Well shit happens. De Gea, one of the world's top keepers had a howler today. The main thing is how the team played collectively, which is why Van Gaal isn't likely to start randomly swapping players out to experiment.
25
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Clean sheets
- 12
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 4
Well shit happens. De Gea, one of the world's top keepers had a howler today. The main thing is how the team played collectively, which is why Van Gaal isn't likely to start randomly swapping players out to experiment.
I think the annoying thing is he clearly used to know how to cross and take a man on, that's exactly what he built his career on!. His first season for us had some beautiful crosses. Since then though it's like he's forgotton how to cross apart from that stupid chip cross he does.
If he can get his attacking game back together he would be a great rb.
If he can get his attacking game back together he would be a great rb.
It is really incredible that fans who would have watched full backs like Denis Irwin and Gary Neville can think that Antonio Valencia is good defensively at right back. It just beggars belief.
At first it's because he was getting doubled up on, then it was because he didn't have anyone playing infront of him, and now it's not actually important for him to put in any decent crosses, it's just about giving space to other players by being there. Standards, where have they gone?
Come back Rafa, we can do better than solid..
Clyne isn't the answer. Nobody would have wanted him before this season started.
Valencia has been very good, apart from his final ball (as usual) but tbh hes done well. Better @ RB than RM
I think he's been instructed specifically to float that cross into the back post and let Fellaini do the rest because he is matched up against the right back.
There is solid and then there's quality. Valencia is solid.
You're kidding right? Even the most die hard Valencia fans will tell you he serious lacks with the final ball, smashing the ball as hard as he can at the nearest defender or playing a 3 yard pass backwards doesn't always cut it unfortunately. I just loath the bolded part as an argument, would you have been saying the same thing about Herrera when Rooney was starting in front of him in midfield? LVG clearly wants to keep consistency in his team until the end of the season hence the starting line up in the last 3/4 games.
Yes he does want to keep consistency, because things are working very well for us right now, which makes this obsession with Rafa "getting a game" all the more nonsensical. The team comes before any one player.
Agreed on all fronts. I would have done a better job than Valencia today.
The only good news is he'll soon be thirty, so even if we insist on keeping him he'll have to retire eventually.
Its not him "getting a game" like some charity, a lot of people genuinely think he's the better player. Its naive to think we still can't improve on what we currently have without bringing in new players, we've still got a lot more growing room within this team. I, like others identify Valencia as the current weak link within the starting XI and feel Rafael will improve us there, its hardly nonsensical.
Van Gaal obviously disagrees with this so why bother with a campaign ? If he wants to bring in a new RB next year all of this will be moot, but for now, the manager rates Valencia as better for the team, as opposed to better individually.
How would Rafael possibly do any worse than Valencia? I cant see how a right back is going to throw off our team's rhythm.
No you wouldn't.
He improves us for 2-3 games, and then gets injured. It's a constant disruption and Valencia is a good player with different qualities that compliment Herrera and Mata, and he is always fit. The most important thing with the defence is to stay fit and build an understanding like they have now.
Valencia hasn't done a bad job and LvG obviously considers him more useful to his formation and tactics than Rafa. Its actually more destablizing to randomly swap out players in a successful formation, which is one thing Van Gaal was criticized for when we were struggling. So why do it now ? The correct answer is, we shouldn't.
Oh. Thanks for pointing that out.
Yeh I don't think even an in form Rafael is worth constantly disrupting our already fragile defence. We're better going with stability.
Come on Raoul, this a forum, its where people come to give their opinions, its hardly a campaign.
It wasn't meant for you really, just a general thought. Just a bit bizarre that people are so easily willing to fiddle with a successful lineup that has clearly worked for us.
Rafael is ten times the player Valencia is going forward. Don't see why that's even a debate.
It's not just that... Valencia barely qualifies as a footballer. He's an athlete who looks like he belongs in gymnastics or weightlifting, not a football pitch.
Ferguson always, always tinkered with his line up regardless of team form.
Hasn't worked very well for LvG so far, so why risk it at such a critical point in the season.
Not always, moreso by the end when the most of our squad was squad players who were all similar in quality so we'd rotate until someone picked up form. We probably went too far with the rotation at times anyways.
Well I guess this sums up the extent of your credibility in the football forums.
Credibility? You want to talk about credibility? I'm a Manchester United fan who watches as many matches as I can from the comfort of his couch, and post somewhat regularly on a bloody message board because it interests me. I have ZERO credibility about anything, nevermind Manchester United.
But that's me. I take it you're coming from a far more enlightened perspective, so don't worry about my useless 2p.
Some fan you are - ranting about how one of our players barely qualifies as a footballer and instead belongs in gymnastics.
I know. Isn't that just the most over the top criticism you've ever heard by a fan (whom it's already been established has no credibility anyway) on an online message board?
Need I remind you and anyone else who's interested that this very thread, his official thread on tis forum had "performances" in brackets because it was so widely understood that he was rubbish that it wasnt even a point of contention with anybody.
Well it was a bit unwise at a minimum.
Perhaps. And this is a waste of my time to be talking trash about a player after we got a good result, I know.
So I'll leave this be for another day...
I agree with this. He's composed with the ball and combines very well with others. Always felt he should score more than he does, maybe it's confidence with him and once he gets one off he'll feel better to start seizing responsibility. If it doesn't work for the first couple of times he seems to drop off and just contend with doing his basic job, which is solid but he certainly is capable of more. Rafael has more urgency about him but defensively he gives the feeling he's always on the edge. Van Gaal talks about making the players think about football, Rafael is instinctive. Coach that out of him and he's half the player, which is why I don't see a future for him.
I felt he was actually more attacking today and willing to try things than he has been for quite some time. Still not enough, but better.
Wish Rafa would get a chance though. Obviously won't be in the next two matches against City and Chelsea, but hopefully he'll get an opportunity after that and show enough that he's kept in for the last few matches.
Wish Rafa would get a chance though. Obviously won't be in the next two matches against City and Chelsea, but hopefully he'll get an opportunity after that and show enough that he's kept in for the last few matches.
Can't criticize his individual performance because don't expect much from him. However, he seems to have a good understanding with Mata and Herrera and it helps the team.
He's quite obviously holding us back though. Just look at how much Blind created on the left compared to Valencia. Valencia put in a lot of work today and made a lot of good runs, but the quality simply isn't there when it really matters. A new right back (seeing as Rafael seemingly won't get another game under LVG) is very much needed.
Valencia's understanding with Mata and Herrera is fantastic. I love that trio.
Valencia did hit a few awful crosses today, but he still made a couple of chances. Like one for Fellaini to head and I think he also tied up Rooney for that over-head kick attempt.
He had a bad day at crossing, but I still think people are being too harsh on him. He's an effective player for us.
Valencia did hit a few awful crosses today, but he still made a couple of chances. Like one for Fellaini to head and I think he also tied up Rooney for that over-head kick attempt.
He had a bad day at crossing, but I still think people are being too harsh on him. He's an effective player for us.
He's about as shite as ever. We've had to put up with him for so long now though that he has effectively managed to lower expectations everyone has to the point where a mediocre display is seen as solid. Well done to him for that I suppose.
He tries. He's doing as good as I expected him to. He may not be great but he's consistent enough. Since LVG clearly doesn't rate Rafa, I just hope we bring in a good RB.