I have no problems with people saying he's not good enough to be our first choice right-back. I don't quote and argue with anyone claiming that. In a perfect world, we should indeed have a specialized right-back who's better than Valencia and we did have those in the past. As things stand, however, he does his job and doesn't stand out as the poorer player in our current set up and has been decent this season.
25
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Clean sheets
- 12
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 4
For the people who claim he's not good enough to be our first choice RB what are the realistic alternatives? Apart from a poor backpass vs Arsenal he's very solid defensively, rarely ever loses the ball, provides width and is probably the best 1v1 FB in the league, can't remember anyone getting the better of him. His delivery is still pretty poor for the most part but I struggle to think of any FB's as good as him defensively who offer more going forward.
Realistically, he is good enough right now. Ideally, we could improve on that if some cultured, high-profile AND proven right-back emerges and is obtainable. As you said, though, there aren't many better right-backs in the league which is a good testament to Valencia who plays out of position.
Valencia is arguably the most improved player in the first team. He runs Ashley Young close, at the very least. I say that because it's easy to forget just how horrific he was as a winger during the two seasons prior. He was putting in some of the worst performances any attacker had done in the entirety of Ferguson's reign. That bad.
His performances levels at right back, right now, are dramatically improved and he's doing an admirable job in a position that is somewhat new.
He's hard to beat, athletic, a constant option out wide and extremely tidy on the ball. His positioning has improved, too. It still needs work going forward, however.
We still need a new right back, and I do consider it to be a hugely necessary purchase, but he's a great option to have in the squad. And seldom injured, which makes him reliable.
His performances levels at right back, right now, are dramatically improved and he's doing an admirable job in a position that is somewhat new.
He's hard to beat, athletic, a constant option out wide and extremely tidy on the ball. His positioning has improved, too. It still needs work going forward, however.
We still need a new right back, and I do consider it to be a hugely necessary purchase, but he's a great option to have in the squad. And seldom injured, which makes him reliable.
Yes flawless logic there, I suppose the earth is flat, searing meat seals the moisture in and microwaves cook food from the inside out. Go back a month and you'll see plenty who don't rate Valencia, he hasnt become a good player in the space of a month.
I don't think someone with your tagline should be calling peoples views on players 'irrational' mate, I suppose the difference between the two of use is that I don't celebrate mediocrity.
Despite the fact you've complete misunderstood my point about LVG the bolded part is my favourite, I suppose you thought 2 months ago playing RVP and Falcao up top together, Rooney in midfield and Herrera on the bench was the answer did you? Exactly.
You disagree with me fair enough, you don't have to be a moron about it.
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I actually think he's been a bit of a beast at RB and his performances last season are still being held against him. There's really not that many better RB's around and i'm happy to see him continue.
If that's your line of defence then it's a bit sad. Anyway, let me explain it to you, man with a perfect tagline. My tagline is the effect of banter with Cina some 2 years ago I think. It stems from the fact that Cina was the biggest fanboi of Nani and I was seen as one of the three biggest Valencia's fan on here. I liked it from the word go even if it was unwarranted - it was funny at the time. Never have I got people against me using the line you did because they saw, at that time, that it bore little truth and I could easily talk to Nani's biggest fans without them pertaining to my tagline.
We exchanged our opinions on our favourite players and whereas Cina was just as warm towards Nani and cold towards Valencia as me for the reverse, I got the tagline and he didn't (I think and I don't know if he was a mod back then). If you cared to dig that old thread out, you would see quite a few people being dumbfounded as to why I got this tag where the truth was I was hardly over the top with Nani criticism. A few people in fact pointed out to the fact that I was, ironically, Nani's biggest defender when he hit the bad form and was a subject of dog's abuse on here. I constantly stressed that he's good enough to play for us and that I don't want him to go. Even at the beginning of this season I said I don't want him to go to Sporting because he's easily good enough to play here, AT LEAST as a back-up. That would be the exact minimum role that I said Valencia would get and rarely failed to acknowledge that Nani is actually the more talented of the two even if I sometimes lamented his consistency (just as 99% people on here did). Time goes by and I still want him back pretty badly, that's hardly a feature of sb who has irrational hatred towards him, is it?
