Someone asked me the question, “Can Enner Valencia improve next season?” and my immediate reaction was, yes, how hard can it be? Valencia’s goal-scoring record left little to be desired last season and for £12million I was very disappointed with his overall contribution despite showing glimpses of quality throughout the last campaign and I think that he not only should improve but needs to.
When Valencia was plying his trade at Pachuca in Mexico, he was a complete goal machine and during the group stage of the 2014 World Cup with Ecuador he was arguably the surprise package of the competition.
Even before we were interested in Valencia I thought he’d be a great signing for us. I didn’t think Allardyce would be able to manage a player like that and integrate him into his ideology and to be honest I think I am right.
The board told Big Sam to play more attacking football so at the start of the season I think he was almost forced to play the team he did to comply with the board’s requests and during this part of the season Valencia was at his best.
However, when injuries inevitably occurred Allardyce scrapped the two pronged attack of Sakho and Valencia and threw him out wide which really did not breed success for the Ecuadorian.
I am a huge fan of Valencia and I hope that he improves next season. I believe that Bilic is the man to get the best out of players who need to improve after an inconsistent 2014/15 campaign and hopefully the increased competition will help players like Enner Valencia realise that there are no assured first team places next year, as David Gold said “everyone will get their chance under Slaven, the slate has been wiped clean” so to play games players will all be required to make a good impression during this pre-season.
I hope the right decisions are made this season and the club achieve their domestic and European targets and we have a successful campaign.
Should Enner Valencia be a part of the first team? Should Valencia play out wide or as a striker?
He has all the attributes to be a success in the prem,speed,aerial ability,power,and is a good finisher and creator.I just think allardyce messed him up,he also criticised Valencia which was shocking when you consider Nolan Carlton cole etc
yes i think now under Bilic things will change ! already seen youth team promotions & excellent transfer deals so far but their is a lot of work to be done & Valencia is a class player he’s had enough time to adjust & squeezing in a part time “fireman / foot surgeon ” too!! he has the ability to shine now looks like an exciting season for Westham x
Only played to his strengths early on in the season when he looked like he was striking up an excellent partnership with Sakho. As soon as Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan were fit we saw ‘Plan A’ (A standing for alone – as it seemed to be the only one Mr Allardyce ever wanted to play) return and every other player squeezed in to other roles to accommodate them. AC got injured again, Mr Allardyce totally lost interest (&, it seemed, the will to live while he was sitting on the bench during games) and it was all downhill from there.
Perhaps he got found out by Premier League defenders and is now a busted flush. Perhaps he’ll thrive under Super Slav. Hope he’s given a decent run to show us all what he’s capable of as I think he’s a decent player.
COYI!
Wasn’t injuries that forced Sam to change. He reverted too his favourite ( and one and only) set up as soon as he had Nolan and Carroll back