When Neil Thompson joined Sheffield It’s safe to assume that on Wednesday in 2011, he had no idea what was in store for him.
“Thommo” is a man who takes things rather seriously. He laughs at the surroundings as we make our way through the OEC Sheffield in Hillsborough’s hallways. He and his colleagues are dressed in suits as opposed to tracksuits for The Star’s Football Awards, where Danny Röhl is receiving an honor.
Though Thompson has had a few nights like this in his career, the nature of the beast at S6 undoubtedly prevented him from expecting to be seated at Röhl’s table at the beginning of this season as a crucial member of his technical staff.
Within the span of six months, he went from leading the U21s to taking on a new role as interim manager of the first team and leading the German Röhlvolution at Middlewood Road. Furthermore, it’s evident from his actions that he is having fun.
Perhaps this is an understatement, but he tells The Star, “I’m quite adaptable.” “And whenever I’m asked to take on additional responsibilities, like being a caregiver or working with different teams, you can’t help but be curious about what’s going to happen next and how the new boss will handle things. And like others have said, I’ve been quite impressed with what’s been happening.
People like Baz (Barry Bannan) have been sending out notes, and it’s been quite amazing to see. The attention to detail, the way it’s been embraced, and Danny’s desired outcomes—not only the gameplans, but also the training and everything else—are all noteworthy. The gaffer also puts us to the test. He arranges for the training, but we are required to go and conduct it. That has been a true collaborative effort and a great source of motivation for us.
After serving as player-manager for teams including York City, Scarborough, and Boston United, Thompson joined Gary Megson’s Owls squad over fifteen years ago. He has been a member of the team ever since. He has worked with numerous managers and led Wednesday’s young teams to victories, but there is something about the new manager, who is nearly half his age, that excites him.
“He has inspired me to work harder.”
“He’s a really impressive young man,” grins “Thommo.” “His attention to detail, his work ethic, the new staff’s ability to work well together, and the players’ genuine buy-in to his goals.” The outcomes are evident, and they are the product of planning and understanding what he expects from his team. Even though I’m getting older, he has managed to inspire me, which is fantastic because it keeps me hungry too.
“These past six months have been really interesting. To be sure, his delivery style and level of understanding bely his age. Additionally, there are instances when it’s the little things that keep us alert and highly motivated.
“Let’s also be correct. He’s worked with and at the pinnacle of the game. His experience at Bayern, Leipzig, Southampton, and the German national team is extensive and requires a great deal of work. And he still works hard at it.
Thompson feels as like there is always something on the line when he plays in the season finale. Regardless of the finish of the match, Wednesday is rarely decided on the last day, and the long-serving Owls coach feels that experience is working in his favor these days, which is helpful going into a match as important as Sunderland.
“What do you know? I believe I’m able to maintain my levels a little bit because I’m getting older. Yes, you get enthusiastic, but as you age, I believe your emotional intelligence improves. I’ve felt that way for the past six or seven years. I can park things somewhat; I can’t go too high or too low. You are only as excellent as your subsequent performance.
One thing that has been made very obvious is that we are not over the line. This year, one of the positive things, in my opinion, has been our ability to overcome setbacks and go on. That has been really important. Danny conducts our meetings in great detail and is very precise, which helps the players understand where they are going.
The former Ipswich Town player has received praise from Röhl, who removed him from his academy position early in his career after seeing his potential. The German has also discussed how important he believes Thompson’s role will be in the future as a liaison between the first squad and the junior system.
As Röhl navigates what may turn out to be one of the Championship’s greatest escapes, the 60-year-old also brings with him a wealth of insider information about the club’s inner workings that is nearly unmatched by anybody else at Middlewood Road.
“They’re really important to us.”
Wednesday must win this weekend at the Stadium of Light in order to guarantee their place in the second division for the following campaign. This is an incredible accomplishment given their situation in October, when Thompson managed the team’s 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town before to Röhl’s arrival. Still, he’s not shocked by the turnaround.
He said, “It was incredible, and to be honest the last two performances – and I think the manager has alluded to it – you can see the intensity that’s come from the training in the last two weeks,” in response to a question regarding the atmosphere during the team’s final home game, a 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion. The players have demonstrated true focus since they are aware of its necessity.
“Because it was a football match and we knew Blackburn was a strong club, we had no idea what would happen throughout the game, but we performed our duties admirably. Although West Brom is a team that is winning the division, they were more nervous than we were. The guys did a fantastic job, and I believe that was about as complete a performance as we’ve had this season in every aspect of the game.
“At the end, the mood was… yes. These supporters are like, you know, they mean the world to us. They create a lot of noise, and if people perceive your commitment—which they have in the past—they will support you.
And thus, here we are once more. The drama on Wednesday, the final day, is nothing new for Neil Thompson, the players, or the supporters. He will, however, know that they have done everything within their power to see the players through to the end when he takes a seat on that bench with Röhl, Chris Powell, Henrik Pedersen, and Sascha Lense.
As our conversation comes to an end, he says, “It’s a big game this weekend, but we’re looking forward to it.” “It’s not pleasant to be in the situation we’ve been in all season, but escaping it is the task. No matter what area you work in, employees or players, there is always that challenge; everyone is aware that they all have a part to play. Let’s hope that we can now get it past this point.
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