Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones discusses stalemate frustration and building a legacy.
As part of Sky Sports' Sky Bet Championship spotlight, Chris Burton catches up with Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones.
The 2013/14 campaign is now well under way, with divisions beginning to take shape.
Here at
Sky Sports we will look to take you to the very heart of the Sky Bet Football League over the coming months, with our Spotlight features intended to give you a greater insight into the clubs and players that keep us on the edge of our seats.
We hope to bring you the views and thoughts of a representative from each of the 72 teams over the course of the season, with those involved asked to give their take on the division they compete in, the club that pays their wages and those we should all be keeping an eye on.
Sheffield Wednesday's Dave Jones is next into the hot-seat, with the Owls boss taking time out to discuss stalemate frustration and building a legacy with
Chris Burton.
Reflecting on the first 14 games, is the overriding emotion one of frustration that you haven't got what you feel you have deserved?
I think so. There are certain games that we know we should have got more points from than we did. Certainly a fortnight ago (against Derby) we let ourselves down with the performance, but it's probably well below what we would expect from us - even in a win, lose or draw situation. I think when you analyse everything that has gone on we should be with more points, but we're not.
You can't focus too much on what could have been can you, but you have only suffered five defeats - less then Leeds and the same as Derby, who are both pushing top six? It could be so much better.
I know. That's the crazy thing about it. In the games that we've played, we feel we should be at least another, minimum, 10 points further on than what we are on. But we're not, so we only have ourselves to blame for that.
You've had eight draws, which can hold you back somewhat, but it also shows that you're difficult to beat doesn't it?
There are lots of positives from it, but at the moment we are where we are and we know we have to get out of it.
The one game that you have won, you outclassed Reading and put five past them - it's a bit all or nothing isn't it?
That's what we can't understand. We went from the sublime to the ridiculous all within seven days. That can't happen. We have got to find that consistency in winning, and we have got to find it quickly.
The run through to Christmas could help couldn't it, with five of your next seven at home?
Everyone keeps telling me that they are all against sides chasing promotion and they are all difficult, but I've never come across an easy game - no matter where the team is. We go into every game expecting a tough one and know that we have to be at our best if we are going to get something from it.
Does the fact that so many of the games are at home help, or does it hinder because of where you are in the table at the moment?
I would hope it will help. With the crowd behind us, they have been absolutely fantastic. Hopefully they will continue to do that.
It all starts against Huddersfield on Saturday, a derby game and a chance to drag yourselves towards them?
Yeah. Derby games are sometimes the worst ones because no-one wants to make a mistake, they are full of blood, guts and thunder. We play a lot of them this year and we just have to make sure that we let our heads rule us and play with big hearts.
They have got a decent defensive record and some useful attacking options, do you have to try and assert yourselves on them and peg them back?
I think most teams in this division have got to do that, to be honest. There is no outstanding team, everyone can beat each other and that has been proved time and time again. You have to find consistency and hope that you stay on that run. That will stand you in good stead for the rest of the season.
You've added yourself up top, is it just about getting Connor Wickham and Matty Fryatt to click and then they might produce fireworks?
I hope so. We are always hoping. They work so hard in the week, we see that. Sometimes they haven't got their rewards, but you have to keep continuing to do that week in, week out because nobody does you any favours whatsoever at this level.
Are you hoping there might be a couple more in, either before the loan window closes or in January?
I don't know. At the moment we can't bring anyone in, we're up to our quota. We can bring people in but it means leaving people in the stands. We'll have to see what we can move out, the ones we want to move out, and see if we can bring anyone in.
You've got a lot of Premier League and Football League experience now, is it all about unlocking that potential?
We have now. We have brought in the loan players over the last few weeks. With the takeover happening and we weren't sure what to do, now we have got the players up and running, they are fit and hopefully we'll see the benefit of that.
Speaking of unlocking potential, I suppose that applies to the club as a whole doesn't it and was one of the things that drew you to Wednesday in the first place?
Yeah. I've got ambition, but we just have to make sure that we maintain the progress that we are trying to do. We need to get ourselves out of this mess and move forward and keep moving forward.
You would fall into the 'sleeping giant' category, but you are one of many in the Sky Bet Championship at the moment aren't you?
There are a lot. I think there are only two or three clubs that have never played in the Premier League before, so it just shows you how tight it is and what everyone is chasing. We all want that Holy Grail. Some clubs can throw money at it and others have to do it another way.
Your managerial CV suggests you are someone who sticks around in jobs, is that your intention at Wednesday - see the job through?
I hope so. I hope I can make the club what it wants to be and what it deserves to be. To be able to do that, we haven't got an abundance of money to throw at it, you have got to do it slowly. I know people don't like that, but that's what it has to be. That's how it has to be done because those are the cards that you have been dealt. If you do it right, there is no reason why the club can't build and be solid for many, many years to come.
Dave Jones was talking to Sky Sports on behalf of Sky Bet, the Title Sponsor of The Football League.
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