First-team coach Shaun Derry has admitted his first few months of working at Wolves have been a challenge, but one that he’s really enjoyed.
The former QPR and Crystal Palace midfielder arrived at Molineux alongside head coach Gary O’Neil just days before the start of the new Premier League season, and has spent the last three months settling into life in the Black Country with his new role seeing him head up the Old Gold’s defensive responsibilities.
Speaking to Kate Mason and Tim Spiers on the latest episode of the Football Gods podcast, Derry spoke about his first 90 days at Wolves, the role he plays under O’Neil, working at a club which is in the heart of its community and the different types of players he’s enjoying coaching at Compton Park.
On his first few months at Wolves
“It’s been quick, but it’s been excellent. I’ve really enjoyed it. It's been full blast, obviously, on the back of no pre-season and getting straight into work on it.
“I can remember coming up for a Wednesday night with the manager and Jenks [Tim Jenkins], and it was just the three of us at the time because Birchy [Ian Burchnall] had not arrived at that point.
“We were very quickly taken around the training ground and then a little meal with the hierarchy and you’re straight in the next day, meeting the players and going to work and hopefully trying to get them into believing in what you want to do.
“It was only three days we had until the Man United game, and then it's not stopped since. So, it's been a challenge, but it's been good. I’ve enjoyed it.”
On coaching at a big community club
“It's right in it. I said that as soon as I arrived, this is in the heart of the community. Football clubs always represent who you are, and this is this is exactly what I've been used to in the past, in my playing days, especially.
“It’s one of the real ‘spit-and-sawdust’ football clubs where Saturday afternoons just mean everything for the week, and you can sense that whether you’re just driving through, or whether you’re walking through the city, everything comes to life on the Saturday afternoon when your club is playing.
“I’ve been at various clubs, and you try and jump into the community. I’ve been jumping into what this club means, all the experiences that I've had as a footballer, you always try and represent the fans and represent the values of the city and the towns that you’re playing in.”
On role in O’Neil coaching set-up
“My job is to give my opinion. That's what Gary likes. He likes me to watch the game and give opinions. I generally watch the defensive situations that we find ourselves in and try to give feedback on that.
“But Gary, as you know and have seen, he’s all hands on deck and unbelievably accurate with what he’s witnessing. But the team works well. We’ve all got differences and we all see the game very differently, but I think that's good when you’re creating this coaching team, you don’t really want everyone to be the same.
“I would generally watch the back four, defensive midfielders, and just see if there's anything I can help out with on a matchday and then feedback at half time, full time, and throughout the week. But it’s been very good. Gaz is very good.”
On VAR controversies
“I like the moment of being able to cheer a goal. I like it as a coach, as a manager, I like it when the fans are able to cheer a goal, and unless it's ruled out by the referee or the linesman because of offside or whatever the situation is, you can feel encapsulated in that moment, and that's something that we've lost in the game.
“There seems to be this pause at the minute where you're hoping and praying that nothing gets stopped in its tracks and you can still continue that feeling and that emotion. Whether it's desperation if you've conceded a goal or it’s unbelievable happiness that you can share with the coaching staff, with your players, with the fans that are supporting you, I think we've lost that in the game, and it's such a shame.
“Over the last year, 18 months, I’ve paused [before celebrating a goal] and it's a shame. It really is. For me now, supporting Gary and the coaches here, you’re sat there watching the replays on the iPads, you’re linked up to the analysts upstairs, you're asking questions and then, obviously, you’ve got the big screen and if it says VAR is checking the goal, you’re devastated if it’s ruled out.”
On getting to know the Wolves squad
“We're still learning about each other. It’s still early days. But 11, 12 games into the season already, we’re starting to trust each other, we’re starting to believe in each other, but through moments of adversity, you gain strength from them and a togetherness.
“Gary is massive with that in terms of trying to create values of family and trust and togetherness. Even in the moments of disappointment this season with some of the decisions that we feel have been harsh against us, we've spoken about it, we've dealt with it, we've addressed it, we've faced it and we’ve moved forward. That’s what you’ve got to do.
“The players have been great. Of course, they're disappointed, they're emotional, and it has consequences, football does, decisions do, and they have major consequences, especially ones that go against you, but they've been great. They’ve been a good bunch.”
On having ‘dream’ players at Molineux
“As the kind of romantic football fan supporter, I've loved working with Pedro Neto. He's firstly a remarkable young man and very serious about his football, but he plays the game with a smile on his face. He’s got this enthusiasm for the game which is infectious.
“Then from a different kind of angle, from a coach's perspective, somebody like Dawson is a manager's dream because he comes in every day and you just know exactly what you're going to get from him.
“You've got this unbelievable, flamboyant, really interesting dynamic player, and then you've got this really reliable guy, who you just know exactly what you're going to get every day. Then within it, you've got the makeup of a football club and a football team with 25 players – all who've got different components of both players, which is what makes a group.”
