The Owls midfield options are especially healthy following another busy summer in the transfer market.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal has a midfield conundrum.
As if last season’s regular central pairing of Barry Bannan and Kieran Lee wasn’t sufficient – the former being named in the Championship’s team of the year – the Portuguese has since added Almen Abdi and David Jones, both vital to promotion-winning sides over the past two campaigns.
Carvalhal has also strengthened out wide, with club-record signing Adam Reach and Sunderland loanee Will Buckley brought to compete with Ross Wallace, Marco Matias and talisman Fernando Forestieri – when he’s not being deployed up front.
But they surely can’t all play at once? Even for a man with published book on tactics, 4-6-0 seems a bit out-there.
As such, here are three ways in which Carlos could assemble his engine room – assuming everyone is fit and ready…
4-4-2 (narrow) – Jones, Bannan, Abdi, Lee (Forestieri as a second striker).
Pros: All of Wednesday’s best central options are playing and Forestieri is in – arguably – his best position.
Cons: There is little width, with two natural centre-mids on either side – at the expense of £5 million man Reach.
4-2-3-1 – Lee, Bannan, Abdi, Reach, Forestieri.
Pros: Abdi is in his best position, with Bannan and Lee still involved. Reach adds width (and could rotate with Forestieri and/or Abdi if required.
Cons: Forestieri isn’t as central as he likes and there is no natural holding player. The attacking impact of both Bannan and Lee is restricted.
4-5-1/4-3-3 – Jones, Lee, Bannan, Forestieri, Reach.
Pros: Plenty of space in which Forestieri and Reach can roam, while the presence of Jones in front of the back four could enable Bannan and Lee to have a greater influence on attacks.
Cons: No place for Abdi, who at £4 million is the Owls’ second most expensive summer recruit.
Which do you think is Wednesday’s best midfield?
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