Feb 20
Antonio Valencia and the curse of the number 7 shirt
When Antonio Valencia skipped past the Blackburn defence before unleashing a venomous shot that found its way past Paul Robinson, he looked to have given United a crucial edge in the title race. On that Monday night last April, he had also confirmed what many people had witnessed over the previous months – the Ecuadorian had developed into the best right winger in the Premier League, a menacing force ready to tear opponents to shreds.
After missing almost all of the 2010-11 season with a severe injury, Valencia’s return last season proved to be the brightest note of United’s campaign as the Ecuadorian finally developed into what the fans had hoped to see since he signed from Wigan in the summer of 2009, a traditional out-and-out winger whose electrifying pace and physical strength would make him an incredibly tough customer to deal with.
Such was Valencia’s form last season that, after the departure of Michael Owen, the unanimous verdict was that the former Wigan player had earned the right to don the famous number 7 shirt. Not as magnetic as Bryan Robson, not talented as Cantona or George Best, not as box-office as Beckham and Ronaldo perhaps, but Antonio Valencia, we all thought, could definitely continue the shirt’s tradition.
Unfortunately, the Ecuadorian has so far been one of the few disappointments of what is shaping up to be a potentially excellent season for United. An harsh judgment perhaps, but one that stems from what we had become accustomed to expect from him.
In his first season at United Valencia produced seven goals and 13 assists in 49 games in all competitions, while last season he scored six goals, assisting 16 in the process, over 38 games in all competitions, a very substantial return considering that Ashley Young and Nani’s form at the beginning of the season had seen Valencia confined on the bench.
This year, in contrast, Valencia’s numbers have dipped dramatically to six assists and no goal in 26 games in all competitions and, despite Ashley Young’s injuries and Nani’s petulance leading the Portuguese to spend large chunks of the season on the sidelines, Valencia has often found himself on the bench.
Speak with anybody that has watched United this season, and they’ll all say the same thing. Valencia’s game, once so direct and effortless has been plagued by a tendency to over-think and over-complicate the easiest of decisions. Where last year’s Valencia would take on his marker before delivering a cross, this year’s vintage stops, passes the ball back or sideways and seems generally bereft of confidence.
Pinpointing the reason behind this involution is a complex process, with many factors contributing to Valencia’s below-par season. The arrival of Shinji Kagawa meant that United employed a diamond-shaped midfield earlier in the season, a system that saw Valencia overlooked in favour of more traditional midfielders, while the hype that surround the number 7 shirt at Old Trafford is seemingly proving to be a mental burden for the Ecuadorian.
With Wilfried Zaha arriving in the summer, many had ear-marked Nani as the man destined to pack his bags to make room for the Crystal Palace youngster, but the Portuguese’s performance on Monday night was the one of a man that takes the pitch knowing that his very future is at stake, something Valencia hasn’t done this season.
While Nani’s approach isn’t exactly commendable and his petulance has by and large annoyed many at Old Trafford, his ability to provide moments of brilliance can’t be overlooked, a weapon Valencia does not possess in his arsenal for he bases his game on consistency rather than the odd flash of brilliance.
Ashley Young, often criticised by sections of United supporters, is also likely to find himself fighting for his spot once Zaha lands at Old Trafford but, compared to Valencia, the former Villa man has enjoyed a marginally better season, for his has performed rather well in big games this season, notably against Chelsea and Manchester City.
With 12 league games left, plus at least a FA Cup quarter final and the return leg against Real Madrid, Antonio Valencia has just over two months to wind back the clock to reach the heights of that Monday night in April last year and to secure his place at Old Trafford come August.
Dan (@MUFC_dan87)
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Tags: Opinion Piece
The_Philosopher (403)
Redrich (220)
Opti (207)
Moscow (147)
Stephen (147)
we need kevin strootman@utd from PSV….a central defender,and if possible JAMES RODRIGUEZ OR ANGEL DI-MARIA…and Sir’s priority as well.
