Defender's shins are glad he's gone.
(Loved him as a player mind, never could cross in the latter part of his time with us though...)
(Loved him as a player mind, never could cross in the latter part of his time with us though...)
Appreciating Antonio Valencia
- Thread starter Selbourne
- Start date
Solid seems to be the word of choice to describe him, and I agree.
Not the type of player that elevates a team to the highest level, but the sort that can play a role in keeping you there.
We could certainly use a couple of no-nonsense characters like him these days.
Solid!
Not the type of player that elevates a team to the highest level, but the sort that can play a role in keeping you there.
We could certainly use a couple of no-nonsense characters like him these days.
Solid!
Was not a big fan of him
I dont expect people to agree - but recently there was a thread about SAF's managed world class level players & there was about approx 10 - easily countable on his hands. In 20 years thats quite low & i believe SAF had the ability to win more CL IMO, if we had bought some better quality players , though i do understand the hardness about attracting such quality players especially back in the day when the EPL was not so intriuging. Valencia, inj Owen, Chicarito, Silvestre, Anderson, Rafael, Barthez, fortune, djemba djemba, kleberson, veron, obertan, kagawa, Macheda, ash YounG & also so many homegrown players from our youth system (welbeck & cleverley etc)were good general players but ultimately not WC enough to help us win more CLs.
Great first season, amazing when he came back in 2011, bordering on world class in 2012. Then he followed it up with an absolute stink show for a few years before becoming a good right back.
He was a little too one footed and not a natural crosser. Actually he was majorly one footed.
He was a little too one footed and not a natural crosser. Actually he was majorly one footed.
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Complete one-footedness let him down and made him frustrating to watch sometimes. Whenever he had the ball on the wing, everybody, including the defender knew exactly how it would play out. Incapable of taking people on without a running start, so it was tap forward and cross gets blocked or pass backwards. Defenders glad he's gone? I doubt.
He was usually pretty solid all round though and had a few spells where he was our most reliable player on the pitch. I appreciate him!
He was usually pretty solid all round though and had a few spells where he was our most reliable player on the pitch. I appreciate him!
Can't have a Valencia thread without this.
That one season where he was putting it on a plate for Rooney every game was a thing of beauty. He was fantastic in my opinion and one of my favourites
He was fine, but always indicative to me of us regressing as a club rather than being true competitors.
He lingered and was a constant reminder of our lack of ambition. One of my least favourite players because he was so fecking predictable and so bloody awful at crossing the ball.
Average player who was first choice for waaaaay too long.
One issue was he was signed in an awful summer and there was a bizarre assumption that he was replacing Ronaldo.
Another issue is that he was a decent squad player and one that would have always been fairly useful in any of the great Fergie sides. However, people expected to be/do a lot more which was a result of the lack of the wider investment.
Another issue is that he was a decent squad player and one that would have always been fairly useful in any of the great Fergie sides. However, people expected to be/do a lot more which was a result of the lack of the wider investment.
I think Valencia had it in him to be an excellent wing back today.
Loved him.
For a couple of years he was an amazing winger for us. Then later a solid right-back, much better than Rafael.
A top pro and Captain.
For a couple of years he was an amazing winger for us. Then later a solid right-back, much better than Rafael.
A top pro and Captain.
Didn't know Mitten could speak Spanish
Think his wife is Spanish and he lives out there, going by the talk of the devils pod anyways.
This thread is sponsored by Castrol. 
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I remember tony fondly. Never had a problem with him. Yes, he made some feck ups etc, was rubbish after the injury, but them is the breaks. Good looking fella too.
.I remember tony fondly. Never had a problem with him. Yes, he made some feck ups etc, was rubbish after the injury, but them is the breaks. Good looking fella too.
Very effective player but limited. Was better when we turned him into a RB.
A 4-4-2 with young on the left, Valencia on the right, Rooney and Chicharito up front and whoever Sir Alex felt it would be fun to stick in midfield will never not be great.
A good, occasionally great player.
Unfairly judged because he signed in the 2009 window of doom.
Also worth noting that he would have probably signed even if Ronaldo and Tevez had stayed. Fergie had apparently tried to get him the previous window to strengthen the squad.
Unfairly judged because he signed in the 2009 window of doom.
Also worth noting that he would have probably signed even if Ronaldo and Tevez had stayed. Fergie had apparently tried to get him the previous window to strengthen the squad.
He was good for the first couple of seasons but was hugely frustrating (still decent) after that injury as the winger and at fullback. People only remember him fondly because he was part of Fergie's final team. He was one-dimensional and predictable, always going to his right and hitting the cross only to meet the shins.
