Antonio Valencia... | Will wear #25 shirt from this point onwards by request

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Pogue Mahone said:
Not his best performance but did at least get to the by-line and get (admittedly poor) crosses into the box a few times. Something I don't think we managed once in the entire game before he came on. If we're going to play 442 it's absolutely crucial our wingers stretch play and look to get in behind the full-back.

One cross was decent enough, when he smashed it low and hard across the 6 yard box. The rest were all a bit meh and he hit one Bebe-style horror into row Z.
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His crossing has been shite since his return, that's the only criticism I could have of him though, been great overall.
 
Brilliant again but, today was another example of how he doesn't put in the ball early. Aaron should re-watch it. What he is good at is making sure we retain possession however, it would be nice if he did whip in an early ball once in a while.
 
JayWalker said:
Has the scholesy vibe about him, do your job on the pitch, shut up and go home. Rare to see, love it.
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well...

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I thought he was brilliant tonight, calmness, composure, great awareness of his team mates and a good finish to settle any nerves early.
 
Rooney just Tweeted saying Valencia is world class. What do you all reckon?
 
Weird. I thought he wasn't quite on it today. Am I the only one?

Didn't get the better of his man as often as he could and his passing/crossing was slightly off. Goal masked a not great performance IMO.

By no means bad. Just not great. A 6/10 display.
 
Set up a goal and scored a goal on a bad day? (And very much involved in the other two.) Sounds world class to me.
 
I am so, so glad that he came back when he did. Delighted for him and he's been so important to us since he returned.

He certainly doesn't look like he missed most of the season through a leg break. Beast of a player.
 
I get the impression Rooney appreciates Valencia more than he does most other players. Can't blame him after he kept landing the ball onto his head last season.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Weird. I thought he wasn't quite on it today. Am I the only one?

Didn't get the better of his man as often as he could and his passing/crossing was slightly off. Goal masked a not great performance IMO.

By no means bad. Just not great. A 6/10 display.
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For all the plaudits hernandez gets about his movement, Valencia doesnt get near enough. He made some excellent runs and dragged their defence all over the place. His energy was amazing tonight, I think there was a point where he ran back into his own half, picked up the ball from around 75 yards out and won our team a corner and didnt even break a sweat.. Very special athlete.

Youre doing him a massive injustice, a couple of wayward crosses aside. A goal, assist and generally causing the opposition to shit bricks is worth way more than just a 6/10.
 
Class player. Unbelievably quick to win the ball back after losing it, and getting back to help out defensively. Played some cracking passes tonight too. My only gripe is i think he's struggling currently getting crosses into the box. He's not doing particularly well on occassions at creating enough space to whip in a cross.

I think he'll be our key man against Barcelona
 
He gives a feck load to the team, work rate and defensive abilities as well as great pace on the counter, intelligence on the ball and an amazing attitude. World class is an arbitrary label that means next to nothing, he's United class and that's all there is to it! One of the first names on the team sheet for the final.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Weird. I thought he wasn't quite on it today. Am I the only one?

Didn't get the better of his man as often as he could and his passing/crossing was slightly off. Goal masked a not great performance IMO.

By no means bad. Just not great. A 6/10 display.
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I'm with you, thought he was good second half but many occasions where he was unable to deal with being doubled-up on. His favoured trick of shifting to the right and firing in a cross, just isn't going to cut it against a team like Barca and there were signs that Schalke had clocked it in the first half and dealt with him pretty well until the first goal. Needs to up his game even by his consistent standards, he's a vital player for this current United side. We need him at his best.
 
He'll get much more space against Barca, I think he'll tear then a new one given a chance.
 
Raees said:
I'm with you, thought he was good second half but many occasions where he was unable to deal with being doubled-up on. His favoured trick of shifting to the right and firing in a cross, just isn't going to cut it against a team like Barca and there were signs that Schalke had clocked it in the first half and dealt with him pretty well until the first goal. Needs to up his game even by his consistent standards, he's a vital player for this current United side. We need him at his best.
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I think he'll find it easier against Barca. They defend so high up the pitch there's much more space to exploit.

Be a bit tricky when we're not in possession, mind.
 
Dion said:
He'll get much more space against Barca, I think he'll tear then a new one given a chance.
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Pogue Mahone said:
I think he'll find it easier against Barca. They defend so high up the pitch there's much more space to exploit.

Be a bit tricky when we're not in possession, mind.
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Hope so, has it in him to tear Abidal a new one if Barca press too high.
 
MacMUFC said:
For all the plaudits hernandez gets about his movement, Valencia doesnt get near enough. He made some excellent runs and dragged their defence all over the place. His energy was amazing tonight, I think there was a point where he ran back into his own half, picked up the ball from around 75 yards out and won our team a corner and didnt even break a sweat.. Very special athlete.
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Definitely. His positioning and movement gives us a fantastic out-ball almost any time we need it. Anytime we're under pressure and we win the ball back, we just need to hold it for a few seconds and invariably Valencia has blazed up the wing and is in a perfect position to turn defence into a great attacking raid. It's the advantage of his predictability - our players know exactly where he'll be and can pick him out without even really looking. Rooney in particular did it constantly last season (can't say I've noticed it to the same extent this season, but then Valencia has missed most of it).

However, I'd also agree with Pogue that his passing and crossing was a little off in many instances in this game.
 
Anyone else watching "Valencia Returns" on MUTV?

Talking about the injury and his rehab. Comes across really well. Apparently was offered a holiday in Spain at one point but insisted on staying at Carrington and carrying on with the physiotherapy.
 
I will like to See SAF experiment with the Val in the middle of the park before we face Barca, maybe against Blackpool. We start the game with Rooney up top,
Park, Val, Nani
Giggs, Carrick
Evra Vidic, Rio Fabio/Rafael
VDS
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Anyone else watching "Valencia Returns" on MUTV?

Talking about the injury and his rehab. Comes across really well. Apparently was offered a holiday in Spain at one point but insisted on staying at Carrington and carrying on with the physiotherapy.
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I'd be disgusted if somebody had uploaded that and had a link for it.
 
Great determination, drive and genuine footballing ability. One of my favourite players, just gets the job done, no fuss.
 
I fecking love this player, my favourite player bar Giggs and Scholes.
 
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