I'd have no issue with a midfield three like we saw at Seville last year. Especially if we had Sané and Sterling out wide. Would need Jesus or Silva/De Bruyne in a 'false 9' though.
I do think that's the limitation of Fernando though. He really only excels in the traditional anchor man role and needs two more traditional centre mids with him. I don't think I'm alone in saying I don't like him in a 'two'.
It would have been interesting to see Fernando, Fernandinho and Gundogan in a defensive minded midfield.
And who would you have dropped?
Yes, with Sterling, Sane & GJ, all pressing. Obviously, it's not what we would prefer, we want DS & KDB, if we can do it, but away, in the Champs Lg, for example, in a situation where the oppo is trying to score, rather than trying to defend & hit us on the break, I think something like that could be deadly.
I actually think Fernando has been at his most effective when we're on the attack and dominating possession.
He's really good at stopping counterattacks, winning the ball high up the pitch and pinning teams in when they get a chance to get out of their half.
Definitely, it's a shame that such a large portion of the fanbase has never moved on from the opinion formed in his first season when he was playing through the groin injury.He's a very decent player when he has a run of games.
Right issue to address, currently with the wrong personnel to deploy.
I shudder to think how good our team would have been this season if we had signed Kante and let him put out the fires, with Fernandinho doing the Yaya job of linking the play.
Not sure how many of those players are out there.
No. Yaya has been an absolute catalyst for success. Fernando would not improve us in any way shape or form.He has been used that way, but wouldn't we be better as an all round team with him in there? I think Silva, KDB, Sterling, Jesus/Aguero and Sane would still be able to score goals.