1 poor half season does not make him a mid table player!
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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1 poor half season does not make him a mid table player!
I thought he did pretty good actually when he came on. Defended well, held the ball up well, not sure if he put in a few crosses but for once this season I don't remember being frustrated with him. Probably a good sign. He dribbled past a few players as well. Improving lately compared to his form in December/November. Still not fit to lace the boots of Valencia last year.
Valencia actually gave us a decent performance today. Nothing wrong and a few scraps right.
But I trust we can all agree it was far from a breakout performance for Valencia today.
But I trust we can all agree it was far from a breakout performance for Valencia today.
i thought he was fairly poor when he came on - he didn't really pose much of a threat although United were doing a lot of defending in the final 30 mins
form is temporary - maybe with Nani back we can give him a week or two on the bench
form is temporary - maybe with Nani back we can give him a week or two on the bench
I thought it was very encouraging, immediately came on and ran at them, beat a few players a few times, and when he got wide he put the ball in without hesitating. If he can build on this then it could be really important for us ahead of the madrid game.
He did ok today, but he is so clumsy in possession at times. He has no confidence whatsoever at the moment, I'm not sure how he can get out of this, he's been like this all season.
I thought he was okay as well, but I'd much rather give Nani a chance because Valencia isn't doing enough to justify his place.
There was one passage of play where we worked it patiently and very well on our left hand side, I think between Cleverly Welbeck and Shinji. We were moving it one-touch while it was on the left, and we spread it to the right to Valencia, and as soon as he gathered it it was apparent that passage was going to end with him. He looked lost and unconfident and began turning around until he lost it. It highlighted so starkly that he couldn't partake in the sort of play that went on prior to him getting the ball, and in that small example showed why Nani or even Young have the capacity to link better with our outher attackers.
Well I'm a nani fan so I hope he gets his chance, right now I just want to get one of them on form at least.
He's out of form! He's playing through injury, never gets rested due to injuries, he's been absolutely brilliant for us and is one of the most likable persons in the league, and yet he's being cut no slack at all. Arseholes.
He's out of form! He's playing through injury, never gets rested due to injuries, he's been absolutely brilliant for us and is one of the most likable persons in the league, and yet he's being cut no slack at all. Arseholes.
He's fit. I think the constant reference to a player's most recent injury whenever they have a poor game or spell is a little cringeworthy personally. Everyone has been injured. And then they come back. You train and play football every day, it isn't just matches, so if fit, they can't just play poorly for months. He's been fit for long enough now, he's just playing poorly and seemingly has a confidence crisis at present. But I highly doubt he is unfit enough to play any better.
He's said so himself. Whether or not that's a genuine excuse (I see no real reason to doubt it), you'd be utterly bonkers not to accept that's he's just going through a prolonged spell of poor form. He's done magnificently for us and he's not past his prime or anything like that. He's probably not 100% fit and he's probably having confidence issues. He is brilliant, we all know that. He's not playing brilliantly, quite the contrary, we all know that too. Chill!
So basically, the player we send out there every week to play for us is injured?
Made a fantastic cross to RVP for a near spectacular goal. Couple other decent crosses as well. Do people just ignore that stuff so they can continue bollocking him. He was fine today. He's coming along.
People are being lazy pundits again...
If it's a minor injury you can play and still be impeded, right? He said himself that he's played with an injury on a social website, can't find it at the moment. The part in my post that you didn't address was that even if this isn't the case, we'd still have enough reasons not to be knee-jerk morons and cut the guy some slack. (He was benched today again and I agree with that. In part because he needs rest, in part because he's been shit.)
You daft tart.
It's ridiculous to suggest he is injured. Fergie would never play him today if he was injured, since we had other players that could play there.
I've no problem cutting him slack and looking forward to some better form. I'm just saying that the 'he's recently come back from an injury' excuse irks me a bit. I see it for nearly every player after every poor game they had, referencing any injury that may have occured within the previous 3 months almost. My point wasn't entirely about Antonio - just that I don't get why people can't just say someone needs to pull their socks up if that's the case.
