[sunama]

I think he will suit in a more open game aswell. Right now the 3-5-2 is a very slow tempo possession based game, ...

We will probably keep using 352, so as such Falcao must either adapt to the high possession/passing style of play or he will should look at a different club.
After scoring 2 goals for us, he is already a huge fan favourite - I dont understand why...it defies logic.
You only have to look at the match day threads to see how many fans wanted to see an unfit/injured Falcao start games for us...over a fully fit, proven striker (RvP).
LvG will be looking for results and Falcao will need to deliver within the next few months, otherwise he will be returned to the seller.

 

[Escobar]

Doesn't look like he'll ever recover his Atletico form. Unless he stays fit which he hasn't this season, I'd be surprised if he hits 10 goals.

Based on what? Dont be such a drama queen ffs. Considering all circumstances, he's done well and it's obvious he's a top player. Give him a creative, good midfield and he'll start scoring for fun (the same goes for RvP as well)

 

[OneUnited24]

Based on what? Dont be such a drama queen ffs. Considering all circumstances, he's done well and it's obvious he's a top player. Give him a creative, good midfield and he'll start scoring for fun (the same goes for RvP as well)

Dude on here all you need is a gut feeling. Have a look at the Welbeck thread... That guy hardly did much here to show he would be a great striker but everyone there thinks he is

 

[Escobar]

Dude on here all you need is a gut feeling. Have a look at the Welbeck thread... That guy hardly did much here to show he would be a great striker but everyone there thinks he is

It's just that things need time in football. We all as fans are impatient and every other week write off a new player and it annoys me when everyone jumps into conclusions without considering all circumstances

 

[mufcwarm92]

I think he'll improve and I think he'll start scoring fairly regularly but I'm getting less and less convinced we'll sign him permanently. A pacey wide forward would give us much more balance and might not cost upwards of 40m at 29. Wouldn't surprise me if we just loaned him for another season.

 

[mufcwarm92]

We will probably keep using 352, so as such Falcao must either adapt to the high possession/passing style of play or he will should look at a different club.
After scoring 2 goals for us, he is already a huge fan favourite - I dont understand why...it defies logic.
You only have to look at the match day threads to see how many fans wanted to see an unfit/injured Falcao start games for us...over a fully fit, proven striker (RvP).
LvG will be looking for results and Falcao will need to deliver within the next few months, otherwise he will be returned to the seller.

I don't think that's too much of a surprise. We're talking about a Van Persie who had been poor for the best part of a year that was getting into the side ahead of one of the world's best strikers who we'd just signed. The situation has changed now but Falcao's status amongst fans is fair enough given what he's done in the past.

 

[Brightonian]

I don't think that's too much of a surprise. We're talking about a Van Persie who had been poor for the best part of a year that was getting into the side ahead of one of the world's best strikers who we'd just signed. The situation has changed now but Falcao's status amongst fans is fair enough given what he's done in the past.

That's not entirely fair since the last time Falcao was actually one of the best strikers in the world (2012-13), so was RVP.

I'm fairly pleased with both of them at the moment. Ok, they cost us the game by missing chances against Spurs, but in general RVP has emerged from his slump and looks in good form and Falcao seems to be improving fast as his match fitness comes on. He makes us much better by being on the pitch even when he doesn't score, bringing movement, energy and aggression up front which RVP on his own doesn't provide.

 

[mufcwarm92]

That's not entirely fair since the last time Falcao was actually one of the best strikers in the world (2012-13), so was RVP.

I'm fairly pleased with both of them at the moment. Ok, they cost us the game by missing chances against Spurs, but in general RVP has emerged from his slump and looks in good form and Falcao seems to be improving fast as his match fitness comes on. He makes us much better by being on the pitch even when he doesn't score, bringing movement, energy and aggression up front which RVP on his own doesn't provide.

You're right in that things have definitely changed. Van Persie has improved massively and Falcao brings energy that we lack with Rooney playing deeper. I was happy with Falcao against Newcastle but disappointed with him against Spurs, though he gets the benefit of the doubt having probably never played games so close together before.

 

[Litch]

Despite it being a loan, what would be the case if we signed him permanently from the start of the season and he was struggling adapting to the pace of the prem, settling in England and coming to terms with new team and players......those fans who have adapted that mentality, would have sold DDG after his first season. Dont care what formation we play in the future, a club of our statue should have a world class squad and even more so if we are in Europe next season.

The idea of pace is an issue but it's not like we aren't creating chances.

