This was the main thing for me. Every defender, especially new to playing at this level, is going to make mistakes but they should never look as clueless as to how defending is done as Valencia did. He's just completely caught up in his own head of trying to figure out where to be without any idea of what is going on with the rest of the defence. He's never going to be a decent right-back, only a failed winger makeshift RB.
25
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 22
- Clean sheets
- 10
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 4
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Darmian was perfectly entitled to push up. As a full back its his job, and other players move across to cover him. That goal was the fault of tired legs/not being switched on early in the game. Darmian didnt push up quick enough, Schneiderlin should have gone out so Blind didnt have to, and Smalling came across too far. In the midst of all that Valencia was standing still clueless as to where he was supposed to be.
The others knew what they were supposed to do but were too slow doing it. Valencia just didnt know, and its not the first time.
Their goal was a collective mistake. Darmian and Blind getting were too slack out wide and Valencia was far too deep. He' need to be able to see his team mates and be pushing up. I think he'd have been still onside had he pushed up in line but it would have been a much harder decision for the linesman than it was.
Harsh to call it Valencia's fault alone but I still think he's a massive liability as a right back, which isn't his fault seeing as he's a winger (of sorts).
Harsh to call it Valencia's fault alone but I still think he's a massive liability as a right back, which isn't his fault seeing as he's a winger (of sorts).
The funniest thing about the goal regardless of who was at fault is Valencia actually does step up to play offside and he's still ahead of the player even after that.
Valencia isn't a full back. He plays there because he's not a winger either. A winger can cross a ball. Maybe a few players made mistakes for the goals, however if I'm Valencia and I see where the other defenders are? I'd be stepping up. This isn't the first time Valencia has been miles behind the other defenders.
It's not a nice guy contest. How he's still at the club is a mystery. He offers nothing offensively. Nothing. Zilch. Zippo. He's just as likely to trip himself up as he is to hit the first man as he is to run the ball out of play. Liability.
It's not a nice guy contest. How he's still at the club is a mystery. He offers nothing offensively. Nothing. Zilch. Zippo. He's just as likely to trip himself up as he is to hit the first man as he is to run the ball out of play. Liability.
He's capable of better than what he showed against Wolfsburg, he's had some good games for us last season. Unfortunate that he was caught cold in that attack, really "deer in headligihts" stuff which made him look really bad. Regardless, I'm sure LvG/Giggs would have had more than a word with him on that.
It's not a nice guy contest, Nobles!!!
Shit got real. These footie geniuses ain´t fookin´around. Zilch!!!
Doh!
Shit got real. These footie geniuses ain´t fookin´around. Zilch!!!
Doh!
It's not unfortunate at all, he does it all the bloody time. When he came on against Spurs first day of the season, we went from having no attacks down our right flank, to him being caught of position like 3 times in 15 minutes. There were a huge amount of goals that "coincidentally" came down big gaping holes in our right flank last season in big games like Monreal ghosting in to score in the FA Cup (then a complete feck up with the backpass to lose us the game), City's first goal in the 4-2 (there was also a moment where he made the exact mistake as vs Wolfsburg, but because he was fast enough to get across to Aguero everyone thought it was good defending
), Hazard's goal at Stamford Bridge, Everton's goal where he just let Mirallas run through and this is just off the top of my head. Many of these aren't obviously his mistake, but his ball watching and positioning is just awful and his lack of defensive instinct just causes panic and means that everyone loses their shape trying to compensate. I recall Smalling playing as a RB pretty much half of City at home last season, and also getting sent off because Valencia had gone awol and let Milner run in behind him in the away game. I bet my bottom dollar that Smalling much prefers playing next to Darmian than Valencia.
The reality is that Valencia should not be at this club. He hasn't been any good since 2012. He's so shocking in his original position that we have to play him as a fecking defender, where's he's still shocking going forward and apart from being big and fast can't defend for his life. I can see why Valencia was defended heavily by some, but now people are realising he's just shockingly bad. I mean he used to be one of my favourite players, no nonsense, traditional winger, no-ego, no-emotion machine at his best terrorising full backs over and over with no respite, putting goals on a plate for Rooney. He came back from a horrific injury to be our player of the season and displace Nani in the form of his career with us. But since then he's been shocking, and I think he's developed just a terrible mentality where he doesn't want to take any risks - the type of player who feels burdened by the Man Utd no 7 and goes back to 25.
He's just not a RB either, maybe RWB where he doesn't need to defend or attack he just should be gone. I've honestly never seen a player consistently bad for three seasons still outlast so many other players and still get games for us. I've pretty much said everything about him in the past, I spent half of last season pointing out to those in denial but a substandard RB an RW he is, I'm just shocked he's still getting games for us. Which is a shame, because as I said before, I used to be a massive fan of him.
