Not even close mate, before Van Gaal was manager he played over 190 games for United only a handful of them were as a fullback. In the last two years he managed 57 games i reckon around 35-40 of them were at RB.
25
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 43
- Clean sheets
- 19
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 7
- Status
Not even close mate, before Van Gaal was manager he played over 190 games for United only a handful of them were as a fullback. In the last two years he managed 57 games i reckon around 35-40 of them were at RB.
There should be a special memorial thread for fanboys of Nani, Rafael and more recently Darmian, each of whom Valencia has dislodged from the first team over the past six seasons. You can reasonably say he ended the United careers of the first two.
Valencia taking the armband when he came on yesterday certainly can't be an encouraging sign for the Valencia haters who are convinced that Mourinho won't see what SAF, Moyes and LVG saw in him over any of our other choices on the right side.
Valencia taking the armband when he came on yesterday certainly can't be an encouraging sign for the Valencia haters who are convinced that Mourinho won't see what SAF, Moyes and LVG saw in him over any of our other choices on the right side.
Can't think there would be many left wingers in the league fancying there chances versus Valencia the night before a game. The guy never loses his battle, it's just because he is limited offensively that he gets such a hard time. Very underrated player, definitely our most undervalued.
Thought he looked right back on it again at Wigan. Sure he's no defensive masterpiece but when you need a ball carrier and a physical/quick defender on the wing he does a great job. If only he could remember how to cross really well like he did in the first season!
I'm not sure about that, but he was speaking in reference to him being captain during the game.
Ah I see. Thanks.
Valencia has got a fantastic first touch, one of the best in United. He has now got back his speed too, and always a threat down the right side for the opposition. He is one of the best right backs in the league, and when he plays, for United and also for Ecuador, his commitment and passion is inspiring. I don't think Mou has any worries for the RB position. He is not stupid.
I think the fanboy thing is one of the biggest reasons he is hated here .
They can hate him as much as they want. He's likely to start as first choice RB this season. Even when played against top opposition he always holds his own. I remember Sterling scoring a hatrick the previous week,then completely shut out by Tony the next week.
With how well he takes care of himself,I can see him here for at least 3 more years.
He also links very well with the winger ahead of him. I'm sure Micky if he plays on the wing will thrive from that. He linked well with Mata too. This is one area his competitors seem to lack.
That's why I like Tony. He adds to more than sum of parts of the team.
True.
He needs better players around him to make space for him to run into. In those situations he can happily get into the box. Unfortunately he doesnt have a decent final ball.
Ignoring the evidence of my eyes, the stats say Valencia is better than Darmian.
Rating -> Yellows are Cafe stats, but the last 3 whoscored. Notice how much better Valencia is at passing, not getting a yellow, assists. On top of that Valencia attacks and defends.
PS: I did Valencia's clean sheet stat myself. 10 is the least. I couldn't be bothered to track down the result of every European match he played last season.
I couldn't stand him in his last years as a winger, but I like him a lot as a fullback. He didn't start that well and maybe that's why some people still think he's a shit FB, but he's been very very solid lately.
There a real snob attitude in some fan's blindness of Valencia. Maybe because he didn't have the best football education, is right foot only, is a tank, or doesn't do tricks. Who cares. He's a warrior, not a w****r.
Personally, I was not a big fan of Valencia, especially as a winger. He was borderline terrible on many occasions and since he reverted to RB, I am disliking him less. I'm not a fan of shifting players because they failed in their natural position and moving them to another that is a totally new park. Valencia does not strike me as an intelligent player or one having the tactical nous to play RB but somehow, someway he gets the job done, which should not be overlooked even by someone like myself. He is very reliant on his physicality and less on the ability and techniques and I fear that the next injury could ruin him.
I firmly believe Darmian would be the better RB if José works him and I also had hopes in Varela being coached by José defensively as he could be our Bellerin but until then Valencia get the job done and I too bothered by that.
Besides there is a lack of quality FBs in the current market and it has been so for a while now.