Loved him.
His raw pace was such an asset. I remember him steamrolling through Liverpool. Moments like that were outstanding
While Valencia was a great Utd player, runs his leg out and never complain publicly about game time, he marked the end of inspirational winger/7.
I don't blame him for this sad result, it was Fergi's fault. Our wingers (7 & 11) have always been the power house of attack, someone that make a difference. Even Nani, although less than 100%, was inspirational.
Valencia, was more like a mule, than racehorse. Thereafter, our wingers are either brainless, legless, skill-less, gearbox-less.
I don't blame him for this sad result, it was Fergi's fault. Our wingers (7 & 11) have always been the power house of attack, someone that make a difference. Even Nani, although less than 100%, was inspirational.
Valencia, was more like a mule, than racehorse. Thereafter, our wingers are either brainless, legless, skill-less, gearbox-less.
Wonderful and underrated player.
Would’ve been one of the most sought out players in the world if he started his career a decade later, as a full back.
Incredible athlete, will never forget him running through Ashley Cole like he wasn’t even there, fantastic first touch as well.
Great mentality, loved Valencia.
Would’ve been one of the most sought out players in the world if he started his career a decade later, as a full back.
Incredible athlete, will never forget him running through Ashley Cole like he wasn’t even there, fantastic first touch as well.
Great mentality, loved Valencia.
Let's be honest, he wasn't that good. One trick pony. Run to the corner, and then that not so good cross of his.
Also, replacing Ronaldo with Valencia was a fecking joke.
Also, replacing Ronaldo with Valencia was a fecking joke.
I think Antonio was a consummate professional and a wonderful servant of the club. He even let go of his agent once he had cemented himself at united and handled all the contract extensions etc himself. He gets a lot of flak for things that were completely beyond his control such as being signed as a winger following the Ronaldo sale as well as the manager merry go round that preceded Sir Alex (each of these things he can have no say on at all).
I prefer to remember him as some one who bled for the club, sacrificed their body and playing position for the benefit of the club, someone with immense mental fortitude to overcome some significant injuries, fought for and back their teammates amongst many other positive qualities. Will always think fondly of him and wish him the best.
I prefer to remember him as some one who bled for the club, sacrificed their body and playing position for the benefit of the club, someone with immense mental fortitude to overcome some significant injuries, fought for and back their teammates amongst many other positive qualities. Will always think fondly of him and wish him the best.
100%
Very contradicting comments on here. From being a great player to being absolutely crap.
Towards the end of his career, he was bang average and sometimes well below average. I don't think he was ever the same after that serious injury. But please, don't let his later years misguide you to think he was like that all of this Utd career.
In his second season he was unplayable. I have never seen anyone have Ashley Cole on toast like he did. Not even prime Ronaldo. For about 18 months he was as good as anyone.
Towards the end of his career, he was bang average and sometimes well below average. I don't think he was ever the same after that serious injury. But please, don't let his later years misguide you to think he was like that all of this Utd career.
In his second season he was unplayable. I have never seen anyone have Ashley Cole on toast like he did. Not even prime Ronaldo. For about 18 months he was as good as anyone.
I still can't believe his much flaunted speed. It is as if it was calculated using XG or something.
What a unit he was. Probably terrifying to see him come running at you, but then he couldn't deliver once he got in to a decent position-a shame because he was excellent at getting down the line. A solid professional and a warrior that gave his all for the team, just technically lacking and not the best decision maker.
As others have already said, it was so frustrating seeing him smash down the wing only to turn around once he'd got in to a decent position. LVG and Mourinho will have absolutely loved having him. Bet he was good for the dressing room as well.
Gave his all, and for that I will always speak well of him. His heart was with United whenever he wore the shirt, which is more than we can say for some of the frauds that have played for us over the last decade.
As others have already said, it was so frustrating seeing him smash down the wing only to turn around once he'd got in to a decent position. LVG and Mourinho will have absolutely loved having him. Bet he was good for the dressing room as well.
Gave his all, and for that I will always speak well of him. His heart was with United whenever he wore the shirt, which is more than we can say for some of the frauds that have played for us over the last decade.
A lot like walker tbh.
Loved Valencia. Played with so much tenacity and love for the club.
I remember that one Champions League match vs. Olympiacos when he played with one eye after receiving a blow to his left eye, which swole up instantly. Any other player would have been immediately subbed off, but not Tony!
I remember that one Champions League match vs. Olympiacos when he played with one eye after receiving a blow to his left eye, which swole up instantly. Any other player would have been immediately subbed off, but not Tony!