CITY midfielder Gelson Fernandes believes football's rulers should act now to stop playmaking entertainers being bullied out of the game.
The 21-year-old Swiss international has put the boot into football officials who he believes are not offering enough protection.
And he reckons that Blues team-mate Elano has become one of the victims of over-zealous attention from the opposition.
The Brazilian, whose effectiveness has certainly dwindled in recent months, was on the receiving end from former City player Michael Brown last Saturday. The Wigan man was booked before Elano limped off.
"It is not easy for Elano because he is a great player and the whole league knows that so now he is a target," said Fernandes, who will represent his adopted country at Euro 2008 this summer.
"Referees should protect all creative players because there are not that many of them in the world let alone in the Premier League but I am confident Elano will find a solution with our help.
“We know the fans are frustrated because so are we and, of course, we are unhappy that we did not win against Wigan but we have to keep believing in ourselves because if we don’t then no-one else will,” added Fernandes.
“Teams who are coming to play us know all about us and how we like to play quick-passing football and their first aim is to stop us doing that. They wait in their own half and make it hard for us and it is up to us to find a solution for that too.”
Strengths
Fernandes, meanwhile, believes new boys Felipe Caicedo (Ecuador) and Nery Castillo (Mexico) should be given as long as possible to settle into Premier League life before they are judged.
“We have a good spirit in the side that is not a problem but the new players need time to adapt to our football and we need time to adjust to their strengths,” he continued.
“I was the same when I arrived but think I have developed since the summer and perhaps now use my running more intelligently.
“I think in weeks to come there will be an improvement from us and that we can still challenge for Europe.”
Unlike his esteemed counterpart at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger, City chief Sven-Goran Eriksson refused to complain about other teams’ combative approach but he did smile when reminded how easily Martin Petrov attracted a red card against Everton when Brown was only yellowed at the weekend for a more cynical challenge on Elano.
But the Swede readily accepted that it is too simple to just attribute the Blues’ current lack of consistency to a loss of form or confidence from the targeted Brazilian midfielder.
“I remember the games earlier in the season when no-one cared about Elano and the opposition allowed him to take the ball when and where he wanted to but there is no chance he can do that now because teams have learned and mark him closely,” Eriksson said.
“The treatment opposition players give him is not the nicest at times but that is another thing that Elano and the rest of us have to live with.
“He received a knock in the first half against Wigan from Brown and then in the second- half when he made a diagonal ball to Vassell he felt the muscle pushing a little bit. It is not a serious injury but he must be doubtful for the game at Reading on Saturday.
“Some of the decisions in games have been strange recently with yellow cards correctly given for dangerous tackles but also for silly things like Petrov’s flick and Jeremie Aliadiere’s push but I suppose the governing body wants to make the game as clean as possible and not let the youngsters see bad examples.”
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I seem to remember when we were down a division or two. The hackers were everywhere until Andy Morrison joined us and became the Protector.
Brown should have been on the receiving end for what he did to Elano.
the english game always has been physical by nature, the creative players will have to cope with that and it time the likes of elano will. he does get bullied sometimes in games yet elanos crossing and shooting has been awful in recent weeks. but i think the main difference with the form of elano is johnson being absent. with fernades settled and johnsons return i think we can afford to go 442 against the lesser teams 251 just isnt working. id like to see garrido, caicedo, sturridge, castillo, bojinov in place of ball, benjanni, elano, ireland, vassell,
Elano wanted off when he was fouled.No news of any injury.Don't think he's up for a battle.The refs will always have a hard job to protect players,when some of them go to ground when you knock the T.V.Or go to ground with a twisted sock eg one trick pony at the swamp.
Excuses excuses.
Totally off subject, but I just read that Gordon Brown is thinking of banning Zimbabweans from competing at sport in this country. Let's all hope he succeeds.
Sorry, but this is nonsense, and unenforceable nonsense at that. How is Gelson suggesting this issue be policed? That certain players shouldn't be allowed to be tackled? It is down to the referee to take action. Sadly, Michael Brown's challenge on Elano the other night was a yellow card offence only, and that's what the ref dished out. If Elano is not tough enough mentally and physically to cope with the Prem, then regretably that is City's loss, and we would be best served by letting him go, no matter how skilful he is.
If you are highly skilled you would be able to beat the hard tacklers. It's a mans game and used to be a contact sport.
Get on with the game. Next players won't be allowed to tackle.
I enjoy flair players but I also enjoy a solid defender who goes in hard. Think Dunne on Ronaldo. We enjy it when he gets in their and gets the ball of the twinkle toed one don't we lads. That is as entertaning as Gelson step over, perhaps more.
I know there is all this talk because of what happened to Eduardo but come on, these injuries are rare.
COME ON CITY.
Come on guys give Gelson a break. I am sure he is not that serious about these comments and is just playing mind games with any official who reads these comments. He has had to be a little contraversial in order to get these comments into the national press. If these comments make one referee look out for Elano in one match then these comments will be a success.
100% agree with him re: Castillo and Caicedo.
Grow up Gelson - It's a man's game. If you want to entertain, join a boy band.
City need a more physical engine room - midfield is too lightweight, too slow. I agree that some challenges have been brutal on Elano. Brown could have had him out for season. Yet Elano should be dancing around a player of Brown's ability, but he's not quick enough. It's no suprise we have had no penalties. With the exception of Johnson I cant recall anyone running at defenders from the central area. We need an Essien. Or put Elano on the right. Mind castillo will face the same.