It's not unfortunate at all, he does it all the bloody time. When he came on against Spurs first day of the season, we went from having no attacks down our right flank, to him being caught of position like 3 times in 15 minutes. There were a huge amount of goals that "coincidentally" came down big gaping holes in our right flank last season in big games like Monreal ghosting in to score in the FA Cup (then a complete feck up with the backpass to lose us the game), City's first goal in the 4-2 (there was also a moment where he made the exact mistake as vs Wolfsburg, but because he was fast enough to get across to Aguero everyone thought it was good defending
Many of these aren't obviously his mistake, but his ball watching and positioning is just awful and his lack of defensive instinct just causes panic and means that everyone loses their shape trying to compensate. I recall Smalling playing as a RB pretty much half of City at home last season, and also getting sent off because Valencia had gone awol and let Milner run in behind him in the away game. I bet my bottom dollar that Smalling much prefers playing next to Darmian than Valencia.
The reality is that Valencia should not be at this club. He hasn't been any good since 2012. He's so shocking in his original position that we have to play him as a fecking defender, where's he's still shocking going forward and apart from being big and fast can't defend for his life. I can see why Valencia was defended heavily by some, but now people are realising he's just shockingly bad. I mean he used to be one of my favourite players, no nonsense, traditional winger, no-ego, no-emotion machine at his best terrorising full backs over and over with no respite, putting goals on a plate for Rooney. He came back from a horrific injury to be our player of the season and displace Nani in the form of his career with us. But since then he's been shocking, and I think he's developed just a terrible mentality where he doesn't want to take any risks - the type of player who feels burdened by the Man Utd no 7 and goes back to 25.
He's just not a RB either, maybe RWB where he doesn't need to defend or attack he just should be gone. I've honestly never seen a player consistently bad for three seasons still outlast so many other players and still get games for us. I've pretty much said everything about him in the past, I spent half of last season pointing out to those in denial but a substandard RB an RW he is, I'm just shocked he's still getting games for us. Which is a shame, because as I said before, I used to be a massive fan of him.
No idea what you are talking about. Come to think of it, the previous posters after my post - I have no idea what his point is either. So educate us my 'net' buddiez. I'll tell you something. Valencia makes more money then most people here. Now, that's an insult and thank God you don't have to be a 'footie' genuis to get it...
Nobby posts in this thread are equal to Valencia's crosses.
Do we reckon he'll start tomorrow or not then?
I know I'm in the minority but I would start him.
The guy is a beast and the last thing Arsenal want to see is a physical player on the other side. Throw tactics, technique and ability to one side. One thing you need when facing Sanchez is good physical attributes and Valencia has that in spades. No doubt his defensive awareness is lacking compared to a natural defender and he can be frustrating on the ball but I think games like this call for a bully and if someone can get the better of Arsenal players, it's Tony V.
Just hope I don't come in here post match and see people abusing the hell out of him. Hopefully we get 3 points and the mood is positive, I have faith in him.
Brilliant post on youtube:
I don't hate Valencia, I am just astounded by his decline and even more astounded that a player that has offered absolutely nothing bar constant mediocrity for so long is still at the club.
Hard worker and good attitude. The sort of player a manager loves to work with. Unfortunately, he is an accident waiting to happen at RB and he is not good enough to play as a winger for Manchester United.
I don't think any of Valencia's critics hate him. Hating him for being shit would be the height of irrationality.
Valencia's problem is that he's become a really, really average footballer and that makes people hate him playing, not him personally. Actually, I'd argue he fell somewhat below average before he was transitioned to a RB. When he was still played as a winger after his, erm, downfall, you'd have struggled to find many worse attackers in the league. Now that he's become a RB you can forgive him for his lack of attacking prowess, it's no longer needed as much. That's not to say it's not still frustrating. An overlapping, attacking fullback is crucial to most teams nowadays, yet when Valencia plays his only intention seems to be to cause death by cross, repeatedly smashing unwitting defenders with aimless piledrivers.
People might argue his 'bad form' is because he's a winger and not a RB, but that notion is comprehensively disproved by the fact that he's worse as a winger than a RB. He's not in a rut, played out of position nor treated badly by the manager; he's just not good anymore. It's hardly a new phenomenon. Better players than Valencia have seen themselves become really poor.
Valencia's problem is that he's become a really, really average footballer and that makes people hate him playing, not him personally. Actually, I'd argue he fell somewhat below average before he was transitioned to a RB. When he was still played as a winger after his, erm, downfall, you'd have struggled to find many worse attackers in the league. Now that he's become a RB you can forgive him for his lack of attacking prowess, it's no longer needed as much. That's not to say it's not still frustrating. An overlapping, attacking fullback is crucial to most teams nowadays, yet when Valencia plays his only intention seems to be to cause death by cross, repeatedly smashing unwitting defenders with aimless piledrivers.
