Age and competition happened.
We don't need two 30+ RBs in the squad. And he's now 3rd, maybe even 4th choice behind Damian..
We don't need two 30+ RBs in the squad. And he's now 3rd, maybe even 4th choice behind Damian..
What's happened to Antonio Valencia?
- Thread starter AkaAkuma
- Start date
People who're saying he's been gash for 5 years when he was one of the best right backs in the world a couple of years ago.
Should be allowed the opportunity to get back into shape and leave on his own terms, even if he's used sparingly as a squad player.
He is simply done at this level. His last game against Newcastle was utterly pathetic.
That ankle break really did a number on him. Surprised he's gone this long to be honest.
Yes I agree he has been a great player for us over the years. That's why he was rewarded with captaincy. His time is up though like what happens to everyone.People have such short memories! Excellent servant of the club - never did you question his commitment and effort.
Please watch the Newcastle match again. To call him a 'Very, very good player' is deluded. That player from a few years ago is long gone.
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What's happened to him? He's been found out. One of the worst offensive fullbacks I've ever seen. The amount of times he'd receive a cross field ball from Rooney, have acres of space to get a cross in, but instead he'd stand the defender up and either 1. Pass backwards to Ander Herrera or 2. Knock it a yard to the right and smash it off the defenders shins.
I could not believe he won players POTY a few years back, while he was solid defensively, I genuinely feel with someone like Dalot in those sides with that much space and we score at least 5 more goals a season, if not more. Thank god he might be going.
I could not believe he won players POTY a few years back, while he was solid defensively, I genuinely feel with someone like Dalot in those sides with that much space and we score at least 5 more goals a season, if not more. Thank god he might be going.
That's really not many people in this thread.
Ole decided to use Rashford as your main striker and put Lukaku on the bench to benefit our play and he's been proved right there. Should he then pick Valencia out of sentiment ahead of Young and Dalot? I would state that right back is one of the positions we need to strengthen. Valencia is about to turn 34 years old and he is just done, simple as that.
Off to Juventus to play another 3 years of Champions League winning football perhaps?
Never really rated him here. I actually really like the idea of wingers becoming defenders, but he seemed to lose all attacking threat almost immediately. He's been a predictable dead weight for years...
Right idea letting him go.
Never really rated him here. I actually really like the idea of wingers becoming defenders, but he seemed to lose all attacking threat almost immediately. He's been a predictable dead weight for years...
Right idea letting him go.
Prior to that he was relegated from winger to fb because he was becoming shit there.
Ps i said he had been in decline not that he was always crap
forgot all about him anyway in the recent enthusiasm. Great servant but sums up our mediocre years
Age and injuries.
Jose still upset over that tweet he liked.
The Newcastle game was the worst I've ever seen him play. He deserves a few more chances at least as he was coming back after some time and has been well and truly Mourinhoe'd (lost all will to attack). It it's the same after a few games, we can let him go.
Throwback to the day when he finally missed the defenders ankle and fell victim to the dreaded Lukaku first touch.
What a warrior this guy has been for us, I know it ended up meaning nothing in the end, but that goal he scored against Blackburn for us was some hit, my main Valencia memory. His time is definitely up though, maybe it's about time we let him go so he can help relegate Newcastle.
Letting players stay at the club well into their 30s, invites situations like this. It is a physically demanding sport and eventually the body simply can't perform the number of sprints, the amount of distance required; in which case, either the team has to adapt to carry the older individual, or he doesn't play. Last season Valencia averaged about 9 km per 90 mins (the same as a central defender) but the team managed to cope, to some extent, largely by abandoning the idea of attacking down the right. This season, that same distance is considered unacceptable, as we've tried to play our full-backs higher up the pitch.
I struggle to believe that the club are prepared to let both Valencia and Darmian leave in the next few days, unless TFM is returning.
I struggle to believe that the club are prepared to let both Valencia and Darmian leave in the next few days, unless TFM is returning.
Valencia has been poor for the last 2 seasons now. His time has come to go.
His woeful performance in the FA Cup final last season summed up his downfall. The typical get in great position and then pass backwards or hit a rubbish cross.
Great servant but was time to move on in the summer at least.
Also no idea why he was ever club captain.
Great servant but was time to move on in the summer at least.
Also no idea why he was ever club captain.
Father Time ravages every professional athlete at some point. Antonio served the club well and he deserves the customary commendations (testimonial, etc.) but the club cannot be sentimental about its players. Move on, end of.
All good things come to an end and after being a great Club servant his time with us is over.Let's move onwards and upwards!
I never rated him as a defender sorry.
As a winger he lost his pace, and being a knock it past and run winger we should have got rid of him then, his game was done. The position went to better players. Then in an injury crisis, we stick a Square peg in a round hole. Eventually Got captain as he’s one of our longest serving players that’s all. He did an ok job out of position like young and then for some bizarre reason those two stop gaps became our first choice players in the fullback positions for several seasons and people seem to start to think they are class players.
