Re-integrating Valencia as a winger

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
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Oct 22, 2012
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Think this may have to become an option at some stage this season. Our wingers/wide options at present are:

Memphis
Young
Mata

After that I'm struggling. Perhaps Martial will play there for us. But we are equally light at centre-forward, so need him there anyway. Pereira perhaps? It isn't his natural position, and may encounter similar problems as Mata out there.

Given Memphis is a young player who shouldn't really play 60 games for us, and that we have no reserve team wingers who are close, and injuries will inevitably occur - surely we need to consider re-integrating Valencia?

Personally, weighing up pros and cons, I'm not entirely against seeing him there for a couple of games now, even with our squad at full health, in place of Mata. I'd like to see what we can do with genuine pace out on the right as well as the left. I'm no fan of his, but watching slow build up with Mata there is painful at times.
 
Pros:
Defenders ankles will be sore after the game

Cons:
Everything else
 
Martial should definitely be included in that list. He seems to enjoy coming in off the left like Depay.

And Periera could be an option based on his pre season performances.
 
Mata is the least of our problems but I'd probably give Lingard a genuine chance on the right wing than turn-back Tony. The fact that Van Gaal used him early last season and did not send him out on loan so far makes me believe he has Lingard in his plans.
 
i dont think it's too far fetched to assume martial could learn that RW position and getting tried there this season atleast
 
Martial, Lingard if he doesn't get loaned, not that I want to lambast Valencia but Jesus please no.
 
I'm sure it's in our plans. Probably why we didn't sign Muller, Bale or Neymar.
 
I think we should try other roles at the club first. I propose he have trials in the security sector.
 
As cover for injuries and the odd cup game I don't really see an issue but he has to show a lot more than he has in the last three seasons to be considered a genuine option week in week out.

Don't really see the point of giving him time there when we have younger players who would find the playing time much more beneficial (Lingard, Pereira even Wilson) and we need someone who can contribute goals from that area with the way we are set up at the minute. Valencia, even in his halcyon days, was never about goals.
 
He's a dreadful winger these days. I'd rather have nobody on the wing than see him attempt to cross a ball again.
 
He cant dribble anymore and he cant hit the cross to save his life. Defensive winger with defensive fullback on the right side and we would play even worse then we are playing now.....
 
Think this may have to become an option at some stage this season. Our wingers/wide options at present are:

Memphis
Young
Mata

After that I'm struggling. Perhaps Martial will play there for us. But we are equally light at centre-forward, so need him there anyway. Pereira perhaps? It isn't his natural position, and may encounter similar problems as Mata out there.

Given Memphis is a young player who shouldn't really play 60 games for us, and that we have no reserve team wingers who are close, and injuries will inevitably occur - surely we need to consider re-integrating Valencia?

Personally, weighing up pros and cons, I'm not entirely against seeing him there for a couple of games now, even with our squad at full health, in place of Mata. I'd like to see what we can do with genuine pace out on the right as well as the left. I'm no fan of his, but watching slow build up with Mata there is painful at times.

He was actually a decent option on the wing with Rafael at fullback, even after his fall from grace. They complemented each other very well.

Not sure he'd be as good a fit with Darmian, not until the latter shows a bit more going forwards anyway.
 
He cant dribble anymore and he cant hit the cross to save his life. Defensive winger with defensive fullback on the right side and we would play even worse then we are playing now.....

He can dribble, infact that's his only saving grace. Even Carrick commented on how he'd carry the ball 20 yards up the pitch to give the midfield some breathing room.
 
I'd like to see him on the left someday. Would be a marvelous sight, I imagine.
 
Not really no, but then I'd take anyone over Mata right now. Who needs to be infield. Maybe Martial can operate wide right with his pace and then we can move Mata behind Rooney, balance would be much better.
 
He can dribble, infact that's his only saving grace. Even Carrick commented on how he'd carry the ball 20 yards up the pitch to give the midfield some breathing room.
He can run in a straight line with the ball under control, once he hits an obstacle he puts the handbrake on and plays it 3 yards sideways, that isn't dribbling.
 
I still cannot even begin to understand why we let Januzaj go while having three players capable of playing wide.
 
I'd rather play a 4-3-2 formation and be a right winger down than play Valencia as a winger
 
He can dribble, infact that's his only saving grace. Even Carrick commented on how he'd carry the ball 20 yards up the pitch to give the midfield some breathing room.

yes, he can dribble as a fullback.....there is a big difference between carrying the ball from defence to the final third as a fullback and going past a defender 1v1 in a final third.
 
I still cannot even begin to understand why we let Januzaj go while having three players capable of playing wide.

Especially to a side where he will play as much as he would have here if we are lucky.
 
Personally, I'd rather Martial was not predominantly a right winger. We need him through the centre in my opinion. Rooney is done and it is conceivable that we would need Martial to take the lead next season as center-forward, when hopefully Rooney fulfils a lifelong ambition to play for LA Galaxy. He should be developed as a striker.
 
Is there RW better than Mata?

It isn't just about that. Januzaj can play on t either side as well as through the middle. They have Reus, Kagawa and Mikhitaryan as 1st choice with Hoffman as backup. Unless januzaj trumps Hoffman straightaway, he won't even be the 1st back up as he's simply a loaned. No real incentive for them to develop him unlike here.