Has the real Antonio Valencia finally stood up?

Valencia's goal in Russia proved to be the winner

Considering Wigan is in Greater Manchester, Antonio Valencia’s journey from the DW Stadium down the M62 to Old Trafford should not have taken as long as it did. But with Wigan chairman Dave Whelan unwilling to play ball, the deal was dragged out amidst talks of counter bids from Real Madrid.

Ferguson had been trying to sign the Ecuadorian winger since the January transfer window (a performance against United that month where he ran riot on the right wing went a long way to convince Ferguson that Valencia could be a United player) but finally got his man at the end of June, as Valencia became United’s first signing of the summer for £16m.

A massive weight was instantly placed on his shoulders as he was touted as the replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo even though the players were quite different. Valencia is a winger in the truest sense of the word beating his man down the line and supplying crosses for strikers whilst Ronaldo although often employed wide would cut in, fancying a go on goal himself.

With the massive weight of expectation on his shoulders, Valencia didn’t instantly impress, his performances were solid where as United fans were used to the spectacular and his over reliance on his right foot, lead to many United fans calling him predictable. This is not to say he was playing badly, it was more a case of him delivering something different to what was expected.

Fast forward to December and a different song is being sung at Old Trafford. Having found his confidence, Valencia now has 5 goals to his name including the winners against CSKA Moscow in Russia and Bolton. Since the game at Liverpool where he beat Insua down the wing once but didn’t attempt to do so again, Valencia has stepped up his performances. He has been one of United’s most consistent performers and the goals he has scored have been a bonus considering he is a ‘replacement’ for the free scoring Ronaldo (After scoring 7 in his entire Wigan career he already has 5 in less than half a season). His pace troubles defenders and usually finds himself being doubled up on in an attempt to neutralise the threat he posses. He is extremely effective at what he does despite being labelled predictable, because knowing what he is going to and being able to stop him are two different things.

His strength and stamina have also come in handy as unlike the departed Ronaldo, Valencia has no qualms with tracking back to help out with  defensive duties. This season it was expected that Nani would make the step up and finally prove that he was not only worth the money that Ferguson paid Sporting Lisbon to bring him to Old Trafford but also a worthy successor to Cristiano Ronaldo’s throne but it hasn’t quite panned out that way.

After Nani’s outburst in the media, the Portuguese winger could be on his way out of Old Trafford after he has consistently failed to impress thus making Valencia’s performances look all the more impressive.

The Ecuadorian winger may offer something totally different to Ronaldo, but who is to say that he can’t be as important? He has won over United fans with his displays and if he continues to progress as he has, come the end of the season, those who criticised his early performances could be left with egg on their faces.