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Hernandez proof it's quality not quantity
James Gray-Foster
Roar Pro
30th September, 2010
6
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James Gray-Foster
Roar Pro
30th September, 2010
6

After around 60 minutes of stagnant football, the game finally burst at the seams. Javier Hernandez came on in the 77th minute to add some much needed pace and movement to a lethargic United front-line that was struggling to break-down Valencia’s back four.

Hernandez did just that. A beautifully worked move between Nani, Federico Macheda and a sublime finish by Hernandez gave Manchester United a crucial 0-1 win at the Mestalla. After a string of first-class performances, it was Hernandez’s first competitive goal.

After striker Wayne Rooney carried much of the burden up-forward last season, fans were expecting a substantial summer transfer window purchase, a big centre-forward who would help share Rooney’s exorbitant goal expectations.

However, it was a relatively unknown Mexican that was acquired for a relatively modest transfer fee. Javier Hernandez also known as ‘Chicharito’ (little pea) arrived for around eight million pounds and manager Sir Alex Ferguson was adamant that he had signed a star.

The 5ft 9in striker had a devastating season in Mexico and has been tracked for some time by United’s talented scouts. But, due to his height, thin frame, transfer-fee and being almost completely unknown, Hernandez was already overlooked by United’s fans.

It was not till Hernandez scored two goals for Mexico in the World Cup against both France and Argentina that both United fans and football spectators alike, realized that Ferguson may have unearthed a gem.

Hernandez showed fantastic tactical awareness and finishing ability when he was able to get behind the defense against France and when he smashed the ball into the top corner against a buoyed Argentina.

Hernandez then started off his United career in fine fashion when he scored against Chelsea in the Community Sheild where he once again showed a lightning burst of pace and ability to get in behind an opposition defender.

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Although Hernandez failed to score in his next four games for United, he demonstrated fantastic technical and athletic ability. As well as his burst of pace, tactical awareness, hunger and finishing ability, he also demonstrated an extraordinary ability to beat much taller players in the air. Against Glasgow Rangers in United’s opening Champions League group match, Hernandez was able to out-leap the much taller combination of David Weir and Sasa Papac.

In-fact, when you look back at videos from when he played for Guadalajara in Mexico, Hernandez scored a number of goals via his enormous vertical-leap.

Indeed, even before Hernadez’s crucial goal against Valencia he began to draw plaudits and comparisons to United’s greats, such as Ole Gunnar Solkjaer, a player also extremely technically gifted. And it became obvious that Ferguson had successfully signed a player with unbounded ability.

Despite the praise, Hernandez had not been able to use his ability to convert in a competitive fixture and this created a shred of doubt among the United faithful.

The goal against Valencia broke Hernandez’s competitive goal-scoring ‘duck’ and may well have destroyed doubts about Hernandez’s ability to score in crucial games. In addition, Chicharito’s debut competitive goal may give him the perfect tonic to become a goal-scoring machine at Old Trafford.

Hernandez is not proof of compromise, but that a smart investment can be more beneficial than a large investment.

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