People might argue his 'bad form' is because he's a winger and not a RB, but that notion is comprehensively disproved by the fact that he's worse as a winger than a RB. He's not in a rut, played out of position nor treated badly by the manager; he's just not good anymore. It's hardly a new phenomenon. Better players than Valencia have seen themselves become really poor.
Yet he was still a better option than Rafael! Says a lot about the nick of our squad in recent years when Valencia and Young were our 1st choice wingers also when their form was dire. Personally I think our wings still need to be upgraded to be true contenders as we are still way behind City and Chelsea in this regard. Valencia is a good squad player though and other areas need to be filled before trying to upgrade his position in the squad.
Arsenal 3:0 Man Utd
His shot was funny. I think it would have hit the corner flag. What a joke of a footballer.
I thought he was going to take a chunk out of Sanchez.
I was pleased that he at least tried a couple of crosses that weren't smashed in low. That's something at least.
"A joke of a footballer" who defended extremely well against Sanchez last year + when he came on today.
Would've preferred him to Darmian today (in hindsight obviously) who Sanchez tore to shreds today.
Would've preferred him to Darmian today (in hindsight obviously) who Sanchez tore to shreds today.
I wanted him to start today with Darmian on the left, I thought Valencia was good when he came on.
Yep, a couple of them were perfectly good crosses which was refreshing to see given how useless Valencia in an attacking sense these days. Can't really say anything about is defending in the second half, Arsenal eased off.
I said start him as one thing you need against Sanchez was physical attributes. Easy to say after the game but it was just so simple and you just knew Sanchez was going to have a field day against Darmian.
I have faith you in Tony V.
I have faith you in Tony V.
If van Gaal is going to insist on playing 4-2-3-1 I'd have played Valencia on the right (and Mata at 10) to help out Darmian out against Sanchez. I know he offers little/nothing going forward but when you've got a class player like that on the left who's scored a hat-trick recently at Leicester having Mata ahead as a winger is a risky move. In the big games towards the end of his time at United, Ferguson began to favour Valencia and Young rather than Nani because they will help out full backs who can sometimes burst forward and be caught out like Rafael and Evra.
Despite his crossing, I still want to see Valencia further forward on the right but that all depends on Rooney being dropped.
Showed a lot of tenacity and stayed tight to Sanchez, still woefully inept going forward. Everyone but Rooney knows it.
As I mentioned above in the thread his crossing was a bit more tolerable today. It wasn't the usual shin hitters which is the least you expect from someone who's supposed to be a winger.
Something else I thought I should add in here before I forget. I know over the last few seasons Valencia's game has dipped dramatically and his career at United has probably been saved because Rafael's was unable to find himself out of the physio room if we're being totally honest, but he always gives 100% and goes on fighting no matter how badly he's playing which is more than can be said for some our players who have a lot more ability. He does make bad mistakes every now and then and unfortunately such is the drop off in his quality he'll never be proper first choice material but there's not many players in our side who'd play on with one eye closed at time when the club was in a pretty bad moment.
Young is another one who's really improved in that aspect since van Gaal took over. His days at one time look numbered and I personally would have had no issue with him being sold last summer but he fully deserves to be in our team and has proven to be a useful squad player.
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MOTM v. Argentina
Argentina 0 - Ecuador 2
Argentina 0 - Ecuador 2
Well done! What position was he playing?
Couldn't care less what he does for Ecuador
Me too!
Must be the glory hunters playing him down or they're just wums, but the blame he gets is pretty sad. Tony V's been one of our most solid performers recently. All he has to do is stand on the pitch and the opponents loose half their flair.
We are all crying about how dull our attack is and you people manage to pick dear Tony to blame. Angry smilie here.
Great assist, like the valencia of old. Honestly, I don't get why he gets so much flak from the fans. You're not going to find a better back up right back around. He's a physical monster.
Those last 4 words sums him up really. Hes physically great, that's it. He doesn't have the intelligence to play at right back, the amount of times he's ridiculously out of position is baffling, he offers nothing going forward either. As long as he's as strong as an ox and as fast a Bolt it doesn't matter though right?
He's a player that requires space, unfortunately the way we play leaves us usually with none.
Look at how much room he's got to break into there, I can't remember the last time a team gave us that.
Look at how much room he's got to break into there, I can't remember the last time a team gave us that.
Can someone answer this?
I like the guy, I just think on the wing, it's like playing with 10 men. Valencia is predictable and he makes most full backs think their Maldini.
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