Wednesday Improving But Still Looking For Consistency
- Louis
- Oct 13, 2019
- 7 min read
Gary Monk has been in charge of The Owls for a month now and following a 1-0 home win over Wigan going into the current international break, it's been a very steady start for the new manager, showing more than a few signs of promise.
Under his tenure, Wednesday have so far managed three wins, one draw and one defeat from five league games, with a decent return of eight goals scored and only three conceded during that period.
The Championship table still gives reason for optimism to Owls fans who believe there is more to come from this team.
Key players like Fernando Forestieri, Sam Hutchinson and Tom Lees are returning from their respective bans and injuries to strengthen a squad that still only sits, not just a point outside the play offs but three points off top.
With Wednesday travelling to play Cardiff on Friday night, a win would at the very least see them occupy an automatic spot, if not a place at the summit going into Saturday's games.
There's plenty to be positive about looking forward but there are still things that Gary Monk will know needs to be addressed quickly and improved on if The Owls are to continue chasing those top spots.
Consistency
A key stat so far is that Wednesday are yet to record back-to-back league wins since the opening two games of the season. The inconsistency in that respect was highlighted when after probably their best performance of the season so far - a 4-1 hammering of Middlesborough at the Riverside - they turned in a sluggish performance as they were defeated 1-0 away at Hull, showing none of the ruthless finishing and quality in the final third that they had shown just a few days previous.
It's no coincidence that teams who are serious contenders for a top 6 spot generally are able to string together a run of three or four wins at several points over the season. Not all of those wins will be pretty and Wednesday need to learn how to turn those scrappy draws when they're not at their best into wins.
Attack
Steven Fletcher has been the man to lead Wednesday's attack so far this season and his consistent performances have made him the first choice in that position. A combination of a continued run in the side and staying injury free have helped the Scot find his best form yet during his time at Hillsborough.
Five goals and an assist in the league so far don't tell the whole story. He has led the line superbly at times. His ability in the air and awareness to bring other into play has been key and with Kadeem Harris enjoying a stellar start to his Wednesday career, Fletcher has found a winger who's instinct to run at defenders and put the ball into the box suits his game to a tee.
One problem which was highlighted during Fletcher's absence in the defeat at Hull, was despite a luxury of forwards on the club's books, there doesn't yet seem to be a stand out, back up striker or one to challenge Fletcher for a starting spot.
Atdhe Nuhiu continues to divide opinion but seems to only be capable of coming on as a sub to either help change the approach of a game or to help see it out. His last minute equalizer at home to Fulham was well taken but he doesn't seem to be able to have the same affect when starting matches.
Sam Winnall for all his effort just can't seem to find consistency in his play. He came on in Gary Monk's first game away at Huddersfield and put in the exact type of performance you would want from a substitution. His work rate and quality headed goal have so far been as good as it has got for him.
Jordan Rhodes is lucky at the minute if he makes the bench. Despite returning to the club over the summer and getting some much needed game time and goals during pre season, it still just doesn't seem to be clicking for him. Whilst I don't think he's the striker he was during his time at Blackburn or Huddersfield, I personally still believe in this team he could shine again and in terms of raw goals, he's the best back up to Steven Fletcher - bar Forestieri.
Dilemma at CB
Tom Lees has been one of the best signings for the club in recent history. The Owls captain has proven to be Mr Consistency through the seasons and has been one of the first names on the team sheet under each manager he has played under during his time at S6.
News of a hamstring injury before the QPR game brought worries amongst fans considering the start the club had made and how solid the defence looked. During his absence, Dominic Iorfa has been selected to stand in alongside new fan favourite and star centre back Julian Borner. After a shaky start to the partnership in the QPR defeat, Iorfa hasn't looked back. His impressive performances at his preferred centre back position has given manager Gary Monk plenty to ponder with Lees due to return from injury in time for the Cardiff game.
