Luis Nani | 2010/11 Performances

[Ole'sbodyguard]

Yeah, the FINAL. He was always going to start the final based on the fact that that exact lineup had worked against Chelsea and a very shit Schalke team. But he started to play ahead of Nani in the games because he's better defensively and our midfield wasn't the strongest (though I'm sure people will come along and argue that of course).





You asked for big games Pogue. We played our best players in that against massive rivals in a derby. Always looking for a way out.

I'd disagree, he was in better from than Nani in the sense that he was offering more as a consistent attacking threat as well in the closing weeks of the season, although the balance he gave the side and the excellence of the team performances in those games merited the start and where certainly strong reasons for his inclusion. Like I said, the battering he gave Cole was formidable and for me the best wing performance of last season by any United player.

You can make the argument for Park being for solely tactical reasons and his record in big games but Valencia was offering consistently good performances in all avenues of wingplay in the closing weeks of the season and IMO better than what Nani was doing, which is understandable considering Nani had an injury and had played most of the first two thirds of the season.

 

[Cina]

A "way out"? Eh?

Happy to agree to disagree but I'm amazed anyone can think Valencia didn't get got the nod over Nani in key games during the closing weeks of the season on the basis of their respective form. It was just so obvious. Like I said, though, some people get so defensive where Nani is concerned they lose the ability to think logically. Strange.

I meant in terms of you saying it wasn't a 'big game' because it's the FA Cup. It was a huge game seeing as it lead to City winning their first trophy in yonks.

But yeah, agree to disagree, though I'm not being defensive about Nani at all. I agreed that Valencia deserved to play in the final ahead of him because that team was working so well.

But then looking back you can always say that that team wasn't really tested that much, Schalke are rubbish and really they were playing a Chelsea team in turmoil who had been crap for a few months. And then he was actually better than Valencia when he came on in the final.

But hey, "looking back" doesn't really help either.

 

[Hectic]

I wouldn't have started Nani over Valencia, but I would have had Nani over Park, as we still needed more going forward, rather than just trying to contain their attack.

He did, we looked a much better side with Nani on, but when he came on, our mentality was different, and we were looking to attack and at least try something rather than containment. I think it would have been a similar affair had it been the other way around.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I'd disagree, he was in better from than Nani in the sense that he was offering more as a consistent attacking threat as well in the closing weeks of the season, although the balance he gave the side and the excellence of the team performances in those games merited the start and where certainly strong reasons for his inclusion. Like I said, the battering he gave Cole was formidable and for me the best wing performance of last season by any United player.

You can make the argument for Park being for solely tactical reasons and his record in big games but Valencia was offering consistently good performances in all avenues of wingplay in the closing weeks of the season and IMO better than what Nani was doing, which is understandable considering Nani had an injury and had played most of the first two thirds of the season.

Yeah, I would agree with that.

Park is a bit of a CL specialist and seems to invariably get the nod for games like those because of his work-rate and tactical astuteness. Not sure his selection was based purely on form.

 

[Hectic]

There's all sorts of reasons for a dip in form and, yes, the injury would certainly be an obvious cause. What I'm a bit bemused about is the way it's now being claimed that the dip in form didn't exist, or that Valencia wasn't being picked ahead of him on merit. Very strange bit of revisionism.

That I completely agree with. There was certainly a dip in form. Whether it was down to Nani himself, or a result of the injury, we won't know, but to deny it is completely ridiculous. Valencia was always going to start given his form was unreal, he would offer both discipline in attack and defence. I can see an argument for Nani over Park, which is what I wanted, but at that time we needed Valencia, regardless of how the game turned out, he was one of our best players going into it. I was more hopefull of Nani maybe starting and finding some form, or just realizing the occasion and performing better, but I could understand playing Park with his discipline, workrate and experience.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I wouldn't have started Nani over Valencia, but I would have had Nani over Park, as we still needed more going forward, rather than just trying to contain their attack.

He did, we looked a much better side with Nani on, but when he came on, our mentality was different, and we were looking to attack and at least try something rather than containment. I think it would have been a similar affair had it been the other way around.

Would have been a nice statement of intent to go with Nani and Valencia but we would have got mullered in midfield without Park tucking in and helping out. Or should I say more mullered in midfield.

feck it anyway, can we not forget about that damn game? It's water under the bridge. We need to stop obsessing about Barcelona. We'll play them at the very most twice next season and most likely not at all.

 

[Cina]

I'd disagree, he was in better from than Nani in the sense that he was offering more as a consistent attacking threat as well in the closing weeks of the season, although the balance he gave the side and the excellence of the team performances in those games merited the start and where certainly strong reasons for his inclusion. Like I said, the battering he gave Cole was formidable and for me the best wing performance of last season by any United player.

You can make the argument for Park being for solely tactical reasons and his record in big games but Valencia was offering consistently good performances in all avenues of wingplay in the closing weeks of the season and IMO better than what Nani was doing, which is understandable considering Nani had an injury and had played most of the first two thirds of the season.

Ah now, Nani was unreal in the game against City earlier in the season for one so I would hardly agree with that. I agree with you on Park of course.

All I'm saying here is that Valencia was originally picked to play ahead of Nani in that team because he is defensively better than him, which was needed. Carrick was at times very good and Giggsy is 37. Valencia then ended up having a great match against Cole and obviously with the way that team performed there was no way it should've been changed from then on.

 

[Godfather]

I think we should have started Nani for the final, but Valencia had been excellent in the build up to that match, he was a starter for sure. Do you not remember how ridiculously good he came back as, and that we were all a bit surprised by how consistent and on point he was, after such a lengthy spell out?

He surely was in better form than Nani, no doubt but in his last match before the final against Blackburn he looked a bit knackered as far as I remember.
No doubt the right decision to start him though.

 

[Hectic]

Would have been a nice statement of intent to go with Nani and Valencia but we would have got mullered in midfield without Park tucking in and helping out. Or should I say more mullered in midfield.

feck it anyway, can we not forget about that damn game? It's water under the bridge. We need to stop obsessing about Barcelona. We'll play them at the very most twice next season and most likely not at all.

Yep, I agree, it's easy to say we should have loaded the wings, but we were already being battered in midfield, this might have given us more strength going forward, but what would it have done to us on the counter?

Me too, I'm glad that damn matchday thread is finally off the homepage too.

 

[Cina]

Would have been a nice statement of intent to go with Nani and Valencia but we would have got mullered in midfield without Park tucking in and helping out. Or should I say more mullered in midfield.

feck it anyway, can we not forget about that damn game? It's water under the bridge. We need to stop obsessing about Barcelona. We'll play them at the very most twice next season and most likely not at all.

Well this I agree on.

I've said before in this thread that it's not fair to either player to compare them with each other because they are very different from each other in a way and offer unique things. Everyone will have their preference for one or the other for whatever reason and that won't change despite all the rambling between the 2 of them.

Back on topic then, I do believe Nani is the best winger in the PL and I can't imagine many coming in who'd change that for a while yet. Including that little Chilean fellow.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Tell you what, though, now we've got Young in the mix I've a feeling team selection on the wings will be a popular topic of conversation for quite a while yet!

 

[Hectic]

And a controversial one too. It's going to be great though, should see some extra fitness and extended form from both of them.

 

[Cina]

Tell you what, though, now we've got Young in the mix I've a feeling team selection on the wings will be a popular topic of conversation for quite a while yet!

I'm going to go out there and say he'll be played through the middle more than on the wing.

I also think it's hilarious that we have arguably the 3 best wingers in the PL and teams like Chelsea and Pool are absolutely crying out for some.