Sheffield Wednesday’s defeat at Norwich City on Wednesday night has highlighted the lack of a particular player in the side.
Sheffield Wednesday saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end at Carrow Road last night.
It was a good first half performance for Danny Rohl‘s side but not a great second half performance, with Norwich regaining control of the game and eventually winning 3-1.
There were some decent individual performances on the night; Anthony Musaba and Will Vaulks impressed, but the likes of Bambo Diaby and Michael Ihiekwe struggled in the middle of defence.
Di’Shon Bernard was dropped for Ihiekwe who came in and after a decent first 45, he struggled in the second as the Owls capitulated.
Norwich City loss highlights need for a ball-playing defender
Sheffield Wednesday had some good passing going last night, but most of it was stemming from Vaulks and Barry Bannan in the midfield.
It wasn’t easy for the Owls to get from their end of the pitch to the other and it seems like Rohl could use a ball-playing defender in the middle of defence to help ease that transition.
Neither Diaby or Ihiekwe are that player, and Bernard isn’t either, though he perhaps stands the best chance of becoming that player should Rohl want him to.
The missing piece of the puzzle?
In the three games leading up to last night, Sheffield Wednesday looked like a new team.
They played their hearts out and the likes of Diaby and Bernard at the back defended heroically, whilst Vaulks in front of them provided excellent coverage for the back-line.
And whilst they were good overall performances and results, the Owls are perhaps not playing at their full capacity under Rohl just yet.
He has a clear mantra and a clear vision of how we wants this team to play.
We’re seeing definite changes with Bailey Cadamarteri fronting the high press, but behind that, there’s not enough passing quality in the side.
Bannan continues to pull the strings but it seems like Wednesday rely on him to play that killer pass too often.
The Owls need a centre-back who has a bit more space and time on the ball to pick out that long-range pass and instantly put Wednesday on the attack.
Should Rohl find someone who fits that mould, then it could prove to be a key piece of the puzzle that he’s putting together at Hillsborough.