 

[Brightonian]

You're right in that things have definitely changed. Van Persie has improved massively and Falcao brings energy that we lack with Rooney playing deeper. I was happy with Falcao against Newcastle but disappointed with him against Spurs, though he gets the benefit of the doubt having probably never played games so close together before.

For me we're in a good situation up front, in that you'd like to be able to fit Falcao, RVP, Rooney, Mata and di Maria all into one lineup. Clearly that would be unwise, so even with one of those players injured (which is almost certainly going to be the case at any given point in the season) we'll be able to field a 'best XI' attack. Lots of different combinations: you can choose between Rooney and Mata in the hole, or put Rooney in midfield and choose between Mata and di Maria in the hole, or put Rooney up front and choose between Falcao and RVP to be his partner... the list goes on.

And the signs are there that the group are developing a really good understanding on the pitch. The goals against Liverpool and Newcastle showed that.

 

[Ekeke]

Yes it was an exaggerated comment but a lot of people are using his price tag as a stick to beat him with and not willing to give the guy a chance. Let him play get a run of games together and fully fit before we even start judging him. It's way to early too say we should pull the plug on the deal.

How can it be too early when we're half way through the season? Its a time sensitive loan and he's half way through with mountains to climb that are too much for him.

Besides, we agreed to a fee that was too high even if he was at his best and never had any fitness concerns and for a player with a short time left at the top of the game. The only situation where he was going to be a success on that deal is if he hit the floor running at the beginning of the season and did ridiculous things for us all season long. We bought Van Persie for half his price at just 1 year older and he was coming to us as the best player in the league, and clearly made the difference to help very largely in winning us the league the next season. At just a year younger and twice the price the least you'd expect is that same level but due to fitness and form Falcao is nowhere close.

 

[2mufc0]

How can it be too early when we're half way through the season? Its a time sensitive loan and he's half way through with mountains to climb that are too much for him.

Besides, we agreed to a fee that was too high even if he was at his best and never had any fitness concerns and for a player with a short time left at the top of the game. The only situation where he was going to be a success on that deal is if he hit the floor running at the beginning of the season and did ridiculous things for us all season long. We bought Van Persie for half his price at just 1 year older and he was coming to us as the best player in the league, and clearly made the difference to help very largely in winning us the league the next season. At just a year younger and twice the price the least you'd expect is that same level but due to fitness and form Falcao is nowhere close.

It's too early because we haven't seen what he can do on the pitch yet, he may be past it but how can we tell when he hasn't even completed 5 full games yet? All i want is the guy to have a fair go, if he stays fit and is rubbish until the end of the season i will then say he's not good enough and shouldn't be retained. The fact that he hasn't had the minutes to show what he can do it is early in that sense.

We shouldn't be concerned about the fee, we pretty much over paid for every player since we signed Fellaini, that's one of the problems of being out of the CL and competing for top players. If our new signings including Di Maria, Shaw, Rojo, Herrera were on loan would you be saying the same thing about them?

 

[Litch]

How can it be too early when we're half way through the season? Its a time sensitive loan and he's half way through with mountains to climb that are too much for him.

Besides, we agreed to a fee that was too high even if he was at his best and never had any fitness concerns and for a player with a short time left at the top of the game. The only situation where he was going to be a success on that deal is if he hit the floor running at the beginning of the season and did ridiculous things for us all season long. We bought Van Persie for half his price at just 1 year older and he was coming to us as the best player in the league, and clearly made the difference to help very largely in winning us the league the next season. At just a year younger and twice the price the least you'd expect is that same level but due to fitness and form Falcao is nowhere close.

That's why I think it's a done deal already. If you apply a logic to it, we knew he wasn't fit when we signed him, we know that with that type of injury it can take time to recover and find your form. The club knows despite the price tags, it still takes time to adapt to a new country, team and league. Why would they sign him for a season loan knowing it was unlikely they may not see the best of him in his first season?

 

[Garethw]

The trouble is his age. It could take another 6-12 months to get him 100% fit and firing, but by then he's going to be on the wrong side of 30.

If he was 25 or 26 then he'd be worth the risk but not at 28/29.

 

[LonelyFire]

I know plenty of others have made the point before me, however, its worth repeating. Walcott and Falcao got the same injury at the same time....where is Walcott in terms of his fitness? Exactly.

Falcao was rushed back too soon and is still trying to get fit. Im desperate for him to do well and i have concerns but we cant make a judgement yet.

