Well people who have been calling for Nani's head after some patchy form have seen pretty much all Valencia does today. Don't get me wrong I want him on the team and like him a lot but his game is just way too 1 dimensional. Especially if we are going to shift away from our counter attacking game towards more possession based football.
Its simple!!!He gets the ball, goes on the outside and crosses!!!!!That's it really!!!He apparently had 14 crosses today. Pretty much all of them easily headed out by the defense of over/under hit thereby leading to loss of possession and putting pressure on the defense. Let the record show that if Nani put in 14 crosses without any leading to a real chance, he would be absolutely crucified. Yet some how i still see ppl giving valencia's performance an 8!!!!!!Gotta love the double standards eh!!!!!!
Valencia crossed regardless of if:
-anyone was in the box
-the striker was a good position
-There were better position waiting at the edge of the box
-Had space to take his man 1v1 and shoot
He has nothing else to his game. No ability to cut in with the weaker foot and shoot.No ability to cut in and attempt a 1 2 with the striker. No ability to beat his man by going on the inside. Looks extremely uncomfy anywhere on the pitch other than the right wing.
Again I still want him on the team but anyone who honestly thinks he is our best Winger is incredibly deluded. If anything I would fear for our team the day our best RW is as 1 dimensional as he is.Nani when fit should be the 1st winger on the team sheet!!!Simple and short!!!Preferably try playing him on the RW too (his favorite position).
As said earlier we are trying to move towards a more possession based game. Need wingers who are comfy enough on the ball in all areas of the pitch in the final 3rd.No more aimless crossing leading to loss of possession and bringing more pressure on the defense.
On another note, I am extremely worried about our CM.A lot of ppl been saying how Ando and Cleverly are the future.Sorry to say but if dembele isn't good enough for us then you might as well clear out our whole CM as he certainly looked by far the best CM on the pitch. We were constantly cut open and against a stronger team, i feel we would have paid the price.
Valencia and other taughts
posted on 25/8/12
Nani's crossing against Everton: 0/8
posted on 25/8/12
C'mon guys, this is getting pathetic.
We all know that Nani and Valencia do divide the fan's views, always have and always will.
We just have to accept that both provide different things to the team and there will be plenty of matches for both to prove their quality.
Just like Rooney and RVP.
There will be some games when SAF chooses just 1 of them and some where he chooses both.
We all do agree that SAF knows best. Right?
posted on 25/8/12
The big difference I can see with Valencia's crossing compared to Nani or Young is that he rarely looks like he is actually aiming for anyone in particular, his cross is more about putting the ball in with pace into a dangerous area.
Of course there's nothing wrong with that and it will often result in an assist, but I always feel that with Nani or Young they can deliver with pace if they want but they also have the ability to lift their head up and look for a pin point cross if that's the better option.
It's IMO another reason why Nani has more to his game, but like others have said his crossing at Everton was dreadful but then so was everyone's that game.
Anyone else notice Valencia made 2 crosses with his left foot!!! I've never even seen him make 1 before for us.
posted on 25/8/12
I dont know why fans get so tetchy when their arguments are poked at.
Nowhere have i stated Valencia is not a 'vital' cog in our machine. Nor have i insisted Nani start above him (though that argument holds more water).
I merely forensically examined Valencia's game as was a theme of this thread.
No matter how you slice it, Valencia is a wasteful player. Yet, no one mentions this or you see acolytes impressing upon you with onanistic fervour flimpsy arguments to justify his 'wastefulness'.
posted on 25/8/12
Nani's crossing against Everton: 0/8
========================================================================================
True!!!!But at least he tried to do other things like take on his man and play some neat one twos in inside. he did not keep aimless crossing the ball. He had a game then which I can accept. He is one of the best wingers in the world when on form. Started well last season then started picking up silly injuries which hampered his form. I am confidently he will be back to his best this season.
The problem with Valencia is a performance like today is the best you are ever going to get from him.Aimless cross after aimless cross. He quite simply has nothing else to his game.
====================================================================================
A cross is more like a shot than a pass. It is more likely to be unsuccessful than successful. But Valencia's unsuccessful crosses are often cleared back to our midfield or put behind for a corner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Am sorry this is more rubbish to defend valencia. There is no difference between a killer through ball and a cross. Both are passes and done to create a goal scoring opportunity. You only play the through ball. when the striker is in perfect position to get to the ball before the defense. Crossing should not be any different.
If Valencia looked up more, he would know half the time he crosses, there is no one there to attack the ball. Not to talk of the countless times he over hits/under hits the cross. He just crosses the ball regardless of circumstances. He has to learn to do other things with the ball when the crossing option is not there
posted on 25/8/12
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 36 seconds ago
The big difference I can see with Valencia's crossing compared to Nani or Young is that he rarely looks like he is actually aiming for anyone in particular, his cross is more about putting the ball in with pace into a dangerous area.
Of course there's nothing wrong with that and it will often result in an assist, but I always feel that with Nani or Young they can deliver with pace if they want but they also have the ability to lift their head up and look for a pin point cross if that's the better option.
It's IMO another reason why Nani has more to his game, but like others have said his crossing at Everton was dreadful but then so was everyone's that game.
Anyone else notice Valencia made 2 crosses with his left foot!!! I've never even seen him make 1 before for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I guess u missed 3-4 quality outside of the foot passes to Rafael/RVP/Kagawa and crosses/passes near the edge of the box.
He is trying to develop his game more.
Additionally, he looses posession a lot less than Nani, is almost impossible to shoulder off the ball.
Rafael's forward runs today were possible only bcos of Valencia and his tracking back and defending.
Nani, on his day is our best player bar none.
His technical attributes are among the best.
But Valencia too has his qualitiea and in my opinion, both complement each other well.
I would always like to see Nani on left and Valencia on right and Young on bench.
posted on 25/8/12
Valencia creates a lot of his crossing opportunities himself. He often drives the ball out of defence to get to the byline. He is nearly always on the touchline waiting to receive a pass in a crossing position when we are attacking.
Kagawa and van Persie are still learning the way he plays, which is to get crosses in.
Last season, not only were Welbeck and Rooney eager to get on the end of his crosses, but Valencia knew where he was with them and often played 1-2s with Rooney or came inside and had a shot.
It's a case of him, Kagawa and Valencia knowing where they are with each other.
For the record, the 'wasteful' Valencia created 3 chances today. Nani created none on Monday.
posted on 25/8/12
Of course he is trying to develop but like you said Nani is technically better and thus able to provide more options when delivering to the forwards.
I personally just don't like seeing Nani on the left, he may score more from the left but I feel his overall game is far more limited.
I guess it'll just be a case of playing whoever will likely be more effective for each match, I think against the best full backs Nani will always have a better chance because his game is so much more varied but that of course all depends if he bothers to show up.
posted on 25/8/12
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
Of course he is trying to develop but like you said Nani is technically better and thus able to provide more options when delivering to the forwards.
I personally just don't like seeing Nani on the left, he may score more from the left but I feel his overall game is far more limited.
I guess it'll just be a case of playing whoever will likely be more effective for each match, I think against the best full backs Nani will always have a better chance because his game is so much more varied but that of course all depends if he bothers to show up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
U just answered ur own concern.
We never know which Nani is gonna turn up.
So its always better to diversify the risk and play atleast 1 super consistent winger on one side and play Nani on the other side.
It has always worked for us and will in future too.
posted on 25/8/12
Valencia was a monster for the first two games after he came back from his injury, that's the Tony i miss. Power on the ball and beating his man time and time again with great crosses on to Rooneys head. He's lost something at the mo!