Thought he did well today and really worked his arse off. Still as one footed as ever but he has always been like that. Put in a few good crosses that nobody was able to get on the end of. The only annoying thing is sometimes he holds up the play when he should have put in an early ball. Its easy to defend against him when he is stopped because everyone knows he is going on his right foot.
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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As Ekeke said he's physically not the player he was at the moment, I guess the hip injury is still bothering him.
Who's bigger? Clutching at straws here.
Yep, Colback is quick, but Valencia is lightning, about the same as Bale and just a tad behind Walcott; therefore, he should outpace Colback every time. But when Valencia lacks confidence, he hesitates for that one split second, which is enough for a quick fullback to regain control.
Kind of agree, Valencia at his best would destroy Colback, as I think he would most full backs around the world.
What I'm really arguing against is all the people saying he was awful or a liability. He was, as I said, fine. He put in a shift, didn't regularly lose the ball in attacking areas, on the contrary he regularly released Jones. Classic 6/10 performance.
Well, then I agree 99% with you. I don't think he had a stinker of a match, but he's been unspectacular (is that a word?) for a while now. Small niggling injuries haven't helped, but he really needs to step it up. When he's off form he is reluctant to run and just blast past players; when he's on form, as you say, there isn't a fullback in the world that could keep up with him, I think.
Before year or two, you would trust him against Ashley Cole in top form, now he can't have good game against Colback. Awfull season so far for our Tony, I really don't understand what happened to him.
Welbeck must be pissed off sitting on the bench seeing Valencia finishing almost every game.
Welbeck must be pissed off sitting on the bench seeing Valencia finishing almost every game.
You can't compare him with Welbeck, but he has been horrible thus far. Hope Nani signs...
Can't beat a man for shit these days.
Thats what was his best attribute last season.
Thats what was his best attribute last season.
Why not, Welbeck can't do any worse for sure, and I'm sure if we give him run of three games or more, he will settle in that position.
It looks like he's just short of confidence at the moment, you can tell by his decision making (or lack of at times).
That said, he could've easily had two or three assists today. He's always dangerous no matter what form he's in. He'll come good.
That said, he could've easily had two or three assists today. He's always dangerous no matter what form he's in. He'll come good.
He's been coming good for 3 months now. Awfully long time.
For fans short of patience, yes.
In football generally, not really. Especially considering he's been injured and/or playing with an injury for a significant amount of time.
Not sure why everyone's so eager to forget his brilliance and write him off for the season (like they were doing with Young about a month ago...)
United's best performances have come in the last two games. He gives balance, pace and some steel to United's midfield. He has also just come back from injury. He's also a different player when Rafael partners him on the left.
He's so frustrating to watch. Slowing the game down, struggling to make a decision. We know how good he can be, but he's taking his time refinding that form.
I thought he was one of our better players last week.
He'd probably have to be a different player. Or learn to use his left foot!
I completely agree with you though. I think he set massively high standards so people aren't fairly judging him. He offers so much just being on the pitch and always being a positional threat, no matter what form.
It's not a case of 'he' setting high standards, it's more a case of 'we' setting high standards, I believe. In that position, in that shirt - I just don't think he's talented enough, hasn't got the natural ability. He's a brute, who appears to have been found out. Not buying this 'form' thing to the extent that it's been stated. An 'on form' Valencia doesn't do a great deal of things differently to what he does now. It's not a case of him being unable to control the ball at the moment, for instance. Recent problems is him not having enough skill to beat his man, or not being able to simply bully them with speed. He doesn't turn into a skillful trickster or become twice as fast or strong on form.
At present, I'd say he's in the team because we have nobody else, not because he's offering a great deal.
I disagree on both counts. I think his lower-standards at the moment are psychological and temporary - confidence and injury-related. He hasn't had a decent run of games yet this season, and combined with the actual inhibition of the injury itself, lack of confidence causes everything to slow down. Playing at pace is an essential part of Valencia's game, so it's natural that it would have a noticeable impact on him.
Despite this he's still one of the best wingers in the league, even in this form. Like I said, he could've had two or three assists today if the finishing was better or certain positioning was slightly more favourable. I believe if we have patience he'll reward us
Disagree. We've seen him rape fullbacks often enough. Of course he's not as good as Ronaldo was, but very few are. He's been getting on the ahead of the fullbacks recently enough, he just doesn't seem to want to cross it. I see it as not finding form, because he's already proven what he can do.
