We promised recently this investigative update on Manny Fernandez’ market value, and it has arrived, and we must admit we’re perplexed.
But the digging upon Emmanuel Fernandez has revealed a media machine created by Peterborough’s Barry Fry and Rangers’ owners.
So, the prologue:
It’s 2024. Emmanuel Fernandez is at Peterborough, having broken into the first team following two forgettable loans to Barnet and Spalding. He’s been solid, nothing breathtaking, and fans aren’t that gutted when they learn Rangers want him.
But they’re absolutely stunned at the price. With a market value of £300,000, Rangers pay 10x that number and bring him north.
Barry Fry, Posh boss, is praised to the rafters for getting that much.
Manny doesn’t do too well at Rangers, indeed, he struggles and looks the 300k defender Rangers paid well over £3M for.
And he still isn’t doing too well till Rangers bring in Lincoln City set piece specialist Scott Fry.
Fry is credited with Manny scoring a few in the box from set pieces. And suddenly Manny is at the centre of a massive press and hype machine with Barry Fry telling the world he’s a £40M player.
Those goals dry up completely. Just one since January as set pieces return to being ineffective.
But the hype machine remains.
His defensive stats? Average. He is nowhere near the SPL top 5 for any single significant defensive attribute.
In no area does he shine.
And yet bizarrely Manny was voted into the EA Sports Team of the Year for the Rest of Europe. AND his fellow Scottish professionals included him in the team of the year for the Premiership.
Ahead of Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, Stuart Findlay, McGinn you name it.
Now players know a thing or two about what makes a player, but what WAS telling is he nor any other Rangers player was included in the Player of the Year nominations.
All four nominations were indeed midfield or attack but a quality defender worthy of this hype can be nominated.
Then the doozy. Rangers fans apparently voted him player of the season on the official club vote.
Ibrox Noise ran our own poll within a community of 105,000 Rangers fans. He was miles off first choice. Moore got it, and before you yell about Young Player, Butland and Raskin were both ahead of Manny too.
So what does this all reveal?
Rangers, and Barry Fry, really want big money for Manny this summer. He has not shone anywhere but Fry has a sell on clause in the deal, and Scott Fry’s set pieces elevated Fernandez to a level he’s not actually hit.
If we do get the big money this summer, fantastic. It’s worked.
Or maybe Ibrox Noise is wrong and Manny Fernandez’ market value has gone from a £300,000 League One defender to a £40M juggernaut overnight.
What do you think?