[Nighteyes]

I'm no big fan of Valencia but the last page is a perfect example of people seeing what they want to see. Darmian has been no better than Valencia going forward. Valencia is judged ten times more harshly (perhaps rightly) than Darmian because people still remember how good he was at his peak. Take that out of the equation and his performances going forward as Right Back were no worse than Darmian's. Despite his baffling reluctance to take players on, he still did it on a more regular basis than Darmian has done so far and there were some pretty good goals he set up last season doing that (Liverpool and Sunderland come to mind).

 

[Ducklegs]

My problem with Valencia is that he is not very good at defending, or going forward.

The defending part is understandable, he isn't a defender, or particularly switched on in that position.

The going forward part I imagine he is picked up on more because that's what he is supposed to be "good" at, yet he has been absolutely terrible at that as well.

 

[criticalanalysis]

I absolutely agree that Valencia should play on a rotation basis, and I can see the reasons why he would be a good defender to put on Montero because of his pace and power. I still think that this won't matter because Montero's movement and ability to use both feet will make pace and power less effective. I'd rather LVG played Valencia against Brugge and saved Darmian for Swansea.

It'll be interesting to see who starts on Sunday and how they cope with Montero!

The part romanticist and part pragmatist, says I'll be happy to see Valencia (or even Young) play on the right wing for some games this season. With the consistency of how we're excuting a consistent game plan and style, orthodox players like Young and Valencia can actually play very well/flourish if given the right instructions/confidence boost. Those both offer a combination of big game experience, a certain consistency and raw pace that neither Mata, Januzaj or the youth can offer.

I'd love it if we can involve Perreira, Wilson and Lingard more but at the same time I feel that senior pairing have a lot to offer that we shouldn't discard so easily this season. I hope and I think LVG understands this as well.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

It'll be interesting to see who starts on Sunday and how they cope with Montero!

The part romanticist and part pragmatist, says I'll be happy to see Valencia (or even Young) play on the right wing for some games this season. With the consistency of how we're excuting a consistent game plan and style, orthodox players like Young and Valencia can actually play very well/flourish if given the right instructions/confidence boost. Those both offer a combination of big game experience, a certain consistency and raw pace that neither Mata, Januzaj or the youth can offer.

I'd love it if we can involve Perreira, Wilson and Lingard more but at the same time I feel that senior pairing have a lot to offer that we shouldn't discard so easily this season. I hope and I think LVG understands this as well.

I would like to see Lindgard given a go on the right actually, with Mata playing centrally.

 

[Varun]

Darmian bas done nothing offensively to make him better than Valencia in that regard. Valencia was average at both ends, Darmian is superb defensively and as average hoping forwards. He's new though and it should getter with time but putting him on a pedestal unnecessarily is weird.

 

[Lawman]

Would love to see Tony V mark 1 the one that first thought was to take the man on get to the byeline and put the ball across the box making him unplayable at times in the position Mata finds himself. Unfortunately we got to this position because we now have Tony V mark 2 the one that refuses to take a man on and when he has no choice he blasts the ball of the defenders shins.

 

[Eugenius]

Valencia used to be one of the best wingers in the league and three years later we're having a debate whether he's any better going forward than a traditional right back and people are confused as to why Valencia gets stick? Let's not also forget that when he came on vs Newcastle they had just decided to retreat and defend the penalty box. Valencia had all the time and space in the world and it was fecking obvious he needed to drive at defenders and drag them out of position and get them moving towards their own goal. That was the rationale for bringing him on. He has the pace and ability to do it. Problem is he's a bottler and will take no responsibility. You can't defend that. Young would have at least had a crack and taking on his man, and not just pumped aimless balls into the box.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Valencia used to be one of the best wingers in the league and three years later we're having a debate whether he's any better going forward than a traditional right back and people are confused as to why Valencia gets stick? Let's not also forget that when he came on vs Newcastle they had just decided to retreat and defend the penalty box. Valencia had all the time and space in the world and it was fecking obvious he needed to drive at defenders and drag them out of position and get them moving towards their own goal. That was the rationale for bringing him on. He has the pace and ability to do it. Problem is he's a bottler and will take no responsibility. You can't defend that. Young would have at least had a crack and taking on his man, and not just pumped aimless balls into the box.

bump

 

[Browniee]

Poor old turn back. Not getting a look in it seems

 

[kouroux]

Poor old turn back. Not getting a look in it seems

He'll play when Darmian inevitably gets his 5th yellow card and get suspended.

