[Ducklegs]

He was clueless today, he hampered our attacking play with and without the ball.

He was basically in no mans land the entire game, nowhere defensively and not bothering to push on when atracking.

Useless.

 

[RedStarUnited]

So Mourinho rates him. He was arguably the best or second best fullback last season. Kyle Walker rates him up there with Carvajal and Kimmich, but according to the Caf, he is rubbish. Thing is, people expect him to take on players like a winger, but bar aforementioned Carvajal, and Marcelo on the left, which fullbacks take on their defender? If you lose the ball, you are caught why upfield with no chance to get back.

Valencia could and should provide more overlaps, but who would supply him? Everyone drifts inside early so there is no width. If he receives the ball, it is a log diagonal cross giving the defenders ample time to get back across. That being said, he does stop our attacks a little and a little too often.

As for his physical attributes, I’ve yet to see him outpaced. Some people claimed we need fast players like Liverpool’s Robinson, but Valencia easily outpaced him earlier in the season. I think he has lost some agility though, which is hurting him in attack.

A simple instruction from the coaches to get a cross in early would help. Beckham wasnt beating defenders, he created space and made crosses.

I suppose the coaches also understand that he has a shit cross so that point is moot...yeah he should just go now.

 

[Shark]

He needs replacing.

 

[Canagel]

He should leave in the summer. At this point I don't understand what the motivation is for him to continue at United. I think beyond his obvious decline on the pitch and his performances he has no hunger and motivation anymore. He has won almost everything with us and I think he has gotten too comfortable with literally no competition for his spot. We need some hungry talented players to come in. Let's hope we can win 1 more FA Cup and send him off on a high. For me he is in that category of players with Blind, Darmian, Carrick (retiring) who need to leave.

 

[Garethw]

He’s stealing a living at the moment. A great servant to the club, but it’s time to replace him.

 

[Sigma]

Best performance in a while. Looked a threat going forward and solid defensively.

 

[Bastian]

Best performance in a while. Looked a threat going forward and solid defensively.

Yeah, hard to pick any standout performance tonight (Shaw faded in the 2nd half) but Tony was my MOTM. Mainly for his defensive work, got tight every time and was aggressive throughout.

 

[el3mel]

He actually made 2 good crosses today ! Can't believe my eyes !

 

[Grylte]

He actually made 2 good crosses today ! Can't believe my eyes !

And a foul throw

 

[Minimalist]

Usual stuff. Energy, sprints, reliable etc. But fcuk all end product.

 

[Sigma]

Usual stuff. Energy, sprints, reliable etc. But fcuk all end product.

Except he put in two good crosses. One for Sanchez who should have scored, and another for Pogba for a free header.

 

[kundalini]

Looked a threat in the final third.

 

[Minimalist]

Except he put in two good crosses. One for Sanchez who should have scored, and another for Pogba for a free header.

Two crosses? Him and Shaw should have been our key attackers tonight.

 

[stevoc]

Usual stuff. Energy, sprints, reliable etc. But fcuk all end product.

Yeah he's been a great servant but he needs replaced.

 

[All 3 United]

Usual stuff. Energy, sprints, reliable etc. But fcuk all end product.

This.

 

[Sigma]

Two crosses? Him and Shaw should have been our key attackers tonight.

You said he had no end product, I pointed to two good chances he made.

 

[R'hllor]

For him not to be in first XI , he has to leave, doubt he will be a bench warmer under JM.

 

[Minimalist]

You said he had no end product, I pointed to two good chances he made.

And I'm saying that's not enough when we're playing 3 at the back and you expect our full-backs to be pushing forward at every opportunity.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Normally give Valencia a pretty hard time but apart from his usual letting people run off him he was decent tonight. He is far better as a WB but still should be influencing games in that position. I know it was only 1 pass but they are so few that just one is a massive shock. That pass to Sanchez before the Shaw save.

 

[Sigma]

And I'm saying that's not enough when we're playing 3 at the back and you expect our full-backs to be pushing forward at every opportunity.

