da bwin： Sheffield Wednesday dropped out of the play-off positions at the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Barnsley, while Fulham picked up a 1-0 victory away at bottom-of-the-table Rotherham United to leapfrog the Owls in the table.
da wazamba： Carlos Carvalhal’s men have now just won one of their last seven Championship matches as their top six hopes look to be fading, and the Portuguese boss must do something if he is to turn his side’s fortunes around and make sure they don’t end the season with a whimper.
The 51-year-old certainly has time too with seven matches of the campaign remaining, and a trip to already-relegated Rotherham United in another Yorkshire derby on Tuesday night could be the right fixture at the right time.
Incredibly, they face the sixth-placed Cottagers at Hillsborough on the final day, in what could be a make-or-break game for both sides.
Here are four changes Carvalhal must make to save their play-off dream…
A change of system
The Sheffield Wednesday boss has been without Fernando Forestieri in recent weeks because of injury, while the likes of Kieran Lee and Gary Hooper have missed the majority of the season.
These are key players for the Owls and when their creativity is missing from the side, Carvalhal perhaps needs to look at utilising a formation that will give them more control – perhaps with five players in midfield – if he knows his side are going to struggle to find the net at the other end.
Give wingers a consistent run
Everyone knows that wingers can be the most consistent players on a football pitch, and it can be even harder for them if they play one game and then find themselves on the substitutes’ bench for the next one.
Individuals like Calum McManaman and Will Buckley need a run of games to find a good level – there is no doubt that they can be brilliant Championship players – but even when they aren’t injured they haven’t had that, even when the Owls have been struggling in recent weeks.
Drop one of the strikers
Even though Sam Winnall scored against former club Barnsley on Saturday, it has been a difficult start for the striker after he moved to the Owls from Oakwell during the January transfer window.
Perhaps it is the expectation but neither he, or another recent addition – Jordan Rhodes – look full of confidence at the moment, and perhaps it is time for the returning Gary Hooper – or even Steven Fletcher – to be given a consistent run in the starting line-up in order to help link the midfield with the attack.
Give Forestieri freedom
The Italian is arguably Sheffield Wednesday’s best players, and if he does return from injury against Rotherham United on Tuesday night – as he is expected to do – Carvalhal must give him a free role for the rest of the season.
The 27-year-old can create and score goals – he has 11 in 31 Championship appearances this term – and even if it means dropping a striker and playing Forestieri behind just one, it is something the Portuguese boss must do in order to boost his side’s dwindling goal threat.
Do you agree, Sheffield Wednesday fans? Let us know below.