Would be a way better option though. We were dangerous when we played through the middle and then put the ball through the hole to Evra or Rooney, who then fecked up but at least we were dangerous. This whole wingplay isnt working for us with Val having the shittest form of his life and Young beeing average.
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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Would be a way better option though. We were dangerous when we played through the middle and then put the ball through the hole to Evra or Rooney, who then fecked up but at least we were dangerous. This whole wingplay isnt working for us with Val having the shittest form of his life and Young beeing average.
Reckon he needs to be dropped for now, really not doing enough and I think the frustration is building up now, you see some players looking at him annoyed and even he looks frustrated in himself at times. Bring in Welbeck or Hernandez and let them have a go. It could be that he still needs some resting time, but whatever it is it's been going on the majority of the season and it's inhibiting our game.
i thought i heard their left back guarding Valencia today was an inexperienced 18 or 19 year old boy. It shows how far he's been way off form.
Enda Stevens, Jack Colback and today's full back had their easiest games of the season against Toni V.
Davies yeah... he did well but still Val won't get it much easier that's for sure.
Nani is injured so he's irrelevant for me. Valencia just shouldn't be playing at the moment, I know we're short wingers but there are ways to keep the team ticking without having to start him in it. He offers nothing.
He did not guard him alone, however, the tape to defending against Valencia is not out. He only has three moves and two lanes he will use to go by you. Block the one that takes him to the far side to get a lane to cross and he will pass back.
Someone needs to show him that video of Bebe's game against Wolves.
It's ok if things are not going for you at the moment but atleast try and put those crosses in. The worst thing is he is not even trying to put the cross in.
It's ok if things are not going for you at the moment but atleast try and put those crosses in. The worst thing is he is not even trying to put the cross in.
Awful, and that's coming from his biggest fan. What's happened to his decision making? Obviously, Phil's performance and inability to overlap didn't help but as an individual he was diabolical today.
Rafael is a better partner for him than Jones but I don't think it's an excuse for his performances which have been similarly frustrating with Rafael either way. A top winger in their prime shouldn't be reliant on their fb to make space for them all the time.
Needs a wake up call, he showed when he paced his man down the outside that the pace is there, he's just not doing anything once he gets into a marginally confined space.
Needs a wake up call, he showed when he paced his man down the outside that the pace is there, he's just not doing anything once he gets into a marginally confined space.
When will it end?
We surely reached the point a while ago to realise that trying to play him into form isn't working. Kagawa coming back will probably see him get less game time.
We surely reached the point a while ago to realise that trying to play him into form isn't working. Kagawa coming back will probably see him get less game time.
Valencia is averaging an assist every 4 games this season and is yet to score. I quipped in the match day thread that he was due a good cross today, it didn't happen though, he created 0 goalscoring opportunities
fecking brutal today. Exposed currently.
He's been crap this season, I usually think he offers something even when he's off form (like against City) but today he did nothing. Obviously it helps if he's being paired with Rafael as he tends to give him a better option on the overlap but thats still no excuse for the shit he served up today. He doesn't have the confidence to beat his man at the minute and he needs to get back to running at defenders at full pace.
Well yeah for my part, because Nani is capable of doing the things I expect of a Man United first choice winger whereas Valencia is too easily stopped. It's the reason I'm always baffled at the posters who rate Valencia higher. 39 yr old Ryan Giggs did more today in 20 mins on the wing than Valencia has done in the last 400 minutes or so because Giggs has more in his locker than just "run fast", plus he can pick out a pass.
Hes best when he keeps things simple. Im not sure how this "stop, dwaddle, not sure what to do then kick the ball at the first man" came in. He used to be all about beating a man and crossing it. Our strikers loved it cos they knew what to expect. Now its cut back, and then cut back again cos he has no left foot.
Its really weird.
Its really weird.
The negative comments surrounding Valencia at the moment are reminiscent of what we were hearing about Young a month back. Tony needs to be given time to get back to his best, just like Young. In fairness, this is his first real dip since joining United, so talk of selling him is OTT.
What we have found out this season though is that our wide options are not as good as we thought they were. I think Fergie realised that, hence his pursuit of Hazard and the Brazilian lad, whose name evades me, in the summer.
What we have found out this season though is that our wide options are not as good as we thought they were. I think Fergie realised that, hence his pursuit of Hazard and the Brazilian lad, whose name evades me, in the summer.
Well Young hadn't really gotten the number of chances Valencia has. Valencia has been playing game after game and he's still been pretty woeful.
Robinho.
Agreed, Valencia does seem to get a lot more latitude than other players in the squad.
I was of the opinion that criticism of Young was too strong, and I feel the same about the stick Valencia is currently taking.
No doubt Valencia should be dropped, but the continued absence of Nani and Kagawa has hamstrung Fergie.
Maybe one or both will be back for Newcastle; we need to freshen up, no doubt.
Tell me his name, it's doing my head in not knowing. Naturally, I'm too lazy to Google it.
Lucas
That's the fecker, Lucas Moura.
Given the form of our wingers this season, I think we'll definitely look to add another in the summer.
I can't remember the last time our wingers all played well in unison. One of the games that stands out was that United Bayern tie in the Champions League (before Rafael was sent off). That's a long time ago.
