Antonio Valencia

[Cris 09]

Cool!! Let's see Wigan move up "another level" this year as well.

[yoryi]

Yo veo a Tonito como el proximo,Spencer or Aguinaga.

[pcekspert]

He is too good for Wigan

[ecuafutbolfreak]

Valencia is going to have a break through year.

[loraz]

Yo veo a Tonito como el proximo,Spencer or Aguinaga.

You think so? Don't yo think he has a bit of a temper?

[yoryi]

You think so? Don't yo think he has a bit of a temper?

Yeah he does have a little temper,it can be good but at the same time it could hurt him.The good thing is that he's still young and can be tought how to control this.

[batch]

LAV has been super so far in pre-season. The manager has tried playing him in the middle of the midfield, rather than on the wing, for a few games and he seems so much more effective playing there.

There was a little interview in one of the newspapers here today and LAV sounds very positive about the season ahead. :cool:

[LDU4ever]

LAV has been super so far in pre-season. The manager has tried playing him in the middle of the midfield, rather than on the wing, for a few games and he seems so much more effective playing there.

There was a little interview in one of the newspapers here today and LAV sounds very positive about the season ahead. :cool:

best of luck this season!!! all the ecua's are rooting for you guys!

[batch]

LAV started the season well but he's injured again :( He's had a small operation on his knee. Hopefully he should be back in 2 or 3 weeks

[zampi]

According to Wigan's website, Valencia might come back from his injury to play against Man U tomorrow. This is great news...we need this kid for the WCQ...

[batch]

Not sure if he'll start but he should definitely be on the bench. He played 45mins for our reserve team (who won 4-0 against Bolton) a few days ago and played very well.

[ecuafutbolfreak]

thats good news. I think he could be one of our most, if not most, important player. but does anyone agree with him playing as a dm? i know this is how he started, but he is excellent on the wing, his speed, skills and crossing is strong points that might not be utulized in this new position. Although he can run up and down alot and his lethal shot is still useful here and his defensive skills are solid enough.

[batch]

Steve Bruce wants to sign LAV permanently in January -

Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce wants to sign up winger Antonio Valencia on a permanent transfer - the Ecuador ace is in the second season of a two-year loan from Spanish club Villarreal and has impressed the new manager.
The club have first option to buy Valencia but there is reported interest from Racing Santander, hence the desire to bring him to Wigan on a full-time basis.

Bruce told the Evening Post: "I will do everything I possibly can to make sure Antonio comes here permanently.
"He has been fantastic considering the knee injury he's had.
"I think he is a top player who can go on to play at the highest level if he continues developing.
"We have got him on loan at the moment.

See Latics watch below

"It's a bit of a complicated one but I'm going to dive into it over the next couple of weeks especially with the transfer window opening.
"Antonio has impressed me greatly and I was delighted to see him start training again after his injury in my first week.
"We are in pole position to sign him.

"I think the kid wants to stay and I will make that perfectly clear when we next meet up with his representative.
"He can be a huge player for us, I really like him.
"He's only 22 and already has played a lot of inter-national football."
Valencia has hardly kicked a ball for Villarreal since joining them in 2005, with him loaned out almost immediately to Recreativo Huelva.

Latics signed him on loan at the beginning of last season after former manager Paul Jewell saw him play at the World Cup.
After a bright start to this season, the 22-year-old needed cartilage surgery on his knee, but he seems back to speed now with him playing the last three games.

While Bruce hopes for New Year joy with Valencia, he got some pre-Christmas cheer today with the news that Emile Heskey's ankle injury isn't as serious as first feared.
The England international was stretchered off in the first half of Saturday's 5-3 win over Blackburn after hurting his left ankle in a challenge with Steve Reid.

But the damage has been diagnosed only as 'tweaked' ligaments, and there is an outside chance Heskey could be fit to face Fulham.
If he doesn't make the visit to Craven Cottage, the striker should certainly be in contention for the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle.

Bruce said: "Emile is not as bad as we feared – there is nothing broken and he had tweaked his ankle ligaments.
"We are hoping he is not going to be out of action for too long.
"I'd say he is touch and go for this weekend, but I would certanly hope he will be fit to play some role for us during the Christmas programme.

"We were fearing a long lay-off which was a concern because any team at the bottom of the table needs their big players performing well for them.
"Emile is a big player for us, we all know that, although I didn't realise quite how big until I walked into the club.
"You find that his presence is the one the other players all look up to.

