Sheffield Wednesday News 24/7Writer: Nick 
Date:Monday March 23 2009
Time: 11:38AM
UK time is: 01:55:36
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Luke Varney: First Impressions
On-loan striker Luke Varney made his first appearance in the blue and white stripes against Swansea City at the weekend - and it's a thumbs up from me.
The former Crewe man arrived at Hillsborough at the eleventh hour from Derby County as boss Brian Laws looked to bolster his attacking options in light of recent injuries to Leon Clarke, Akpo Sodje and Michael Gray.
I've always rated Varney as a decent Championship player, though many were concerned that he wasn't the player we were looking for.
The question 'how can he be good enough for us if a side below us in the table will let him out on loan?' appeared on the Owls' forums following his signature.
I'm not one to be concerned when this happens though, too often we seem to shoot players down before they even get their chance to shine.
Varney went a long way to proving those doubters wrong by not only showing the minimum work ethic Wednesdayites crave, but also showing that hint of extra class that some of our attackers have been lacking.
Ok, he missed one of the best chances of the match when he came on at the weekend, and front men are paid to score goals, it's what they need to do.
But that chance aside, he showed his versatility in playing out wide and in attack, doing well alongside players he'd only met for the first time just hours earlier.
The best is yet to come from Varney I'm sure, and it's a shame that we only have him on loan for a month as I type: of course, that could be increased if we need it to be.
I've no doubt he'll impress during his stay here, and he'll grab some goals into the bargain - I'm sure he'll be rubbing his hands at some of the matches we have to play while he's here.
So, although we missed out on our first choice, it seems Mr Laws has made a good signing, and who knows, maybe one that could arrive at S6 permanantly should he continue to impress.
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Your Comments
We are safe for the season and have done the double over United, however I don't think we have moved forward at all. Our squad is full of average/ past it loan rangers who are here today and gone tommorrow. When Sturrock was here we had a squad of players that could be built around - brunt, whelan, bougherra. they were all instrumental in the good run we had when he left. Brian has done a good job but we have a poor squad with no longevity or much to build around. The one shining light this season has been grant. Considering we have all these great defenders who everone are after, we have conceded loads of goals. Loan players tend to be players who are not good enough to get into their own team, so it is strange when you get loan players from teams below you. The odd loan player to boost the squad is greater, but in the numbers we are having them is disruptive to the medium/long term development of the team. Look at United they have a much stronger squad and fewer loan players. Whilst they are not great they do seem settled and unless you are settled you will never be consistant.
Radon Barrier
We are safe for the season and have done the double over United, however I don't think we have moved forward at all. Our squad is full of average/ past it loan rangers who are here today and gone tommorrow. When Sturrock was here we had a squad of players that could be built around - brunt, whelan, bougherra. they were all instrumental in the good run we had when he left. Brian has done a good job but we have a poor squad with no longevity or much to build around. The one shining light this season has been grant. Considering we have all these great defenders who everone are after, we have conceded loads of goals. Loan players tend to be players who are not good enough to get into their own team, so it is strange when you get loan players from teams below you. The odd loan player to boost the squad is greater, but in the numbers we are having them is disruptive to the medium/long term development of the team. Look at United they have a much stronger squad and fewer loan players. Whilst they are not great they do seem settled and unless you are settled you will never be consistant.
Radon Barrier
very impressed with varney!!!!! i think it would be a marvellous bit of business if we can secure him on a permanent deal!!!!! i think that derby would probably want £1 million+ which i dont think we could afford.
supersibon
very impressed with varney!!!!! i think it would be a marvellous bit of business if we can secure him on a permanent deal!!!!! i think that derby would probably want £1 million+ which i dont think we could afford.
supersibon
if alan lee was our first choice, im sooo glad we didnt get him and got varney instead
smiggyswfc
if alan lee was our first choice, im sooo glad we didnt get him and got varney instead
smiggyswfc
Varney played well on saturday looked easily one of the better forwards we have dont think we can afford him on a permant transfer.
welsh_owls
Varney played well on saturday looked easily one of the better forwards we have dont think we can afford him on a permant transfer.
welsh_owls
Agree with what you're saying re: stability and consistency Radon, but Varney has been an excellent addition. I just hope he can carry on the form he showed in his first game into the forthcoming fixtures :)
NicNac
Agree with what you're saying re: stability and consistency Radon, but Varney has been an excellent addition. I just hope he can carry on the form he showed in his first game into the forthcoming fixtures :)
NicNac
Swop Jeffers and a bag of pork scratchings for Varney, fair deal for the Rams i.e. we get a decent player, they get a loverly pork based snack and the FA Cup!
All_Owl
Swop Jeffers and a bag of pork scratchings for Varney, fair deal for the Rams i.e. we get a decent player, they get a loverly pork based snack and the FA Cup!
All_Owl
Radon Barrier - Wednesday have got one of the smallest squads in the division and also one of the lowest wage bills, our dependance on loan players will therefore always be greater so you can't compare our situation with Utd. By and large Laws has done good business with loan players over the last few years but I for one hope we can increase the squad size over the summer with some quality acquisitions and be less reliant on loanies, what's the odds on being able to keep Potter and Varney at the end of the season?? I'd love to still have Brunt, Whelan et al but until our financial situation improves, we are always susceptiple to lose these higher quality players when a decent offer comes in, that is the reality of the situation. In my opinion Laws is doing a better job than other managers who have bigger squads, higher wage bills and more money to spend, i don't think we can therefore expect too much more than what we're getting at the moment as we're probably over-achieving giving the situation, there's certainly more affluent clubs below us under-achieving!!
sussexowl
Radon Barrier - Wednesday have got one of the smallest squads in the division and also one of the lowest wage bills, our dependance on loan players will therefore always be greater so you can't compare our situation with Utd. By and large Laws has done good business with loan players over the last few years but I for one hope we can increase the squad size over the summer with some quality acquisitions and be less reliant on loanies, what's the odds on being able to keep Potter and Varney at the end of the season?? I'd love to still have Brunt, Whelan et al but until our financial situation improves, we are always susceptiple to lose these higher quality players when a decent offer comes in, that is the reality of the situation. In my opinion Laws is doing a better job than other managers who have bigger squads, higher wage bills and more money to spend, i don't think we can therefore expect too much more than what we're getting at the moment as we're probably over-achieving giving the situation, there's certainly more affluent clubs below us under-achieving!!
sussexowl
total agree sussex could'nt have put it better myself, you see radon barrier, brunt,whelan and bougherra could'nt wait to try the premiership now look at them all struggling, still might see two of them next season. as for sturrock he had alot more money than laws, i agree he did us a job i'll never forget cardiff, but his time was up for me, Dave allen did us a favour by appointing laws, i know pig fans won't agree.
ecco owl
total agree sussex could'nt have put it better myself, you see radon barrier, brunt,whelan and bougherra could'nt wait to try the premiership now look at them all struggling, still might see two of them next season. as for sturrock he had alot more money than laws, i agree he did us a job i'll never forget cardiff, but his time was up for me, Dave allen did us a favour by appointing laws, i know pig fans won't agree.
ecco owl
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