Alvaro Fernandez Carreras

Don Juan Matus said:
Scored a cracking goal against Chelsea a few weeks ago for the u23's
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hahha it was funny cause I was watching this match and I commented yeah I like this guy a lot. He’s very positive and strong for his age and the very next comments were he can’t defend etc and then he goes and gets a goal. Thats a good performance there against a good side. He was literally involved in everything positive we did.
 
lenny_1248 said:
It is a fact. What are you talking about?
He's brilliant going forward and very bad defensively.
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He’s freaking 18, what the heck do you expect? The full package. What’s wrong with you guys. He’s still learning his craft and he’s far from the final product, not even close.
 
I really enjoy watching Fernandez play. He's got a good build for a full back and is quality on the ball with a high level of technical ability and potential for attacking end product.

However I don't get the sneering about highlighting the fact that his two weakest areas so far are his lack of great pace and his defensive work.

People would be wrong to dismiss his chances here just because he's, currently, weaker defensively. As the modern game has a place for quality attacking full backs / wing backs. But there's nothing wrong with, when asked what type of player he currently is, stating both the strengths and weaknesses at this stage of his career - that he's great on the ball but currently much better going forward than he is defensively.

Some people break into the first team at 18 - it's valid on threads like these to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the players at that age and older, and about their chances of breaking into the first team here at some point (strengths) and how close they are to doing it or which areas in their game still need to be improved (weaknesses).

The comparison to Marcos Alonso is a very good one so far.
 
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That’s the most FM regen sounding name I’ve ever seen.

Even looks like one.
 
sglowrider said:
Christ! He's 18. What facts are you talking about? He is in the development phase of his career. So there is nothing definitive about your 'fact'.
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lloyd2wayne said:
He’s freaking 18, what the heck do you expect? The full package. What’s wrong with you guys. He’s still learning his craft and he’s far from the final product, not even close.
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The feck you talking about?
Where did I say that he won't make it? Or he's not good enough? Or he can't be better?
I just said that as of now, since he came, his defensive game is objectively poor. It's facts if you saw him play. Whether he improves it I don't know. Certainly hope so.
 
lenny_1248 said:
The feck you talking about?
Where did I say that he won't make it? Or he's not good enough? Or he can't be better?
I just said that as of now, since he came, his defensive game is objectively poor. It's facts if you saw him play. Whether he improves it I don't know. Certainly hope so.
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As someone who doesn't watch the youth teams, I took it the good way... It's nice to now the strengths and weakness of the upcoming kids. Of course they have plenty of time to work on them
 
lenny_1248 said:
The feck you talking about?
Where did I say that he won't make it? Or he's not good enough? Or he can't be better?
I just said that as of now, since he came, his defensive game is objectively poor. It's facts if you saw him play. Whether he improves it I don't know. Certainly hope so.
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You said “very bad” defensively. As in soo bad right? He might not be good as of yet but very bad is soo exaggerating it. Even the highlights posted here vs Chelsea he wasn’t “very bad” defensively. All I’m saying is caf like to exaggerate the short comings of our own players.
 
Pros: Very good going forward with excellent touch and technique. A good goal threat.

Cons: Poor defensively and slow, especially for a full back.
 
lloyd2wayne said:
You said “very bad” defensively. As in soo bad right? He might not be good as of yet but very bad is soo exaggerating it. Even the highlights posted here vs Chelsea he wasn’t “very bad” defensively. All I’m saying is caf like to exaggerate the short comings of our own players.
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The caf is also obsessed with pace so any player who isn’t fast will instantly be shit on. Like you say, Fernandez is nowhere near being “very bad” defensively. I was at the Chelsea match and their fans in the stadium were literally raving about him and he stopped so many attacks. He got outpaced about twice though so the caf decided he was shit and getting destroyed. Completely ignoring the 20 other attacks he dealt with superbly.

