All I hear of late around town is people banging on about how Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez is so similar to Ole Solskjaer. How exactly?
Ole of course earned the title of ‘supersub’ in his glorious time at Old Trafford. He did start his fair share of games, but it was off the bench that he gave some of his most memorable performances.
He offered Manchester United fans a portent of what was ahead when he scored, 6 minutes after coming on as a sub, against Blackburn on his debut. He somehow netted 4 in the last 12 minutes away at Nottignham Forest. But the crowning glory for the baby faced assassin was of course his winning goal as a sub, with virtually the last kick of the game, in The Champions League final of 1999.
Javier Hernandez is also making a name for himself as a devastating impact player, coming onto the field when opposition legs are tiring and gaps begin to appear in the defence. But that, surely, is where the similarities end. As players, these two are completely different animals.
Ole was all about power, positioning and precision at Manchester United. He famously spent his time on the bench studying the opposition weaknesses and responding accordingly when he came on. He could score with either foot and regularly did so from distance with devastating accuracy. He had a really powerful shot and always seems to put the ball exactly where he wanted. Watching highlights of Ole’s career at Manchester United will surprise many because he scored so many ‘good’ goals. That is to say goals from difficult angles and from distance, off both feet. So many of his goals were of a high difficulty level and he carved out many of his goal scoring opportunities himself, out of nothing.
Chicharito has many qualities, but a powerful shot certainly isn’t one of them. Sometimes I wonder whether the ball would actually reach the goal line unassisted if he tried to shoot from outside the area. Nor does he have the unerring accuracy of a Solskjaer. Some have suggested that Chicha is United’s most gifted finisher. This is nonsense. Hernandez is neither a master marksman or a power player.
Chicha is a fox in the box. A poacher. A be-slippered tap-in maestro.
If he was playing football at school in England he would be constantly accused of ‘laying eggs’. Picture him in your mind’s eye right now. I bet most of you are also seeing the goal line in this vision. This is because virtually all of his goals come from within 10 yards of the goal.
What the Mexican does have in abundance is pace, awareness and desire. He works his socks off and uses his own strengths to ever greater effect. He’s a slight player who ghosts into the peripheral vision of the opposition and gets the vital touch before the defender has time to react. Chicharito will score very few blinders from the edge of the box. He needs other players around him to put the ball where he wants it. He will seldom create for himself. But he’s a wonderful player to have at the end of the move. Quicker, more agile, more alert and more hungry than most of his contemporaries. He is the perfect player to bring on, in order to exploit a weary opposition, who has been chasing the ball manfully for 70 minutes.
It’s an equally effective combination of skills and Hernandez may well go on to score even more goals for Manchester United than the beloved Norwegian. But comparisons between the two surely shouldn’t go beyond their cherub like faces and ability to lay waste to a tiring defence. The manner in which they go and went about their business could not be more different.
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United for life...
Nov 14, 2012 at 9:40 am
Absolutely waste of story, the purpose of which I’m still trying to figure out. Agreed the two cant be compared, as they are two totally different players. But Chicharito is well on his way to exceeding old ole’s records already, at 40+ goals in all comps. Hernandez is already making a name scoring important goals, this is something he deserves more credit than given here. Personally I can see Hernandez notching up more goals than ole, I also see him reaching them in less appearances. The way in which this post emulates ole being a god of football, is far fetched to say the least. Yes Chicharito lacks the same power in his shot as ole, which to me is improving daily. Ole himself lacked the speed agility and preditorial movement that Hernandez holds. Not to mention his already high rate of goals on the international stage.
United for life...
Nov 14, 2012 at 10:00 am
Hernandez may well have a weaker shot, but his strike rate is phenomenal. Think it’s a bit harsh to say he’s a tap-in maestro, almost like saying that’s all he’s good for. With hernadez’s movement he creates a gap, in which most successful attacks would falter without him present. The team stops dropping deep in the notion, that the forward line namely chica will deliver. Hernandez has attributes ole would have dreamed to possess aswell.
Shane
Nov 14, 2012 at 10:29 am
‘Sometimes I wonder whether the ball would actually reach the goal line unassisted’
I think you may need to do a bit more research on Hernandez. He has scored a fair few goals that have demonstrated enough power not to be singled out as a major defect like mentioned above.
‘Some have suggested that Chicha is United’s most gifted finisher. This is nonsense.’
Come on are you serious?
Finishing is 80% based on mental strength, how many times has Hernandez had 1 chance 1 goal?
His conversion rate is nothing short of phenomenal.
Dike Chimezie Kaduna,Nigeria
Nov 14, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Rubbish! Chicha is comparable to Nistelrooy and not Solkjeer.He is consistent and reliable,he posses pace and is sharp.He has got good positioning etc.As for shot power and accuracy; u need to watch Mexico against Argentina in world cup 2010.He is a complete package.