[Glanville95]

My opinion of Valencia has changed quite recently. I've never been his biggest fan to say the least and I still think he can be very suspect at times defensively with his lapses in concentration and positional play but he still has a lot of qualities.

A physical beast, an excellent 1 v 1 defender, impressive ball-carrier on the counter and also very adept at retaining the ball and simplifying things. His crossing is still erratic and downright diabolical and he's nowhere near the most technically gifted player in our squad but still a good player all the same.

I'm more than happy to see him start the season as first choice right back, fighting with Darmian and Mensah for that position. It's - position up for grabs, for sure, I just don't see a right back neccesary as of yet.

 

[lem8sh]

Indeed.



His positioning being suspect can't be argued with he is poor/awful, but he has other attributes mostly physical that make him good in one on ones.

Going forward he's no Cafu it's true but i can say that he's miles better than Darmian offensively.

I like Valencia but we really should have a better starting RB, so many people seem to rate him so highly and others very poorly it's strange.

He is a better option than Darmian just about for me. My opinion on here has been that it won't be hard to find a better right back and when we do his starting days will be over as he isn't good enough to start for a top side in that position.

 

[acnumber9]

Who are the top right backs in the Premier League at the minute? I don't see many better than Valencia.

 

[lem8sh]

But last season was evidence it's not as easy to replace him as you're suggesting. Darmian came as an Italian international with a good reputation and was worse than Valencia in every regard. I think some people will be surprised again when yet another manager uses him regularly.

Darmian is better defensively for me.
I think he will be as well used quite often as well, we will have plenty of games with the Europa league and whatnot plus he always tends to be available physically.

 

[dichinero]

My opinion of Valencia has changed quite recently. I've never been his biggest fan to say the least and I still think he can be very suspect at times defensively with his lapses in concentration and positional play but he still has a lot of qualities.

A physical beast, an excellent 1 v 1 defender, impressive ball-carrier on the counter and also very adept at retaining the ball and simplifying things. His crossing is still erratic and downright diabolical and he's nowhere near the most technically gifted player in our squad but still a good player all the same.

I'm more than happy to see him start the season as first choice right back, fighting with Darmian and Mensah for that position. It's - position up for grabs, for sure, I just don't see a right back neccesary as of yet.

This

 

[stevoc]

He is a better option than Darmian just about for me. My opinion on here has been that it won't be hard to find a better right back and when we do his starting days will be over as he isn't good enough to start for a top side in that position.

He is but thats not hard. Neither are good enough long term for me, we should have better.

 

[lem8sh]

I don't blame Valencia. I blame whoever decides to put him at right back. He isn't a defender.

One mistake? He has made numerous - you only recall the one against Arsenal because it lead directly to a goal. He gets caught and relies on others to bail him out.

Correct.

 

[lem8sh]

He is but thats not hard. Neither are good enough long term for me, we should have better.

Absolutely.

 

[dichinero]

Who are the top right backs in the Premier League at the minute? I don't see many better than Valencia.

I'd consider Zabaleta, Sagna, Ivanovich, Azpilicueta, Walker, Clyne, Bellerin, Coleman better than Valencia but as many as said he is just about getting the job done which may suffice for now.

 

[Sigma]

I'd consider Zabaleta, Sagna, Ivanovich, Azpilicueta, Walker, Clyne, Bellerin, Coleman better than Valencia but as many as said he is just about getting the job done which may suffice for now.

The rest can be debated, but these 2 based on last season are no where near being good enough

I don't blame Valencia. I blame whoever decides to put him at right back. He isn't a defender.

One mistake? He has made numerous - you only recall the one against Arsenal because it lead directly to a goal. He gets caught and relies on others to bail him out.

Please point another one out

 

[LuisNaniencia]

I'd consider Zabaleta, Sagna, Ivanovich, Azpilicueta, Walker, Clyne, Bellerin, Coleman better than Valencia but as many as said he is just about getting the job done which may suffice for now.

