9/10 and describing it as a ‘mammoth’ performance from the big defender.
The Danny Rohl factor
Diaby like many of his teammates has found form under Rohl.
The whole team were under-performing under Munoz and few gave them a chance of survival in the Championship this season.
But Rohl’s positive playing style has give them confidence, turning poor players into quality ones, with Diaby perhaps the most improved player under Rohl; perhaps more so than goalkeeper Cameron Dawson who was also heavily criticised before, but has since become an important player.
He’s now a key player in the team and alongside Bernard, Wednesday now seem to have one of the best centre-pairings in the league.
Maintaining this current form, as a team and as individuals, will be tough.
There’ll be some more low points throughout the season and hopefully some more highs, with Rohl still facing an uphill battle.
Managing the players’ physical and mental fitness will be a difficult task as well. But right now, Sheffield Wednesday are in a very good place and they’ll want to ride this wave of momentum for as long as possible.
Norwich City are up next and it’s a difficult away outing for the Owls.
With Diaby and his teammates in form though, it’ll be a difficult game for the Canaries as well.