Rodrigo Hernandez - Atletico confirm deal - p192

[Neville Kneville]

He isn't as good as Gundogan.

I don't understand how anyone can even begin to think that.

 

[oldius]

The blinkers are firmly attached in this thread and it is now he said/she said, tit for tat.

We have 2 great players with distinct skill sets, but both are doing a very good job in one of the greatest Premier League teams in history.

 

[Neville Kneville]

The blinkers are firmly attached in this thread and it is now he said/she said, tit for tat.

We have 2 great players with distinct skill sets, but both are doing a very good job in one of the greatest Premier League teams in history.

I'm not discussing it from that point of view, I'm talking about the kind of player we need in the squad, to cover Fernandinho.

I like the look of this player, as someone who could learn that job.

There are not too many around.

 

[oldius]

I'm not discussing it from that point of view, I'm talking about the kind of player we need in the squad, to cover Fernandinho.

I like the look of this player, as someone who could learn that job.

There are not too many around.

We have proven that we do not need someone to do the exact job that Fern does but I do not wish to get involved in whether one player does it or does not. Opinions clearly will not be swayed, in my direction or yours.

 

[Neville Kneville]

We have proven that we do not need someone to do the exact job that Fern does but I do not wish to get involved in whether one player does it or does not. Opinions clearly will not be swayed, in my direction or yours.

No we haven't, at all.

If he hadn't played v Utd, for example, they would have scored a tap in first half at a time they were trying flat out.

That might have cost us the title. He has been crucial in so many aspects like that, for years & the lack of appreciation from some is stunning.

 

[simon23]

we definitely need as close to a like to like replacement. I know our game is based about possession and recycling possession asap but Peps game plan is based on a level of risk and when we lose possession we need a player who can recover quickly - this is what Fernandes gives you and Gundogan doesn't (there are lots of other arguments about ho is better in terms of Gundogan and Ferna with both players having positive and negatives) but in this one role in particular (Regaining possession and covering defensively a Ferna like player is what we need and not a Gundogan type.

 

[g180aj]

We don't need the second coming of Fernandinho, we need a player that pep decides has the skill set to make us better and who he can mould into his vision.

 

[Neville Kneville]

We don't need the second coming of Fernandinho, we need a player that pep decides has the skill set to make us better and who he can mould into his vision.

Which will be a player who can learn to drop in & protect the defence in key moments, whether he's similar to Fernandinho, or not.

If it's a Gundogan or Jorginho instead, we will end up defaulting back to Fern still doing it & then signing a player who can do it, the year after. Just as Pep still defaulting to a semi 'past it' Vincent Kompany in the toughest games, in spite of signing 'ball playing' defenders.

 

[Mike D]

Which will be a player who can learn to drop in & protect the defence in key moments, whether he's similar to Fernandinho, or not.

If it's a Gundogan or Jorginho instead, we will end up defaulting back to Fern still doing it & then signing a player who can do it, the year after. Just as Pep still defaulting to a semi 'past it' Vincent Kompany in the toughest games, in spite of signing 'ball playing' defenders.

I would have to disagree with you on the point on Kompany. The reason for playing him is for his experience and leadership skills which are essential in the last few games that we have played. There is still bit left in the tank and when you watch these tense games you realise the importance of Vinny and how he holds things together at the back.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I would have to disagree with you on the point on Kompany. The reason for playing him is for his experience and leadership skills which are essential in the last few games that we have played. There is still bit left in the tank and when you watch these tense games you realise the importance of Vinny and how he holds things together at the back.

And the fact he 'defends'. Sometimes just by flattening somebody rather than taking the risk of letting them go.

Kompany & Fernandinho, are the two best defenders at the club. Both are on their last legs & losing both to replace with people who try to nick the ball & knock it around nicely, takes away a whole aspect of our squad. We need that option, in the Premier League in particular, but we have also been knocked out of the Champions League for the past 3 seasons, due to piss poor defending allround when teams have got at us.

We want to improve on that, not make it worse.