A series of niggling injuries around our home games would be a blessing in disguise. Whether it is Young or Dalot, we need to be forced into no longer expecting him to deliver an effective offensive performance.
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Exactly. I felt something was up after 3 games and now this. Its tiring.
He was brilliant to nullify their dangerous counters. Obviously we would all want to see him attacking more but he really can't go forward without any support on his side, all he can do is to recycle ball because there is just no support, I don't really understand this forum, if you're frustrated I get it but why to throw him under the bus, it's clear to see that all the players are playing on the other side of the pitch, he cannot run into space when he's the last player, he cannot take on player for the same reason.
All we can talk he can do better is his poor delivery but how is he supposed to put in any decent cross when we are able to set up an attack from the left side of the pitch, Lingard ALWAYS drifts in, the same with Mata, we play without a RW! Just wake up some of you, pathetic comments, struggle to understand some basics of football. Least of our problems today and I wonder how would Dalot do with 5 of the counterattacks Valencia brilliantly covered
All we can talk he can do better is his poor delivery but how is he supposed to put in any decent cross when we are able to set up an attack from the left side of the pitch, Lingard ALWAYS drifts in, the same with Mata, we play without a RW! Just wake up some of you, pathetic comments, struggle to understand some basics of football. Least of our problems today and I wonder how would Dalot do with 5 of the counterattacks Valencia brilliantly covered
Fixed.
UEFA produce distance covered stats. Last season Valencia's figures were very low for a full-back. He runs a similar distance per 90 mins, to our central defenders, as do Lukaku, Sanchez and Martial. So I guess the answer is that he doesn't have the energy or perhaps if he does sprint in attack, he finds it very difficult to recover.
This season Shaw 10.2 km per 90 mins in Champions League. Dalot 10.7 km per 90 mins. Last season Valencia was about 9.0 km per 90 mins from memory, might have been slightly higher 9.1 or 9.2. Central defenders tend to be slightly above 9 km.
Several times there's loads of space for him to run in and put a cross and he doesn't. Any other fullback will do. It's not an out of this world request to ask him to run in spaces. Hell even a kid like Dalot would have done it. In fact Valencia himself in his last good season, the first Mourinho one was running in these spaces all the time and creating havoc.
His legs are gone and he can't run anymore. That's the only reason for this. Needs to be replaced.
The guy is finished, anyone who says otherwise is deluding themselves.
He had a very good career. It's time for something new at Right back now.
I don't know why he bothers crossing the halfway line these days, offers next to nothing in attack.
Our opponents pretty much abandon the right flank, giving Valencia acres and acres of space to make runs into, but Valencia stays rooted to the throwing line to receive that cross field or square pass, which he proceeds to square back or sideways,how no one in the club has seen this as a problem for the past 5 years is part of why we're in this rut
It's time to drop him from match day squads and I would go with Eric Bailly at Right back with Dalot or Young on the bench, time to be phased out
I don’t understand why he bombs forward, to get in a good attacking position and then he just stops! Why doesn’t he bomb forward then put an instant cross in?
Instead, he stops, waits to see what options he’s got, then passes back.
I hope Dalot becomes first choice sooner, rather than later.
Instead, he stops, waits to see what options he’s got, then passes back.
I hope Dalot becomes first choice sooner, rather than later.
Presence of Antonio Valencia on the right flank combined with our complete lack of players who can play effectively as a right winger/forward have made our attack too predictable. There's zero threat coming from that right side and our opponents have been aware of it for years since they know Valencia will start every week while he's fit.
It's no use blaming the player. He's a limited player who's been giving his best. It's Mourinho's stubbornness in never dropping his favored players that's the issue.
It's no use blaming the player. He's a limited player who's been giving his best. It's Mourinho's stubbornness in never dropping his favored players that's the issue.
We have Dalot giving a RB performance and then Valencia still plays 
Chalk up yet another goal where he's stood miles out of position ball-watching as a move happens and the ball goes into the net. Defensive liability in full swing now.
