Improved Ronaldo? Is that possible? But possibly, yeah. It would be interesting to see Ronaldo vs Valencia at RB - not sure if Ronaldo would be able to outpace him actually, but possibly outsmart him.
25
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 35
- Clean sheets
- 12
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 4
Improved Ronaldo? Is that possible? But possibly, yeah. It would be interesting to see Ronaldo vs Valencia at RB - not sure if Ronaldo would be able to outpace him actually, but possibly outsmart him.
feck sake!I don't agree. When players, like Herrera often does, tracks back because Valencia is further up the pitch, there's no reason for Valencia to bust his lungs getting back - that's not lazy defending, that's team play.
He was considerably better both going forward and defensively in the second half so it has little to do with that. He had terrible defensive judgement in the first half as he is prone to, however did really well in the second half.
Its not about busting lungs, its about not doing it at a snail's pace so that he can at least track the fullback helping the winger Smalling is facing as the RB. Instead he's too late for even that
At fault for the goal. What was he doing.
Some massive blind spots from some posters IMO. Like he can do no wrong - today's mistake was Carrick's fault for not covering him, his backpass vs arsenal was Jones's fault for chesting the pass wrong.
@Ekeke 's point about him not tracking back today is very true as well. Which is surprising because he's normally got a good engine and work rate. But it was worrying the number of times that Smalling was left covering wide today was worrying. There was a point in the 2nd half where there was a man free on in the LW position and Valencia was jogging back caught 40 yards upfield. It reminded me of Evra in his last season when his legs were shot.
made a few brain farts at the beggining but had a fantastic rest of game. Broke up numerous city attacks.
It's like picking the things Valencia is not good at and adding them to the "basics"You really are being incredibly harsh on him for some odd reason. He wasn't at fault for any of the goals.. well obviously not in the match you were watching.
Absolutely. Even the recovery tackle that he made was met with frenzied praise. Yes it was a good recovery tackle but it was his fault to begin with and if Augero had a better first touch he wouldn't have had the opportunity to recover. 2 critical mistakes almost completely ignored, he is the weak link in this team.
Definite weak link imo.
I just think we see it differently. When Herrera is covering, I see no problem with him not sprinting back because then Valencia is keeping Herrera's position to counter.
He's not perfect, but he played very well today, and he has played very well this season. There's been a lot of prophesies that he will struggle against the big teams, but he hasn't - he was very good today and excellent against Liverpool etc etc.
You really are being incredibly harsh on him for some odd reason. He wasn't at fault for any of the goals.. well obviously not in the match you were watching.
We're officially in silly territory.
I thought it was another good game overall for him, most of our attacks came down the left so he didn't get to murder any shins today but his power and pace were important in our defending.
He's a boss.
Two words: Beast Mode
The hell was he doing for the first goal
I think we need someone better at linking up play as well, but other than that he's made some good tackles today.
I think we need someone better at linking up play as well, but other than that he's made some good tackles today.
I thought he was very solid , very important cog in our team, great stamina, touch and control are very good, rarely loses the ball, and is an absolute beast
Only thing, we all know is that he nullifies our attacking threat on right wing in big games
Only thing, we all know is that he nullifies our attacking threat on right wing in big games
You can easily say he made three mistakes leading to goals against City today and arsenal in the Fa cup.
Because the caf loves Rafael who wouldn't play as a regular starter at Qpr or Burnely, like his bro Fabio.
There was one move in the 42nd minute in the first half when City broke into the area with pace and only him stood between Aguero and Silva and managed to force a goal kick from the former. Very impressive
Beast today. Great covering and made a bitch out of aguero a few times (as did Jones).
Awesome Today
Well said Rossa
Wasn't impressed with him in the first half but he was full of confidence after that race with Aguero. Total beast in the 2nd half.
Great today...a 'needs to be starting' type of performance. He works well with the Spaniards. Just wish he'd be a little more aggressive in attack but he's improving on that. Defended superbly at times.
Came here to post exactly this.
Absolutely terrible the 1st 20 odd mins but went into beast mode after that.
That footrace when Clichy was put through...
"Not now son"
"Not now son"
Lets not get into daft mode.
This can be said for most of our squad during City's initial blitz.
At what point do we accept he's good enough to remain our right-back and isn't makeshift?
Bar that first 20 minutes he was an absolute beast. Some really impressive defensive contributions.
If he starts next year as RB, as it would clearly mean LvG rates him as his starter.
Not really, the rest of the guys werent asleep like he was. Valencia absolutely switched off twice in the 1st 10 odd mins. The goal and one another moment where it was Smalling(i think) who cut the move out at the last moment. Also couple of other moments when he was woefully out of position.
Yep, I honestly wouldn't take issue with this. He's been excellent this season at full-back.
Weird as it may sound considering he's a winger turned FB, I'm pretty happy most of the time with his defensive work, its what he does going forwards that isnt good enough especially given how beautifully Mata and Herrera work there.
Not quite there yet.
Defensively he's solid enough it's his attacking play that lets him down, I'd love to see him take on and beat his man instead he always opts for an inside pass. I don't know why he doesn't back himself, he has the pace and muscle to get past weak fullbacks.
He's not a RB by trade so we are bound to see the odd lapse - his good points far outweighed any negative ones today.
A question to ask is perhaps the standard to compare him with ? Which RB in the Premier League is actually playing magnificent ?
Hes been good since that failed backpass against Arsenal. His crossing still needs work though but thought it was better today overall.