Manchester United Banter Archive June 21 2014

21 Jun 2014 20:45:07
Last post before the off! Just read that Valencia has signed on for three more years. Where does he play for us next season? Decent squad player or as a wing back who rotates with Rafael? Personally see LVG playing 4-3-3 not the 5-3-2 that needs wing backs. Interesting debate never the less.

I think this can be generally regarded as good news. Valencia hasn't had the best couple seasons, but he's incredibly hard working, humble, and loves the club. Solid squad member and a good influence to have in the club. Here's to hoping Young and Nani are moved on with a new wide player brought in.

Valencia is a real trooper so I have no issue with him staying. But he should not be considered a starter, he's been poor lately and it would be disappointing to see wingers like Sanchez on the market while we resort to giving underperforming veterans another chance. If he stays as backup RW/RB, I'm cool with it.

21 Jun 2014 20:11:33
If he works as hard as players like Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes he will have endless potential. He needs to wotks as hard as he can and learn from players around him for the next few years.

21 Jun 2014 17:25:35
Rooney:
I think criticism of him for the World Cup has been harsh. In fairness, vs Uruguay, considering his two misses, he did everything right on the header, bad luck really, but the left footer from six yards he should have put away. I think his goal was an example of his greatest quality: his movement in the box to arrive at the right moment.

Rooney gives the ball away too often to be a center mid or even a #10, and RVP is a better #9. With Mata and Kagawa well suited to the #10, a 3-5-2 could be a good fit for Mata or Kagawa behind Rooney and RVP.

In the 4-3-3, he really is only most effective as a CF, but RVP should be first choice in that position. Much depends on who else arrives.

21 Jun 2014 11:46:26
Not sure whether or not to be happy over Valencia's new contract. Fantastic professional with good commitment, but hasn't looked up to par in the past 2 seasons. Hope he can pick up under van Gaal

I think you need to look at the whole picture. valencia will likely be a squad player next year but his pace and power may appeal To van gaal. Add to that he could be used in the 352 system if it is used instead of refael. All in, all it is a good signing for the squad, concentrate on others being let go.

One thing is sure it will be step or ship out there won't be much ground inbetween

The most one dimensional winger I've ever seen at a top club, terrible news

Young, Nani, Bellion, Obertan, Bebe - there's 5 recent/current off the top of my head that are in another dimension to Utd quality.

At least Valencia has pace, aggression and occasionally does the right thing. We need more from a first team regular, but I don't think he will be. He has gone a bit backwards but no more so than most of the team. I think he has the right attitude and love for the club we should be rewarding. He will do a good job for us and he will accept rotation better than most. He is a good squad player and I'm pleased he has signed.

He has pace to burn yet he couldn't skin a banana, his left foot might aswell not be there and his crossing is dreadful. he falls asleep and makes school boy defensive errors on a regularity but hey as long as he loves the club and he's committed like any pro footballer with any respect for themselves, club and manager should have then let's throw all that out the window and give him a contract.

I think there are others that need shipping out before Valencia. There cannot be too much upheaval or it will cause issues. We needed to keep a player like Valencia who is a good squad player and hopefully wave goodbye to Nani and Young.
If I remember rightly didn't Valencia dispense with his agent and trust the club on his previous deal?
As a team we lack pace and Valencia is one who has that, yes he needs to work on his delivery, a lot, but perhaps LvG feels he can do that.
Last summer Nani got a 5 year deal which was frankly barmy but hopefully the Valencia contract means the end of Nani and Young.

Stretford - in his defence last year was poor for almost everyone. I think half of them didn't know what they were meant to do and Moyes's tactics/instructions would confuse most players, especially a winger like Valencia.

I think we need to right it off as a messed up season. Valencia has been a good signing for us on the whole. If we are using his performances as the bench mark then we would lose 90% of the squad in one window.

Granted he is one dimensional and that goes back pre-Moyes, but in the right system he could be a very effective squad player. There are far worse players at our club.

Well Stretfordender if LVG thinks he isn't up to it he will be gone no matter his contract, who knows maybe LVG can work miracles

Pardoe, i'm pretty sure man utd havnt just give him a new contract without asking van gall first which is very concerning as the new boss obviously rates him, I can't see what miracles he can perform unless he can buy him a brand new left foot so he can use it occasionally coming inside rather than going down the outside or passing it back to rafeal. maybe he'll try and stop him from crossing balls in at knee height and behind everybody's runs but surely he has been told by sir alex and dithering dave about this or maybe its just a crossing technique that my tiny brain doesn't understand, haha. his best cross though for sure is that one were he approaches the 18 yard box on the right wing and he hits it across the floor at 100mph hoping to cause mayhem in the box, I've definaltey seen him set at least 2 goals up with that one from 300 attempts :-) I feel like i'm moaning now so i'm going to be quiet. if there's one thing I can say in a positive light about him is that there's at least half a dozen who should be shipped out before him. sorry antonio.

