Sheffield Wednesday were disappointed to only pick up a point against Preston North End this weekend, and Liam Palmer was a particular source of frustration.
After two wins on the road last week, Sheffield Wednesday were on a high going into the clash with Preston at Hillsborough.
However, Danny Rohl’s side were unable to get the better of their opponents on a wet and windy afternoon in S6, and had to settle for a share of the points.
Liam Palmer bore the brunt of the fans’ criticism after the game, and one thing is now abundantly clear when it comes to the Wednesday icon.
Liam Palmer has to play centre-back from now on
With Owls captain Barry Bannan missing through suspension, Liam Palmer was handed the armband and a starting spot in the centre of midfield, but lasted only 45 minutes before being replaced.
Analysing the game as part of BBC Radio Sheffield’s coverage, Adam Oxley discussed Palmer’s involvement and what can be done moving forward to get the best out of the 33-year-old.
Oxley said: “He’s probably best served as a centre-back, probably as one of three centre-halves. It gives [Yan] Valery license to get up and down.”
| Statistics | Liam Palmer vs Preston North End |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 45 |
| Touches | 28 |
| Pass success | 84% |
| Duels won | 50% |
| Possession lost | 4 |
| Fouls | 2 |
It would seem a shrewd move to give Palmer that stability and support around him at the back rather than leaving him exposed in the middle of the park.
Given his age and deteriorating physical attributes, Palmer simply cannot offer the dynamism needed to dominate central areas in the game, and is probably now better suited to playing more of a sweeper role where he doesn’t need to track back as much.
- READ MORE: Danny Rohl’s damning Sheffield Wednesday revelation shows how poor they were against Preston
This must be Liam Palmer’s final year with Sheffield Wednesday
Palmer has been an incredibly loyal servant to the club for more than a decade now, and as things stand, he will go down as a Sheffield Wednesday legend, but he has to be careful not to harm his legacy.
Granted, he will only play a bit-part role this season anyway, and we know Palmer always gives 100% to the cause, but he simply has to raise his game otherwise the fans will quickly forget all the good things he has done over the years if he continues to let the team down.
Palmer is one of a number of Sheffield Wednesday players whose contract expires at the end of the season, and it would be very surprising if he were given a new deal now.
It may not be quite time for Palmer to call time on his career entirely, but clearly he is not equipped to play at Championship level now sadly. As a free agent next summer, Palmer can find a new club further down the Football League and hopefully end his playing days on a high.