This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Sheffield Wednesday may be heading into the international break outside of the playoff zone, but they should be hugely encouraged on their return.
Garry Monk’s side currently sit in eighth position and have suffered from a spell of indifferent form, if you can call it that.
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Since the 40-year-old took charge at the start of September, the Owls have only lost twice in ten league matches while recently they have only managed to win one of their last five games.
It is quite hard to grasp just how well Monk is doing at the club, but when comparing it to their previous somewhat successful seasons, it makes for positive reading.
On the Chalkboard
Wednesday could quite easily be as high as second place, considering that they have thrown crucial points away in three of their last five matches.
Swansea City snagged a point last time out after defender Ben Wilmot scrambled home an attempt in injury time, just minutes after the Owls thought they had won it through Morgan Fox’s 91st-minute strike.
While Blackburn Rovers came from behind to snatch all three points at Ewood Park and Cardiff City fired home a dubious free-kick to do the exact same not too long ago.
Currently, their total of 25 points has them one point better off than what they managed in both of former boss Carlos Carvalhal’s playoff campaigns.
Last season, Wednesday were sat in 17th at this stage while under the Portuguese native in those aforementioned successes, they were tenth and ninth.
The Owls’ goal difference is also considerably higher than last season, and both the playoff runs with their total of 21 goals being no worse than any season in the previous five years.
Given much of the squad were part of those playoff runs – the likes of Keiren Westwood, Steven Fletcher, Adam Reach, Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson, Barry Bannan, and Fernando Forestieri, they know exactly what’s ahead, and they can surely use that experience to get them over the line this time around.