Victor Valdes Is Having A Rough Week

By: chris | February 24th, 2009

Saturday it was that criminal pass in the Barcelona derby, one he’s been known to gift once or twice before, that sent his blaugrana to their first demise in something like 457 fixtures. Today it was Juninho’s free kick that spun Victor every which way and turned into a goal. Which means you’ve got to wonder if the only thing that can stop the Barcelona freight train is the shaved guy in back wearing the gloves.

But then again, did Juninho do it on purpose? I’m sticking with my firm no. He’s a good free kick taker, no doubt, but most keepers move far post and save that shot fairly easily. Near post and then maybe we can talk.



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  • Inara |  February 24th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

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    He did do it on purpose, it was confirmed on OLTV. Juninho scored a similar goal in Marseille a few years back. The left side of the pitch is his favorite in which to take shots from.

    When it comes to Juni, he almost always goes directly for the goal. It’s also the second time he’s scored a free kick on Valdes (as well as a penalty).

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  • Inara |  February 24th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

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    Edit: I also forgot to add, if you watch the replays, Makoun makes a run towards Valdes, which confused him and left him stranded. Had it not been for Makoun, Valdes might have at least tried to get a hand to the ball.

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  • chris |  February 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

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    Wait so you’re telling me a player took credit for a goal after the fact?

    Oh, it must be legit…

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  • Inara |  February 24th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

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    I don’t see the reason for any skepticism. The ball just as easily could not have gone in and instead curled beyond the far post, but his intention was the same. If he wanted to aim towards his teammates or the near post, he would have done so (though from that position, getting the ball to curl in towards the near post would have been more difficult). Juninho’s fks are all about accuracy and very little about power – we see it in every game he plays in. You won’t find any L1 followers surprised at that goal.

    Still, Juni can’t get all the credit. A more concentrated goalkeeper wouldn’t have gotten distracted. But Valdes is not a European caliber goalkeeper and really should have done better.

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  • Ronald |  February 24th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

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    Juninho ment to do that, its should go 50-50, Valdez’s fault, Juninho’s brilliance. period.

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  • Scott |  February 24th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

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    Yeah what? That was pretty obviously on purpose. Juninho isn’t just a decent free kick taker, he is one of the best in the world and from that position can be a nightmare.

    I understand how it could seem bound for a player but really if he wanted to do that i’m pretty sure he could. This is a nice fk but he has taken better so I don’t see what there is to debate. If anything the confusion comes from Valdes not being sure what it is going to do, not from whether or not Juninho was going for goal.

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  • matt |  February 24th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

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    chris, you’re wrong buddy. had it been totti though it wouldve been perfect, planned, and measured with a protractor before the game. it’s friggin juninho dude…THATS WHAT HE DO.

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  • Kelly |  February 24th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

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    Juninho definatly meant it, hes the best fk taker in the world imo and today just proves it again.

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  • Javier |  February 24th, 2009 at 11:07 pm

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    *bows*

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  • OhYes |  February 25th, 2009 at 7:15 am

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    Damn Valdes makes other players look good. Great shot no doubt. But against any keeper BUT Valdes, that doesn’t go in 99% of the time.

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  • dp |  February 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am

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    I think he definitely meant to do that, but Valdes has been and remains the weak link in that Barca squad–why was he chosen over Reina when they both came through the youth ranks? Because he was taller? Probably, and though he’s a good keeper, the fact that he can’t get a sniff of time on the national team tells you where he stands at the moment–he’s at least fourth in the depth chart for Spain, and that’s not good enough for a potential juggernaut such as Barca.

    Posted from United States United States

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