Fernando has turned it around

Ric said:
I doubt he was instructed to offer a threat offensively tonight.

a) it's not his game
b) there was no need to

He's not great, but it's akin to slagging off Aguero's defensive ability.
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A lot of people seem to just not understand the concept of a holding midfielder. It's probably the reason why Gareth Barry is the only english holding midfield player and every single other midfielder is a charge around headless chicken, box to box midfielder. Then they cannot fathom why Gerrard and Lampard don't play well together for England.

I can understand people not thinking Fernando is good enough, but a hell of a lot of the criticism of him isn't even about him, it's about holding midfielders in general.
 
Ric said:
I doubt he was instructed to offer a threat offensively tonight.

a) it's not his game
b) there was no need to

He's not great, but it's akin to slagging off Aguero's defensive ability.
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Possibly true he was not required to offer anything going forward offensively tonight, but saying its 'not his game' is not true, it's basically because he is unable to do it.

The guy in that position acts as the conductor for the entire team. I'm not expecting him to pop up with ten goals a season but offering a threat offensively could be achieved by not requiring a silva/Yaya even Aguero to come deep and collect the ball of him to set up the next attack. It slows down momentum, takes away another option for a forward pass (as an attacking player has come to collect the ball) and is exactly the reason we have threads discussing our lack of invention, pedestrian football and isolation of the striker.
 
Did his job tonight, in a simple manner, cuts things out, and gives it to a more skilful player, much the same as De Jong did. At his best when you hardly notice him, like tonight.
 
Thought he did his job well last night, second only to Yaya in the motm stakes. But definitely not good enough for City and will be moved on in the summer.
 
Bobbymanc said:
Maybe he should be considered as a centre back to replace Vincent?
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I don't think he reads the game well enough to do a CB job. Don't forget his run of missed tackles that led to goals earlier in the season - Juve and Stoke away were the most glaring examples.

He's a steady Eddie type of player, mostly 6.5/10 with the odd 7 and 5 thrown in. He did well enough last night but the opposition failed to put us under any concerted pressure and collectively we were fairly average so his performance was more noticeable. I doubt Pep will be starting him too often next season, if he's still here.
 
His position is in front of the 2 CB and he is doing ok

He played well last night and will need to do so again against the Rags with Vinny out

Fair play to the lad as he has had plenty of criticism
 
Sometimes he tried to push a bit too high for me. When the 2 CB's went off he should have just sat in there and keep it calm which he did in the main just a few times he got dragged out from where I'd want him. He has a big part to play in the run in for me. MP has to play the same set up as last night for all remaining games (although he probably won't) so he is going to be a big player in the remaining games.
 
Been meaning to say something about Fernando. Think he's quietly been doing some very good work at the base of the midfield. He seems fitter than he has been at any point since he joined.
 
He's been ok but just as he is ok, the other fern has suddenly become anonymous. Its been rare this season for one player to be consistently good. Most have had moments but all have been inconsistent.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
He's been ok but just as he is ok, the other fern has suddenly become anonymous. Its been rare this season for one player to be consistently good. Most have had moments but all have been inconsistent.
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That is exactly it, he has been ok. No more, no less.

Although I get frustrated with him he is what he is. A player no where near good enough for this level. It's not really his fault.

Just looking across Europe the top sides have the likes of Alonso, Kroos, Modric, Busquets, Thiago playing in the holding role or in the two in a 4-2-3-1. Players who are fantastic passers of a football and outstanding at providing a conduit from defence to attack. The modern holding player has to be much more than someone who breaks up play occasionally.

We have got Fernando and every time Yaya/Silva/Aguero come deep to pick the ball up of him it's a knife through the heart to any incisive, high tempo football
 
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