I've been a fan of this guy over the years, but i think we should relegate him to second choice. I know Dalot is young and still learning, and he'll probably make mistakes, but it was so refreshing to watch a right back actually fecking try to attack against Young Boys. It was just nice to see a RB bomb on, try a few crosses and support the right attacking mid.
Valencia is just so fecking incompetent in an attacking sense. He's holding us back so much in that department. So bloody frustrating to watch him continually pass the ball backwards, time after time. I think he attempted one fecking cross the whole match. One. Fecking. Cross. Get him on the bench, give the young guy a go. He'll make mistakes, but he'll also make us more of a bloody threat going forward.
Valencia is just so fecking incompetent in an attacking sense. He's holding us back so much in that department. So bloody frustrating to watch him continually pass the ball backwards, time after time. I think he attempted one fecking cross the whole match. One. Fecking. Cross. Get him on the bench, give the young guy a go. He'll make mistakes, but he'll also make us more of a bloody threat going forward.
So tired of him. Offers absolutely nothing going forward.
Valencia was very poor today and has been on the wane for a while, but lets not get crazy. Darmian would have offered no more of an attacking threat.
I’ve been a big fan of Valencia but he seems to offer next to no attacking threat, and we just can’t carry that any longer.
I’m convinced Dalot will play his way into the team pretty quickly and not look back.
I’m convinced Dalot will play his way into the team pretty quickly and not look back.
When his contract is over? This season? I hope Woodward not crazy enough to give him anothwr year.
He’s done out here. No use at all.
It is seriously letting the other performers down that two of our automatic choices are finished.
It is seriously letting the other performers down that two of our automatic choices are finished.
At least Darmian can defend.
I think we would be better off with Darmian. Thank God we've got Dalot though.
I understand Mourinho would like to ease in Dalot, but the gloves should come off now. The right side was so empty yesterday. Acres of space.
Darmian can cross a ball and actually shows intent to get involved overlap and will go at the byline. Those things alone would make him an automatic upgrade.
I think the worst part for me was yesterday Smalling has to push him out of his way so he can attempt to get a block in as Valencia just stands there and doesn’t make an attempt to close down the danger and Smalling is coming from behind him and gets closer.
No longer at his peak, as a RB.
Used to be a complete all-around full-back (constantly good attack, helped build-up play and defensiely solid), but now becoming more of a defensive right back.
Used to be a complete all-around full-back (constantly good attack, helped build-up play and defensiely solid), but now becoming more of a defensive right back.
Rather Darmian and Young be given chances playing there for now, perhaps they could give far better productive input while we're easing Dalot. Doubt Dalot is ready yet. You know how this place is or in Twitter, etc. If Dalot, a new young player made costly mistake, all kinds of insults will be thrown at him.
True. Young has done good and is a natural fit for putting in crosses for Lukaku too.
Do you think this is planned? I know that Valencia may not be as good as he has been - but Jose has hardly ever had fullbacks that attack down the lanes freely & together even if there is space.
Remember Ivanovic at RB & how he was told to stay back whilst their LB was allowed to go forward like Shaw & Young does for us?
A club captain he should be leading by example and he is showing that he's low on confidence and afraid to attack.
If the strategy is to stay defensive to allow Shaw to be an attacker, then OK. But Fellaini playing in the back line appears to be the cover for Shaw being out of position.
I feel he is done and any of Young, Darmian, Dalot, Bailly should be trained up as a first choice RB.
If the strategy is to stay defensive to allow Shaw to be an attacker, then OK. But Fellaini playing in the back line appears to be the cover for Shaw being out of position.
I feel he is done and any of Young, Darmian, Dalot, Bailly should be trained up as a first choice RB.
A Mourinho team has always played like that: if one of the FBs ventures ahead of the ball or is on the ball; the other fullback centers with the two CBs to create a back three in possession with two midfielders in front.
Always at least 5 players behind the ball in possession; its how Mourinho always has played and always will play. Regardless of formation.