Forget that he’s been a good servant to the club and that he did alright out of position, you can’t even start to compare him to any top right back out there, simply not good enough.
It’s obvious that the Fans licking his scrotum are the same sort of fans that the bbc said have accepted we are a b list club. Where do the people who still sing the laudits of people like him and young and jones come from? Do they watch games or are they just playing fifa and then commenting on here or something?
As a winger he lost his pace, and being a knock it past and run winger we should have got rid of him then, his game was done. The position went to better players. Then in an injury crisis, we stick a Square peg in a round hole. Eventually Got captain as he’s one of our longest serving players that’s all. He did an ok job out of position like young and then for some bizarre reason those two stop gaps became our first choice players in the fullback positions for several seasons and people seem to start to think they are class players.
Forget that he’s been a good servant to the club and that he did alright out of position, you can’t even start to compare him to any top right back out there, simply not good enough.
It’s obvious that the Fans licking his scrotum are the same sort of fans that the bbc said have accepted we are a b list club. Where do the people who still sing the laudits of people like him and young and jones come from? Do they watch games or are they just playing fifa and then commenting on here or something?
What do you mean "situations like this?" There's absolutely nothing wrong with having experienced players in the squad on the proviso they still have the quality to compete. Once they can't, they're moved on. There really is a terrible stigma surrounding players 30 and over about this place. As long as we have transitional plans in place - which we don't, and that's the real issue - there's no issue having a couple of 30 odds in the squad.
Agreed. The number itself is never the issue, it's how they look and play at that age. Rooney being a prime example. Hes young but he's basically a man and a worldbeater. Then hes 29 and had already declined from his best. You can't even say it was just "he started young" because Giggs started at 17 and went way longer.
I got no issue with a player being 30+ if they are still doing what they are being paid to do. Valencia isn't and hasn't for a little while. We should never have entered this season with him as our #1 RB.
Age finally caught up with him. He’s been carrying our right hand side almost single handedly for years, largely based on his physical dominance. I have absolutely no issue with his sudden drop in performance levels, reminds me of G Neville.
I hope he moves on without a fuss and gets the recognition he deserves as an excellent servant to the club that played a hand in a lot of our most recent success.
I hope he moves on without a fuss and gets the recognition he deserves as an excellent servant to the club that played a hand in a lot of our most recent success.
Age catches us all.
His best season came after the ankle break.
Great servant to the club. Hope he gets a testimonial at some point
Was never a great player, he has an excellemt 18 months in 2010/11. That's not good enough in 9 years. Was an adequate stand in defender, who should never have been first choice. His continued presence is as a result of an unfocused transfer stragegy and multiple managers. He should never have been made captain, he's the worst captain in my lifetime, and potentially ever.
Failed winger, who has been stealing a living (like many others the last few years) for far too long. Should have got rid a long time ago, hopefully it will be soon.
Failed winger, who has been stealing a living (like many others the last few years) for far too long. Should have got rid a long time ago, hopefully it will be soon.
When has he ever shown he lost his pace? Plus he’s been a RB for 4-5 seasons now? So did he lose his pace 4-5 years ago.
I don’t get where this B list crap is coming from, he’s been a consistent performer for year. RW and RB.
Not this again
Been a great servant and could be relied upon to put in consistently average performances week in and week out and now that doesn’t seem to be the case, if he goes wish him all the best and thank him for that service.
I’ll always remember that cross on the volley against Bayern for that Rooney header.
There's a thread moaning about us not being ruthless enough, now we're doing that Ole is a disgrace. What are we supposed to do with him?
Sorry my mistake, you’re right, he’s rapid. Fastest player in the squad. In fact don’t even know if there’s a faster player in the world now bolt hasn’t got into football.
He’s been consistently mediocre/crap. That’s b list. Don’t even remember the last time he played on the wing for us don’t know what you’ve been watching mate.
Watch the tape from the game against Newcastle the other week. Might enlighten you on your misplaced opinions
Or, you know. The lack of a left leg.
He was unfortunate to be associated the Glazers' downsizing programme, we sold Ronaldo the best player in the world and replaced him with Valencia the best player at Wigan. A good pro over the years, it's hardly his fault that the club didn't invest properly and he kept getting games as a result of no better alternatives.
Good to see the club finally starting to move dead wood on. Anyone who has seen every game this season will testify that Valencia was awful. Not only has his pace gone, but his positional play in those matches was dreadful. Thank you Antonio you have been a good player over the years, but it is time for you to move on. Here's hoping the club can swiftly get rid of Darmian, Rojo, Jones and Young as well.
Say it as it is
He had been a good servant of the club. Fans loved him. Just like Rooney. But its time to move on.
Great servant for the club, shame his legs are going but the engine that once was his main asset is now ready for retirement.
Could see him moving to China or the MLS.
Could see him moving to China or the MLS.
I’m confused...is there any story or quote from the club about Tony?