He’s decent defensively and been the u23s best player this season. He isn’t fast though so he’ll always be considered shit on a site who are obsessed with even centre mids being fast.
 
sglowrider said:
Christ! He's 18. What facts are you talking about? He is in the development phase of his career. So there is nothing definitive about your 'fact'.
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Well no it is a fact right now he's a poor defender.
 
kid looks like a cracking young player who has the ability to create from the wing as an outside back......he'll learn to defend if and i say if he struggles on that piece which was not evident anywhere in that video
 
limerickcitykid said:
The caf is also obsessed with pace so any player who isn’t fast will instantly be shit on. Like you say, Fernandez is nowhere near being “very bad” defensively. I was at the Chelsea match and their fans in the stadium were literally raving about him and he stopped so many attacks. He got outpaced about twice though so the caf decided he was shit and getting destroyed. Completely ignoring the 20 other attacks he dealt with superbly.

He’s decent defensively and been the u23s best player this season. He isn’t fast though so he’ll always be considered shit on a site who are obsessed with even centre mids being fast.
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It has nothing to do with pace and with Chelsea game in particular, Mr. Smart Guy. He frequently made mistakes on defense since he came to the club.
And what's so wrong in saying that? Why do you get so defensive? As if he's your son.
I never criticized youth players here. But you just have to write what you see. He's been poor defensively. I did not say he's a bad player. Obviously, overall he has been the best of the lot so far this season.
 
With his qualities I don't know why the coaches don't give him a go at midfield.
His qualities are good for playmaking defensive midfielder
 
sglowrider said:
Christ! He's 18. What facts are you talking about? He is in the development phase of his career. So there is nothing definitive about your 'fact'.
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Wow 18 already and hasn't even made a first team debut? Get rid he'll be 35 in 17 years already.
 
limerickcitykid said:
The caf is also obsessed with pace so any player who isn’t fast will instantly be shit on. Like you say, Fernandez is nowhere near being “very bad” defensively. I was at the Chelsea match and their fans in the stadium were literally raving about him and he stopped so many attacks. He got outpaced about twice though so the caf decided he was shit and getting destroyed. Completely ignoring the 20 other attacks he dealt with superbly.

He’s decent defensively and been the u23s best player this season. He isn’t fast though so he’ll always be considered shit on a site who are obsessed with even centre mids being fast.
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Is he slow? Those highlights he was bursting past the Chelsea players. His anticipation seemed good.
 
Seen him put in a few decent crosses. Doesnt look like a wing backs to me though. More of a winger. His pace might be shown up against top level opposition
 
Can he develop himself to be a player in the style of beckham? He's quite good on the ball and has reasonable amount of goal/assists since he's joined united academy. To develop him as left midfielder sounds possible to me as he has attack threat much more than defensive capability.
 
K Stand Knut said:
probably a bit knee jerk.

nothing to say he can’t get better or progress to be a wide attacker.

he’s young. Absolutely no benefit to getting rid yet.
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Might improve his defending too given he is very young and yet to play a pro game.
 
I watched the game against Chelsea U23 and he was probably beaten 2-3 times by Chelsea player in 2nd Half. His eagerness to win the ball high up the pitch also was a contributing factor. He will be fine with experience. Someone here compared him to Alonso (Chelsea) and its the level he can reach potentially.
 
limerickcitykid said:
The caf is also obsessed with pace so any player who isn’t fast will instantly be shit on. Like you say, Fernandez is nowhere near being “very bad” defensively. I was at the Chelsea match and their fans in the stadium were literally raving about him and he stopped so many attacks. He got outpaced about twice though so the caf decided he was shit and getting destroyed. Completely ignoring the 20 other attacks he dealt with superbly.