As for the last bit, no, I didn't think Rooney-Falcao-Van Persie worked which is what, surprise surprise, what LvG himself abandoned! I somehow haven't seen yet Van Gaal benching Valencia for good and have you? We are 8 games from the big day and still field Valencia almost week in week out. I believe that's a tiny little difference, don't you?
Firstly you're just jealous you can't talk to horses and you seriously just wrote all that for a throw away comment?
you're commit is commendable I'll give you that.Think we'll agree to disagree.
He's not as fast as you'd expect from a person of Latino ethnicity.
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It's called respect mate. You didn't know what you were talking about, henceforth I cared to explain it. It's also great that you don't celebrate mediocrity that basically everyone (apart from you) in the last few pages celebrate. We somehow lowered our standards and it seems a player who's played a part in, and got good reviews for, our three biggest wins this season (Arsenal away, Liverpool home, Liverpool away) and has been consistently our go to full-back in a difficult season is good enough in our view. We need to have a word with ourselves I think. Yes, probably should have stopped at the lols we exchanged earlier then.
Rarely gets beaten in a 1v1, fast, strong, very accurate passer of the ball, so good with his right foot, he never uses his left, and most importantly, is quite intelligent.
Our defense is a weird one, they're all presumed to be shit, but they're actually not. The fact that he comfortably slots into the right back position illustrates just how good he's been. Don't think we need a new RB, next season.
Our defense is a weird one, they're all presumed to be shit, but they're actually not. The fact that he comfortably slots into the right back position illustrates just how good he's been. Don't think we need a new RB, next season.
I just can't agree with that. Being "not necessarily shit" doesn't make someone much improved.
I still maintain that the standards are set so incredibly low on Valencia and Young that any time they don't have an awful performance people are genuinely impressed. That's bonkers. Admittedly Young has played well to some extent, yet he's still only got one goal and one assist. How many does Valencia have? About the same? I can only recall a cross that Valencia smashed, missed everyone and somehow went into the net off a deflection.
These guys are both nearing 30 and should be in the absolute peak of their careers. They both have received ample minutes (has anyone played more than Valencia this year?), and while I know Valencia hasn't played a lot in an attacking position (thus limiting his goal/assist opportunities), he did play RWB for quite a while and really ought to have contributed more than he did.
Is he fine defensively? Sure. But for my money, Rafael can do just as well defensively while adding a shit load more going forward.
Valencia is like your wife:
- Was amazing back in the day.
- Not as exciting as before, but reliable and loyal.
- You want someone younger and with more potential, but that is expensive and risky.
- Was amazing back in the day.
- Not as exciting as before, but reliable and loyal.
- You want someone younger and with more potential, but that is expensive and risky.
Where does Rafael fit into this?
I still don't understand why people still say he isn't a natural right back. He's clearly a decent right back and not playing out of position.
He would probably look more out of position these days as a winger than at right back.
He would probably look more out of position these days as a winger than at right back.
That crazy freak of a feck buddy you mess around with. You can't count on her to always be there - she's a bit of a nomad - but when she's around, you damn well no about it.
Without a doubt I've got a huge soft spot for Rafael and would love to see him playing because of that. Yet, realistically, Valencia has been more than good enough to be playing and keep his spot. I get frustrated by his lack of adventure but, have to think that stems so much from the times he was this unstoppable winger, it's hard to forget that and expect that. If one takes that out of their mind and just judges Valencia against other fullbacks, then he offers as much as most anyone else going forward if not more and at the same time has provided a solid defense down that right side.
Valencia does very often take the percentage pass and that's exactly what he should be doing as the right back. Attacking fullbacks doesn't mean attack every single time and leave your side exposed. This guy picks and chooses his moments and does it quite often. He drives inside often with the ball while providing the width when the Mata's of the side come inside.
In some ways we should be very glad to have him in the team week in and week out even if you don't like his style because one thing United have lacked is a consistent line up and with him at least get one piece that you can count on each week.