 

[dustfingers]

He'll play when Darmian inevitably gets his 5th yellow card and get suspended.

yeah, been dreading that moment.

 

[Adisa]

He's 30. I think this is his last season with us.

 

[dsch]

I must have missed the memo about Valencia being good defensively. He's fast and strong, sure, but he doesn't really have defensive instincts, can't tackle well, and has a mistake in him. The difference with Darmian is night and day.

 

[m1y2]

he's still good back up option and good servant to the club but if we get rid of him, we should promote Varela to the first team, the guy's good enough but maybe he's too Rafael type of player for Van Gaal but he's not brazilian so he may get a chance in the future we'll see

 

[Lawman]

Valencia is a quality player to have in the squad. Don't understand the moaning the guy never lets us down and has a great attitude towards playing for United. Plus I'd rather have him at right wing instead of Mata.

 

[Escobar]

He will get games but he no longer is a starter for us. For too long people wanted him to be dropped so they should be satisfied

 

[kouroux]

yeah, been dreading that moment.

At least you can prepare yourself psychologically.

 

[Rossa]

Valencia is a quality player to have in the squad. Don't understand the moaning the guy never lets us down and has a great attitude towards playing for United. Plus I'd rather have him at right wing instead of Mata.

"Supporters" I assume. Works his socks off every match and isn't half as bad as portrayed on here, but that won't stop people heading onboard the bandwagon, sadly.

 

[ivaldo]

"Supporters" I assume. Works his socks off every match and isn't half as bad as portrayed on here, but that won't stop people heading onboard the bandwagon, sadly.

It's not a bandwagon, it's become painfully obvious he's just not good enough for us anymore. There seems to be a loyalist few who flat out refuse to acknowledge his catalogue of errors when he's played full back, they seem to believe being fast and strong makes you good at defending. Nothing against the bloke, works hard and seems like a genuinely nice man, but he is an absolute liability when he's on the pitch, whatever he had that made him a fantastic winger several years back has long gone.

 

[Adisa]

At least you can prepare yourself psychologically.

Hopefully Darmian gets his two yellows in the next two games so it's the Ipswich game he's suspended for.

 

[Summit]

I would like him to get a game as right winger with Darmian behind him.

 

[Kidders]

Hopefully Darmian gets his two yellows in the next two games so it's the Ipswich game he's suspended for.

There is every chance he'll get those cards too ! I love his attitude, if he can't win fairly then he's prepared to take a card to stop an opponent.

 

[dustfingers]

At least you can prepare yourself psychologically.

yeah, been trying to relax myself over Valencia's videos of 2011/12 season.

 

[Eugenius]

It's not a bandwagon, it's become painfully obvious he's just not good enough for us anymore. There seems to be a loyalist few who flat out refuse to acknowledge his catalogue of errors when he's played full back, they seem to believe being fast and strong makes you good at defending. Nothing against the bloke, works hard and seems like a genuinely nice man, but he is an absolute liability when he's on the pitch, whatever he had that made him a fantastic winger several years back has long gone.

This except I'd add that I do have a gripe against him in that he's been a complete coward in terms of taking on any responsibility in the last 3 seasons, which is at odds with the character we saw when he came back from a broken leg to be our player of the year.

 

[TheGame]

Good player to have in the squad, with the amount of games coming up, I would expect Darmian to be rested on a few occasions.

 

[Eugenius]

Good player to have in the squad, with the amount of games coming up, I would expect Darmian to be rested on a few occasions.

You did see how awful his cameos against Spurs and Newcastle were?

 

[quirkey]

Will be needed as Darmian will pick up a lot of yellows over the course of the season.

 

[Lawman]

It's not a bandwagon, it's become painfully obvious he's just not good enough for us anymore. There seems to be a loyalist few who flat out refuse to acknowledge his catalogue of errors when he's played full back, they seem to believe being fast and strong makes you good at defending. Nothing against the bloke, works hard and seems like a genuinely nice man, but he is an absolute liability when he's on the pitch, whatever he had that made him a fantastic winger several years back has long gone.

