Sheffield Wednesday’s summer signings have been questioned by some.
Speaking at a press conference, which was broadcast via the club’s official Facebook page on Thursday, Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal explained his decision to sign midfield duo David Jones and Almen Abdi.
Wednesday midfielders Barry Bannan and Kieran Lee shone en route to last season’s play-off final, but that didn’t stop Carvalhal strengthening in the pair’s position during the summer transfer window.
The continued form of Bannan and Lee, however, has seen Jones and Abdi play peripheral roles in the Owls’ campaign so far – although Jones has started four of his side’s last five fixtures.
In contrast, Abdi, for whom Wednesday paid a reported £4 million, has featured in only one of Carvalhal’s last five starting elevens and has been given extra time to build up his fitness, having missed some of pre-season.
When asked why he chose to add to his midfield over other areas, Carvalhal posed a question of his own: “Why, for example, did Brighton bring (Steve) Sidwell and bring after (Oliver) Norwood when they have two very good midfielders to play like last season and they bring two more? Why they bring?” he asked.
“Maybe we (himself and Brighton’s Chris Hughton) don’t know what we’re doing as coaches! We played 55 games last season, our midfielders run 12 kilometres per game, we are playing every three days.
“Okay, Kieran Lee did fantastic, but Kieran Lee is an extra player – maybe he is from another planet. He played most of the games and (was) running all the time 12 or 13 kilometres – it is not normal.
“We need two players per position and midfield is very important in the team, we need quality players.”
Brighton, who Wednesday beat in last season’s play-offs, beat the Owls 2-1 at Hillsborough at the start of October and are currently four points ahead of them in second place.
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