He’s decent defensively and been the u23s best player this season. He isn’t fast though so he’ll always be considered shit on a site who are obsessed with even centre mids being fast.
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I'd also say from the Chelsea match it wasn't an attacker that beat him when he was beaten it was the wing back who got a run on him because Hoogewerf didn't track back. I don't even think he's particularly slow either he just lacks a bit of acceleration over the first couple of yards which isn't unusual with young lads like him who have had a growth spurt & often need their strength to catch up with their physique.
 
limerickcitykid said:
The caf is also obsessed with pace so any player who isn’t fast will instantly be shit on. Like you say, Fernandez is nowhere near being “very bad” defensively. I was at the Chelsea match and their fans in the stadium were literally raving about him and he stopped so many attacks. He got outpaced about twice though so the caf decided he was shit and getting destroyed. Completely ignoring the 20 other attacks he dealt with superbly.

He’s decent defensively and been the u23s best player this season. He isn’t fast though so he’ll always be considered shit on a site who are obsessed with even centre mids being fast.
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Thats what I thought when I was watching the match too. He was our best player.
 
Drainy said:
Certainly looking better than Marc Jurado but I'm not as convinced by him as others seem to be.
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Jurado is a year younger and played on and off as well as a handful of games out of position. Fernandez might of just adapted quicker while Jurado is still adapting
 
Drainy said:
Certainly looking better than Marc Jurado but I'm not as convinced by him as others seem to be.
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Connor C said:
Jurado is a year younger and played on and off as well as a handful of games out of position. Fernandez might of just adapted quicker while Jurado is still adapting
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As you say, Fernandez is a year older than Jurado and also looks taller and more physically suited to adjusting to the English game. So I'm not surprised he quickly jumped to the U23's while Jurado has been slowly eased into the U18's.

They're very different types of full backs, with different attributes. I much prefer Fernandez for his superior technical ability and attacking threat. But Jurado looks a tidy, mobile, all round full back with reasonably decent technical ability so he also has some potential as well.
 
Bertie Wooster said:
As you say, Fernandez is a year older than Jurado and also looks taller and more physically suited to adjusting to the English game. So I'm not surprised he quickly jumped to the U23's while Jurado has been slowly eased into the U18's.

They're very different types of full backs, with different attributes. I much prefer Fernandez for his superior technical ability and attacking threat. But Jurado looks a tidy, mobile, all round full back with reasonably decent technical ability so he also has some potential as well.
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Early days, but reminds me of another Spanish full-back: Azpicueleta. So we have the new Azpi and Marcos Alonso, not bad.
 
limerickcitykid said:
The caf is also obsessed with pace so any player who isn’t fast will instantly be shit on. Like you say, Fernandez is nowhere near being “very bad” defensively. I was at the Chelsea match and their fans in the stadium were literally raving about him and he stopped so many attacks. He got outpaced about twice though so the caf decided he was shit and getting destroyed. Completely ignoring the 20 other attacks he dealt with superbly.

He’s decent defensively and been the u23s best player this season. He isn’t fast though so he’ll always be considered shit on a site who are obsessed with even centre mids being fast.
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There's also a bunch of fans, like myself, who watch pretty much every U23 game. Having watched all those games its not unreasonable to say he has problems defensively.

And for a fullback pace is very handy. We have two very quick fullbacks in the first team. That's not a coincidence.
 
sglowrider said:
Its an opinion. Not a fact.
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Some things are so obvious it goes beyond opinion.

If you've watched him with any consistency it's clear right now he struggles defensively. He's part of a back 4 that leaks goals for fun. This is at U23 level. So he'd have to improve massively to make the step up as a defender.

I really like him and I'm generally an optimist with young players. But something significant would need to happen for him to make it as a defender with us.
 
Bale was nothing special as a LB. Look what he became once Redknapp switched him to an attacking LW
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
You're comparing a player who''s been criticised for his pace with one of the most athletic modern players to play the game.
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Wasn’t referring to pace at all. Was referring to changing position. He could become a star in another position.

Besides he’s been criticised for poor defensive judgement, pace may have something to do with it but it could also be a reading of it. We’ve had lots back there who had pace but couldn’t defend. Fernandez might just develop as a midfielder.
 
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