Sir Alex said around 18 months ago that Carrick played with an injury for months. He's not the first and won't be the last. Silva played with an injury just last season. I don't think anyone's suggesting Valencia is so unfit he shouldn't be on the pitch, just that he could be struggling with a niggly injury that's holding him back from playing at 100%.
I remember that, but Carrick is too important player for us, so that's not surprise that he continued to play injured, he is probably our most important player. And that injury wasn't that serious if I remember well, it was something about his achiles heel, or something like that. Same goes for Silva, he is too important for City.
On the other hand, Valencia with this season's form isn't playing some big part in our team, so I'm sure Fergie wouldn't play him almost all the time if he is carrying some injury that is stopping him from playing at 100%, because we have other options on the wing now.
The most obvious example of someone playing with an injury is Carrick in that insipid CL final. Valencia is too important like Carrick. We need wingers, we've been without Nani for a good while and Young has been injured as well. It's nothing mysterious about it.
Oh I never used that excuse. I suggested he's not fit because he is injured, although not very injured. His comeback from that horrific injury was marvellous, he's tougher than nails.
Valencia is nowhere near important as Carrick.
I didn't say he is. (And I don't think he is.) I actually agree with you, but like Carrick he is too important to drop. This season we've never had two (and rarely one) wingers fit or in form. He's basically had to play. Welbeck has played a lot in wide midfield, that should tell you all you need to know about the lack of fit wingers this season.
I think he is carrying an injury still.
If Nani and Rooney return to form, then I expect to see less of Valencia.
If Nani and Rooney return to form, then I expect to see less of Valencia.
Speaking of the horrific injury, he's currently playing as I expected him to when he made the recovery. I've not heard of many players who manage to overcome it and play at the top of their game as they used to.
But I can't find a reason other than poor form. He showed today he CAN run and be powerful. There was a moment close to the 90th min where he had the ball on the wing but stood still for 3 seconds looking for the backpass. Crowd went mental and he drove forward and brushed players aside. He can do it, he's just not doing it. It certainly doesn't appear to be a physical issue to me. But who the feck am I?
But I can't find a reason other than poor form. He showed today he CAN run and be powerful. There was a moment close to the 90th min where he had the ball on the wing but stood still for 3 seconds looking for the backpass. Crowd went mental and he drove forward and brushed players aside. He can do it, he's just not doing it. It certainly doesn't appear to be a physical issue to me. But who the feck am I?
Ferguson, as his name would suggest, is right. Tony still doesn't look quite right to me. Solution? When Nani is right you run him into form for Real and give Valencia the time he needs to heal and come back as good as ever. It's a fitness and form problem, not a class problem.
If what Valencia did yesterday was fine, then I think standards have fallen for our wingers this season. Commentator said it and for once in some time, I agreed. Our wingers have been uncharacteristically subpar this season.
No amount of niggling injuries or "never being rested" changes that.
No amount of niggling injuries or "never being rested" changes that.
He tried to kill Van Peirse with a cross! Nutter
Play better than what he has been today. He actually ran with the ball at times and took players on. Still no where near his best though
Really sad the kind of season he's having. What's more, I'm not sure he's best suited to the kind of football I like to see us play.
Definitely agree with you here, regardless of the debate about whether he's good enough.. one thing is for clear, he's not at his own personal best and physically looks a pale version of his usual self.
Was pretty average.
Shocking drop in quality compared to last season.
Shocking drop in quality compared to last season.
What ever the reasons the lad looks devoid of confidence and is not the player we've known for the last few seasons.
Ronaldo played half of 07/08 with an injury too as I recall. He only got the surgery he needed in the Summer.
I'd say it's pretty clear he's been playing with an injury. It just all adds up. Especially when Fergie mentioned this "mystery back injury" back in November.
He should smile more. Maybe then he'll get his form back 
Mid table is obviously very harsh and OTT but I just find him extremely frustrating. It doesn't help I have an irrational hatred of his one-footedness.
Ultimately, I really don't think he's suited to the style we're aspiring to.
Ultimately, I really don't think he's suited to the style we're aspiring to.
Anyone notice how he didn't join in the celebrations of the second goal? He's a strange guy sometimes.
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