Valencia is definitely looking sharper going forward, but I still think he is defensively dodgy. I noticed him well out of position on numerous occasions tonight and he will get found out when we go up against a team with a skillful left winger.
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Told you lot.
Valencia taking on players and putting in great crosses. 
He ended up at CB a few times leaving Mata at RB, far too many times for my liking, reminded me of Evra near his last year's, although going forward he is a good threat.
He needs to get his positioning in order. I feat that the Sterling we have seen for City lately will cause him all sorts of trouble in the derby. Sterling won't have any luck with his weapon of choice, pace, though.
Yeah, it was noticeable that. It happened with such regularity that I wondered whether it was somehow deliberate. Mourinho didn't seem to correct it during the game, or if he tried, he was unsuccessful.
Mata was left looking around not knowing whether to stick or twist.
Positioning will always be Valencia's biggest weakness.
Mata was marking the fullback and Valencia was marking Tadic, that's why it was confusing I think as Tadic was drifting all over the pitch.
He's had Sterling in his pocket before. He loves playing against speed merchants. They don't get an inch from him. I think a Hazard in form is a greater challenge.
Thought both full-backs were really good tonight and probably Valencia's best performance in 3 years. Hopefully a sign of how some of the players can gain confidence and form after having it coached out of then under Moyes and Van Gaal.
Damn he was good. That's an 8 or 9 out of 10 performance. Him and Shaw at fullback gives us so much dynamism on the flanks.
You guys just don´t get it, do you? Of course Mourinho isn´t going to correct it, it´s Jose who is positioning him there. Isn´t this obvious? He positions Shaw like that as well. It´s been very noticeable this year.
While I don´t necessarily agree with this tactic, it is plainly Mourinho´s doing. Any manager would´ve corrected this one time, unless of course they were the ones setting the defence this way. I knew there would be the knee jerk responses of the cliche "Valencia lack of positioning" bollocks.
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When he has confidence...he is brilliant.
Absolutely no need for the holier than thou attitude.
Also, note 'deliberate' in my post. It was evident against Bournemoth (Shaw was caught out), but you can forgive some for thinking Valencia is culpable, given his poor positional sense - which isn't to be debated.
Begs the question, why ask Mata to mark/track?
Assumably then Mourinho is happier to force teams wide, inviting them to exploit the space, knowing United can deal with the aerial threats.
It´s not holier than thou, it´s just bloody obvious, and credit to you, that in your post, you did sort of get the idea. And yes, this cliche poor positioning sense is debatable. It just gets repeated over and over again without real justice. Feel free with actual video or specific instances, other than one off gaffes like vs Wolfiesburg last year, to demonstrate. While I love Shaw, I find him far more suspect, but never hear a thing about it.
He showed quality at right back last season too. He's got the athleticism and desire to make it work and as a support act rather than the main man on the wing he thrives. There are no stand-out right backs who make me feel we can upgrade on Valencia.
Thanks for the credit. Do I get a gold star too? Sanctimonious much.
Whatever.
He's one of the best right backs in the league. I've been saying this from forever. He's just been given license to attack now which has to do with management. Great servant.
Born again as was said previously. Its nice to see him taking on people and getting to the byline and putting in crosses or attempting to.
Will be a huge threat to getting us up quicker into attack.
Will be a huge threat to getting us up quicker into attack.
He seems to have his confidence back under Mourinho. Back to his old self where he would take players on
This is it - was quite obvious to those who don't have an agenda - I'm not sure if ti will work with every team, but Mata's role was to cover the AM with Valencia covering the winger's potential run, and then they'd switch with valencia going deeper while Mata picked up the winger - Saints two forwards were buzzing around constantly esp Long so I reckon it was to help with that, as Bailly did lose Long once or twice and Tadic was all over.
Owned his flank, the power and drive him and Shaw give us out wide is immense and he rarely has anyone to link with on his side.
Suddenly our flanks look dead good. Valencia is a beast and now that he has his confidence back opposing full backs must be shitting their pants.
Valencia/mikki and shaw/martial would be a nightmare to play against
Valencia/mikki and shaw/martial would be a nightmare to play against
His re-birth continues. Looking very good as an offensive outlet, still a few issues to iron out defensively but overall he was good again.
In the same boat as Fellaini, changing my opinion of him one game at a time, has been a unit.
The derby will be the first big test for him if he starts the match.
I always backed him against dreadful italian, now i hope days when Darmian starts on the right are over, tat least in the injury free squad. Valencia does have an amazing stamina, but he is 31 already, so we still need to look for a RB. I think with the right loan, maybe Varela could make it. He obviously need game time and at least a season in the regular role in a senior team.
He's so good when on this kind of form.
Beast reincarnated!! Another solid performance by TonyV. May it long continue!
Another solid performance by TonyV. May it long continue!So basically he's a team player.
Its crazy with Valencia, because he used to have a track record of really good crossing. This isnt a new skill he's suddenly learned. It sort of shows how bad he's been for the last few years that he's known for his backward passing on the wing or just bitting the ball low into a crowded area. That 09-10 season he was absolutely brilliant at crossing the ball. It was like a guaranteed chance at goal if Rooney was in the middle. Amazingly, he's been like his old self the last few games (and in pre-season) and the manager has even said as much in his press conference that he wants balls in the box from Valencia. This was unthinkable last year and in previous years, but with his pace and if his crossing gets to the level it was a few years ago (especially with the height we have in the box) I wouldnt want anyone else in the world at right back.
Beast. Used to hate him on the wing in recent years but looks very exciting in this role.
Wtf has happened to him and Fellaini? Bloody hell.
Its like we signed a new player. Where was this Valencia for the past two to three years?
To be fair, he was among our best players whenever fit under Van Gaal. Problem was he had a lot of injuries which is rare for him. Under mourinho, only been a few games but he has taken his game up a few levels and is looking almost as good as he did in 2012 when he carried our attack. A one man right flank.
He looks a different player so far this season. His confidence going forward is on a different level right now and he has actually been one of our biggest attacking threats over the last 3 games. Defensively, his positioning is still a bit suspect but he's very solid 1v1. If he carries on this form, he might be the best RB in the league this season.
Don't worry I have seen the battle between Valencia and Sterling many times during Liverpool and City, I can ensure you that Sterling doesn't fancy to face Valencia one on one.
Except playing under Guardiola and Brendan Rodgers is completely different scenarios. Most teams last season wouldn't have worried about facing Valencia and Fellaini either but look completely different under Jose.
Or could be a tactical from Jose's instruction. If Shaw was out of position or got beaten, Blind has to cover him which forcing Bailly to go cover Blind's position and Valencia has to cover Bailly's and so does the winger.
Not just Rodgers but Valencia also did well last season against Sterling under Pellegrini. I won't say Valencia is completely different. Defensively Valencia has been the same like in 2014/2015 season imo. Offensively Valencia is right now the same as his last 7 games in 2015/2016 or probably better. Im probably one of the guy who isn't surprised with Valencia's performance in his last 3 games.
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