Coleman, Zabaletta, Ivanovich were very average last season. In their prime they were of course better than Valencia. He's probably on par with Sagna, Walker and Clyne.

 

[acnumber9]

I'd consider Zabaleta, Sagna, Ivanovich, Azpilicueta, Walker, Clyne, Bellerin, Coleman better than Valencia but as many as said he is just about getting the job done which may suffice for now.

Zabaleta and Ivanovic are getting by on reputation. Both have been shite for a while with Sagna not that much better. Coleman is a terrible defender. Rated highly because he scored a few goals. Walker had a good season but was not better before that so that will depend on how he continues and Clyne is one I don't have much opinion on to be honest. Bellerin certainly looks a player but then pace is his biggest asset too. The difference in most of those players and Valencia is fairly minimal I'd say.

 

[Rossa]

That run against Dembele shows why a player like Valencia is useful. Dembele is supposedly very fast, but he looked absolutely pedestrian next to Valencia. I would enjoy a Aubameyang vs Valencia run.

 

[Jacko21]

Please point another one out

Oh come on. Unsurprisingly, I don't keep a log book of a players mistakes. Asking me to recall what mistake he made and against whom is like asking me to recall on what occasions Smalling pulled someones shirt or Rooney mis-controlled the ball or when Carrick played a sideways pass.

 

[LuisNaniencia]

Oh come on. Unsurprisingly, I don't keep a log book of a players mistakes. Asking me to recall what mistake he made and against whom is like asking me to recall on what occasions Smalling pulled someones shirt or Rooney mis-controlled the ball or when Carrick played a sideways pass.

I remember one against Everton that Mirrallas scored from. But I don't think he makes more mistakes than any other defender. Smalling getting sent off in stupid situations is one example.

 

[Rossa]

I remember one against Everton that Mirrallas scored from. But I don't think he makes more mistakes than any other defender. Smalling getting sent off in stupid situations is one example.

Smalling getting sent off twice in his United career, you mean? Vidic had no less than four red cards against Liverpool alone. But yeah...

 

[LuisNaniencia]

Smalling getting sent off twice in his United career, you mean? Vidic had no less than four red cards against Liverpool alone. But yeah...

Don't worry I'm not attacking Smalling, if you read the context it's an example purely that all defenders make mistakes.

And that's why I said in stupid situations. One was in a Manchester Derby and the other was in a Fa cup final. Chill.

 

[Rossa]

Don't worry I'm not attacking Smalling, if you read the context it's an example purely that all defenders make mistakes.

And that's why I said in stupid situations. One was in a Manchester Derby and the other was in a Fa cup final. Chill.

All defenders make mistakes, as you said, and on the Caf we love our scapegoats. At one point, Evra was responsible for every goal that came as a result of their right back starting an attack - it was ridiculous. If Evra made a free kick forty yards from goal and they scored with a header that one of our other defenders should have won, it was Evra's mistake. I sometimes feel as if Valencia is beaten with the same stick now. He's not perfect by any means, but he's a good player that is extremely hard working and provides pace, width and physicality in team that have been lacking in those areas of late.

 

[Massive Spanner]

He is absolute muck these days.

 

[Rossa]

He is absolute muck these days.

Good to see you contributing. That handball is nothing but unlucky, and one might argue it's not even a penalty.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Good to see you contributing. That handball is nothing but unlucky, and one might argue it's not even a penalty.

His overall performance has been poor, he's been largely very poor since he won the POTS four years ago or whatever it was. There's a reason he's a right back now and no longer a winger, can't attack for shite, and apart from the odd solid display defensively, is usually a bit shit there.

I'm baffled there's still a place in the side for him but I suppose it simply shows the lack of quality right backs available there days.

 

[Devil may care]

He was ok today, we can probably get by for another season with him and others playing at RB.

 

[ti vu]

He is decent, but still has some concentration lapse (Dembelele's false offside call).

 

[Sigma]

He is decent, but still has some concentration lapse (Dembelele's false offside call).