 

[VanGaalEra]

The trouble is his age. It could take another 6-12 months to get him 100% fit and firing, but by then he's going to be on the wrong side of 30.

If he was 25 or 26 then he'd be worth the risk but not at 28/29.

He's 28, how will 6-12 months down the line make him the wrong side of 30?

This thread has become ridiculous.

 

[Litch]

I know plenty of others have made the point before me, however, its worth repeating. Walcott and Falcao got the same injury at the same time....where is Walcott in terms of his fitness? Exactly.

Falcao was rushed back too soon and is still trying to get fit. Im desperate for him to do well and i have concerns but we cant make a judgement yet.

Agree. Utd also aren't going to outlay 250k a week when they know a percentage of the year is going to be his rehabilitation, and that's why I believe it's already a done deal.....

 

[Ekeke]

It's too early because we haven't seen what he can do on the pitch yet, he may be past it but how can we tell when he hasn't even completed 5 full games yet? All i want is the guy to have a fair go, if he stays fit and is rubbish until the end of the season i will then say he's not good enough and shouldn't be retained. The fact that he hasn't had the minutes to show what he can do it is early in that sense.

We shouldn't be concerned about the fee, we pretty much over paid for every player since we signed Fellaini, that's one of the problems of being out of the CL and competing for top players. If our new signings including Di Maria, Shaw, Rojo, Herrera were on loan would you be saying the same thing about them?

We wont know if he's "past it" after 5 games. We're unlikely to know after the season, because even if he gets momentum and is scoring every game the most he can show is that he can do it for half a season which wouldn't show he's back to his best because he did more than that at his best.

But he'll be 29 by the seasons end so odds are against him being at the top of his game for too long, if at all. So no big loss if he goes somewhere else and scores lots of goals, we'll have someone else that we bought instead doing the same for us, or Rooney will be up front doing the same while we bring in a new midfielder.

He's never going to be worth the £44 million though. For that kind of money you want a longterm player, not someone past his physical best in 2 years. All of the players you mentioned are younger players who can prove their worth over a 5 year period. Falcao needs to be doing the business now because he's already at his physical peak. For that money you probably also want someone who can play multiple positions and is hard to stop being effective. Players like Ronaldo and Messi who can play in multiple positions and cant simply be marked out of the match by top performances from CBs. Box strikers like Falcao are far easier to stop, cut out of the supply and he's not going to make something happen out of nothing from deep. It's too much money for those limitations, again especially for someone with age and injury problems.

 

[Ekeke]

That's why I think it's a done deal already. If you apply a logic to it, we knew he wasn't fit when we signed him, we know that with that type of injury it can take time to recover and find your form. The club knows despite the price tags, it still takes time to adapt to a new country, team and league. Why would they sign him for a season loan knowing it was unlikely they may not see the best of him in his first season?

Because its a punt as cover, with Welbeck and Hernandez already wanting to leave? If he just happens to be scoring every game we might want to buy him and if not, we can find a much better solution in the meantime.

I do think we basically already signed him though due to his agent's comments. I just hope it isnt true... Because that would be a right mess.

 

[Litch]

Because its a punt as cover, with Welbeck and Hernandez already wanting to leave? If he just happens to be scoring every game we might want to buy him and if not, we can find a much better solution in the meantime.

I do think we basically already signed him though due to his agent's comments. I just hope it isnt true... Because that would be a right mess.

Come on...do you think LVG is the type of manager to take 'a punt'? Why would a team pay a player coming back from a serious injury, who's not proved his fitness, not proven in this league, not guaranteed first team football, let a young English forward go to a rival, and pay 12m pounds for a 1 year contract on 'a punt'?

 

[Garethw]

He's 28, how will 6-12 months down the line make him the wrong side of 30?

This thread has become ridiculous.

So you'd be happy to pay £43 million on a player that will be TURNING 30 by the time he's fully fit then? Personally I'd say that was ridiculous.

 

[2mufc0]

We wont know if he's "past it" after 5 games. We're unlikely to know after the season, because even if he gets momentum and is scoring every game the most he can show is that he can do it for half a season which wouldn't show he's back to his best because he did more than that at his best.

But he'll be 29 by the seasons end so odds are against him being at the top of his game for too long, if at all. So no big loss if he goes somewhere else and scores lots of goals, we'll have someone else that we bought instead doing the same for us, or Rooney will be up front doing the same while we bring in a new midfielder.