The problem is that Valecia is good when we are good. He need space like Kanchelskis. It is only when I watch him play that I realise that we are missing out on Nani. We are in need of wingers that is able to contribute to our game in general and players that keep possession. AH has proven to be a better player for a while now, and Nani is so much better. We where the best we have ever been since Ronaldo when Nani and AH played out on the wing, because they can play with both feet and play together with the strikers and the midfielders and keep possession. Can anyone say that we scored more goals with them than any other period?
feck it, i dont want to elaborate,I'm drunk, but I miss Nani so much....
feck it, i dont want to elaborate,I'm drunk, but I miss Nani so much....
Don't be comparing Valencia to Kanchelskis. Andrei had much more in his locker.
You make it sound like Valencia isn't fit to lace Kanchelskis' boots. There's no where near as much between them as you're making out.
Although it's easier to say stuff like that with Valencia in the form he's currently in. He's a shadow of himself, never mind Kanchelskis.
He's not.
Kanchelskis had more skill, was more intelligent, a much bigger goal threat and a fecking left foot to boot.
If you offered anyone with half a brain Kanchelskis or Valencia in their primes, your hand would be bitten off for the Ukrainian.
The same thing happened last season after injury.
In three weeks time you'll all be ***ping over his marvelous performances and call him the best winger in Europe again.
In three weeks time you'll all be ***ping over his marvelous performances and call him the best winger in Europe again.
Did anyone ever call Valencia that best winger in Europe? wow!
He's a good winger, gives great balance and in the right games and in the right form he can be superb. But he never has and never will be even close to being the best winger in Europe.
Antonio needs to regain the step he's lost. Do that and all is well. But I too would like to see him develop a left foot.
hate when he has full momentum attacking 1 v 1 and he slows down. There was one time I thought the player was dead to rights and he just hit the brakes and did his happy feet dance while they stared at each other
Because with other players we are far less patient. So, some posters try to balance it out. If a player has a subdued performance, then they had a subdued performance. For whatever reason, some on here would rather tiptoe around that and act as if it was a 7/10 performance.
The man looks shot of confidence. Cant wait until he gets into his regular form but it's a bit sad seeing him be so hesitant. At times I ask myself, is this Antonio Valencia or did I miss out on another signing?
Yeah. let's rewrite history about Andrei.
His best game in ages
What? Come on chief. All he did all game was wait for Jones to do the overlap and pass it to him. Understandable when he was doubled up on but his indecisive performance gave Sunderland too much time.
Does anyone else think Valencia's being crushed under the weight of the number 7 shirt? I know we're told he asked for it but I've never heard him say that himself and considering his shy personality I'm a little skeptical about the idea that Tony wanted to take the 7 shirt. The 7 shirt at Man Utd is like the 10 for Brazil, everyone automatically scrutinizes the wearer more than other players, it's almost like having a huge price tag on your head: Everybody watches to see if you can live up to the standards of those who have worn it in the past and maybe the pressure of that is too much for Valencia? He has the look of a man who is afraid to make any mistakes. So much hesitancy, so much fear...
No.
The #10 shirt for Brazil has decades of history going all the way back to the 50s, the #7 for us simply doesn't hold that much historical value or importance. We gave Michael Owen the #7 - how much more proof do people need to accept it's not really a special number?
but it was George Best's number!! (as were 8 and 11)
I still think Robson, Cantona, Beckham and Ronaldo turned it into a special number Brwned, even SAF himself mentioned it when he asked Ronaldo to wear it.
"After I joined, the manager asked me what number I'd like. I said 28. But Ferguson said 'No, you're going to have No. 7,' and the famous shirt was an extra source of motivation. I was forced to live up to such an honour.
"After I joined, the manager asked me what number I'd like. I said 28. But Ferguson said 'No, you're going to have No. 7,' and the famous shirt was an extra source of motivation. I was forced to live up to such an honour.
I dunno. Whether by accident or design, whether you think it comes from the fans or its a creation of clever advertising by United and Nike, the 7 shirt does mean a lot to many people and the players think about it too. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Rio tweet that Valencia had guts to go to Fergie and ask for the 7 shirt when the squad number shift was announced? That, to me, shows that actually within the team the number is regarded as something special and if that's the case then that's really all that matters. Valencia will think he has eyes on him and that will (and in my opinion has) impact his performances.
If you didn't watch our games and only listened to the media then Valencia is having another outstanding season.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-transfer-news-antonio-1492388
There are no quotes in this but ignoring the Zaha bit could this be the cause of AVs loss of form?
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