I would be concerned by Montero going at him one one on, especially with Gomis potentially staying away from Smalling and near Blind for crosses.
Why, just because he knows him? Darmian's a proper full-back, the better player, and has been superb all season for us.
Because he can match his speed. Could give a feck if he 'knows him'. Montero won't be able to leave him all day long. If we can nullify that threat, Swanse have little else.
Being able to match his pace won't let Valencia stop him. The best way to do that is to actually be an excellent fullback, which is what Darmian is. Whereas Valencia is a liability there who, while he made a brave effort filling in last season, also lost us matches (Arsenal being the obvious example). And he was really poor in the fifteen minutes he got against Newcastle, rating lower than anyone bar Rooney in the caf's match day thread.
That is mental, we finally get a real right back who is pretty quick, but not rapid, and you want to put Valencia back there after Darmians been arguably in out top 3 players so far...
I genuinely, genuinely do not get people on the caf. I offered a specific rationale behind my thinking of playing Valencia instead for one game, yet you have now paraphrased it into a BS tabloid sensationalist headline that implies that I have woken up one day and randomly decided that I don't want Darmian, and that Valencia should be our right-back instead.
Being able to keep up with him will go a long way. Even if Darmian is not out of position, which I doubt he will be - chances are, Montero will skip round him, and then run away from him - as he's done to every right back he's come up against thus far. It is not a case of Pedro-like movement causing terror - he statistically beats his man 75% of the time I believe in a straight one-on-one.
If you really need me to explain it to you, that's more worrying. Which part of my reply did you miss? I stated why Darmian should be played, and stated that the reason you wanted Valencia (due to the bit of speed difference between the 2), it's heavily outweighed by Darmians ability to, you know, be a full back?
I can see what you're saying, but I still totally disagree. Any slight advantage Valencia's better pace gives him is massively outweighed by him just being a much worse defender.
Very good point about Mata, which would probably be an option to consider. I just think it's worth looking at, as much as I'd also like us to impose our own game, simply because I don't think Swansea have much else to hurt us with. Smalling will east Gomis alive, and Shneiderlein can handle the Shelvey threat I think.
Montero does not play for Madrid.What on Earth? So you'd start Valencia if we play Madrid?!
He's definitely their major threat, no doubt about that. Stifling him is definitely priority number one, defensively.
Was about to post this team exactly, with Carrick coming on for Basti after 60 minutes.
Very well observed
Fellaini?
Fellaini and Hernandez were both on the bench against Brugge (and have been in our other games too.)
This is definitely the starting line-up I'm hoping for, it's a great mix.
Juan Mata
Chris Smalling
Matteo Darmian
Ander Herrera
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Sergio Romero
Morgan Schneiderlin
Wayne Rooney
Ashley Young
Memphis Depay
Martin Atkinson
replaced by Ashley Young
replaced by Marouane Fellaini
replaced by Michael Carrick
