One period of bad form does not make a bad or ineffective player.

Valencia should be given time to see if he gain regain his form and then, next season, if he is still playing poorly, let him continue his career elsewhere.

I remember hearing the same about Scholes, some 6-7 years ago (after his eye problem).... He came back and lit the league up.

Valencia can get his form back.... and as for the people wanting Cleverley shipped on after one bad showing

I've begun to lose hope for Valencia unfortunately, not because of his form - by all accounts form comes and goes with every player, he just needs a bit of time.

But I just don't think he fits into the way we're going any more, he's too rigid in his play, we need players like Welbeck, Rooney, Nani and Kagawa who are all fairly fluid.

I wouldn't be adverse to having him on the bench as a Plan B, but doubt he'd be happy with that considering what he's achieved with us.

I don't think I've seen anyone saying we should move Cleverley on, most think he's nothing more than a squad player, with time on his side.

Valencia is starting to grind my gears though. Every time he stops dead with the ball and does them fake step overs, I just want to slap him. He's a few poor performances from being taken off my "Favourite Player(s)" box in my profile.

What happened to Suarez from that box Maestro?! When did he get removed?

He and Valencia didn't get on...for some reason.

Very good article. Look at Giggs. In October people were saying that Gary Neville was the example and Giggs should stop embarrassing himself and retire. Now he's our best winger!

valencia isnt a utd player for me, and thats because he is too one dimensional.

people might not agree but thats my opinion.

nani is being sacrificed on the left too often to accomodate valencia when he is a superior winger.

what we need are wingers who can interchange during the game, and valencia will never be able to do this.

I have always said Valencia is too one dimensional for a club like ours, on form he is a good player, nothing more. With the likes of RVP, Welbs, Clevs, Kagawa, Rooney, I just don't see where he fits in, his style is not needed.

As for his form, to have not had a single game he has played well in a whole season isn't good enough for a club like ours, plain and simple. He looks like a deer in headlights, it's not even like his bad form means he is average, he literally offers nothing, absolutely nothing.

Baldersdash!! (sorry just wanted to that word) I agree to a certain extent that, not so much United, but the modern game demands a certain amount of fluidity to your attacking players but if Tony gets back to form - there's nothing to suggest that this isn't just a shocking dip in form - then he can still be a big player for us. I don't think I've seen a winger tear Ashley Cole to peices like I have Valencia

None of United's current wingers are or will be good enough to command a first team spot at United in my opinion.

Young, Nani and Valencia all suffer from inconsistency. Young and Nani unplayable on their day but their days are few and far between. Valencia did have the consistency over the past few seasons but this season has been awful.

However, I'd like to point out that many rave over Nani above Valencia but in essence, he is no more effective than Valencia, in particular this season.

Of our 7 losses, Valencia has started in 1 of them. Nani has started in 4 of them. Bearing in mind Valencia has played twice the amount of games, this is a worrying statistic and probably a reason why SAF persists with Valencia. Valencia relinquishes the ball less often than Nani statistically (although after yesterday no doubt Toni's stats will have dropped significantly as he was practically playing for Chelsea with his assists).

Many rave over Nani as the OP states. Yes he has his moments but ask yourself why he has featured only a little this season? Many state that Nani is as effective on either wing. So why is it when Toni V is selected on the right, Nani is not picked on the left over the likes of Cleverley, Wellbeck, Kagawa and Rooney, none of which are classed as wingers?

Toni V is harshly treated because of his lack of technical ability. He's a one trick pony effectively but he does beat his man a lot more often than Nani. His delivery isn't always great but the same goes for Nani. We've persevered with Nani for how many seasons now? He's had one decent season when Rooney was forced to play up front. Valencia has had a bad half season in 3 and people want rid!

He's not eye catching, he's not particularly skillful. But he is better defensively and ultimately a more reliable choice. We've won all but 2 games in which Valencia has started this season with record goal tallies. I know Valencia hasn't contributed much to this in terms of assists and goals but he's made an effort for the team.

But I still think that our wing options just aren't good enough for a team who traditionally like to play out wide!

The excuses are up for Tony V.

Have you witnessed a more dire wing performance than Tony V's yesterday?

I dare you to find one.

I have to say, I've wanted tony out since he arrived, I can't workout what his left leg is for, he certainly can't kick a football with it.

posted 34 minutes ago
I have to say, I've wanted tony out since he arrived, I can't workout what his left leg is for, he certainly can't kick a football with it.

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He looks like he's hopping on one leg sometimes

So what about Nani? Do you want him to stay?

Sorry OP don't agree there. Yes as a supporter I am going to support any player who pulls on our shirt and will want them to do well. However a club like ours has to be ruthless in expecting players to be serious about their own development. Even if Valencia finds some form he will always be a limited footballer with no Plan B. He has shown no visible improvement in developing other aspects of his game where he lacks. If SAF thought like you then we will never be selling any players and continue to hope they somehow find their 'form' even if there is 2000 minutes of solid evidence against it just from this season. Even last season he was just about okay.

Even last season he was just about okay.

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Mate, Valencia was excellent last season. He won our player of the year award!

But he has played terribly this season. It's a bit soon to write him off permanently though.

But he has played terribly this season. It's a bit soon to write him off permanently though.
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When we talk of players being out of form it normally does not mean that they are terrible every single time. With Valencia somehow you feel that it is not just form. If you are good footballer you go out there and try to learn from the experience. With Valencia each game is like trying to watch the repeat over and over again. It doesn't feel like he is trying hard to improve his game, it just feels like he steps on the pitch and keeps doing the same things which do not work any more.

Wicked

Yeah, I see where you're coming from but there must be more to it than that. Players rarely just 'lose it'.

He deserves a summer break and to sort it out before we write him off completely.

comment by Rob Balenaldo (U9808)
posted 25 seconds ago
Wicked

Yeah, I see where you're coming from but there must be more to it than that. Players rarely just 'lose it'.

He deserves a summer break and to sort it out before we write him off completely
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I hope so. However I also hope that we keep it as a back-up option and not plan to rely on him if it doesn't work out. With Young falling down the pecking order and Nani's future being uncertain I think we will need to add some threat in the wing department apart from Zaha. Even if we don't sell anyone, we should probably plan for Valencia/Young/Zaha to be squad players and Nani and someone else to be the main threat. However ideally we should be selling one out of of Young and Valencia to make it less crowded with Giggs being there as an option as well.

Valencia needs a serious injury. He'll come back a machine again.

Nani, like Valencia and Young (and Zaha when he arrives) should be treated as no more than backup wingers for United.

United should be looking at a better class of first choice winger in my opinion.

Valencia needs a serious injury. He'll come back a machine again.

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From the looks of these boards recently there is a queue forming to give him one

(serious injury that is)

We all know what you really meant Rob...

With Rooney, RVP, Ronaldo, Nani and Kagawa will we need wingers next season?