Neville salutes Valencia show

Stuart Mathieson in Moscow

October 22, 2009

TECHNIQUE: Antonio Valencia slams home the winner

ANTONIO Valencia put himself in the frame for a big role in United's Premier League crunch at Liverpool with a superb late winner in Moscow.

The winger's strike leaves the Reds sitting pretty at the top of Champions League Group B with a 100 per cent record of nine points.

And his performance as United saw off CSKA Moscow 1-0 on the artificial surface of the Luzhniki Stadium earned a rave review from skipper Gary Neville.

"We couldn't ask for more - nine points from three games is great," said Neville.

"It was a good professional performance.

"Nani and Fabio in the first half did well and then Antonio Valencia caused them problems after the break.

"He is strong and quick and an old fashioned winger who puts crosses in and is a constant threat to defenders.

"We controlled the tempo of the match and we were the only team trying to win it in the last 20 minutes.

"They seemed content with the draw. But we sent Michael Owen on to make it two up front to try to win it. I was a bit concerned after training on the pitch but it ended up being okay."

Do you think Valencia is proving his worth at United? Have your say.

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Red in Ice, Iceland (22/10/2009 at 09:43)

Who said Valencia wasn´t good enough for Utd? Cracking display.

Scholesy passed me the ball..., England (22/10/2009 at 10:04)

Glad to see Valencia finding his feet and the back of the net. Although looks like we've got another one who looks utterly p***ed off when he scores.

danny, WILMSLOW (22/10/2009 at 10:17)

He is getting better but Kiko should have been up front!Berbatov like to be central to the play not up front alone hoping eventually we can get him the ball.

johnnygerman, WSU (22/10/2009 at 10:18)

He - and Fabio - still need to learn how to look up and cross a ball.

Steve Elliott (22/10/2009 at 10:18)

Valencia looks like a quality player once he settles in im sure he will do a great job (people need to stop comparing him to ronaldo) That interchange of passing leading upto when he hit the bar was class, Looking good so far this season P13 W11 D1 L1

Hopefully we can raise are game against liver because as bad as they are playing thye will raise there game against I think its vital we beat them and that will be that in terms of there title hopes i think.....

Steve the red

Bunny Westmore (22/10/2009 at 10:28)

Any player that has recently signed for Utd, or will sign in future, will have the "Ronaldo stigma" attached to him. At least for the next 2-3 years until reds realise he truly was a 'one off'. Better to have loved and lost...Valencia, i feel sure, will grow in confidence as the season passes us by.

Ronaldo is not the benchmark Utd fans should be working to. The reality is the premier league has become a much more open affair with the 'big four' (A condescending term in my view now, as it was in the recent past) about to fade away...

As far back as i can remember, Utd fans have always been galvanised by a little bit of pain. (Largest season attendance of all four english divisions when playing in the old second division?)

The reality is is we cannot win a trophy every year. However the reality is also that we can attract players who want to play for Utd based on past history and current success.

The Red Flag remains flying high

Drago 34 (22/10/2009 at 10:34)

On the first half display i would have given Valencia a 5/10 but in the second half i thought he was 7/10.Really like Valencia.Think he will end up being a top, top player for us.

P.S Not been to a reserve match for a while but fancy going tonight to watch Gabby Obertan.Can you still pay at the gate and how much is it now? Cheers.

Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (22/10/2009 at 11:17)

Danny Dichio .......he should be upfront!! lol.

Where do you base your judgement that Kiko should be playing all the time? ...SaF doesn't !

I think you've been rumbled by the person who said that you only always want the players in who aren't ! .... OUTED !!

Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (22/10/2009 at 11:18)

dunno.....season tickets holders...it's free

F.Thys, Belgium (22/10/2009 at 11:21)

Can anyone learn him to celebrate a goal ?

mick the red fireman, middleton (22/10/2009 at 11:21)

Good solid performance from all the players, Vidic and the twin had maybe a couple of hairy moments but no player is perfect. Valencia needs a bit more coaching re when to cross the ball and where to put it, remember he had two defenders marking him all the time as did Nani so well done. Does everyone realise Valencia broke a record and equaled another last night ? he has scored more goals in The Champions League than The Massives and equaled their goals tally in Champs League ( European Cup )one goal so well done again.

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (22/10/2009 at 11:48)

At the mo, I don't think he'll ever take our breath away, but he's good, and gonna get better. Simple and effective, like a good winger should be. They can't all be Giggsys or Ronaldos . . .All in all a good addition to the squad/team. I think he's already been accepted by the jury, whilst they are still debating on Nani.

Gilly, Belgium (22/10/2009 at 12:29)

Valencia played well as did young Fabio !

mark jones (22/10/2009 at 14:29)

red in ice iceland- you lot did you plank

Grant - Hemel Hempstead (22/10/2009 at 14:41)

danny, WILMSLOW
22/10/2009 at 10:17

I have my doubts that Kiko will make it to be honest. There is something missing in him. I don't know if it is lack of mobility and pace or what, but I think the goal against Villa, has almost clouded a realistic view on the boy - at this stage. Josh King looks a far superior player, with touch, pace, power and finishing.

Roger, Ontario, Ontario (22/10/2009 at 15:54)

How can you make it if you don't get to play? Its a bit like winning a lottery without winning a ticket. I was really hoping Michael Owen would explode on the scene but I don't think he has it, and some of these lads (Macheda and King) probably do. Desperately waiting for them to get a chance and also Gabby Obertan.

Victoria Smith (22/10/2009 at 15:56)

can he please smile just a little when he scores

Red Army (22/10/2009 at 17:41)

He is getting better and growing in confidence each game. Now for Sunday lets take the mickeys to the cleaners.

David Owen (22/10/2009 at 23:25)

The only problem I have with Valencia is that he seems to have no left foot. He is constantly trying to take the ball to the line and cross with his right foot...nothing wrong with that when he pulls it off, but it makes him a little too one-dimensional. All that defenders have to do is force him inside and he will inevitably pass back...that stinger of a shot that came off the crossbar just before he scored was hit with his right foot from the left-hand corner of the penalty area...surely a left footed effort would have found the back of the net?

He's the opposite of Jesper Blomqvuist who would play on the left but with no left foot....always having to cut inside instead of taking the ball down the left wing and getting a cross in.

And, on the subject of him, or anyone being called the "next Ronaldo"...how many years did Ryan Giggs have the millstone of the "next George Best" around his neck?...Ronaldo will be forgotten about within two seasons, but there will only ever be on Bestie.

Alias Smith, over the moon (23/10/2009 at 10:13)

David Owen, you are right about Valencia's left foot but then Giggsy's right foot has never been for much else than standing on and it hasn't stopped him being one of the greatest players in the modern game. Not suggesting that Valencia will emulate Giggs (he won't) but I don't think being one-footed is a problem for a winger.

Duncan, London (23/10/2009 at 15:04)

Alias forget Giggs, even Scholes is as right footed as they come. In fact Nani to me is the most two footed player we have.

Horace Hughes, Salford (25/10/2009 at 21:51)

Him and Nani played well last night

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