21 Jun 2014 11:14:06
I was hoping Valencia was on his way. He like Young are simply not good enough

Valencia is one of our few loyal member of our squad. We need hardworking unselfish players like him in our squad . He even sacked his agent to get rid of negative thoughts.

He will give us sufficient cover on the wings and van gaal would be happy with valencia as he is very disciplined and hard working individual.

Valencia will always remain a good squad player. I would get rid of Nani and Young before I would part with Valencia. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play a Janmeet role. If we had three at the back, then Rafael/Valencia and Shaw/Evra would be perfect IMO.

21 Jun 2014 12:15:47
Valencia is one-footed for sure but has been a good if not outstanding player for us and can cover RB too. And that's important when Rafael is first choice lol.

Do you watch the same player. He is absolutely shocking and a winger getting in our starting 11 on defensive capabilities shouldn't happen at any top club never mind one with a tradition of attacking football coming through the wings.

Exactly as a good wing back option he is ideal. Another one that could flourish under LVG, not effective enough for the wing, but could be awesome as a wing back.

Defensively he is not good enough and offensively shocking and can't measure a cross.

Shahram, he doesn't need to be great when you have three CBs.

GCU,

Valencia was player of the season a few years back, was he not?

21 Jun 2014 18:09:30
Yes he was Sam, but that won't stop the fickle lynch mob. The same idiots that were spraying their shorts over him a couple of seasons ago are trying to drive him out of the club now.

Sam

Kaka won the balon do'r too so what is your point. You seem to live in the past mate.

He can't cross and is the poorest crosser of the ball out of all our wingers.

Syd

He goes to sleep when defending and 2 of our losses last year was when he played right back and completely failed to pick up the runner behind him.

21 Jun 2014 18:49:18
It doesn't matter what you lot think of Valencia! Obviously LVG likes what he sees or he wouldn't of approved of a new contract. Two seasons ago before his broken leg he was a top winger having loads of assists. I'm confident that he will rediscover that form! Please sell young, Nani ASAP!

I agree Shahram, I would never play him RB with two CBs, but I would play him as a wingback with 3xCBs.

With creative CM's and a bit more movement he will play much better. He just lacks options at the minute due to only having one forward in the box and a static midfield.

The point is, GCU, is that your writing the guy off - prematurely - without a reasonable argument to back it up.

If he was 33, you might have a point. The guy is still in his prime. He might be excellent under LVG.

21 Jun 2014 09:30:48
Looking at the squad we currently have, there are too few top class players.
RVP, DDG, Rooney, Mata are probably the only ones who are established.
Add to that the undoubted potential of Januzaj.
The rest have all been found wanting last season, either through injury, lack of proper management, they are/were past their prime, or just that they are not good enough.
It must be hoped that a number of the younger players step up this season with a more inspirational manager, but there are no guarantees. The middle of the park was neglected by Sir Alex due to the fact that he could rely on Paul Scholes and Giggsy for so long.
It will need substantial reinforcements to mount a serious challenge or the title.
Having said that, a fit and firing RVP makes a big difference, you only need to see the impact of Suarez on Uruguay, or Liverpool come to that.
Let us hope that as soon as the world cup is out of the way, we see some movement, otherwise top 4 will be a distant memory.

Agree 100%, GB. Outside the four you mentioned and the potential of Januzaj as you said, the rest are touch and go whether they even deserve to still be here or not. I do still have high hopes for Rafael & Jones mind you, but both went backwards under Moyes so we just have to hope LvG can get better out of them to fulfill their potenial. We have a lot of squad players, which is fine if you have 8/9 of your starting XI nailed on as your best, but we have four, five at a push. That's why we need minimum four new signings who will improve the starting XI, not the squad. This would hopefully bring out the best in those squad players to improve and fight for a place. If not they shouldn't be here. Ideal scenario for me would be Hummels, Shaw, Vidal & Sanchez coming in.

GB62 - The scary thing for me is that two of those you mention do not seem to fit a LVG system. I trouble to see Rooney & Mata being first choice if LVG is focussed on the system rather than the player as people suggest. So that leaves us with a keeper and then a striker that is very injury prone as our top class talent. Worrying.