Fiorentina’s ‘old school’ Cuadrado lighting up the right side of Serie A

Date: 8th April 2014 at 8:49am
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Cuadrado - FiorentinaGood old fashioned pacey wingers are unfortunately becoming part of a dying breed in modern football. While they’re not fading as fast as the old-school number 10’s, teams are starting to move away from the standard 4-4-2 which relied on direct and speedy wingers scorching down the touchline to deliver crosses.

Many coaches now tend to use their wingers as ‘drifters’ – players that prefer to slow the play down and cut inside looking for an opportunity to pass or shoot. Think players like Manchester City’s David Silva, Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen or closer to home, Hellas Verona’s Juan Iturbe.

In a time where wingers like Juan Cuadrado are becoming ‘dated’, it is refreshing to see the Colombian still being able to make a significant impact in his role. In the modern era, players that are right footed predominantly play on the left side of midfield (or their ‘weaker’ side) and vice versa. Possession football is now the aim for most footballing sides, and a risk-taking winger who likes to take on players and pump the ball into the box is now becoming a ‘liability’.

Well, Fiorentina star Cuadrado is doing his best to buck the trend. Comfortably his side’s best player this term, and arguably one of the best performers in the league this year, it is a delight to see the 25 year-old Colombian do his ‘thing’. Situated at the right wing back role in Vincenzo Montella’s 3-5-2, Cuadrado is required to patrol the entire flank, doing the role of two players: the right back and the right midfield.

Something his incredible speed and stamina allows him to do effectively. You ask any football fan, and they can tell you there’s nothing better than seeing a player tear down the touchline at breakneck speed.

His dribbling and close control allied with his blinding speed make him a menace to opposition defenders, and he has improved his crossing ability as well this campaign. To give you an idea of how much of a nightmare he is to the opposition, last year it was recorded that Cuadrado doubled the dribbling rate per game of Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Juan CuadradoCurrently Cuadrado is averaging four successful dribbles a game, leading the Serie A charts in that department and doubling teammate Joaquin’s tally, which is the next best in the team. This is one of the best performing players in the league this season we’re talking about.

To truly cement your world class status however, you must prove it on the continental stage in front of the whole world. While the Europa League may not be as high a standard as the Champions League, there are still a number of high-class teams to compete with and Cuadrado can attest that he has been his side’s best performer in that competition as well. Netting twice and contributing three assists in six games this season, as well as an incredible five successful dribbles per game, Cuadrado has demonstrated to the rest of Europe that he is indeed the real deal.

A massive summer awaits Cuadrado and Fiorentina. The club must firstly try to find an agreement to make his co-ownership with Udinese into a permanent one. After they overcome that obstacle, then they must withstand the barrage of offers that will inevitably come their way for the talented winger.

Cuadrado himself will no doubt look to solidify his reputation as one of the most dangerous wingers around at the greatest showpiece that sport has to offer, the World Cup in Brazil. Impress there and reported interest from Bayern Munich and Juventus may turn into something more than just transfer speculation and paper talk.

 

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