We've looked most of the whole season, and today, we finally found our man. Well done Liam Ridgewell for giving Tony his confidence back.
Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request
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What had prevented him from doing what he did today in many previous matches ? His confidence will hopefully be back next season because he can be devastating even if his game is generally predictable.
The difference today was he didn't hesitate, and his crosses were not lofted but drilled hard and low. 3 goals created by those low hard crosses, should to that much more often IMO.
The floated ones to the back post just do not suit out attack.
The floated ones to the back post just do not suit out attack.
He was really good today, much more direct and actually looked faster somehow. Encouraging to see that he is still capable of such performances and gives hope for next season that he can get back to his best.
I really felt the pain in his crosses today. He'd clearly got frustrated with himself and decided that if he cant pick someone out, he best just blast it into a dangerous area and it worked out multiple times today
ya that was a positive today, he played really well. why the feck he couldnt do it all season is a mystery, considering how he finished last season a triple award winner. i cant figure it out,it was one of the most unexpected drops in form ive seen in a united player and basically lasted a full season
Pressure?
It's amazing really. His assist for the own goal was something he had done time and time again last season, a quick little move down the line then smashing it in, low and hard. feck knows why he couldn't do that the entire season, because it's not necessarily a difficult thing to do, he's just better at it then most people.
Today he was being allowed more space whereas all season he wasn't really getting any and having to dig out crosses which consequently were much worse. When he's getting the space to cross on the edge of the area then he'll deliver great crosses for fun. The space we got at times down the wings was incredible - Buttner made about a 40 yard run to take the most obvious assist from Cleverley.
There was one instance today though where he actually accelerated away from the left back instead of shying away and passing it back which he's been doing for the majority of the season.
There was one instance today though where he actually accelerated away from the left back instead of shying away and passing it back which he's been doing for the majority of the season.
He was just completely different yesterday. So much less anxious in his play.
Garrincha Mk. II
His floated crossing doesn't have the finesse of Beckham's or Figo's; or even Nani's. So, he copied Garrincha's low and hard cross, and that should be his niche. Both style is as effective as each other.
His floated crossing doesn't have the finesse of Beckham's or Figo's; or even Nani's. So, he copied Garrincha's low and hard cross, and that should be his niche. Both style is as effective as each other.
So basically, we have to play him right back to get "space" so that he smash the ball low and hard into dangerous areas instead of trying normal crosses and overhitting them?
Guys! Guys! He has just had a bad season. It happened to almost every one once in their careers.
the bad injury to his ankle wasn't helping things.
If Rafael isn't so good, I wouldn't mind Valencia as permanent RB. I forgot the last game he was as RB, but he put in a really decent performance.
And that low and hard crosses work well at United, because most of the time when we attack, we have many bodies in the box, and also our attacking unit is getting shorter and shorter (Kagawa, Nani, Cleverley, Young). If Fellaini is joining us though, that will be a different story.
Just scored against ze Germans.
Just scored for Ecuador against Germany on the stroke of half-time. Half-time result 4-1 for Germany (Podolski & Bender twice).
Miss-hit cross?
Good goal, he seems to score quite a bit for his country
What the hell was he doing in the middle there? Good goal though.
Same with Welbeck.
The mental pressures of playing for Ecuador and playing for Manchester United are not exactly the same... would explain why he scores some really good goals for his home nation yet can barely cross a ball for ourselves these days.
If you consider one goal in his last twelve games as ''quite a bit'', then yes.
He was moved into the centre of midfield after around 25 minutes.
I'd be intrigued to watch Valencia play in midfield. How can a CM operate when they absolutely refuse to use their left foot?!
You operate on a pivot until you're facing the right way to use your right foot. Or do what Robben does and use the outside of your left foot as a substitute.
Anderson refuses to use his right foot, to be fair.
Anderson refuses to use either of his feet to be fair, unless he's in pursuit of a pie.
Does it also explain why he still can run as a mother***** for his national team yet look like Stewart Downing for United?
"I'm the fastest sprinter on the pitch - oh no, wait, I'm playing for United now, so obviously I'm nervous - must slow down(ing)"
Scholes manages.
out of ideas for that oneHe plays a lot more of a central role for Ecuador.
Really? How odd, I'm guessing they really lack that much quality that he's the best they can get centrally? Wow.
I think he would be the most uninspiring CM in the world!!
Hes played there for Ecuador a few times. I remember him playing against Brazil and doing v well.
Fergie said he could play there as well a few years ago. Strange I know....
I remember that too, but I do recall it being more as an AM than a proper CM. As an AM he would probably do quite OK due to his pace, strength and decent short passing. He also has a fairly decent shot when he is in the mood (with the right foot, mind you).
I don't want to sell him as I think a proper pre-season can do wonders for him. He still has the pace (several clips prove that) and he is as strong as ever. He looks a bit hesitant to take on his man and then stops full-stop, which makes it difficult to speed past your opponent - Lennon is probably the only one really capable of that, but he reaches top speed after two inches.
Did they win or draw the match? cant recall the result....
Anyone wanting to sell him is mental imo.
The funny thing about Valencia is that his limitations as a footballer have much more to do with his one-footedness than what he can actually do with that foot. If his left boot could do the things his right boot could do, he'd be an absolutely incredible, versatile footballer.
With his right foot, he's got a superb cross, as we know. He's also a very accurate short and long passer along the ground. He can pass beautifully with the outside of his boot. He's got flicks and tricks in his locker. That flick pass with the outside of his foot over his full-back to an overlapping Rafael, which he seems to do at least once in every game, is completely impossible to defend, and shows a real deftness of touch. He's got a very good first touch. He can volley a cross, which not many wingers in the world can do accurately. And although we rarely see it because he plays so wide, he has a very consistent piledriver shot on him.
It's such a shame that he's so one-footed. He'd actually be a completely different sort of player, otherwise.
EDIT: This is all based on him in form, obviously, not the shambles we got for most of this season.
With his right foot, he's got a superb cross, as we know. He's also a very accurate short and long passer along the ground. He can pass beautifully with the outside of his boot. He's got flicks and tricks in his locker. That flick pass with the outside of his foot over his full-back to an overlapping Rafael, which he seems to do at least once in every game, is completely impossible to defend, and shows a real deftness of touch. He's got a very good first touch. He can volley a cross, which not many wingers in the world can do accurately. And although we rarely see it because he plays so wide, he has a very consistent piledriver shot on him.
It's such a shame that he's so one-footed. He'd actually be a completely different sort of player, otherwise.
EDIT: This is all based on him in form, obviously, not the shambles we got for most of this season.
That's a very good post, sir!
The only thing I would add is that he isn't the most agile player either. The best attacking players tend to be more agile than what you see in Valencia; think of Giggs, Ronaldo (not as much), Nani, Messi (!), even RVP and they have a great ability to sneak through the opposition defences - Valencia just runs through them.
It reminds me of a comparison of the Willy's Jeep and the Hummer - with the Willy's Jeep you drove between the trees; with the Hummer you drove through the trees.
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