Fernando Simplifies Things For City

It was a roller coaster of a campaign for Manchester City last season.  In Manuel Pellegrini’s first season at the Etihad, City won two trophies and displayed some dominant displays of football.  What almost saw the Citizens lose the title however, was their inconsistent defending in the middle of the park.  

Particuarly away from home, Manchester City were too susceptible to the odd counter attack and poor run of play.  They would go missing for extended periods of matches, lacking the ability to defend in the middle third.  

Fernandinho is an excellent central midfielder, as is Yaya Toure.  However, as the year went on, it became clearer and clearer that both prefer to get forward more than track back.  

After two league games, Manchester City new boy Fernando is already panning out as the clubs most impactful signing of the summer.  Since Nigel De Jong left in the wake of their 2011-2012 championship, the Blues have been missing a steely defensive midfielder.  

Fernando fills this void, and although Fernandinho played alongside Yaya Toure for much of the year to great effect, the Brazilian was at fault for a lot of City’s positional indiscipline last season.  

In the big games, Pellegrini has the option to play the more defensive Fernando next to Toure, while Fernandinho would offer more going forward if he prefers an attacking side.  As we have seen in the first two games, Fernandinho can replace a forward from the bench and provide even more cover.  

In both instances, Pellegrini has done this to protect a lead, and in both instances Manchester City have closed out the game properly.  The chances of coming from behind against this team are even slimmer now.

Although he shows no signs of slowing down, Yaya Toure is getting old.  Fernando is the type of player who complements the Ivorian best, especially at this point in his career.  Liverpool, playing just one holding midfielder, ought to look at what Pellegrini does with his two central holders and think about fielding more support for Steven Gerrard.  

Poetically enough, Fernando is a much simpler player than Fernandinho.  They share a name and a starting position, but the latter is more flamboyant in both aspects.  With Fernando in the fold, Pellegrini has a means to simplify things on the pitch, which so far he has done after just two games.    

More Stars Yet to Feature

The opening weekend was undoubtedly an exciting one for premier league fans around the world.  Since the World Cup ended, it has been a long wait for the start of the season.  Many players made debuts for their respective clubs over the weekend, such as Dejan Lovren, Alexis, Ander Herrera, Fernando, and the impressive Dudan Tadic.  Here are some of the players who we have yet to see feature in the league.  

Emre Can, 20

I won’t hide the fact that Emre Can is one of my favorite signings of the summer for any team.  Upon seeing the Liverpool team sheet on my phone at 5:20 am Sunday morning, I was slightly let-down that Can didn’t feature for Brendan Rodgers’ side.  Can is physically imposing and will add steel to the midfield, a midfield where Lucas should no longer have a place.  

The Brazilian was wasteful in possession Sunday, and at times didn’t even put forth the drive and effort which probably earned him a role in the starting eleven.  It’s my opinion that Rodgers didn’t include more than Lovren and Manquillo in the squad so as not to take away the cohesion that last year’s group had.  Gradually, Liverpool’s new signings will see the field, but Can needs to sooner rather than later.  

Muhamed Besic, 21

Like Can, Besic will have to wait his turn to feature in the defensive midfield for his club.  Besic, a German-born Bosnian, starred for Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup in central midfield, but currently sits behind Gareth Barry and James McCarthy in selection for Roberto Martinez’ holding midfield roles.  

Besic brings more to the table offensively than either of the aforementioned midfielders, but away to Leicester City isn’t the ideal premier league debut for such a young player.  Besic could feature at Goodison Park against Arsenal at the weekend, but regardless should play a role in Everton’s plans this season.  

Ben Davies, 21

Given the carousel of left backs that Tottenham has been riding for the past several years, Ben Davies should be gifted a chance to succeed at White Hart Lane.  Davies had a fine season with Swansea last year, and was one of the many players to join bigger clubs over the summer.  

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Michel Vorm went in the other direction, quite the price tag for a 21 year-old fullback.  However, Davies already had 71 premier league appearances under his belt for the Swans, and is my pick to make the left back position his within the next few weeks.  It’s critical that Tottenham find an answer at left back; Jan Vertonghen is a terrific one, but he’s an even better center-back and should be utilized there, while the likes of Rose and Assou-Ekotto are far from adequate.  

Joel Campbell, 22

Another unused substitute at the weekend, Campbell impressed the world with his showing in Brazil.  Having spent the last three seasons on loan, Campbell has yet to make his premier league debut for the club that bought him three summers ago.  Campbell looked excellent in the Emirates Cup win over Benfica, and showed an improved work rate.  

I think Campbell will be well-suited for Arsene Wenger’s selection in big games; he can play on the wing, has the pace to counter-attack against heavy opposition, and his improved work rate bodes well for fullbacks.  Then again, it’s never easy predicting how Wenger will use his players, but seeing Campbell’s competitive debut for Arsenal is long overdue.  

Deandre Yedlin, 21

The only player on the list who wasn’t in his teams squad at the weekend, Yedlin wowed viewers and scouts with his blistering pace in Brazil.  He won't join Tottenham until January or June of 2015, but his presence is highly anticipated.  Deputizing for Fabian Johnson and coming on late in games to provide cover on the wing, Yedlin showed Tottenham enough to bring him in at the age of 21.  The American has the ability going forward and needs to improve his one-on-one defending in order to be a successful premier leaguer.  

Yedlin’s full debut for Tottenham in the premier league should be must-see tv for anyone who watched the World Cup here in the States.  Yedlin was one of the brightest stars for the stars and stripes, but it remains to be seen if he can compete in Europe.  If Yedlin were to become a breakout player for Spurs, it would be a huge boost to American academies and franchises in the transfer market.