I love this talk about "limitations." The guy reached the pinnacle of arguably being Manchester United's best player, at least in 2011/2012 he was. Almost impossible to get much better than that. 99.999999% of footballers would die for his "limitations."
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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I dont think many people here arguing him to be better than what he was two seasons ago. Everyone here just wants him to maintain that consistency. He doesnt have to score 20 and set up 30 goals every season. Doing half of that would be great.
Really? I wonder where they are.
This. I've seen some lovely stuff from him there the odd Ecuador game I watch. Even if granted, he is the most unorthodox of all the midfielders I've seen (including Rio Ferdinand vs Blackburn back in 2005).
Tell me more about it, genuinely interested as I haven't watched them play a lot.
Well, I think it would be enough to say his form only deteriorated as far as United are concerned. In 2012/2013 season, he arguably played just as well for them, or close, to what he did for us last season. On the wing, he's ripping opposition full-back (who often play closer to a wing-back down there) to shreds. In the middle, he uses his pace and strength to exploit space and his passing is nothing to laugh at.
As I said he doesn't look like a fish in water in the middle of the park but still, somehow, he's arguably as accomplished.
During a match against Argentina
Must be just before Mascherano literally kicked off.
wtf is he doing?If we just highlight the performance from the middle, do you have a list of some games he played there so one could take a look? Sounds very interesting.
Unleashing frustration at the realisation that not everyone nor everything is as fast as Tony.
Valencia hasn't been inconsistent though, he was consistently bad.
Being our best player and having an outstanding season in which you are the stand out performer are two very different things and it's irrelevant to the argument anyway.
As a player you need to evolve and adapt or you get found out. He was exceptional that season because he was consistently taking on a fullback and getting the ball in. He used his strength and pace to beat his man time and time again. The opposition has now adjusted to that, they stand off him and double up on him and it's made things very difficult for him. He's had virtually no reply to it and that is his limitations.
He plays Football every day and gets paid for it, is it really that difficult to dedicate a bit of that time to working on a left foot and in doing so open up a lot more options and put the pressure back on the defender? It'd certainly be better than the 270 degree out side of the foot turn he does before passing it backwards. If he has tried to work on his left foot and it's just not natural to him, therein lies the limitations that are holding him back.
I'm a total Valencia fanboy/apologist/whatever but this rings true for any footballer. In my opinion there is just no excuse for being one footed. Especially if you're a professional training every day, hitting the gym, honing your skills as a full time job.
I was completely one footed when I played football as a kid. Completely hopeless with my left. Just couldn't use it, but all it took was practice. I became determined to strengthen it when I was 13. I remember hearing an interview with Chris Waddle which really resonated with me. He started out as being completely 1 footed, but he worked on his weak foot, strengthened it, practiced everyday, just kicking a football against a wall constantly. That's pretty much all I did. I don't play at a high level obviously, but I feel as confident in my left as I do my right foot. I play a fair bit of 7 a side. If the ball is on that side, I'll pass, shoot, cross with it. I'd easily take a penalty with it. I don't understand why so many players in the modern era are so one footed when their life is dedicated to improving as a footballer. Most people are born with a dominating hand and foot, but the weaker hand and foot can be strengthened. It just takes practice.
I think there are several reasons why he lost some form to be honest. Like an earlier poster pointed out, as soon as coaches, or other clubs spot a weakness, they will exploit it. Likewise, if you are particularly strong in one area, they will exploit it, but that same principle applies to every player. Everyone has weaknesses - no-one perfect. When he is on form, he is a quality player, and he has shown that. One v one he was devastating, and there weren't to many Full-Backs in the Premier League who were as strong all round as Valencia. Physically he is superb. He's big, he's strong, and he has pace. On the rare occasion a Full-Back could match him for pace you had to match him for strength, and the same goes the other way. With space in behind he could be devastating at times, and although you could argue that he could be slightly one dimensional, we have players in the squad capable of complementing that, and bringing the best out of him.
Football is a sport based on confidence. No two ways about that. Every top player has an 'ego' of some sort, and if you don't have that, and you don't have that self belief you are going to struggle. Obviously I don't know him personally, but he doesn't seem to have that confidence in himself when things aren't going so well, and that's probably the main thing for me. Yes he is one footed, and yes there may be other issues surrounding him as a Footballer, but all these problems ultimately add up to a lack of confidence which is where the problem lies for me. Sort out the roots of the problem, and the solution will improve.
I think a new start will do him good, and he's not the only player who that can be said about. He has a new chance now - a knew start - and it's up to Valencia, and everyone at the club to do what they can to bring the best out of him.
