Opinion: Time to give Hernandez credit he deserves at Norwich City

After leading Norwich City’s incredible comeback last weekend, Onel Hernandez, a player long criticized in some places for his seeming lack of offensive output, seems to have restored his image.The dangerous Cuban gave City’s offensive threat a new dimension and was instrumental in facilitating that thrilling, game-changing comeback sparked by Amankwah Forson, much like his performance against QPR during the festive period, when he once again altered the course of play off the bench.Hernandez, 31, has recently come under fire on social media for his lack of “G/A” (goals and assists, in the obnoxious new online football jargon) and statistical contributions (again, meaningless and misleading numbers posted by young, ignorant, and usually anonymous fan accounts).

However, it seems that some of them have altered their minds about the seasoned Carrow Road winger after his outstanding effort of fighting past Joel Latibeaudiere to set up Forson’s last-minute winner. To be clear, nobody has ever said that Hernandez is the solution to all of City’s issues and ought to start for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s team each and every week. But in reality, he still has an influence and is a very vital player for Thorup’s constantly developing team even if his numbers aren’t what many data-obsessed, youthful fans who play Football Manager and FIFA believe they should be.

When Hernandez is called up from the bench, you know what to expect regardless of the result and whether he assists or scores. A player who obviously loves the team, but more significantly, one who always tries to force events and always throws the rival defense into disarray. That might not always lead to a goal, an assist, or any of the other bullshit that hardly any match-goers, mainstream media, or journalists discuss, like winning his “duels” or “shot-creating actions.” However, whenever City finds themselves pursuing a game, he always adds something new and makes things interesting. The majority of folks I know who hang out at games concur, to be honest.

I’m talking about the small number of self-described tactical experts who have been proven wrong by Hernandez’s most recent livewire display, proving what the rest of us already knew. Don’t worry, none of us who attend away games throughout the nation or the Queen of Iceni, Coach and Horses, Compleat Angler, or the Lower Barclay’s Lion and Castle at halftime discuss Hernandez’s or anyone else’s particular statistics or numbers over a pint.

Practically speaking, all we want is to enjoy a good day out, witness an exciting City team, and watch aggressive, driven players who give it their all and keep us on the edge of our seats. I’m not a dinosaur to argue that data has a place in modern football; there is a time and place for it. In the end, though, there’s a reason Thorup continues to support Hernandez during City’s difficult times and why he has now finally quieted some of the vehemently strident voices that believed his race on Carrow Road was conducted.

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