Great yesterday, and will be a big help against teams we'll dominate. Though, when we're against the better teams and need to defend, we'll see what he's made of defensively now that we might finally have a solid defensive unit. He's been clumsy at times defensively but I'll wait and see how he does under José rather than judging him on the mess that was last season. I like him and he's put his all in at his time at United so I hope he succeeds.
I also thought he handled Dortmund's Dembélé a lot better than Shaw. I'm not saying that to discredit Shaw who's done well after being out for so long; just to emphasize how well he did against an explosive player who caused us a lot of problems.
couldn't have said it better myself. Hopefully he gets some more respect in this place so when I mention him on my line ups people stop questioning itIt's all right. The way people talk about Valencia here, you would think he plays for Liverpool!
Valencia is a good crosser but before Zlatan we had few to convert his crosses
Agree. First assist cross for Zlatan was not ideal for other striker. It's Zlatan's sheer brilliance that makes it work. Cross for Fellaini's goal I can argue it's defendable with a tall defender with good aerial ability to pressure Fellaini.Valencia has been an abysmal crosser for about 3 years now. Hopefully that's a thing of the past but there's no need for revisionism.
Any cross is defendable if the defender is positioned so and so and has a better jump than the attacker or is bigger and stronger or reacts quicker. What a silly argument. It's a good cross if it results in a goal. Sometimes a striker has to work for it.Agree. First assist cross for Zlatan was not ideal for other striker. It's Zlatan's sheer brilliance that makes it work. Cross for Fellaini's goal I can argue it's defendable with a tall defender with good aerial ability to pressure Fellaini.
Valencia is a good crosser but before Zlatan we had few to convert his crosses
It will happen right before he makes a silly winger-like mistake such as losing his man or being out of position when we concede a goal.I wonder at which point it will become fashionable to recognise what a good full back he is.
You mean like every defender does from time to time? Just like any midfielder doesn't see all the perfectly timed runs to put an attacker in one on one with the goalie or how strikers miss obvious chances. Everyone makes mistakes.It will happen right before he makes a silly winger-like mistake such as losing his man or being out of position when we concede a goal.
So if and more if. Xavi cross for Messi goal in CL gave no chance for Rio to recover. In this case, the defender is clearly terrible anticipating the cross but still very close to Fellaini (not close enough). A slightly better defender can pressure and force error from Fellaini (not out right win the duel). That's within the concept of defending.Any cross is defendable if the defender is positioned so and so and has a better jump than the attacker or is bigger and stronger or reacts quicker. What a silly argument. It's a good cross if it results in a goal. Sometimes a striker has to work for it.
So if and more if. Xavi cross for Messi goal in CL gave no chance for Rio to recover. In this case, the defender is clearly terrible anticipating the cross but still very close to Fellaini (not close enough). A slightly better defender can pressure and force error from Fellaini (not out right win the duel). That's within the concept of defending.
Of course forward had to work, but how often forwards be able to pull off similar goal like Zlatan's opening one? I don't see that while often. Still maintain my opinion it's less than ideal and more like half chance being converted by the brilliance of forward (Zlatan).
What's with this post?You do know that a striker runs into the box and the winger/fullback crosses the ball into the box, so if the ball arrives behind the striker the odds of the striker mistiming his run ever so slightly is just as big as the winger crossing it behind him?
So when our strikers or attackers receive a cross from Valencia or Shaw they win because the defenders are inept? Whereas when Lewandowski or Suarez win headers inside the box it's because of their sheer brilliance?
Every goal could have been dealt differently, and for every good cross there are quite a few more bad ones. However, you also fail to mention all the dangerous crosses guys like Valencia put in that the attackers bottle. Therefore, I don't mind it when Ibrahimovic has to work a little harder to make a great goal out of an average cross. The cross was still there for a top striker to score, and guess what, we now have a great striker. There will be times when Valencia or any other wide attacker crosses the ball and Ibra flops it.
What's with this post?
What did Shaw have to do with this?
Suarez: You meant these
Yes very good cross in my book (better than those for Fellaini and Zlatan). Defense got disorganized by the cross and Suarez was brilliant too.
Talked about these 2 specifically please. Yes Valencia had one of the best crossing show this game for like a very LNG time now. He can put in some good cross from time to time, but not as consistent in the last few years. Yet 2 of these were not quite high quality (my point).
No one is perfect. You're exaggerating.
Watch this
It shows Alves putting good cross in for fun and not necessarily result in goal. It also shows my point: good cross gives attacker an edge in duel despite the defender is taller and originally in better position (Alexis at 0:30).
Consistently dangerous balls into the box would be a big improvement over what we've seen over the last several seasons. I wouldn't get too carried away on demanding perfection. No, he didn't put then on a dime, but those crosses obviously worked.Agree. First assist cross for Zlatan was not ideal for other striker. It's Zlatan's sheer brilliance that makes it work. Cross for Fellaini's goal I can argue it's defendable with a tall defender with good aerial ability to pressure Fellaini.
So if and more if. Xavi cross for Messi goal in CL gave no chance for Rio to recover. In this case, the defender is clearly terrible anticipating the cross but still very close to Fellaini (not close enough). A slightly better defender can pressure and force error from Fellaini (not out right win the duel). That's within the concept of defending.
Of course forward had to work, but how often forwards be able to pull off similar goal like Zlatan's opening one? I don't see that while often. Still maintain my opinion it's less than ideal and more like half chance being converted by the brilliance of forward (Zlatan).
