There’s a decent post from
@Zehner in the Fernandes thread which basically illustrates that Fernandes’ quality of chances created are basically the same/a little worse than the other major playmakers in the league, and a bit more worse than KDB directly:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/bruno-fernandes-2023-24-performances.478034/post-31683517
Thanks.
‘
So in essence, Bruno makes up for a slightly lower chance quality with a higher frequency. In terms of raw output, he's on a similar level to Ödegaard and Saka but significantly behind de Bruyne.’
He’s on a similar level to the Arsenal boys with more frequency & is bested by a generational player in KdB. I don’t read that data as him creating ‘
half chances’ as opposed to others creating ‘
full’ ones.
In his last season played as a 10 he created nearly a chance more than his contemporaries, bar KdB, with 0.01 less xG. I’m not clued up on xG but can someone explain what it a difference of 0.01 actually means because for chance creation I’d rather have the player creating one more a game.
You can see it just looking at Bruno leading 'chances created' in seasons gone by, but he never leads on 'big chances created' and is even further away from the top on assists.
It's a reflection on how we play as a team as well. Bruno plays a lot of short passes around the edge of the box in front of the defense. ETH's (and Ole's) football relies so much on wide players creating chances and goals out of nothing. Like Rashford did today, Garnacho did vs Everton, all of Antony's goals, lots of Rashfords goals last season.
It's not like Bruno plays a lot of crosses that set up brilliant chances on the 6 yard line, like De Bruyne does. Of course we havent had a proper striker for ages which partly explains that.
Bar KdB, we don’t consistently see any of Bruno’s peers serve up goal after goal anywhere near the rate though.
Everybody cites Arsenal as something extraordinary. By the EPL Big Chances Created table he’s created the same amount as Odegaard & 1 less than Saka, I’d say both those players are performing in a better coached side with better players.
Bruno is suffering from the ‘Not as good as X player who is generally an outlier’ syndrome. Is he the world’s best midfielder? Well obviously not but he creates for lesser players at a higher consistency than his replacement level opponents.
We need to eventually replace him [sooner rather than later hopefully] but saying he creates ‘half chances’ just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.