What a lot of rubbish, Valencia is great in possession and there are not many who get the better of him. If you think we can get a better squad player (attitude/cost) than Valencia then who? We have got rid of the deadwood in Anderson Evans Fletcher Cleverley these were the guys not good enough. Valencia is still here and is a valuable member of the squad in my opinion. He'll play more than a few games this season and would be more effective than Mata in the right side of attack that's for sure.

 

[TheGame]

You did see how awful his cameos against Spurs and Newcastle were?

He's hardly had any match practice so clearly his match fitness will be poor. As soon as he gets some games under his belt he will be fine.

 

[Red Dreams]

too bad he is not getting games. He improved under van Gaal. Hope we see him in the cup matches.

 

[stu_1992]

I wouldn't put him in the team now. Decent back-up option I guess, but I never feel safe with him in defense. Going forward he's not the player he once was. Whether it's a confidence issue or not, it doesn't look like he's likely to get that back.

 

[ivaldo]

What a lot of rubbish, Valencia is great in possession and there are not many who get the better of him. If you think we can get a better squad player (attitude/cost) than Valencia then who? We have got rid of the deadwood in Anderson Evans Fletcher Cleverley these were the guys not good enough. Valencia is still here and is a valuable member of the squad in my opinion. He'll play more than a few games this season and would be more effective than Mata in the right side of attack that's for sure.

In a team that struggles to create the last think you need is a fullback who's full passing capabilites consist of a 5 yard square pass and hitting the first defender in the balls with every single cross.
I see you are one of those who think being big and fast makes a good defender, positionally and tactically he's clueless, he has no idea how to operate with other defenders and seems to have a knack of never being in line with the rest of the back 4. He cannot be relied upon, at all. The worse we've looked defensively this season coincided with Valencias cameo against Newcastle.

Going forwards he seems to have lost all ability he once had of taking players on, no invention in his play whatsoever, it's saddening really when you think back to what he once was. I'd have a half fit Mata over Valencia any day.

 

[Ixion]

Plus I'd rather have him at right wing instead of Mata.

Do you like watching the ball get kicked into the defenders shins?

 

[Lawman]

Do you like watching the ball get kicked into the defenders shins?

No but I would rather see that than Mata checking back constantly. How many games do you see our attacks come down the right hand side? Next to none as Mata cuts back or inside every time it's dreadful.

 

[Ixion]

No but I would rather see that than Mata checking back constantly. How many games do you see our attacks come down the right hand side? Next to none as Mata cuts back or inside every time it's dreadful.

Mata has set up 3 goals and scored 1 already this season. I think you're being overly critical.

 

[Lawman]

In a team that struggles to create the last think you need is a fullback who's full passing capabilites consist of a 5 yard square pass and hitting the first defender in the balls with every single cross.
I see you are one of those who think being big and fast makes a good defender, positionally and tactically he's clueless, he has no idea how to operate with other defenders and seems to have a knack of never being in line with the rest of the back 4. He cannot be relied upon, at all. The worse we've looked defensively this season coincided with Valencias cameo against Newcastle.

Going forwards he seems to have lost all ability he once had of taking players on, no invention in his play whatsoever, it's saddening really when you think back to what he once was. I'd have a half fit Mata over Valencia any day.

I like Mata but as a right side of a three up top he is the main factor imo why we are struggling to create anything. I'm not in any camp regarding size but I'd like to see attacks from the right hand side. With Mata (who is full of quality) you get next to nothing from him in this position it's a horrible waste and handicaps our team no end.

 

[Lawman]

Mata has set up 3 goals and scored 1 already this season. I think you're being overly critical.

No I like Mata but in this position he's severely hampered and it affects our team. The quicker he is moved the better it's only a matter of time imo before he's either out the team or as a 10.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I like Mata but as a right side of a three up top he is the main factor imo why we are struggling to create anything. I'm not in any camp regarding size but I'd like to see attacks from the right hand side. With Mata (who is full of quality) you get next to nothing from him in this position it's a horrible waste and handicaps our team no end.

But that doesn't make a lot of sense considering there's been quite a few instances this season when he's been the only one who's been looking too, and has successfully, created opportunities.

 

[NinjaFletch]

Valencia is a quality player to have in the squad. Don't understand the moaning the guy never lets us down and has a great attitude towards playing for United. Plus I'd rather have him at right wing instead of Mata.

Why, are you a masochist?

 

[Steven Seagull]

I'd understand the sentiment of playing Valencia if he was running at his full back like he used to. But he just hasn't done it consistently for a long time and has provided almost no end product