I don't think he has lost pace at all, he came on and looked quite confident V's Liverpool. He is giving 6/7 out of 10 at the moment and that's fine. But we know he can step it up to more than that consistently, and hopefully he will do in time.
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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He has had alternatives with Young, Welbeck and even Kagawa. The fact is, and you can't get around it, we're on a record pace for points in the most difficult league in the world (and first in our CL group). I have the feeling Ferguson knows exactly what he's doing playing him so much and being so successful. "Clearly we've played him because of a lack of other options" as you say, but even more clearly, we are having a fantastic, possibly record breaking year. By all the overwrought harping and whining and exaggeration going on here, you'd think Valencia was bringing us down to mediocrity. Spoiled bunch we are.
Nobby, I'll make it simple for you...
Well, the reason he keeps playing him isn't because Valencia is in good form, or indeed any form, are you disputing that? If not, what is your actual point?
Well, the reason he keeps playing him isn't because Valencia is in good form, or indeed any form, are you disputing that? If not, what is your actual point?
His form obviously isn't that great, but he's obviously part of the puzzle of a team on a record breaking year. Why don't we focus on the big picture instead of knives out approach for individuals of a side we love. I hope we keep playing at the rate we're going. Wouldn't you?
To reiterate lads, RECORD BREAKING YEAR!
Kagawa has been injured, Welbeck is not a left-winger. I suspect we've also kept Welbeck as a back-up for strikers given we were without Rooney for a while. I don't deny it, points wise it is fantastic, and it could be a record season - I just don't see how that has much of all to do with Valencia. It's not down to him we have the points total, he's played a fairly insignificant part in that. He's not been in form and contributed much at all. I think it's as simple as this - had we had other options, like Nani and Kagawa available, I doubt we'd have played Valencia half as much. It's out of neccessity we had to play him, or we are pulling players from positions we can't afford to given the injury nightmare - i.e Young/Rafael...At his worst patch, we had to do exactly this.
I have no doubt Valencia will come back into his awesome self and hold down his place, but I can't see how you're tying Valencia's performances in the last few months to our current points total. It's not because of Valencia we have such a great position, which seems to be the point you are making. Generally, our wing play - both sides - has been so poor we've been winning in spite of them, not down to them. This isn't a 'knives out' approach either, I fecking love Valencia.
I'll start whinging and dumping on him when we start losing, otherwise I'm trusting in that Ferguson knows exactly what he's doing. As most want to opine, Fergie has no options, but I certainly haven't heard that from the man. Until then, it's your opinion. Does anyone have any quotes on that? Maybe he just wants to keep him in there due to the record breaking success. Bottom line is team, not individuals.
I think Fergie knows exactly what he's doing as well, I just doubt he had other options to consider, especially given we know the alternatives who could have played in his position, were injured. When those players have come back from injury, like Kagawa, we've seen Valencia dropped as the alternatives are now available. The players who were fit and could have covered for him, couldn't afford to, given we then wouldn't have cover for them (Young, Rafael).
See, the problem with what you're saying is this - Valencia is being played because of his high contribution to our points total, but we know isn't the case, given he has yet to hit form! His contribution to each match hasn't been high at all, so I can't understand what you're talking about.
It's like you're trying to tell us something, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Yes Hectic, it's just your opinion that Valencia is out of form.
Oh, and whilst United are setting records, we are not allowed to discuss players form "cause SAF knows best."
Oh, and whilst United are setting records, we are not allowed to discuss players form "cause SAF knows best."
I never said high contribution. Just that it's fecking working out brilliant. Let's not feck with it or get so negative. And as you said, you doubt Fergie's options, but you can't doubt the success.
I thought he looked a lot better in the last 2 games than he has done for most of the season, and better last night than he did at the weekend.
Personally I think its a confidence thing with him, he doesn't seem to be running full backs the way he does when he's in top form and his decision making seems also off.
But definitely positive signs for me in his last 2 games, hopefully on his way back to full form.
Personally I think its a confidence thing with him, he doesn't seem to be running full backs the way he does when he's in top form and his decision making seems also off.
But definitely positive signs for me in his last 2 games, hopefully on his way back to full form.
Okay, but from how I see it, it's encouraging because in spite of poor form from all our wingers, we are where we are. It's ludicrous to keep it that way though if we have better options that have just come back from injury. It's worked out brilliantly in spite of our wingers, not because of them. If we can't notice that our wingers have all been through a bad patch this season, then we're fecked, because we aren't taking note of the obvious. The point being we now have more options again, and can make that chance of success a higher certainty by playing our most in form players.
I do admire how certain he is of it.
Is it not fact?
If we believe better product from Tony is right around the corner, we gotta keep playing him. If not, then not.
My view is that he's almost there. Unless anyone has a better idea, it would be best to stick with Tony.
We're on a roll right now...there's no need to torch any of our players at the present time.
My view is that he's almost there. Unless anyone has a better idea, it would be best to stick with Tony.
We're on a roll right now...there's no need to torch any of our players at the present time.
Cheers.
Agree completely with this. Even though his attacking threat is lacking right now, he is not really doing anything wrong, doesn't make stupid and overly risky decisions, keeps the ball well and gets the best out of Rafeal. I'm not that worried about him needing replacing as whatever he is doing, its working for the team and above all its a team game.
I've believed all season that it's right around the corner but it's January now. At some point you have to let someone else have a crack and that's what SAF did by dropping Valencia and moving Young to the right flank. I'm sure Nani will get chances there too now.
We do have a record points tally till now but, that doesn't mean we've done it in a way that is optimal. Also, imagine if we do have a records point tally and we actually improve in a position that we've been very mediocre as a team all season that it could be even better - would that not be preferred, to go a level higher?
"Why change things if not broken" is not a practical when it comes to football - there are always improvements that can be made.
"Why change things if not broken" is not a practical when it comes to football - there are always improvements that can be made.
Well no.
He could simply change the record, rather than break it
Will ya just slate the fecker, Nobby.
Get rid. It's not bad form, he's just shit.
No really.
No really.
It's infuriating when there's acres of space down the right and he doesn't even bother to run into it.
fecking awful he is currently.
God only truely knows whats happened to him
Arghhhhhhhhhh
Poor poor sub by Fergie
fecking shite. Gave us absolutely nothing when he came on. Should have gone for the ball at the end too like Rafael thought he was going to do.
Why do we persist? Cleverley coming off was a fecking awful decision, much less for Valencia. Made absolutely no sense tactically.
Can't wait until Nani gets back
He didn't want responsibility of the ball.
It's one thing hesitating near the opposition box but he's brought it to our own half. Shocking
I dont want to blame the guy but it was poor from him not to run to the ball. Why the feck was he standing there watching i dont know. Even in the 87th minute, acres of space to run into but he stands there, lets the defender get back and then tries a fancy pass which is intercepted.
I understood clev coming of as he was looking a little tired and was getting out muscled quite a lot, figured we could use ando or Valencia. But Valencia was poor, really slow on the ball.
Why did he come on, offers nothing in attack and he can barely pass a ball.
Could a mod ban me from this thread to save me from myself? He hadn't a prayer of getting near that ball. Maybe Rafael shouldn't be making a forward run out of position in injury time.
I think he was brought on to slow down the pace of the game.
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