Firstly I am a big fan of Nani and I think he is one of the best players we have, if not the best in the squad.
I have consatntly argued that nani's inconsistencies are more about him being injured at times or basically team dynamics. Usually a result of him doing to much as there is very little options around him
I based this on watching a lot of his games for portugal and so far in this tournament I have seen him make Lahm look like a child, sweinsteiger bounced off him as if he was 7 stone 2 and his passing and crosses (including corners) have been very good. In fact he looks like their beat player and ronaldo looks like his under study so far
Basically (and this is where I know I will get grief) Nani needs to have some one like ronaldo who is a constant up front, someone he knows will be there and as evidenced in his displays, he can pass to first time.
Rooneys current role often means the likes of nani (and young) are further forward and have to wait for him to catch up, resulting in doing too much or delaying adn hence being called 'frustrating'
or its a clone, LOL
thoughts?
Nani
posted on 15/6/12
I think you might find it has more to do with the fact that Valencia can't play LW and not that he offers more.
As for Giggs, he swapped for years with Beckham and Ronaldo, and yes it might have been a greater benefit tothem rather than giggs, but the point remains the same, Valencia couldn't swap even if he wanted to, he is more limited and that's the whole point. Nani can use both feet, and can play both sides, valencia for all his good points can only use one foot and can't play LH side and for me for a guy we paid £17m for that's poor, to be fair for anybody at a top club it would be poor, players should be able to play two footed
posted on 15/6/12
I think you might find it has more to do with the fact that Valencia can't play LW and not that he offers more.
As for Giggs, he swapped for years with Beckham and Ronaldo, and yes it might have been a greater benefit tothem rather than giggs, but the point remains the same, Valencia couldn't swap even if he wanted to, he is more limited and that's the whole point. Nani can use both feet, and can play both sides, valencia for all his good points can only use one foot and can't play LH side and for me for a guy we paid £17m for that's poor, to be fair for anybody at a top club it would be poor, players should be able to play two footed
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Valencia provides more going back than nani and doesnt have these rushes of blood to the head where he shoots from a silly angles. He works harder for the team and is more disciplined which fergie prefers. If Nani has a bad game he is nowhere to be seen and usually ends up rolling about or crying about something. Has Nani the ability to do something special? Yes but does valencia do things more consistently? Yes
Some players just don't play on the other side of the pitch which is natural to them. Why?it takes away from their game. Many top players can only use one foot. Evra or Cole couldn't play on both sides of the pitch doesn't make them poor.
posted on 15/6/12
Does anyone think the Valencia/Nani debate is similar to the Beckham/Figo debate? One had decent deliver and was very consistent and worked hard for the team, but was also very one dimensional and could only really play on one side of the pitch. The other maybe not as consistent or hardworking but a far more talented player, and capable of world class things.
On both occasions most would rather have the magician.
posted on 15/6/12
Does anyone think the Valencia/Nani debate is similar to the Beckham/Figo debate? One had decent deliver and was very consistent and worked hard for the team, but was also very one dimensional and could only really play on one side of the pitch. The other maybe not as consistent or hardworking but a far more talented player, and capable of world class things.
On both occasions most would rather have the magician.
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to a lesser standard IMO. Beckham had the freekick and set piece ability at united which neither Valencia or Nani have or ever will have.
I think Fergie prefers hard workers in the team myself rather than some one who is capable of magic but could go missing the next game.
I really do think we are in a great position with wingers no matter who people think is better and who should play where. I think fergie will rotate the three of them through-out the season and select who he feels is right for each game and opposing players.
posted on 15/6/12
I did mean it to a lesser extent as both Beckham and Figo were both we're vastly superior to Valencia and Figo, but you get the comparison?
I agree we are in a good position. And I agree that Fergie does often prefer hard workers, something I feel has been part of the reason for our failure over the years in Europe.
I guess it's just a matter of taste. I would prefer to see Nani starting most games from the right with Valencia acting as back up and coming on as sub when he's inneffective. Some would prefer the reverse. Obviously rotation is inevitable.
posted on 15/6/12
yes i get what you mean for sure.
Yes, we have failed in Europe perhaps one of the reasons why.
I prefer Valencia, Nani frustrates me because he he can be greedy with the ball and shot instead of passing to a playing in a better position. Also his rolling around annoy's me.
posted on 15/6/12
Nani is one of the few technicians in our squad and it will be a shame if he is sold.
However, he can be very frustrating but i think when he is played the right way, he is arguably our top player.
Rooney frustrates me more, season after season, yet he doesnt get half the criticism Nani gets.
Is it because of his goals?
posted on 15/6/12
Agree with TRC. Plus I still think we are to see the best of Nani.
I raised a point about Torres and Carroll that could be applied to Nani also.
Torres set very high standards for himself due to the ability and consistency that he had shown at Liverpool and now he's not reaching those heights people are saying he's been poor. He hasn't been poor, he's just not reached he same heights, and his performances should be judged independent of his previous form.
With Carroll, his form was terrible, and now he started performing better people are saying he's playing very good, when in reality he's only playing good by his very low standards, not the standards of a top footballer.
And then there's Nani. The ability he possesses is incredible, and he shows glimpses of being an absolute world beater. But when he's not playing to his best, people think he's having a bad game, when even if he's having a fairly mediocre game by his standards, he's still much better than most players on the pitch. His ability is actually a detriment to him as the fans get on his back as so muh is expected. Whereas Valencia will have a pretty average game by high standards, but decent by his own, and people don't get on his back because he's showing consistency.
posted on 15/6/12
the problem i would have with this is showing glimpses of being world class at nearly 26? Will it ever be consistent?
posted on 15/6/12
It's hard to say. But the OP raises good points about his consistency. Plus, not every player has peaked at 25.
I also feel that Messi and Ronaldo have set a new level of consistency, that players thg are consistent might not appear so in comparison to them.
Before last season, Nani showed a good level of consinstency in comparison to a lot of players around the world. Silva, Ribery, Robben et al., do not play to their best every game, and from what I can gather Nani was playing at a similar level of consistency to those players (although cannot say for sure as haven't seen enough of them all).