That famous Denver sense of humour?
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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you must have been watching a different game. Evra made some of trade mark defensive errors yesterday.
if we can keep the ball better in the middle and force teams to play in their own half consistently, he can become our poor-man's dani alves.
No, I'm fairly confident I was watching the same game as everyone else.
I wasn't immersed in the group hysteria that is the match-day thread. Which might explain the difference of opinions.
It makes him look worse because he is told to get up the field so high, when we loose the ball in midfield in dodgy positions it makes him look out of position and playing badly.
I'm sure there were times in the second half when Barcelona exploited our left flank.
ditto in the first half. Their second good chance in the game came after Evra was caught too high on the pitch with no-one protecting the left flank. same old.
Can't think of any specific examples?
The only opportunities I can remember were through the middle or down our right (where thankfully Tello was his usual wasteful self) Bearing in mind how heavily involved Alves usually is in all their play, I thought Evra was excellent.
Ok, there was at least two attacks in the first half with Evra nowhere to be seen. And there have been at least two or three in the second half.
I am not going to watch the game again, but I think he was pretty good considering it's his first game after the break. However, it's silly to say that Barca didn't get a sniff on our left.
I am not going to watch the game again, but I think he was pretty good considering it's his first game after the break. However, it's silly to say that Barca didn't get a sniff on our left.
True, but it was an encouraging performance from him. Not the shite defending and ball watching of last year.
What do people think about using Tony as right CM in 4-3-3. Decent defending and good crossing - just like Beckham's role ar Madrid.
No. Never.
Like jumping over a drunk during your morning run..
Played a good game but still we're missing some cover at RB when Rafael isn't available spec. against good sides..
Played a good game but still we're missing some cover at RB when Rafael isn't available spec. against good sides..
I know there was a lot of talk about this pre-season with many muppets filling him in at right back, but I can't wait for a fit backline so he can play in his best positon.
He was rubbish tonight, out of position, but really poor, even his crossing was completely off.
Not as bad as others though.
Not as bad as others though.
a poor-man's dani alves we're trying with him right now.
Fergie has been really strange with the fullback positions in the past few seasons. It's clear Evra needs to be replaced or at least some legitimate competition, and he changes the right-back in each game.
He's not a fecking right back. The fact that Rafael was fit and not played was just odd.
He was fine. It's hard to beat Baines and cross the ball in when you've just ran the length of the pitch.
I think it's a case of trying to fit all our attackers into the team, so Valencia is sacrificed as a full back. Given Nani's abysmal performance today though, I reckon SAF will play Valencia as a winger again next game.
He did nothing wrong defensively today. But he did nothing good getting forward.
I honestly don't think Fergie trusts Rafael. I don't really blame him. We need to get players back
I honestly don't think Fergie trusts Rafael. I don't really blame him. We need to get players back
I've long since had enough of this experimenting with him as a right back.
He isn't one. Please stop it.
He isn't one. Please stop it.
Do you think Fergie trusts Rafael? It certainly seems to me that he does not
He was fine but the one problem for me when he plays right back is he still tries to be a bit clever with his passes when theres no need. Flicks and spreading the play in his own half, but not being accurate. Its okay when you're playing on the wing because there are half a team behind you to make up for your mistake but when you're playing as a fullback you need to try and save that stuff for in offensive positions and even then you have to make sure its going to work otherwise you'll be out of position for their break.
When he switched to the right wing he found he had a lot of the problems Nani had like getting his cross past Baines, and when he finally did it wasnt of good quality again like Nani.
When he switched to the right wing he found he had a lot of the problems Nani had like getting his cross past Baines, and when he finally did it wasnt of good quality again like Nani.
There certainly seems to be something in that, with him not being played despite being fit. It's an odd one to me though, I think Rafael is great and is only going to improve with games.
Leaving him out of the side whilst pushing a fantastic winger back into a position he doesn't suit is just plain weird.
That was simply because he wanted Nani and Kagawa in the side. So it was a straight choice between Raf and Valencia
He has admitted that he hates playing as a RB so I'm not actually surprised that playing him there ends up with him playing average. I think Rafael just got a rest tonight because he hasn't been with the team long after playing tons for Brazil lately.
Yes, Rafael should have started right back and Valencia on the right wing.
Valencia at right back is such a waste of his talent.
We didn't really possess any threat down the wings today, which was a significant factor in not being able to break Everton down. With Welbeck not a natural winger, Nani cutting inside and Valencia limited at right back, we were often having to force ourselves through an absolute wall of Everton players every time we attacked. Baines played well to be fair, which didn't help.
One of Rooney and Nani may be in danger after that game, because I can't see Ferguson playing Valencia at right back on Saturday after that. That's not to say that he won't be used there as an option at some point or that he's not capable of playing there, but I think the lack of a threat from out wide was quite noticeable tonight.
It's funny: last season we were too inclined to go down the wings and looked a bit slow and predictable just outside the opposition's centre circle; today, most of our time was spent passing it sideways outside their box trying to find the killer ball trough the middle. We need to strike a balance, and that balance most likely involves Valencia in the team on the right wing.
One of Rooney and Nani may be in danger after that game, because I can't see Ferguson playing Valencia at right back on Saturday after that. That's not to say that he won't be used there as an option at some point or that he's not capable of playing there, but I think the lack of a threat from out wide was quite noticeable tonight.
It's funny: last season we were too inclined to go down the wings and looked a bit slow and predictable just outside the opposition's centre circle; today, most of our time was spent passing it sideways outside their box trying to find the killer ball trough the middle. We need to strike a balance, and that balance most likely involves Valencia in the team on the right wing.
Had a left foot after all. Good game from him. His combination play with Rafael is always going to give us lots of advantage down theright
Put in about 3 good crosses with the left peg!
Agreed. When we were going for it after we went behind Valencia was monstrous.
Should have given him the number 7 ages ago!
Seems he's been working on his left peg during the summer. Great, adding more tools to his box will benefit him and us.
He faded in the second half, there was an opportunity for us to break but he just passed back killing the momentum.
He faded in the second half, there was an opportunity for us to break but he just passed back killing the momentum.
He passed back because he had two men on him and very little options, and seconds later Carrick played Welbeck through almost on a 1v1...what an idiot.
If it's between him and Nani, I'd play Valencia in most PL games. Not that he's as talented a player as Nani, but he's somehow completely unplayable.
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