Football is a sport based on confidence. No two ways about that. Every top player has an 'ego' of some sort, and if you don't have that, and you don't have that self belief you are going to struggle. Obviously I don't know him personally, but he doesn't seem to have that confidence in himself when things aren't going so well, and that's probably the main thing for me. Yes he is one footed, and yes there may be other issues surrounding him as a Footballer, but all these problems ultimately add up to a lack of confidence which is where the problem lies for me. Sort out the roots of the problem, and the solution will improve.
I think a new start will do him good, and he's not the only player who that can be said about. He has a new chance now - a knew start - and it's up to Valencia, and everyone at the club to do what they can to bring the best out of him.
His one footedness was well known to any coach in the league after he made 10 games in the PL but that never stopped him.
I think the biggest problem for him are actually injuries, if he isn't 100% fit his game will suffer considering how much he relies on his pace and get past players to dish a cross in or play a pass into the back of the defense.
On top of that he also started to suffer from confidence problems which he suffered from for the rest of the season only getting back into form towards the final games of the season.
I'm confident we will see the old Valencia next season again.
I think the biggest problem for him are actually injuries, if he isn't 100% fit his game will suffer considering how much he relies on his pace and get past players to dish a cross in or play a pass into the back of the defense.
On top of that he also started to suffer from confidence problems which he suffered from for the rest of the season only getting back into form towards the final games of the season.
I'm confident we will see the old Valencia next season again.
Maradona was as one footed as you can get.
So Antonio makes it all the way to Manchester United on one foot, even becoming for a while our best player, and there's no excuse for being one footed. WTF? Oh yes, Antonio, now that you've made it to Manchester United, you must change your style. Forget what got you here.
Me too. If he was going to be 'found out', it would have happened much earlier. He's simply had a very bad season, form-wise - and injuries may have contributed to that - which knocked his confidence. A summer break tends to sort these things out.
During a match against Argentina
Mascherano is all "wtf?"During a match against Argentina
He's pushing it using only his right leg, refuses to even stand on his left.
I hope it was injuries that slowed him down he looked sluggish and I felt he had lost a yard of pace. I see your point Nobby but at this level you can only get so far playing the way he does. For a whole season he was so easily to neutralise it was ridiculous. He could not beat his man that is the bread and butter of being a winger, I knew what his ceiling was after the final with Barca in 2011 he along with Park did not have a clue the whole team was outplayed but they where shocking. He does not seem to be a clever player and when one thing is not working he will keep trying to do it again and again he was amazing in 11/12 but I don't think he will reach that level of effectiveness again but I hope i'm wrong. When he plays that well it opens up the game for others and he creates many chances for the forwards. I like him a hard working, honest player but I would be worried going into a season with him as our first choice right winger.
RVP should be a good example for Valencia. Was very one footed when he broke through but he's quite willing to use his right foot these days
Yes but I don't think Valencia needs to bring it to that level. If he can mix it up slightly and thereby actually giving the full backs something to think about then he is bound to become even more effective than he has been for us.
Don't listen to them, he's absolutely bollocks centrally and he only plays there for Ecuador because he's by far their best player.
During a match against Argentina
Looks to me like hes stretching
"United MegaStore stops printing Valencia 7 jerseys" is the rumor going around on Twitter. Can't seem to find an original, creditable source though so in all likelihood its bs.
Still though, I'll admit to feeling a slight flicker of muppetry deep down inside.
Still though, I'll admit to feeling a slight flicker of muppetry deep down inside.
Somebody hasn't told the clubs website to stop selling them.
Yeah i did check that. But stopping printing is different than stopping sales.
Anyone know why he isn't on tour?
Supposed to joining up soon isn't he? Got extra time off after international duty.
Happy Birthday to him.
Here's hoping for a sparkling season from him.
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Here's hoping for a sparkling season from him.
Chich
Happy birFday Antonio!
Happy birFday Antonio!
next season im positive he is going back to his usual shape, and will be very important for us.
Valencia is one of my favourite players, hope he comes back to his best again this season.
Back at my mate's shop for a tattoo.
Wearing an AV25 hat - I wonder why he hasn't got the number 7?
We were talking about him during the game, wondering if he had headed back to Ecuador for the funeral of Christian Benitez.
We were talking about him during the game, wondering if he had headed back to Ecuador for the funeral of Christian Benitez.
Will be interesting to see how he looks when he comes back.
The guys in the shop can't speak highly enough of him. They're not really footy people, but they say he is a really lovely person.
Which is niiice!
Which is niiice!
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