He can say 50-50Think it's safe to say he's gonna be starting RB. Jose must like him, gave him the armband and he still doesn't speak a word of English.....
I said he had the best game with his crosses for a long time. That's a praise. I am not bashing or undermine anyone here.Yes, show a Youtube compilation of any players' best moments and show them as proof of what they do on a regular basis.
My post only said that a cross into a dangerous area is something good attackers can score from.
Also, most importantly, why not praise the lad when he does well instead of complaining about the assists even.
Consistently dangerous balls into the box would be a big improvement over what we've seen over the last several seasons. I wouldn't get too carried away on demanding perfection. No, he didn't put then on a dime, but those crosses obviously worked.
It was Rio's marking error. My take was about the quality of the cross that "don't let Rio back in the duel at all" vs Valencia cross for Fellaini which the defender was still very close and a better one can of make up the ground and press Fellaini to force error.That's clearly a mistake by Rio, just before xavi crossed it, messi was fully marked by rio, then he left messi unmarked because he thought messi (who rarely score with his head) couldn't headed and messi might control it first. That was difficult finish from difficult angel by messi though.
I don't see any diffrence with valencia's cross to zlatan or fellaini, xavi saw messi was unmarked then he crossed, so did valencia. Every attacker has to produce brilliance finish when there are still any defender and goalie in front of him, unless it is an open goal.
Yes. It will be blamed on the fact that he isn't a fullback.You mean like every defender does from time to time? Just like any midfielder doesn't see all the perfectly timed runs to put an attacker in one on one with the goalie or how strikers miss obvious chances. Everyone makes mistakes.
What a weird retort.Yeah that cross to Ibra for the goal in the first 3 minutes was just terrible, said no one ever.
And he even added a couple more assists, said no ever. Lol.
That is not simply not necessarily the case anymore. Of course there are teams who ask their full backs first and foremost to defend but there are plenty of others, successful ones, who look for attacking value from their full backs. Defending in the modern game is becoming more and more about the group. It is no longer a separate unit to many teams. We have to wait and see how Mourinho intends to play and sets us up and then we can judge if Valencia offers that.He's a right back. He is no longer a winger. He should not be judged on how many assists he gets. If he gets some, then brilliant (and he should get some based on the positions he is taking up) but he is a defender first and foremost (and also as an attacking outlet - providing width, getting up and down the right flank, linking up play e.t.c.)
He gets found out against teams with good attacking players. Home games where we dominate he's decent enough, acts as a good outlet on the right, almost like having a second winger, and allows whoever is playing RW to drift inside.
But against good attacking teams his lack of positional sense gets exploited.
Do you have any examples of this. I seem to remember him completely shutting down City and Sterling, shutting down Arsenal and Sanchez, shoring up the defence everytime Darmian had to be yanked off at halftime. In fact, I can´t really remember one winger who has given him real problems, or when, like Darmian, he´s had to be pulled off because he was being exploited. So what are these times he´s been exploited by good attacking sides?
Agreed.Valencia has been an abysmal crosser for about 3 years now. Hopefully that's a thing of the past but there's no need for revisionism.
I think you're spot on. He gets exposed way too often and it helped that we played rather defensive under LVG. In addition to that, he was not good enough going forward to compensate for his defensive weaknesses. I think we either appreciate his game or we play someone else. Valencia will keep playing like that but I'd keep him in the squad for sureHe gets found out against teams with good attacking players. Home games where we dominate he's decent enough, acts as a good outlet on the right, almost like having a second winger, and allows whoever is playing RW to drift inside.
But against good attacking teams his lack of positional sense gets exploited.
Off the top of my head there was the Wolfsburg game last year where I'm pretty sure he played everyone onside for one of the goals.
When we lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup in 2015 (I think) he didn't exactly cover himself in glory during both of Arsenal's goals, in fact wasn't one of them a back pass straight to Danny Welbeck? I'm sure others can think of more examples.
I like Valencia, don't get me wrong, he's been a great servant for the club, and he definitely has his moments as a RB, but you can't overlook the fact he's limited, especially defensively.
Also, Sterling and and Sanchez were a bit erratic form wise last season so that's maybe not the best marker to judge him by.
A momentary lapse on a defensive trap (Darmian as well) hardly is evidence of being found out by good offensive sides. The match also against Arsenal with the poor back pass - LVG had called him our best player until then. It just seems posters pull these judgements out that really have no evidence. Have you ever seen him dominated by anyone, or any team? Seriously?
A momentary lapse on a defensive trap (Darmian as well) hardly is evidence of being found out by good offensive sides. The match also against Arsenal with the poor back pass - LVG had called him our best player until then. It just seems posters pull these judgements out that really have no evidence. Have you ever seen him dominated by anyone, or any team? Seriously?
Perhaps he's never been dominated as you say. He's an incredibly athletic and physically strong individual which certainly gives him an advantage in 1v1 situations.
It's more his ability to defend as part of a unit that worries me, or getting caught out by clever movement off the ball. I mean I know I'm being harsh, especially as he's spent most of his career as a winger, but these things could cost us at important moments in matches.
Maybe if Jose can finally get the defense settled then he'll be okay, we'll have to wait and see.
I've watched pretty much every game he's played some part in the last few seasons, and I wouldn't have developed this perspective of Valencia out of nowhere. I'm sure there are plenty who share it, and for the same reasons.