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 face a double-header this week in quick succession as they look to get back on track following a fourth game without a victory at the weekend.
The Owls were defeated by league leaders West Bromwich Albion, which would typically be no mark against the south Yorkshiremen, but they were only downed by a late 88th-minute penalty.
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Soon after striker Charlie Austin slotted home the spot-kick, Wednesday right-back Liam Palmer received his marching orders for a rash challenge, so manager Garry Monk will be forced into at least one change on Wednesday night.
On the Chalkboard
It means either Moses Odubajo earns a return to the starting line up or Dominic Iorfa slides across from centre-back and based on previous history, there’s only one clear choice.
Iorfa has cemented his place in the heart of Monk’s defence, but he has played over 100 league games at right-back in his career, where he has averaged 2.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 3.2 clearances and 2.3 dribbles per game at, via WhoScored.
Last season, the 24-year-old was part of a defence which kept a few lethal Championship attackers quiet as Teemu Pukki (29 goals), Neal Maupay (25 goals), and Billy Sharp (23 goals) all failed to bag when Iorfa lined up at right-back for the Owls.
Since moving into the centre, Iorfa has made great strides with his defensive game, which has no doubt been down to the influence of former central defender Monk, meaning he should be able to return to right-back with far greater qualities than he had then.
Odubajo, on the other hand, has somewhat suffered having not featured since a dire display against Wigan Athletic at the start of October, this run without playing will surely have stalled his match fitness slightly, which will only hand Iorfa more of an opportunity.
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This season, the former Hull City man has been dribbled past 1.7 times per match, whereas Iorfa has been an absolute rock letting someone past him just 0.2 times per game.
Monk has plenty of depth at centre-back so someone like skipper Tom Lees can easily slot inside next to Julian Borner.
In other news.. Sheffield Wednesday fans destroyed this Monk regular following his performance on Saturday.