I've been watching football since the late 1950's and the only thing that has changed in this respect is that there are less hard men than there used to be. The like of Michael Brown are pussy cats compared with some of the players of yesteryear. Dave MacKay, Jimmy Scoular, Chopper Harris to name but a few.
Skilful players like Bobby Johnstone, Colin Bell, George Best etc had to deal dealt with it and had next to no protection from referees.
Remember Buchan's tackle on Bell ? One of the worst I have ever seen and he stayed on the pitch. Today's players need to learn how to deal with it too.
If Elano is so good he should be able to get past the bully boys. Brazil aren't angels either. Agree with the previous comments, time for these chaps to stand up (they get paid enough), let's face it Hamman can also put it about a bit, but it's all part of the game. Time for a change against Reading.
Most creative players dive about all over the show so it is a tough one for a ref to call. It just seems whenever in the past the refs have tried to 'protect' these sort of player they abuse it, names such as Pires, Ginola and Ronaldo have been renound for it!
Refrerees won't protect us until we are established 'big four' and can command the sort of preferential treatment that comes with it. For now, we need to protect ourselves. The likes of Gelson need to make it clear to the likes of City reject Michael Brown that whatever he dishes out will come right back at him. I also think Sven needs to buy a genuine hardman who will boss the midfield physicalities.
hate it when city make excuses, also hate to say this but teams have eleven men behind the ball week in week out at places like united, arsenal liverpool, if your good you have to over come it, elano moaning is unacceptable, pranser at OT gets much more stick and he has scored more than 20 goals. our problem is we play defensive against defensive teams, against lower teams like wigan we could actually play 3 at the back, to beat wigan we need to play at least two up top, or even 3-5-2. football remains a mans game and excuses are as negative as playing 4-5-1, change that system and stop the moans.
Bill Carlisle, didn't Martin Buchan's tackle effectively put paid to Bell's career not to mention Best's on Pardoe. Is that the kind of action you want to see because 'it is a man's game'?
Old Blue Eyes, you've a long wait then.
Stop the bully boys..... That's part of your job Gelson. Our creative players don't need protection from the officials they need it fron our own. If some one goes in hard on Elano then you have to give it back on his behalf... It's called TEAM work....
A lot of people are looking at you as the next Viera... Watch some old videos of him and you'll see exactly what to do.... Once team's see you and the other mid-fielder's getting stuck in then Elano will be given a little more time on the ball.
All the best clubs in the Prem have had to learn how to deal with the stronger tackling teams in the league. MCFC are currently getting such treatment we should take it as a compliment & start using it against these teams I.E- quicker passing & better movement in midfield. Let the likes of Brown etc chase shadows. We are work in progress & you/we will start to see a strong MCFC emerge in the next season or two especially with some great youth development going on & monies available. CTID !
I am really disappointed in the lack of support Elano has got from City fans. Yes he is having a lean spell by his standards, but stars like Drogba and Ronaldo struggled initially and look at them now. Even in this lean spell he has produced moments of magic; against Sheffield Utd he was literally centimetres away from 2 goals, only the post and a wonder save denying him (and he still got slated after the game). On Sat. he played a couple of diagonal through balls that were brilliant and should have produced better end results (you wont have seen these if you only watched the highlights).
Elano, in my view, is our one - potential- world class player, and I am stunned and saddened by all this talk of selling him.
Finally, saying he should be good enough to 'twinkle' past fouling opponents is nonsense, most of Elano's kicks have been from behind, summing up the cowardly, cynical nature of the Prem. And you haven't played much football if you don't realise that a good kick to the calf affects your game. I agree that Elano must be careful not to get a 'soft' image and must learn the English way of getting up quickly after a foul and not rubbing it! It's all appearances. All I am saying is give Elano a chance.
Yes, Elano is targetted but such targetting doesn't seem to have blunted otehr creative players - e.g., Fabregas. If Elano si targetted that means the marking on other players will not be so tight - we need to learn how to exploit that space
Well i have seen enough on these pages to depress the life out of anyone!!i have had a bellyfull so i am signing off for good before i end up needing help so its good by from Spiderman and to all the decent fans who post on here you know who you are asta-la-vista and don't take the bate of the numpties who are deluded.....in Sven we Trust.
Sorry son, as the holding midfielder it's your job to sort out people like michael brown, so that they know in no uncertain terms they will be done if they transgress, that is why we are a soft touch and it is no use bleating to referees, all top teams have or had bite in midfield, souness, keane, benetti, viera, makalele, Essien etc, Sven needs to sort this out, get some steel in and stop his players moaning.
Its about time someone said this we've been kicked about for the last 2 months well said Fernandes. Referee's take note send the diry thugs off.
Kiwiblue: agree that others making runs would make more space for Elano and Johnson is one the best around for this.
I also agree that a midfield 'enforcer' is essential for us, to put the tackles in that Petrov and Elano don't/won't, and to get in a little retribution to put off the cloggers as modern refs won't protect our players.
I watched the 1969 FA Cup final yesterday and was struck by 3 things: the number of forward runs made; our fitness levels; and by Buzzer going around booting everyone - he must have been a nightmare to play against. He particularly fouled a Leicester player who had just kicked Neil Young, who Colin Bell in his autobiography claimed struggled with bravery.