Fernando vs Garcia

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

I would criticize him just yet but I would have preferred if we went for Luis Gustavo. I made the suggestion here back when we were looking to get rid of Garcia.

 

[grim up north]

I would criticize him just yet but I would have preferred if we went for Luis Gustavo. I made the suggestion here back when we were looking to get rid of Garcia.

Well done

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

not much to choose between these 2 players , Fernando is more athletic , Garcia was a better reader of the game , but neither were as good as DeJong , why the hell the club let nigel leave for peanuts , in the prime of his career , is still a mystery.

 

[cookster]

Somewhat ironic that the two best performers in recent weeks have been Navas and Fernando and yet these are the players who are getting stick

The players that have played way below their normal level are Kompany and Aguero. Kompany has been a liability in the last two games. I thought his attitude yesterday was really bad. Instead of defending, when he got the ball he was trying to beat the forwards. What's the point of that when you're in your own half. Aguero is getting better, but in one way he really should not be starting. The only reason he is, is because he's such an asset when he's on the top of his game and that will happen quicker if he plays more games.

I think Fernando has been playing games recently because we've been without other players. He's a Makele type. His deficiencies with the ball at his feet are shown up when we play a defensive team. Much of what he does is missed by fans who only see flicks and one twos

Fernando is getting stick because he was at fault for 2 of the last 3 goals we've conceded. Navas cross conversation rate is 1 in 10 at best.

If you think Kompany is not getting stick open you're eyes and move to the Kompany thread.

 

[kunaguero10]

Somewhat ironic that the two best performers in recent weeks have been Navas and Fernando and yet these are the players who are getting stick

The players that have played way below their normal level are Kompany and Aguero. Kompany has been a liability in the last two games. I thought his attitude yesterday was really bad. Instead of defending, when he got the ball he was trying to beat the forwards. What's the point of that when you're in your own half. Aguero is getting better, but in one way he really should not be starting. The only reason he is, is because he's such an asset when he's on the top of his game and that will happen quicker if he plays more games.

I think Fernando has been playing games recently because we've been without other players. He's a Makele type. His deficiencies with the ball at his feet are shown up when we play a defensive team. Much of what he does is missed by fans who only see flicks and one twos

Kompany a liability while Fernando is our most in-form player. I'm going back to bed.

 

[lasereyes]

Winning over 70% of your duels in Europe's top club competition and over 50% of the Premier League would indicate that yes.

It's not the total, it's how many you win, and when Javi challenged in the air far more often than not he won.

Thanks for agreeing he's better in the air.

As for tackles per game, I'd be more interested in success rate. The amount of times someone tackles doesn't indicate they're better, follow along please; the amount of shots a striker takes isn't really indicative of anything, their conversion rate is a better measure.

The stats are the number of successful tackles. And Fernando is twice as good as Garcia. Not to say Fernando is any great shakes. But shows how awful Garcia is on that.

And of course the number you win counts more than the %. If one player contests and wins 5 out of 7 battles and another wins 1 out of 1, who is more useful? So in those stats you cite (in a grand total of 4 CL games - not exactly statistically significant), how many "duels" did he actually take on?

The main problem with Garcia is a basic lack of ball skill and (probably directly related) his passivity. I don't really care if a player wins a couple of headers in a game in non-threatening positions and does nothing else of use.

There's a reason he was moved on and to a club like Zenit St Petersburg who couldn't get out of a piss easy CL group.

'Boro's first goal was the result of Fernando shitting out of a header in midfield; whereas that was Javi's strong point.

I don't want him back nor think he's better than he was simply because he's gone but he does have advantages over Fernando and vice versa. Garcia certainly improved at the end of his time here but thats unfair to compare to Fernando's first few months. However, challenging and winning headers was something you could never knock regarding Javi at any point. So to see you say he's "maybe slightly better" is as the numbers show, a disservice.

I'm still doubtful of this leg breaking image Fernando has gathered though.

I don't think either is or was good enough for the long haul. Both have positives and negatives but to me they probably cancel out but the last 2 games Fernando has made a few mistakes leading to goals in situations where a good header of the ball would have cleared the danger.

My opinion of Javi now is consistent of when he was here. He had the turning circle of an oil tanker but a route one ball up the middle (like today) and he dealt with it.

No question Fernando was at fault for the first goal - at least 2 or 3 times during the move. But he's also saved us on a number of occasions in recent weeks with last ditch tackles that Garcia wouldn't attempt even in his wet dreams.

But I'm with you that neither is what we want as a frontline holding midfielder. I'm not quite ready to write-off Fernando altogether yet because: (a) it's half a season and everyone takes time to adjust to the PL; and (b) he has had some decent games and could be a serviceable backup which we need given injuries, cup games, etc.

Anyway, we move on to Chelsea. I would play Milner in central midfield - I thought he was pretty decent yesterday certainly in the first half and he and Fernandinho is probably the best we have available right now.

 

[Heart.net]

In hindsight, i think we should have kept Garcia and instead purchased a Central Midfielder in Joao Moutinho. A midfield of Yaya, Moutinho, Fernandinho and Garcia is more balanced than what we have now.

 

[Shaelumstash]

Somewhat ironic that the two best performers in recent weeks have been Navas and Fernando and yet these are the players who are getting stick

The players that have played way below their normal level are Kompany and Aguero. Kompany has been a liability in the last two games. I thought his attitude yesterday was really bad. Instead of defending, when he got the ball he was trying to beat the forwards. What's the point of that when you're in your own half. Aguero is getting better, but in one way he really should not be starting. The only reason he is, is because he's such an asset when he's on the top of his game and that will happen quicker if he plays more games.

I think Fernando has been playing games recently because we've been without other players. He's a Makele type. His deficiencies with the ball at his feet are shown up when we play a defensive team. Much of what he does is missed by fans who only see flicks and one twos

Most ridiculous comment I've read on Bluemoon in 2015.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Fernando is an upgrade on Garcia but that doesn't make him the quality we require.Schneiderlin would have been the better signing but he would have cost considerably more than 12m.

Also,i suspect Fernando's transfer played a part in the arrival of Mangala.

 

[BillyShears]

Fernando is an upgrade on Garcia but that doesn't make him the quality we require.Schneiderlin would have been the better signing but he would have cost considerably more than 12m.

Also,i suspect Fernando's transfer played a part in the arrival of Mangala.

I think Garcia had better hair than Fernando though. ;)

Seriously though, I think that's about the long and short of it. You get what you pay for and at 12 million we got a defensive midfield player with CL experience who is probably best suited to sitting in front of the back four and staying out of the opposition's half.

Too many times he's been caught on the turn because he's too far up field. Something which was a problem for Garcia too which is why people are rewriting history to make Garcia out as the better player. However in terms of passing, tackling, mobility, technical quality, Fernando is head and shoulders the better player IMO.