Think we discussed this before mate and i'm not sure if you judge Darmian as a player on matches you've watched him in for Italy and Serie A. But personally from what i've seen of him just at United he isn't a player i would describe as having attacking intent and a willingness to get up on the overlap. The opposite to be honest. But this is a Valencia thread so not the place to get into it.
At times in the right set-up yes, but at other times not so much. If he's up against a winger with pace and/or decent skill then more often than not he gets turned inside out like an old pair of socks. But not the place to discuss Darmian so i'll leave it there.
There is literally no point in him running past the halfway line if all he's going to do is pass it infield or backwards.
Already he's being schooled by a 19 year old prodigy.
Already he's being schooled by a 19 year old prodigy.
A Mourinho team does not play with the offensive purpose to put in crosses from wide positions. It goes against all what his ”philosophy” (yeah, I know) stands for.
When you see Valencia circulate the ball, be sure of that it is exactly what he is instructed and supposed to do.
Crossing the ball from wide positions is a low percentage way to create goal scoring opportunities and a high percentage way to give up possession and/or being countered.
Dont blame Valencia for this. But sometimes I think people here wants to see Moyesque football back, because that is what you are asking for...
Fair enough, bringing it back to Valencia he's crossed the line into full blown liability now. He's out of position defensively more often than he's in ideal position to deflect an attacking ball in or mark up a player in the box. What he was doing for the goal I have no idea, drifting inside to pick up nobody and then ultimately causing Fred to have to be miles outside his position covering when he should be the one that earlier in the phase moves back into position to pick up the man in the box who ultimately takes the shot and scores.
It's these little "yeah he's not a defender, he's a winger" things that are really racking up against him now.
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Is that true? I thought he wanted Perisic because Perisic puts in a very high volume of crosses from wide positions. And that's also what Sanchez is doing now, as a right footer on the left wing.
For the goal we lost possession twice centrally: first Fred, then won it back just to see Pogba lose it again. Its what dragged Valencia in centrally. Not his fault and correctly played by him. Fred could have done better tracking back btw, Mou will not have been happy with him for that.
I would argue it absolutely is. Granted; its a ltb about semantics as well. When I am discussing ”crossing” as in this thread I mean in possession against an established defense. In that respect a Mourinho-team will not look to cross the ball from wide areas.
In the same way it is what we are trying to force opposing teams to do when we sit back. Many criticize Mourinho because we have the most crosses against and shots against of the top teams when inviting just this is the essence of his defensive strategy.
Its all about transitions, both offensively and defensively for Mourinho and has always been. IMO.
Another thing is that crossing the ball when in transition and/or on the counter can be much more effective and often entails wingers reaching the touchline closer to the goal and the defense not being organized.
As to Perisic I think Mourinho had been looking for a more senior and experienced forward for a while. Bale, Perisic and then we ended up with Sanchez. I dont think his crossing abilities was high up the list but thats my five cents...
He was caught ball watching in no mans land in the phase of play leading up to the goal in because he's not a defender and doesn't have defensive instincts. He doesn't know how to marshal a defense and re-adjust to slot back in with the line because he's not a defender. Valencia has to be one of the only ones I've seen consistently just ignore Smalling and what Smalling is telling him to do and do what he likes. But he is the captain, so I don't think there is much more that can be said than *shrugs* "well he's not a defender, so...?"
Erm. Pardon? Do you realize that Fred started in the opponents half? There is nothing more Fred can be doing there, a proper defender gets back into the line and tells Fred to get back and get in front of his man (or calls Pogba from the edge of the area over). Not just stands around in no mans land marking nothing and then isn't even first his man who slots it into the net (Smalling was).
Don't think you are remembering that one correctly there.
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Sorry, my post didnt make much sense. I edited it now. I blame Apple.
My point was going to be and is that Valencia was dragged inside because of Pogba losing the ball and Fred doing so earlier jogging back.
IMO he handled that situation correct tactically.
.. No. No he didn't. I mean, at all.
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