Iorfa's athletic build, pace and height have brought a different dimension to what Lees offers and he continues to be a threat in the oppositions box from set pieces. He opened his account for the season during the win over Middlesborough and since the QPR defeat, The Owls have kept two clean sheets and have not conceded more than one goal in any league game.
Some fans have suggested one possible solution is to push Iorfa out to right back and drop Moses Odubajo and bring Lees back in at the heart of the defence, however not only would that be harsh on Iorfa who has performed solidly in the role since Monk's arrival, but when you look at how much more comfortable and composed he looks at centre back compared to when he's played at right back, you can tell he prefers to be more central with options to pass either side of him.
Odubajo is another that divides opinions amongst fans, but barring the calamity at Preston, the right back has had a steady start to the season and will only improve. What doesn't need to happen is for fans to start giving him the kind of treatment Morgan Fox has been on the receiving end of from some quarters as no one from the player himself, to the team and squad as a whole will benefit from that.
Key Players Under Performing
There's two main players around the team at the minute who are capable of more than they've shown so far this season.
Adam Reach took a while to find his feet when he first signed for the club but enjoyed his best season at the club from a personal point of view last year. This season however he has been virtually non existent. He grabbed a well taken goal and provided an assist on his return to The Riverside last month but on the whole, the goals have dried up and he is struggling to make an impact in games. He's found himself in centre midfield, on the right and even playing behind the striker, but at no point has he looked like the lethal finisher he proved to be last season and Wednesday fans are hoping he can find some form when league action resumes.
Someone who is arguable vying for the same position as Reach but also struggling to hit the heights that fans were hoping for is on loan Jacob Murphy.
There was so much promise and excitement when it was announced The Owls had beaten off competition for his signature in August and his debut only fueled that fire when he scored his first goal for the club inside two minutes. Since then, Murphy has failed to live up to the hype and found himself in and out of the team as a result. For someone with his pace and quality, fans expect him to square up defenders, get past them and have some end product, like Kadeem Harris has been doing on a regular basis, but whether it's down to indecision or lack of confidence, Murphy just hasn't shown anything like what was expected of him.
During his substitute appearance in the defeat against Hull, the winger showed a glimpse of what he's capable of as he got the ball and tried to be direct. He committed defenders and should have been awarded a penalty but he needs to show that sort of confidence and directness more consistently.
Gary Monk will certainly have been working hard with both Reach and Murphy during the international break to help them find some end product and confidence to take into games to help not only themselves, but the likes of Steven Fletcher who will be relying on service from the wide pair in a bid to keep the goals coming.
Forestieri Returns
After what seemed like a never ending saga, Forestieri will return to the squad free of the racism row which has clouded him for well over a season now.
There's no doubt whatsoever that he adds more than most to the squad and is still one of the best players in the league. His return to the team will be a massive boost (Not for some people who will now be a gardener, bar man or even sales assistant short) for Gary Monk who has been looking for someone to play in behind Fletcher and be that creative spark in the final third around the box and there aren't many better on his day.
The last couple of years have been a story of suspensions and injuries for Forestieri but with all that now behind him, fans and team mates alike will be excited at the prospect of having the tricky attacker back in the first team.
His goal and performance as a whole away at Norwich last season was the type of thing fans were used to seeing during his first season at the club and if he can find that form consistently again, then it will be like having a new signing in the team.
Wednesday don't have another player like him in the squad and he could be the exact missing link between midfield and attack to help bring more goals.
In summary, there's things to work on for sure but there's every reason to be positive and to have optimism so far this season.
The squad is looking healthy and near enough injury free. Defensively, Wednesday have looked relatively solid so far on the whole and going forward they have looked dangerous without always probably been as clinical as they could have been.
Gary Monk has brought a bit more direction to the team and his identity is starting to take shape.
The key thing for Wednesday is to start turning those scrappy performances and tight games into wins and to start putting together a run of three of four wins on the bounce to help propel the team into the promotion spots.
Three of the next six league games are against Leeds, Swansea and West Brom, games which will sure test The Owls promotion credentials as the season starts to truly take shape.
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