I firmly believe Darmian would be the better RB if José works him and I also had hopes in Varela being coached by José defensively as he could be our Bellerin but until then Valencia get the job done and I too bothered by that.
Besides there is a lack of quality FBs in the current market and it has been so for a while now.
I'd keep him for another season. But Young and Jones absolutely have to go.
He will tear up the space Miki leaves when miki cuts in from the right. he is the perfect RB to have when the right sided winger likes to drift in. Hes always available for the overlap.
True but my biggest concern is what he does when he is high up the pitch. I expect more from him there given that he started as a winger, which is fair!
Seems a bit of red-tinted memories here. He's been responsible for a load of goals from terrible defensive positioning at RB. Hopefully he spent the year off watching footage and training on it, but he doesn't seem to have the instincts to hold a defensive line, and we've paid the price before.
That's the reason people were so desperate for a new RB before Darmian.
Like Tony and he's a great asset to the squad, but I don't think you can 'teach' a winger into a truly class RB at that late in their career. Very useful square peg, but still not a 'specialist'.
That's the reason people were so desperate for a new RB before Darmian.
Like Tony and he's a great asset to the squad, but I don't think you can 'teach' a winger into a truly class RB at that late in their career. Very useful square peg, but still not a 'specialist'.
Now that is a true issue. He is still pretty bad at crosses. But i will take that as i feel safe knowing we wont get marauded down our right flank by the opposition left winger. To say he isnt a right back is laughable. to say hes shit at crosses is acceptable.
Been captain twice now in this pre-season 
15/16 - 23 games (all as RB)
14/15 - 35 games (24 as RB)
13/14 - 44 games (8 as RB)
12/13 - 40 games (3 as RB)
11/12 - 38 games (5 as RB)
10/11 - 20 games (0 as RB)
09/10 - 49 games 0 as RB)
All according to transfermarkt. So under LVG he played 81% of games at RB. Before LVG it was 8% (assuming my maths isn't terrible). So you're right, but for some reason it feels like he's played a lot more at RB. One for the weird feelings of football thread.
Defensively shocking positionally, offers nothing offensively. Days are numbered as a starter if Jose brings in a right back.
hes not as bad as most make it out . Also a long time servant. happy for himBeen captain twice now in this pre-season
Plain wrong
It will not be difficult in the slightest to find a better right back than Tony. Good squad player but not good enough to be a first choice right back at any top club.
Yes he is
In your opinion, mine differs. It happens.
We tried that last year and got one much worse.
Doesn't change the fact he's an average right back. For me any top right back should be solid defensively which positionally he isn't although in his defence he's only a right back due to his offensive failings as a winger during that remarkable decline he experienced. Aforementioned offensive deficiencies however are another negative for a top right back especially considering the willingness of our right winger to move infield whether it be Mkhi, Jesse or Mata.
Plain right. Valencia is a liability at right back. His lack of defensive awareness has cost us on numerous occasions. He plays others onside and gets caught on his blind side time and time again.
Sadly, as a winger, he isn't the player he once was. He built his United career on low, driven crosses to Rooney in the box. Those days are long gone.
Do you except him to be a robot? Every defender makes mistakes, Valencia, Darmian, and even the best players in the world. He makes mistakes less than most though. If you want to read my opinion, I suggest you read the first post in this thread
And, I can only remember one mistake, against Arsenal. That's it
Indeed.
His positioning being suspect can't be argued with he is poor/awful, but he has other attributes mostly physical that make him good in one on ones.
Going forward he's no Cafu it's true but i can say that he's miles better than Darmian offensively.
I like Valencia but we really should have a better starting RB, so many people seem to rate him so highly and others very poorly it's strange.
But last season was evidence it's not as easy to replace him as you're suggesting. Darmian came as an Italian international with a good reputation and was worse than Valencia in every regard. I think some people will be surprised again when yet another manager uses him regularly.
I don't blame Valencia. I blame whoever decides to put him at right back. He isn't a defender.
One mistake? He has made numerous - you only recall the one against Arsenal because it lead directly to a goal. He gets caught and relies on others to bail him out.
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