Valencia does very often take the percentage pass and that's exactly what he should be doing as the right back. Attacking fullbacks doesn't mean attack every single time and leave your side exposed. This guy picks and chooses his moments and does it quite often. He drives inside often with the ball while providing the width when the Mata's of the side come inside.
In some ways we should be very glad to have him in the team week in and week out even if you don't like his style because one thing United have lacked is a consistent line up and with him at least get one piece that you can count on each week.
You also can't rely on that that slut to play her position right like every good side chick should.
Definitely. She gets far too excited when things get serious. Splashing out when she shouldn't be and such. Every man(ager) wants consistency and reliance in his lady. Just like Ol Tony V.
Been excellent at right back
And she doesn't mind watching from the bench, when you play the young one.
Sometimes they even play together! One up front and the other overlapping from behind.
And at the first sign of trouble she turns her back on you.
Because he has absolutely no awareness of what's behind him. He charges into players infront of him and he gets caught napping whenever someone makes a run in behind. If he'd have played right back for his whole career then maybe it wouldn't be such an issue, but playing their requires some instincts and attributes that Valencia simply doesn't have because he's not been coached to play there until recently.
He's good on the ball, he can carry it forward well and rarely gets beaten 1v1. He has his strengths, and he's been competent when you consider the circumstances. Would I want to see him as our first choice right back next season? Not for me.
I literally could have used that first paragraph to describe Rafael.
I'd be fine for us to get an even better younger right back summer, but it really isn't that much if an issue I think. Most of the right backs out there have some issue,good at defending but bad going fwd, vice versa, bad on the ball, poor first touch all of the above.
Valencia is a right back, he may not be the best in the world. But he can't be considered a midfielder. It's more laughable to call kyle Walker a right back over turn back Tony these days.
Care to provide some examples? Since Valencia's moved to right back, I can hardly remember a game where we've been troubled on the right side. I thought he handled Sanchez, Eriksen and Moreno fine in the games against Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool, respectively.
You win.
The ones that spring to mind are the Lallana chance the other day, see Arsenals first goal in the FA cup (for being dragged out of position) see any goal in the last two seasons City have scored from a Kolarov overlap (that was when I first became aware of it, when he was actually playing right wing). All in all, he's done well, let's not draw away from the fact that I'm happy with his performances this season. However, next season I really do think we need to purchase a right back if we're not under the impression that Rafael is a long term option.
Those are all fair points, my issue is that people don't consider him a right back. Which us unfair because although he may not be world class, he's better than 3/4 of the "natural right backs" in the league this season, and it's his best possition as he's a shit winger.
Who doesn't get a kick out of Valencia using his absurd strength to barge someone off the ball? It's one of life's few joys....
In terms of charging out I'd agree regarding Rafael, I wouldn't so much however with his awareness of what's behind him because he's generally quite good in that regard, his defensive headers at the back post especially.
The thing with Valencia is that the attributes that impress me at full back are those that impressed me at right wing as well. Whether they are more suited to a right back then that's up for debate, but as I say, there's some habits he has from playing right wing that also hinder him on occasions at right back. I know it's probably just as important for the modern day full back to be good on the ball, especially in our system, but I just think at the highest level, which hopefully we'll be at next season regarding the Champions League, that his weaknesses as a right back will be exposed more than they have this season.
Possibly, yeah. I mean the more I think about it the more I'm probably inclined to agree with you, as I'd rather see him in the line up at right back than right wing. It's just despite that, I'd still rather have a different first choice right back long term, for the reasons stated in the other post I just made.
Valencia's pace covers up his lack of awareness and poor positioning.. He's been caught out of position quite a few times but gets back quick enough to prevent a mess up.. Plus it's not easy to win the ball from him because of his strength, so forwards don't usually try to target him either. I think he can make a good squad player who can cover at RB, RWB and RW. He's like Park, you know you'll get a 7/10 performance from him, sometimes even better.
Not really, there were several occasions where he couldnt prevent them from scoring. It is something he really needs to work on