Your expecting a full back/wing back to be making more than 2 chances a game?

This was a good attacking performance from him. Although it hasn't been every week, he deserves credit when he actually is creating chances.

 

[Devil may care]

He was ok tonight, got into more attacking positions than he's been doing in recent times.

 

[Jonno]

Your expecting a full back/wing back to be making more than 2 chances a game?

This was a good attacking performance from him. Although it hasn't been every week, he deserves credit when he actually is creating chances.

The stats don't tell the whole story. You think Valencia is on par with Marcelo? Valencia might create x amount of chances per game, but its at the expense of slowing our attacks down from a position that needs quick thinking and quick pace.

 

[Sigma]

The stats don't tell the whole story. You think Valencia is on par with Marcelo? Valencia might create x amount of chances per game, but its at the expense of slowing our attacks down from a position that needs quick thinking and quick pace.

All I said was today he had a good game from an attacking standpoint (as well as a defensive), much better than the last few months. So obvisouly, if this was one of his best games from an attacking point of view, and this is a normal game from Marcelo, then obvisouly Marcelo has been better over the course of the season. I was just asking people to give credit where credit is due.

 

[Openshaw53]

Was discussing TV last night and we came to the conclusion that his time as a converted winger has come to an end or should do , no way would I get rid he's more than good enough as a squad member but the team is crying out for more from that wide position, on both sides.

I have the feeling nowadays teams are actually allowing him easy possession because he rarely delivers , he has the ability and a cracking shot but rarely uses it.

I agree that two specialist full backs are required and use Valencia and Young in their original positions when needed.

Shaw needs to get his finger out because he could be one , but don't hold your breath.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

we came to the conclusion that his time as a converted winger has come to an end or should do , no way would I get rid he's more than good enough as a squad membe

He's definitely good enough to stay in the squad, plus he can double as an extra wingback and even get minutes as a direct forward on the right (if he can shake off the attacking yips and just smash balls into Lukaku or something). It makes sense to keep him, considering his mentality and love for the club translating into tangible qualities that permeate through the squad. His experience is important.

But like Martial/Rashford who were way above their station when Jose arrived, Valencia needs to get back to a position in the squad that suits his 'emergency: break glass' level of ability to play the position effectively across the board.

Shaw needs to get his finger out because he could be one , but don't hold your breath.

Shaw is still a work in progress. He's had some serious career stuff that he needs to work through and he needs to galvanize his mentality for Jose. Time is on his side (developmentally, the contract stuff will be an issue of course) and the development is all insular for him. I'd bring in an experienced campaigner to protect Shaw and let him continue to develop and that also might bump Young back to his level similar to Valencia. Shaw and Young can give adequate backup but whichever player is performing and at whatever level, surely it is better to have a natural player emulate it and even raise the bar for both the backups to aspire to.

 

[Litch]

When you watch some players every week, it's like a Jedi mind trick and you actually forget how good they are. Tony is a solid 7/10 performer and given the license to get forward, will create chances but it was that change of formation that allowed him the freedom to do so. He is not the one nor Ashley that need the upgrade cause they have done everything Jose asks of them. What more would any other player coming in offer in the current system?

 

[luke511]

When you watch some players every week, it's like a Jedi mind trick and you actually forget how good they are. Tony is a solid 7/10 performer and given the license to get forward, will create chances but it was that change of formation that allowed him the freedom to do so. He is not the one nor Ashley that need the upgrade cause they have done everything Jose asks of them. What more would any other player coming in offer in the current system?

An end product? The man's coming up to being 33 years old, he's been a great servant but this second half of the season has hit him like a ton of bricks.

 

[Litch]

An end product? The man's coming up to being 33 years old, he's been a great servant but this second half of the season has hit him like a ton of bricks.

Eh? We have been defensively brilliant this season, only second to city I think, but might be wrong. He's contributed to that cause he probably played the most games in that defence. The man looks after himself, rarely injuries and you can see he's physically a monster even at 33. If anything, he's not been able to be rested cause we not got an understudy for him good enough...

