It’s been a month since Danny Rohl was installed as the new Sheffield Wednesday boss.
Since, the German has overseen five games in the Championship, with Sheffield Wednesday winning one of them and losing the remaining four.
That win over Rotherham United proved that the Owls can compete in this division. Though the most recent game; a 4-0 defeat at home to Millwall showed just how far Wednesday have to go if they’re to beat the drop this season.
Fans have been impressed with the changes made in Rohl’s early days in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, but there’s also been a handful of decisions that have left a few wondering.
Here we discuss four mistakes that Rohl has so far made at Sheffield Wednesday…
Keeping Cameron Dawson in goal
Cameron Dawson came back into the side following Xisco Munoz‘s exit.
The 28-year-old was reinstated by Neil Thompson for the game vs Huddersfield Town in which he kept a clean sheet, and Dawson then kept a clean sheet in the win over Rotherham.
But he’s done little to suggest that he should be Sheffield Wednesday’s no.1. His shot-stopping and ball-playing ability have often come under criticism and, especially in the last outing vs Millwall, he looked really low on confidence.
Devis Vasquez is a worthy no.2 and whilst he certainly has areas to improve, he may well be a better option in goal; he showed that in performances vs Leeds United and Ipswich Town earlier in the season.
Persisting with Bambo Diaby
Bambo Diaby is one of several summer signings who’ve not really impressed this season.
He’s had some rather catastrophic performances so far this season including his 1/10 showing vs Sunderland earlier on which was labelled as one of the worst performances from any Wednesday player ever.
He didn’t inspire vs Millwall last time out either, and with names like Michael Ihiekwe and Liam Palmer on the bench in favour of Diaby, it’s a somewhat questionable decision to keep him in the XI.
Paterson out of position
Callum Paterson is a well-liked player in this Sheffield Wednesday side. He always gives his all and his work-rate is second to none.
But Rohl has been deploying Paterson in a right wing-back position which, so far, he’s been unable to impress in.
He was somewhat wasted in that area in the game vs Millwall and someone like Palmer, or even one of Marvin Johnson or Reece James could offer more at right wing-back.
Paterson is best deployed in attack or as an impact substitute.
Byers over Buckley
George Byers is another well-liked name in the side. He shone during Sheffield Wednesday’s two seasons in League One but this time round, he’s yet to do anything spectacular.
Wednesday have some decent options in the middle; Barry Bannan is the obvious starter and when Momo Diaby is fit again, he may well be the next best candidate under Rohl.
But loan man John Buckley isn’t playing all that often and given his previous performances with Blackburn Rovers at Championship level, it’s left many wondering why he’s not playing.
He’s a very similar type of player to Byers but he’s perhaps more Championship tried and tested. What the future holds for him at Hillsborough though remains to be seen.