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I think it’s more like the curse of the player awards that United give out at the end of the year. Three seasons back, Rooney won the award after he had scored 27 goals in the league but United had failed to win the title. Next season his form dropped and he even wanted to leave the club.
Next season Chicharito and Nani won the player awards and last season was below par for both of them. Last season, Valencia won both end of year awards and now we are seeing a drop in his performance this season. If we have to go with a conspiracy theory then the awards seem to carry a curse.
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Giggs will probably stop playing footbal. Even if he doesn’t he is not going to be more than a role model for the younger players. He is not going to play in the next season.
So, we have Young, Zaha, Valencia, Nani. Kagawa is either placed on the wings or up front, in the hole. So he competes for one position either on the wings or up front.
Forwards : Rooney, Danny, Chicha, RvP
Wingers : Nani, Zaha, Valencia, Young
In the other hand our central midfielders are :
Carrick, Cleverley, Ando, Fletcer, Powell, Scholes
Forget Scholes and Powell. We do need a MASSIVE box to box midfielder. Phil Jones is a good stopper in the midfield but he has no idea what to do with the ball on his feet.
We do need better wingers, but we certainly need a better substitute for Evra and a fucking classic box-to-box midfielder.
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As for the reason why so many players get worse… it’s the English Premier League, the league where Torres can’t compete game after game and the league where Essien and Rooney can get seriously damaged.
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Full Backs are being taught not to let him inside! Simply as that.
If you force him to the edges he doesn’t have quick enough feet to put in a decent cross. His threat is cutting inside and making a bee-line for the six yard box.
Valencia needs to address the fact that he is becoming one dimensional and that pace alone is easily defended against.
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@Redrich: put him in central attacking midfield as part of 4-2-3-1 then? He can go inside at will…
——blah——
——blah——
- Anderson-Carrick-
Rooney-Valencia-RvP
—- Chicharito —–
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@Opti: Not a bad idea, although what do we do with our problem child, Kagawa, who is filling that role now??
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@Redrich: Kagawa looks like he’s gonna have to fit in where-ever he can.
In some games he’ll play central mid. In others on the left or right flank.
His best position in my opinion is no.10 (behind the striker)
RVP and Rooney seem to be a recognized partnership.
I would love to see Chicharito and Kagawa build up an understanding.
In all the cup games or bottom of the table league games that Ferguson choses to rest RVP he should experiment with a Chicha/Kagawa strike partnership.
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Valencia is a good player. He is a hard worker. But he lacks natural talent.
Take away his pace and his hustle and he’s pretty ordinary.
Except thats exactly what has gone this season. His pace and his hustle.
Our current crop of wingers (Giggs, Nani, Young, Valencia) isn’t good enough.
If it were up to me. I would cut Young and Valencia and replace them with James Rodriguez (naturally left footed left winger) and Wilfred Zaha ( a versitile and TALENTED right winger/all-purpose attacker)
Nani stays because he is just awesome. And Giggs seems to be more useful than not on the left wing.
Giggs is aged so he needs a replacement. A left footed left winger.
Ashley Young had a couple good games yes. But he isn’t naturally able to beat his man on the regular. Plus he is a right footed left winger. I have always found that to be so awkward.
Even Nani who is almost ambidextrous prefers playing down the right flank.
Ashley young is a no.10 in my books. But we have an over surply of no.10′s at the moment with Rooney and Kagawa in constant contention. So I would sell Young.
Young can cross however, and he has a good shot on him as well. But my opinion of him has turned more negative because of his diving and his limited arsenal.
Valencia I would try find him a place at right back or in central midfield. If he shows the necessary apptitude for any of those positions then I would keep him. Otherwise out with him too.
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Valencia leaving because he is having a normal season after he’s been one of the best in 3 consecutives years. I think Di Maria sucks, he is intermitent, he cant play against big teams, he has only one leg. James Rodriguez? come on, are you sure you want those mediocres colombians.I’ve seen many united players having great performances and in the next season they dissapear, they dont even play.
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