Football’s back: Steel City rivals both keen for a return to happy days

The Blades and Owls have been apart only 12 months but, in that time, there has been a massive change in fortunes.

Financially, the scales have tipped and now United, not Wednesday are the club who desperately need to reduce costs.

One time Blades and Owls striker Imre Varadi thinks Blades manager Danny Wilson will have a far tougher job on his hands this season than his counterpart at Hillsborough, Gary Megson.

Wilson’s appointment sparked a car-park protest at Bramall Lane this summer due to his previous association with Wednesday as a player and manager.

However, winning over the doubters will not be his only challenge this season, according to Varadi.

“Coming out of the Championship and into a league below means it is all about balancing the books at Bramall Lane this season,” he said.

“They have made a few redundancies behind the scenes and there are still players on the books that they cannot afford to keep.

“Danny has only just got in and it will take time to develop his own team and style.

“That won’t happen overnight and he will need to wheel and deal.

“The club will have to make some difficult decisions and take some blows but it’s all about doing what they can afford.”

Comparing Wilson’s task to that of Megson on the other side of the city, Varadi said: “Danny has definitely got the toughest job. The United supporters will only forget about his past if they hit the ground running.

“The fact that he has been associated with Wednesday as a player and manager is a major thing.

“But I don’t blame him for taking the job because it is a short career,” he added. “It was a good opportunity for him and I think he had known the chairman (Kevin McCabe) for a number of years.

“I was only 18 when I played for United, it was my first club, and they had given me my opportunity in the game. When I came back to Sheffield after playing for Everton and Newcastle the rivalry didn’t really affect me. I was just a kid and little was made of it.

“But in this situation, there will be no grey areas.

“As a manager crossing the city, you have got to win games. If he does that, he will soon have the fans on his side and all will be forgotten – but if he has a mixed start, it could get difficult because those fans have long memories.”

Varadi, now a FIFA licenced agent, regularly attends games at both Bramall Lane and Hillsborough.

Having started his career with the Blades in the late Seventies, he went on to enjoy two spells with the Owls in the Eighties.

During both his stints at Hillsborough, Varadi played alongside Megson and the pair remain on good terms today.

Varadi is confident that the Owls are in safe hands.

“You cannot always tell which players will go onto become good managers,” he reflected. “I played with (Leeds manager) Simon Grayson when he was a youngster at Leeds and I never thought he would ever be a manager.

“ Is there a type? It’s often about luck and good timing. But Gary probably stood out more than others.

“He is excellent at getting under a player’s skin and, if they don’t produce, they won’t be there very long. He doesn’t care who he upsets. He knows what he wants and he knows Sheffield Wednesday inside out.

“I have read a couple of articles where he has been saying they are short on numbers. I have also spoken to one or two of the players who feel the same.

“There is pressure on everyone at Hillsborough this season but I am sure the chairman, Milan Mandaric, will make the club a force again in English football. He is a winner who puts big demands on those he employs but I am sure he will put his money where his mouth is,” he said.

Although the Blades reached the final of last season’s FA Youth Cup, Varadi has warned that only a small number from the team are likely to go on to make the grade.

“I watched every round of the FA Youth Cup run and those lads did terrific,” he said.

“But they won’t all make it at United – invariably, only one or two players out of every bunch do.

“The goalkeeper, George Long, and the centre-back Harry Maguire are oustanding prospects but I think Matty Harriott, the midfielder, could be the dark horse who shines as this season goes on.

“But it would be asking a lot to put them in at the start of the season,” he added.

“I do believe in giving youngsters an opportunity but you can’t sprinkle three or four into a team when the bullets are flying.

“If you throw them in too early, it can destroy some players.”

Blades captain Chris Morgan misses the start of the season due to a cruciate knee injury and Varadi thinks the speed of his return will be another major influence on events at Bramall Lane.

The appointment of Rob Jones as Owls captain has Varadi’s seal of approval but he has also stressed the need for the club to bring in another striker to work alongside Gary Madine.

Giving his final verdict on the Steel City’s prospects, Varadi said: “Neither club wants to spend another season in League One. Even I hate it.

“But Wednesday are in a far better situation than United now so, out of the two, I am going for them to win promotion.

“They understand the league and know what it is all about,” he added.