The only ‘positive’ in this Valencia tragedy
The Ecuadorian winger has become one of United’s more important players in just one season following his move from Wigan as his emergence on the right opened a whole new avenue in Wayne Rooney’s game. We saw the striker become an aerial threat, add to this Valencia’s defensive capabilities (not important you say? Look how isolated and vulnerable Neville looked on Saturday at Goodison Park without his protection) and it is easy to see why he is deemed a must out wide. Not since the days of David Beckham have we possessed such a threat in terms of crossing but with Valencia dislocating and fracturing his ankle last night we are clearly at a loss.
But in all of this there is a slight positive if you want to look at it like that.
It is widely believed that we are in possession of two of the most lethal wingers in the league, Valencia being one and Nani being the other. Since returning to the first team at the turn of the year Nani has been in the kind of form that makes him undroppable as well as unplayable and whilst he is a threat coming down the left and it is the side he prefers as I found out when given the opportunity to ask (Chudi Scrumptious as in ‘Truly Scrumptious’ the song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, been a name I’ve had for years, don’t judge me haha!)
many United fans think he does the most damage on the right, the wing occupied by Valencia.
Nani’s crossing and play in general has improved immensely since the first chapter in his United career and thinking of it, a lot of his best play has come from the right (assists for Rooney against Hull, goal against Arsenal etc) so Valencia’s absence has really opened the door for him. Add to this, there will be a free space for Giggs as well as the emerging talent that is Obertan on the left.
The young French man looked good in pre-season having added a bit of weight to his frame and had he not picked up a knock on the US tour there is a chance that he would find himself involved with the first team a lot more than he was last season. Park as an out and out winger doesn’t fill me with confidence but there is also the wild card, Bebe as he looked much better out wide then he did centrally for Portugal.
It’s never a good thing to see a player injured especially not a United player and with the type of injury he picked up it is even worse but trying to draw a positive I can see a macabre one in Nani assuming the role of our right winger.