I dunno I don't think we need to replace Valencia, he's simply not in form atm. I reckon any wingers we were looking at were as replacements for Nani rather than additionally to the wingers we have.
The problem atm is that with kagawa and nani out, there's not really much of an alternative to playing Valencia or Young.
The problem atm is that with kagawa and nani out, there's not really much of an alternative to playing Valencia or Young.
Young was a big money signing and even if hes playing much better now its not like he's that brilliant either. Almost as wasteful as Valencia with his crosses today
I don't think we need to replace Valencia either, but it's clear we need another option. As a trio, Nani, Young and Valencia haven't given us a sustained spell of good form over the couple of seasons. Given that we're so reliant on width, I'd say it was worth investing in another wide man. Perhaps that will be in place of Nani, maybe it'll be in addition to him, but we need to freshen up our wide options.
Personally not sure that we should count Kagawa as a wide option.
His best work these days are done defensively. His dallying on the ball is absolutely infuriating and it shows no signs of changing. And he just will not even touch the ball with his left foot, often passing up good scoring or passing positions because of it. It's ridiculous how one footed he is. RVP and Rooney were both fuming at one point today when he stood a defender up, and then proceeded to just blast the ball into him. If that was Bebe we'd never hear the end of it...
Valencia was decent for a spell in the first half. He took his man on and crossed early. His lack of quality isn't really something you should be noticing now, his game has always been based on percentages. Constantly whipping in crosses puts the opposition under pressure that will eventually tell. He just needs to act alot quicker, his pace is there, but it seems that he doesn't whip it in unless there is a clear option. There is a clear lack of understanding with Jones, the fluidity with Rafael just comes naturally.
£18m isn't particularly 'big money' anymore, in my opinion. He's a solid option. Think his form has been good over the past month, and he was pretty good again today.
Is he carrying an injury or what?
More like a mental injury, lack of confidence and belief imo
Even if not a wide option Kagawa would likely come in for one of them, however we would adapt the system.
It's true they've not been on form at the same time often but sometimes that happens and injuries haven't helped. But eventually they'll hit form, hopefully at the same time. I don't think we could bring in another winger personally and keep these 3 and Kagawa unless it was a young winger. All 3 of them are in their peaks now so would want to play regularly and you'd expect the same of kagawa when he's fit.
I think Valencia should get dropped for next game but also I think if we can get nani and kagawa fit and get some competition going then it'll help alot.
As you say, if Kagawa comes in for one of them, it'll mean changing the system, so he shouldn't really be considered a wide option. By all accounts, Nani is on borrowed time, which opens up a berth in the squad, and instead of buying a mid-range player (Valencia or Young), we should look for an established option.
For what it's worth, I think Nani is that established, top class option, and he'd flourish with the sort of patience afforded to Valencia. Unfortunately, he won't get that with his contractual impasse.
Well I think it would be unrealistic to have 4 wingers and then kagawa as you'd expect kagawa to be a main part of the team. Also no reason he might not operate as a wider option with lisecnce to roam inside.
I agree if Nani is going we should bring someone in, personally I think Nani is better than Valencia/Young although I still think Valencia can be quality and is usually very reliable, but if Nani were to stay I don't think we could feasibly bring in another established winger without someone making way.
Its ridiculous money for someone with a year on his contract and thats before discussing wages. It was a big signing. I cant even bring myself to think how much he would have been if he had 3 or 4 years left on his deal
I think his problem is his priorities in his head have changed.
Before plan A used to be: get ball, attack fullback and smash/chip ball into box. Rinse / repeat.
Now it's changed, the first thing he thinks is, where is Rafael, is he overlapping? Quick better lay it off. All of a sudden the fullback isn't there, I'm just gonna wait it out a few seconds to see if he appears...... Nope ok he's not there better turn around and pass it backwards, might get the overlap next time.
Today though he just looked massively out of ideas, so many times in the first half rvp was over by him holding up the ball, and he just stood there looking at him instead of making a run into space for himself.
his crossing also seems to have got very hit and hope.
I just hope this is some weird phase, but he needs to snap out of it soon, our gameplan is very Linched on him performing consistently.
Before plan A used to be: get ball, attack fullback and smash/chip ball into box. Rinse / repeat.
Now it's changed, the first thing he thinks is, where is Rafael, is he overlapping? Quick better lay it off. All of a sudden the fullback isn't there, I'm just gonna wait it out a few seconds to see if he appears...... Nope ok he's not there better turn around and pass it backwards, might get the overlap next time.
Today though he just looked massively out of ideas, so many times in the first half rvp was over by him holding up the ball, and he just stood there looking at him instead of making a run into space for himself.
his crossing also seems to have got very hit and hope.
I just hope this is some weird phase, but he needs to snap out of it soon, our gameplan is very Linched on him performing consistently.
This. A couple of times when RvP was creating a good space for him to blast into and possibly challenge the CB or GK he was just standing there clueless. Not a good sign, he looks jaded.
Does he have any problems off the pitch ? I mean personal stuff that might explain his bad form
This is bang on. He relies on Rafael overlapping.
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