Fernandinho. 68 goals in 385 games. As a midfielder, scoring a goal every 5 or 6 matches isn’t bad. Many top Premier League midfielders can’t do that. Juan Mata, maybe. Santi Cazorla, unlikely. So although Manchester City may now have a midfielder who can certainly score the goals, is he worth it? There are three main reasons that come to mind when thinking about Fernandinho and his £30 million price tag.
The first main reason, possibly the biggest issue, is the league he played in. Fernandinho signed from Shakthar Donetsk. Sure, Shakthar are a good team, playing in the UEFA Champions League more often than not, and often progressing well in the competition. But what other competition do they have in the Ukrainian League. After playing 3o games, Shakthar lost once. They lost to Arsenal Kyiv, who finished mid table. All big leagues have their rivalries. Spain have FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, France have Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco to arise soon, with Lyon and Marseille already battling for top spot. In Germany, FC Bayern and Borussia, possibly one of the biggest rivalries in the world at the moment. England have the Manchester and London derbies, with many teams possible winners. But Shakthar, they have Dynamo Kyiv. Now Dynamo are a good side, Miguel Veloso and Niko Kranjcar being players many people know. But they don’t really compare to the likes of Shakthar, finishing in third place in the league.
So, in the league, Shakthar don’t have any competition, expecting wins week in, week out, not being challenged much. The likes of Eduardo, Douglas Costa and Darijo Srna can win any week they want. This shows that Fernandinho has no real competition. He is definitely a good player, no one can doubt it. But many people have only seen him play in the Ukrainian League, against easier teams. When it comes to Europe, and the Champions League, Fernandinho hasn’t shone as much. He may have completed more dribbles in the 2012-13 Champions League than any other player, but in England, football isn’t all about dribbling. Football is much more physical in England, in which dribbling isn’t seen as a key strength as much in comparison to in Spain or France. There it is an art, here, it is an annoyance. Will Fernandinho be able to adapt to the football here, and show he is good in any league, or is he a player who can only perform to a high standard in lower leagues.
The next possible issues comes from within the Manchester City squad. Over the recent years, the side has come into a lot of money, thanks to new owners. Money has been spent on players, and Manchester City fielded an entirely new Starting XI. An XI that on paper could destroy any team in the world. However, on the pitch, it was a different matter. The club had bought too many players, and they could play well together. There was no motivation, no chemistry, and this was an issue. However, when Kompany lifted the Barclays Premier League trophy in 2012, things had seemed to turn around. Since then the team have looked more like… a team, playing well together. However, could bringing in more players affect the team. Surely with an arrival of a player like Fernandinho, departures must occur.
Carlos Tevez has been linked with a probable move away, but while strikers Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero look to stay, the club have since been linked with other strikers to replace Tevez, Edison Cavani of Napoli being an example. In the midfield, Yaya Toure sits nicely in a defensive position, David Silva having some of his best games of his life attacking in a blue shirt. Samir Nasri adapting nicely to the Manchester City way of football. City are now strongly linked to Jesus Navas, who could play out on the wing, challenging Rodwell, Milner and Barry all to places in the side. So, with a strong midfield, how will Fernandinho fit in? And if he does fit in, will he stay there, play enough to get £30 million worth of football out of him. He’s only played a handful of times for Brazil, and a regular place on the bench, which we have all seen with Nasri and Rodwell, could push him out of the national side even more. Will he get used effectively in Manchester?
And finally, an issue that could arise in the near future is thanks to the sacking of manager Roberto Mancini. Manchester City have made the signing, while still not having a manager. Manuel Pellegrini may be very close to signing a deal, with an apparent verbal agreement being made, but how does he feel about Fernandinho. If he doesn't like the playing style of Fernandinho, could it be £30 million wasted. The Manchester City chairman may have spoken to Manuel about the signing, but he is still yet to see the side, manage them and find out what they are like. Bringing in a player already could damage his side. Pellegrini may get to Manchester City and find he likes the squad how it is. Could £30 million be a risk.
