So what is this hype machine for Rangers’ Emmanuel Fernandez all about, really? Ibrox Noise won’t mind at all Rangers selling the boy for the speculated £25M-£40M number he’s being touted at.
New claims from the ‘ever reliable’ Fraser Fletcher and TeamTalk claim Arsenal, West Ham, Chelsea and Everton want Fernandez, and are prepared to pay the big money. We won’t forget the likes of Dortmund in there too…
He has become an absolute cash cow for everyone, and while he has certainly done better than his £300,000 League One defender reputation suggested, he’s hardly Carlos Cuellar.
It all stems back to two different events:
Barry Fry pushing his Fernandez agenda in the press, to invoke a strong sell-on. A canny operator is Fry.
And Rangers’ new set piece coach Scott Fry (notice a connection there) using set piece plays to get Fernandez some goals.
If we look at Fernandez’ stats, just how good are they?
Well, his defensive numbers are intriguing. He’s 8th in the SPL for aerial duels won, so solid, but not sensational.
Ground duels? Tav is 4th here, Fernandez doesn’t even get in the top 20.
Tackles? Outside the top 20 again, 21st. Blocked shots? 29th. Clearances? 19th. Interceptions? 15th.
Aka in no single defensive discipline is Emmanuel Fernandez close to top 5 never mind the best in the league.
Someone made an argument that they couldn’t believe the improvement in him over the course of the season.
So we checked out his ratings over the course of the season. The picture below illustrates his monthly average since joining.
We’re not seeing the same improvement and neither is the data.
And yet, not only did EA Sports include him in a Euro XI, but Scottish professionals voted him into their team of the season.
Despite none of the stats backing up the hype machine around him.
Now we have claims giant Premier League sides want to sign him, and he’s remained in the heart of Rangers’ defence in the meantime.
Meanwhile Rangers’ Emmanuel Fernandez has been called up to Nigeria and plays alongside Calvin Bassey.
In simple terms, the hard data does not in any way back up the hype.
Is there a single Rangers fan who would have him up there with Carlos Cuellar, also a leftie? He was absolutely terrific for Rangers, and earned us £9M when he left.
And yet everything other than the data itself, including fellow pros, points to Fernandez being something outstanding that’s going to net Rangers a giant payday.
We can’t see it in the data, we can’t see it with our own eyes either, but if Rangers win the league and he moves on for £40M, we’ll be the last ones complaining.