 

[fellaini's barber]

Its a sad state of affairs when there's so much rejoicing because our fullback put in two good crosses in 1 game

 

[laughtersassassin]

He and young simply can't be our starting fullbacks anymore. I love tony but his time as a starter was up a year and a bit ago. Kills our attacks so much. Need someone with some ideas on the right hand side.

 

[redflair]

So many of you feel we need to replace the full-backs to add some attacking verve to our play - but it isn't going to happen.

A left back, maybe - but Jose simply won't want to disrupt, what he thinks is a decent defensive unit, so drastically before a crucial season. I just don't think he's that radical.

Antonio is likely to pound that flank for a while, despite what we want, which is probably two shiny new full-backs flying down those wings, joining the attackers and making assists.

It's exciting to think we may be in the market for two FBs, this summer, but I think a lot of us are going to be disappointed.

 

[Dec9003]

So many of you feel we need to replace the full-backs to add some attacking verve to our play - but it isn't going to happen.

A left back, maybe - but Jose simply won't want to disrupt, what he thinks is a decent defensive unit, so drastically before a crucial season. I just don't think he's that radical.

Antonio is likely to pound that flank for a while, despite what we want, which is probably two shiny new full-backs flying down those wings, joining the attackers and making assists.

It's exciting to think we may be in the market for two FBs, this summer, but I think a lot of us are going to be disappointed.

Agreed, I think it makes perfect sense to bring two fullbacks in over the summer and finally sort out the wide areas, but we'll be lucky to get one.
I will say though that I don't believe we can win the league with Young or Valencia starting games at fullback.

 

[Acole9]

He actually went forward and looked like he was going to put some crosses in the box!

 

[pascell]

And a foul throw

I'm sure he bets on himself and foul throws, I remember the season under LvG, he must have done at least 10 foul throws that season.

 

[simplyared]

Nothing wrong with Valencia. Who out there would do a better job for us than he does? One thing I agree with Mourinho about is the faith he puts in Valencia. The man is a born athlete, fit as a butchers dog. Nothing wrong either with his attacking qualities. Ok the final delivery can be improved upon but I'm convinced it can be sorted. He was much better in that department in the last game against West Ham. He's been a winger so it shouldn't be a problem. Also, to his defence, I think because we dont get enough players in and around the box, his options are quite limited.

 

[Grylte]

Nothing wrong with Valencia. Who out there would do a better job for us than he does? One thing I agree with Mourinho about is the faith he puts in Valencia. The man is a born athlete, fit as a butchers dog. Nothing wrong either with his attacking qualities. Ok the final delivery can be improved upon but I'm convinced it can be sorted. He was much better in that department in the last game against West Ham. He's been a winger so it shouldn't be a problem. Also, to his defence, I think because we dont get enough players in and around the box, his options are quite limited.

He would do alot better if we had a proper RW, in my opinion.

 

[Hed Zitin]

I've championed him for years as a fullback, but this season he's been timid going forward.

 

[haram]

He was better against West Ham but he cannot keep going. He cannot play every week either.

 

[breakout67]

So many of you feel we need to replace the full-backs to add some attacking verve to our play - but it isn't going to happen.

A left back, maybe - but Jose simply won't want to disrupt, what he thinks is a decent defensive unit, so drastically before a crucial season. I just don't think he's that radical.

Antonio is likely to pound that flank for a while, despite what we want, which is probably two shiny new full-backs flying down those wings, joining the attackers and making assists.

It's exciting to think we may be in the market for two FBs, this summer, but I think a lot of us are going to be disappointed.

Sandro at left back and Ashley Young at RB next season.

Ashley Young is very good when he doesn't need to constantly cut onto his right foot, he's also a competent left back already.

 

[Amar__]

I think he is the most uncreative player I have ever seen. Definitely one of the least intelligent too. He is not even good enough for a back up anymore, let alone first choice. Absolutely pointless player.