Barry Bannan has addressed a recent fan criticism at Sheffield Wednesday.
In fact, the recent run of form has brought up a lot of criticisms at Sheffield Wednesday; some of old and some of new.
The older criticisms lie with Dejphon Chansiri.
The Owls are struggling right now and could quickly tumble down the Football League after this season, with a potentially perilous summer lying ahead.
More recent criticisms are of individuals, and even of Danny Rohl whose team selections and formations have come under the spotlight recently.
A quite strong critique of this season though, and of the 2-0 defeat vs Middlesbrough on Easter Monday, is Sheffield Wednesday’s inability to defend set pieces.
Barry Bannan addresses set-piece critics
There’s growing cries for Rohl and Chansiri to bring in a specialised set-piece coach.
It comes after a season thwart with goals conceded from corners and free kicks, with the first goal against Middlesbrough on Monday courtesy of a poorly defended set piece.
And Bannan has often been a central figure on the matter.
For several years, it seems, Bannan has largely been the set piece-taker for the Owls, though this season he’s handed the role over to names like Will Vaulks and Marvin Johnson.
Bannan was often criticised for his inability to put in corners especially, and addressing that criticism, whilst on the topic of shoddy set piece defending, Bannan said in the pre-QPR presser:
“At the minute, maybe, there’s a mixture of both attack and not good enough deliveries. Me personally, that’s probably why I’m off them now. I obviously see Twitter and see everyone moaning about my set plays, so everyone will be happy that I’m off them now, so hopefully we can start scoring goals from set plays.”
Sheffield Wednesday set piece solution
Bannan also revealed in the same interview that Rohl and the other coaches work on set pieces before games.
But clearly, something isn’t working right now.
It seems to be a lack of organisation when defending set-pieces and also a lack of aerial ability too, with not too many players in the side known for their aerial prowess.
And also, after a season where so many goals have been conceded from set plays, it’s inevitable that as soon as the opponent has a set play, Sheffield Wednesday players will start to panic.
For Rohl then, it might be a case of keeping the ball in play as much as possible, as they really can’t address this issue until the summer.
It’s a pretty calamitous situation for the club but needs must.
And Bannan’s demeanour in this most recent interview suggested that he too is becoming tired of the fortunes of the club this season, looking deject ahead of the run-in.