So does everyone though, people are having unrealistic expectations, these are humans, not robots.

 

[Insanity]

Had the measure of Dembélé in the first half. Didn't give him very much and matched him for pace.

 

[Mike09]

Named any right back at the moment who is considered to be United quality? How many? Are they available?

Valencia is still a good right back option. In EPL, the likes of Sagna, Walker, Coleman, Clyne are currently not any better than Valencia. They still need to fight 50:50 chance for their place with Valencia as a right back. Only Bellerin is better. The likes of Zabaleta and Ivanovic who were considered to be the best right back in the league in recent seasons didn't have a good season at all last season.

 

[dichinero]

His poor positional discipline and tactical nous is a massive concern.

 

[11101]

Good to see you contributing. That handball is nothing but unlucky, and one might argue it's not even a penalty.

The penalty was just bad luck, but the first goal was as much down to him as it was down to Johnstone.

 

[krazyrobus]

Didn't like his positioning and didn't go forward at all.

At least didn't get raped by Dembele as Rojo did.

 

[prath92]

Saw only the first half but I thought he did well except the handball. He gave no chance to dembele and even once outran him

 

[Lawman]

The penalty was just bad luck, but the first goal was as much down to him as it was down to Johnstone.

Hard to blame him for the first goal

 

[11101]

Hard to blame him for the first goal

Not really. He lost his man on the follow-up from Johnstones parry. Johnstone made a right mess of it but the Dortmund player had all the time in the world to control it and choose his next move, Valencia should have been on him.

 

[devilish]

His poor positional discipline and tactical nous is a massive concern.

He's an athlete not a footballer. He's got the football intelligence of rojo, mcfail or a cucumber

 

[Footyislife]

First goal was just bad goalkeeping by Johnstone. If you watch it, Valencia actually nicks some of the ball saving us from a certain goal. Unfortunately it dropped to a Dortmund player with Bailly doing some sightseeing and Jones thinking he's De Gea.

Positioning and awareness is suspect, but he makes up for it with his strength and athleticism. His biggest knock is his crossing. His usual style where he runs to the byline to cross doesn't work well as a RB. Needs to learn to curl it around, but I doubt he ever will.

 

[Perrick Dubois]

Don't have anything against Valencia but I just don't understand the love affair with him at fullback. I'd take anyone that was mentioned above over him. Even those players that were bad last season. In my view he should be the absolute emergency last choice fullback. When your Donald Love's/El Fitouri's aren't ready to step up to the first team and none of your young defenders can deputize as a fullback.

 

[The United]

People complaining about his positional discipline is funny because Caf's fav RBs like Rafael and Varela etc were as bad as him if not worse.

And, there is no full back that does not get caught whether you are cafu or Valencia. It happens.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Still personally think he's a top 3 RB in the league. He's a scapegoat on here but I actually think he's been excellent for us there since his return. How anyone can think that's a penalty yesterday is beyond me, not even close. Matched their best atatcker yesterday in Dembele and kept him out the game in the first half however, positioning is still his weakness but he more than makes up for that with the other areas of his game. Looking forward to seeing him in the season.

 

[Lawman]

Not really. He lost his man on the follow-up from Johnstones parry. Johnstone made a right mess of it but the Dortmund player had all the time in the world to control it and choose his next move, Valencia should have been on him.

Very harsh

 

[Reggie74]

I was hoping with a change of manager we'd stop having Valencia at right back but no. It's not his fault he's being played out of position. A winger who became a makeshift right back seemingly on a permanent basis. Had he'd been played as a winger over the past few years we may have seen more attacking opportunities.

 

[prath92]

I was hoping with a change of manager we'd stop having Valencia at right back but no. It's not his fault he's being played out of position. A winger who became a makeshift right back seemingly on a permanent basis. Had he'd been played as a winger over the past few years we may have seen more attacking opportunities.

Don't you think that if 2 different managers play him as RB, then you actually maybe wrong and they may know something you don't?