Why does his pace have to go? Giggs lost a lot of pace due to his hamstring problems, but as far as I know Valencia never had any of those. Many 100m sprinters are at their peak well after they hit 30. I've talked to a few former sprinters/runners, and they argue that speed doesn't fade as quickly as some believe. In fact, I think most footballers lose pace due to injuries and arguably wrong training regimes rather than age. Giggs himself said he became faster after starting with yoga, so there might just be something in that (Giggs sure ran fast as the wind against RM, so who knows).
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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Why does his pace have to go? Giggs lost a lot of pace due to his hamstring problems, but as far as I know Valencia never had any of those. Many 100m sprinters are at their peak well after they hit 30. I've talked to a few former sprinters/runners, and they argue that speed doesn't fade as quickly as some believe. In fact, I think most footballers lose pace due to injuries and arguably wrong training regimes rather than age. Giggs himself said he became faster after starting with yoga, so there might just be something in that (Giggs sure ran fast as the wind against RM, so who knows).
Wonder why this injury is so persistent. If he is being affected by it then he shouldn't really be playing in my opinion. Top bloke though, always liked him and he did have a great season last year. As has been said...a summer off and some good medial attention and hopefully he will come back invigorated and free from that "niggle" next season.
Ideally that would be the case but with Nani being out for much of the season, I don't think we've had much of an option. Also players playing with injury niggles and knocks is nothing new, there are probably loads of players out there playing who aren't 100% at this stage of the season we just aren't aware of it.
I'm sure he'll bounce back though, he needs a good rest over summer and a chance to completely overcome that injury and hopefully he'll be a new man come August. He seems like a model professional and I fully expect him to bounce back.
Go and look in the link what Tony did today. More of this please!
He did well for Ecuador agAINST Portugal in the last International break too.
That first run in particular was almost out of this world. If only he hadn't lost all of his pace
Seriously fast that guy, when he decides to go for it!!Yes, that was some good moves! We will give him time and then he will be back to his best in the United shirt also.
So basically, Valencia has been fit enough to play, just not fit enough to play well. Right.
Valencia slams home a left footed volley against Paraguay (starts at 1:20)...
but it was disallowed.
but it was disallowed
.Holy shit, RvP would be proud of that one.
Must be one of those mirrored youtube videos or something
He actually use his left foot?
Its weird, the few times I've actually seen him use his left foot, it has actually been fairly decent. He just seems to have a total mental block on using it generally.
He'll score a perfect hat-trick against Sunderland.
What a shame, he caught that so sweet aswell.
Hopefully it will give him a little confidence boost anyway, did they go onto win?
Hopefully it will give him a little confidence boost anyway, did they go onto win?
Damn, that would've been nice.
Good to see his 'injury' didn't stop him from putting that in the net.
Who's that nippy left winger who keeps having a go? He looks like a handful.
From what I saw of the highlights from the international break, Valencia looked very good in both games. He's looked a little slow for us since about December, but his pace was explosive like the Valencia of old. For us, he's looked so void of confidence he's not even having a go at the fullback and just looking to play the safe ball. Hope he's gathered some confidence from the break and comes back and rinses Ashley Cole on Monday.
From what I saw of the highlights from the international break, Valencia looked very good in both games. He's looked a little slow for us since about December, but his pace was explosive like the Valencia of old. For us, he's looked so void of confidence he's not even having a go at the fullback and just looking to play the safe ball. Hope he's gathered some confidence from the break and comes back and rinses Ashley Cole on Monday.
Yep, been saying for years that on the small evidence of when he actually uses it, he has a decent left foot. He just seems to favour using the outside of his right foot 99% of the time
Is the left winger Montero that played for Villarreal? He looks good!
Actually, it was one match that Ecuador played in the qualifiers and Valencia was an absolute beast. Much more of an inside attacking role. The left footed volley he banged in was pretty much indicative of how he played. Unusual in that role, and by the far the best I've seen him with the national side. You could see the others feed off him when he's more dominant. Loads of confidence. Ecuador looked amazing after giving up the first goal. Hopefully this will jolt him back into form with United to finish off the season. That would be brilliant.
He scored a goal with his left for Wigan in his final season too, where he jinked through a few players then just rolled it in with the left instep. He can use it, and he has used it, but it's a bit of a head-scratcher as to why he often refuses to cut inside and play an inswinger or a ball across the 18 yard line. If in trouble, he'll try to play for a corner or just come backwards completely. Even simple passes, he'll stretch to play it with the outside of his strong instead of comfortably with his weaker foot. Who does he think he is, Giggs?
Maybe he's keeping it secret until the moment is right. When United is in a CL final, 0-0, 89th minute. Valencia has possession of the ball outside the box. The defenders expect him to go to the right so he can get a cross in with his right foot...
...but no! He goes to the left! Surely not?! And he bangs it top corner. Ecstasy everywhere!
/RAWK.
...but no! He goes to the left! Surely not?! And he bangs it top corner. Ecstasy everywhere!
/RAWK.
You don't think players play with injuries from to time to time?
All a matter of definition. I don't think players play with an injury that will prevent them from playing well. I believe any player deemed fit enough to take the field, is fit enough to perform well.
Yes it was. looked lively too.
Any injury will hamper you. If it didn't it wouldn't be an injury. I wouldn't say it excuses him from poor form but it would certainly be areason for not playing as well as he can. He's a player heavily dependant on his athleticism.
This.
You're a fecking idiot if you play an entire season on an injury that makes you as shit as Valencia has been this year.
It's really difficult to know the true impact of an injury you play with.The injury hampers the players if not physically then surely psychologically but at the same if the players (or Valencia in this case) are fit enough despite the injury to play matches, then you do wonder why there isn't more decent/ok performances.
Presumably it would take an even bigger idiot to pick him then.
For sure. If he's playing as shit as he is because he's injured, then SAF has been a complete fool this season.
I don't believe SAF is a fool.
Do you think that in a season where Nani, Kagawa and Young have often been injured that we wouldn't want to get Valencia out onto the field even if he had a few niggles? Not to mention that he actually brings a lot to our play just from hugging the touchline and giving the option to stretch the play by hitting the diagonal switch ball to him. For someone like Valencia who is very predictable, having the speed of thought to pick his moment and explosiveness is very important and obviously having a niggle compromises on his ability to do his bread and butter which in turn affects his confidence.
Eugenius nailed it.
Valencia is certainly a level above Young, so I'm not sure that Valencia wouldn't get plenty of game time. Kagawa would never be competition for him either, so you are still only left with Nani...
I thought he had a decent first half and then he reverted to type in the second, actually looked to take on his man today though.
Was poor again. Took his man on but the crosses were embarrassing
Thought he did very well for us when we were under pressure late in the game
Had a good game today looked like he was on the pace linked up well and helped out defensively.
Yeah guess he showed a bit more fight today but still very frustrating. End of the day with our dominance in the first half and the amount of possession our two wingers had in that half the fact that between them they put in so little good balls or worked their way in to good positions tells you something.
Much improved in terms of his control and dribbling, but still created nothing going forward. Solid enough performance.
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