This is not a direct criticism of Howe, because it's something we've seen with so many managers and I'm sure it happens elsewhere but how is it that he can't have realised that Fede is the best defender we have at the club? Simply watching back games from our recent history would have told Howe and his team this. It's one thing to train well, but if you can't do it during games then you shouldn't be selected over someone who can. Lascelles and Clark have been left wanting time and time again, and whilst Fernandez is not perfect he's clearly stood out as a better defender than both whenever he has played.
I would have thought that even before accepting the job Howe would have been watching all of our games to get a real understanding of what he was working with, and then having been given the job again him and his team should be going back over games to help with player improvement but also critically with team selection. It's the same with Ritchie being played as a fullback, his extra enthusiasm and supposed free kick ability have to take a back seat to his poor defensive positioning.
I just don't get it. Howe has come out now on several occassions saying that Fernandez is an absolute professional and that he had a great game etc, but why has it taken a sending off of an inferior player for this to be realised?