"He has great respect because he has been there and brought the T-shirt.
"His injury was the one thing which soured the win against Blackburn.
"It happened when two or three of our lads went in for a challenge after our third goal.
"At lea
st they were tackling, and that attitude epitomised us in the first half on Saturday."

http://www.wigantoday.net/latics/Bruce-wants-to-tie-up.3598998.jp

[SurOscura]

idk i like valencia, and i like that the team likes him. hes a crowd pleaser, but i would like to see him in villareal. santander is not doing bad this season and by the sound of it he has spot earned the only fight would be to keep it that way. I like wigan, i just wish that their battle wasnt against relegation. We'll see. Valencia is amazing that is all i know.

[damnecuadorian]

I just saw Fulham vs Wigan (1-1). Valencia had the most perfect chance for a goal, all by himself vs the keeper but he failed to convert. He was quite alive during the second half, and although he could've made some better passes I'd say he played a fairly decent game.

[Manolo]

I just saw Fulham vs Wigan (1-1). Valencia had the most perfect chance for a goal, all by himself vs the keeper but he failed to convert. He was quite alive during the second half, and although he could've made some better passes I'd say he played a fairly decent game.

He was easily Wigan's most exciting player. Everytime he gets the ball on the right he seems like he will take on defenders and make something happen.

The chance he missed was bad luck, he was running too fast and pushed the ball too far ahead of himself. If he gets some goals he will gain confidence and be hard to stop.

[viagoal]

Valencia's face was in a lot of camera shots..
It just shows how much involvement he had during the game.
He's an exciting player to watch. Hopefully he gets more chances
on goal and begins to score. :cool:

[batch]

Wigan Athletic are delighted to confirm that Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia has signed permanently for the club from Spanish side Villareal, for an undisclosed fee.

The 21 year-old put has pen to paper on a three and a half year contract that will keep him at the JJB Stadium until the summer of 2011.

The deal is still subject to international clearance, but this only relates to the latter part of his contract, he currently has clearance to play in the Premier League until the end of 2008

Manager Steve Bruce is delighted to have concluded the deal.

Antonio Valencia
Valencia Has Impressed Steve Bruce

"I knew about him before I came to the club," said Bruce, "but having seen him at close quarters these past few weeks, I now realise just how good he is and to get him signed permanently was one of my priorities. I felt it was important to get it done sooner rather than later.

"He is the sort of player who I believe can play a big role in the Premier League future of this club. He has pace, trickery, is strong as an ox and has a great work ethic. Plus he's a really likeable boy.

"Now that his future is sorted out, I want him to focus completely on his football and keep improving because I believe he has the potential to be a top, top player."

Valencia has played 35 times in the Barclays Premier League for Latics since arriving on loan at the start of the 2006-07 season, scoring one goal. He has been an ever-present in the league since Steve Bruce's arrival, playing every minute of every match.

Valencia said: "I am really happy this has been sorted. I have always wanted to play in England and now that Wigan have given me the chance, I am happy to repay them by staying here.

"The Premier League is a fantastic place to play and I have really enjoyed working with Steve Bruce, you can see how the team is motivated now and I think he will be successful here in the seasons to come.

"I also thank the Wigan fans who often sing my name, which makes me really happy to be here!"

http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1218415,00.html

[damnecuadorian]

Liverpool's coach Rafael Benitez wants to buy Antonio Valencia.

Building on his side's strong start to the campaign, Benitez is already planning for the January transfer window. He is optimistic of finally landing long-term target Antonio Valencia from Wigan.

Steve Bruce has so far managed to fend off interest in the 23-year-old Ecuadorian but Benitez is reported to be preparing a £10 million offer that would also include Jermaine Pennant heading to the JJB Stadium.

Valencia, who has also been watched by Manchester United, is attractive as he would be eligible for the Champions League.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/3139551/Rafael-Benitez-boasts-of-priceless-Fernando-Torres-and-targets-Antonio-Valencia.html

[nenito]

i dunno if that would be a good idea for antonio hes an amazing player but liverpool have some really good players. Wigan loves valencia the coach the fans he doing wonderfull there , if i were him i would want more money and finish my career wit wigan. Wigan is not that big of a club , but bruce is a really good coach , if bruce were to leave on day valencia should go whrever he goes cuz bruce might coach man u one day.