Wednesday will line up at Watford this afternoon in the German’s curtain raiser and after they enjoyed a few weeks of work under the new boss.
When facing up against a back four, the Hornets have been less successful against their opponents in terms of scorelines, bagging 0.8 goals per 90 minutes while conceding 1.2 per 90.
They perform better than their back four opponents in terms of xG, however, creating chances at a rate of 1.14 xG to their 0.8.
With an admittedly smaller data sample in terms of minutes played, Championship sides have had more success against Watford with a back three or back five, scoring 1.75 per 90 to the Hornets’ 1.5 and achieving an xG of 1.75 to their 1.01.
A back three tends to open their matches up more, it seems.
With that in mind - and we’re aware we’re clutching at straws here - we’ve plumped for a back three with wing-backs.
Here’s how Danny Rohl’s Wednesday could line up at Vicarage Road this afternoon.
They perform better than their back four opponents in terms of xG, however, creating chances at a rate of 1.14 xG to their 0.8.
![Another player who will be chomping at the bit having been sidelined by Xisco, James is as things stand the only genuine left-sided player. You’d expect him to start with a back four or three.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg1ZjhhMzRjLTg0M2EtNDIyZS04ZjhjLWU2ZDYzNmI1MzExYzo5YzViMmE1Yi05ODYxLTRhNmUtOGJmYi04ZTA0YjdjMWZhM2M=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
9. LWB - Reece James
Another player who will be chomping at the bit having been sidelined by Xisco, James is as things stand the only genuine left-sided player. You’d expect him to start with a back four or three. Photo: Steve Ellis
![A vitally important player for Wednesday, the return of Windass along with that of Bannan will be a monumental boost. Where he plays will depend on the system of course, but he has proven he can score goals up top.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhiNTA2MWUwLTk0ZWUtNDgxZC05MzU2LWVlNjIyYmZiMzMwMTowYzQzOTNiMi1jZWZiLTQwYjAtYTBiYS1mZjIxODYxYWFhZWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
10. CF - Josh Windass
A vitally important player for Wednesday, the return of Windass along with that of Bannan will be a monumental boost. Where he plays will depend on the system of course, but he has proven he can score goals up top. Photo: Steve Ellis
![This spot could easily go to Lee Gregory, Ashley Fletcher or Callum Paterson but given his partnership with Windass for so much of last season it could well be that Smith is given a go to show what he can do.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/29/21/GettyImages-1578551301.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
11. CF - Michael Smith
This spot could easily go to Lee Gregory, Ashley Fletcher or Callum Paterson but given his partnership with Windass for so much of last season it could well be that Smith is given a go to show what he can do. | Getty Images