I still like Fernandinho as a player, and I really hope adapts to English football and plays like has he done in Ukraine, however, I do feel this was a transfer completed too early in the market. Fernandinho: Samba Success or Manchester Misery?
The first main reason, possibly the biggest issue, is the league he played in. Fernandinho signed from Shakthar Donetsk. Sure, Shakthar are a good team, playing in the UEFA Champions League more often than not, and often progressing well in the competition. But what other competition do they have in the Ukrainian League. After playing 3o games, Shakthar lost once. They lost to Arsenal Kyiv, who finished mid table. All big leagues have their rivalries. Spain have FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, France have Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco to arise soon, with Lyon and Marseille already battling for top spot. In Germany, FC Bayern and Borussia, possibly one of the biggest rivalries in the world at the moment. England have the Manchester and London derbies, with many teams possible winners. But Shakthar, they have Dynamo Kyiv. Now Dynamo are a good side, Miguel Veloso and Niko Kranjcar being players many people know. But they don’t really compare to the likes of Shakthar, finishing in third place in the league.
So, in the league, Shakthar don’t have any competition, expecting wins week in, week out, not being challenged much. The likes of Eduardo, Douglas Costa and Darijo Srna can win any week they want. This shows that Fernandinho has no real competition. He is definitely a good player, no one can doubt it. But many people have only seen him play in the Ukrainian League, against easier teams. When it comes to Europe, and the Champions League, Fernandinho hasn’t shone as much. He may have completed more dribbles in the 2012-13 Champions League than any other player, but in England, football isn’t all about dribbling. Football is much more physical in England, in which dribbling isn’t seen as a key strength as much in comparison to in Spain or France. There it is an art, here, it is an annoyance. Will Fernandinho be able to adapt to the football here, and show he is good in any league, or is he a player who can only perform to a high standard in lower leagues.
The next possible issues comes from within the Manchester City squad. Over the recent years, the side has come into a lot of money, thanks to new owners. Money has been spent on players, and Manchester City fielded an entirely new Starting XI. An XI that on paper could destroy any team in the world. However, on the pitch, it was a different matter. The club had bought too many players, and they could play well together. There was no motivation, no chemistry, and this was an issue. However, when Kompany lifted the Barclays Premier League trophy in 2012, things had seemed to turn around. Since then the team have looked more like… a team, playing well together. However, could bringing in more players affect the team. Surely with an arrival of a player like Fernandinho, departures must occur.
Carlos Tevez has been linked with a probable move away, but while strikers Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero look to stay, the club have since been linked with other strikers to replace Tevez, Edison Cavani of Napoli being an example. In the midfield, Yaya Toure sits nicely in a defensive position, David Silva having some of his best games of his life attacking in a blue shirt. Samir Nasri adapting nicely to the Manchester City way of football. City are now strongly linked to Jesus Navas, who could play out on the wing, challenging Rodwell, Milner and Barry all to places in the side. So, with a strong midfield, how will Fernandinho fit in? And if he does fit in, will he stay there, play enough to get £30 million worth of football out of him. He’s only played a handful of times for Brazil, and a regular place on the bench, which we have all seen with Nasri and Rodwell, could push him out of the national side even more. Will he get used effectively in Manchester?
And finally, an issue that could arise in the near future is thanks to the sacking of manager Roberto Mancini. Manchester City have made the signing, while still not having a manager. Manuel Pellegrini may be very close to signing a deal, with an apparent verbal agreement being made, but how does he feel about Fernandinho. If he doesn't like the playing style of Fernandinho, could it be £30 million wasted. The Manchester City chairman may have spoken to Manuel about the signing, but he is still yet to see the side, manage them and find out what they are like. Bringing in a player already could damage his side. Pellegrini may get to Manchester City and find he likes the squad how it is. Could £30 million be a risk.
I still like Fernandinho as a player, and I really hope adapts to English football and plays like has he done in Ukraine, however, I do feel this was a transfer completed too early in the market. Fernandinho: Samba Success or Manchester Misery?