He's never going to be worth the £44 million though. For that kind of money you want a longterm player, not someone past his physical best in 2 years. All of the players you mentioned are younger players who can prove their worth over a 5 year period. Falcao needs to be doing the business now because he's already at his physical peak. For that money you probably also want someone who can play multiple positions and is hard to stop being effective. Players like Ronaldo and Messi who can play in multiple positions and cant simply be marked out of the match by top performances from CBs. Box strikers like Falcao are far easier to stop, cut out of the supply and he's not going to make something happen out of nothing from deep. It's too much money for those limitations, again especially for someone with age and injury problems.

I have seen both Ronaldo and Messi marked out of games looking like they aren't even on the pitch. And how can you be certain he won't be performing once he reaches 30?

People moan about the fee but Falcao is a very popular and marketable player, looking at the amount of money the club makes the finance guys there know what they are doing and are not stupid, they wouldn't invest so much money in something if they didn't think there would be a return on it whether on the pitch or off it. So money shouldn't be the concern here for a player like Falcao.

You say we should spend 40m on another striker but who is available? the best strikers in the world at the moment are Ronaldo, Messi, Ibra, Suarez, Lewandoski, Aguero, Costa none of them are available and some of them would cost a lot more than 40m.

 

[poisson]

i'd spend 40 mill on charlie austin, he's a regular goal scorer for me in fifa 15

 

[VanGaalEra]

So you'd be happy to pay £43 million on a player that will be TURNING 30 by the time he's fully fit then? Personally I'd say that was ridiculous.

I'm not the one making judgments 4/5 months into his time at the club.

I'll wait until the time actually comes to make a decision, which is another 4/5 months down the line.

 

[marjen]

I suspect he's our player already as some have stated, judging by Mendes's comments.

I wouldn't spend anywhere near that amount of money on what is essentially still a big risk, though. As I've read elsewhere RvP cost us half the Falcao-amount and came with a performance guarantee that paid instant dividends.

 

[Litch]

I have seen both Ronaldo and Messi marked out of games looking like they aren't even on the pitch. And how can you be certain he won't be performing once he reaches 30?

People moan about the fee but Falcao is a very popular and marketable player, looking at the amount of money the club makes the finance guys there know what they are doing and are not stupid, they wouldn't invest so much money in something if they didn't think there would be a return on it whether on the pitch or off it. So money shouldn't be the concern here for a player like Falcao.

You say we should spend 40m on another striker but who is available? the best strikers in the world at the moment are Ronaldo, Messi, Ibra, Suarez, Lewandoski, Aguero, Costa none of them are available and some of them would cost a lot more than 40m.

There's no current top 10 striker where the 40m represents nothing but his wages over a 3 year contract. Let's apply a level of sense and logic that until he has had a run of games where he is fit, and can't adapt to the prem then make our assessment. This is also based on the caveat that the teams playing half decent football too, with a number of key players returning from injury.

 

[2mufc0]

I suspect he's our player already as some have stated, judging by Mendes's comments.

I wouldn't spend anywhere near that amount of money on what is essentially still a big risk, though. As I've read elsewhere RvP cost us half the Falcao-amount and came with a performance guarantee that paid instant dividends.

But people often forget RVP was in the last year of his contract when we bought him, 24m for 1 year left is still a lot of money, Falcao was in the first year of his long term contract at Monaco so was inevitably going to cost more. Also when RVP came he was the top goal scorer in the previous season and played in the PL for a number of years so was already accustomed to the league. It's completely 2 different situations which are not comparable.

 

[2mufc0]

There's no current top 10 striker where the 40m represents nothing but his wages over a 3 year contract. Let's apply a level of sense and logic that until he has had a run of games where he is fit, and can't adapt to the prem then make our assessment. This is also based on the caveat that the teams playing half decent football too, with a number of key players returning from injury.

Agree with you, this is what i've been trying to say.

 

[marjen]

But people often forget RVP was in the last year of his contract when we bought him, 24m for 1 year left is a lot of money, Falcao was in the first year of his long term contract at Monaco so was inevitably going to cost more. Also when RVP came he was the top goal scorer in the previous season and played in the PL for a number of years so was already accustomed to the league. It's completely 2 different situations which are not comparable.

All those factors point towards RVP being a risk worth taking - while factors like uncertainty about the extent of Falcao's recovery, his performances for us thus far, his sluggishness and his price tag along with the wage packet makes Falcao much more of an unknown quantity.

My point is excactly that those are two completely different situations - hence why I thought the RVP signing was a no brainer and the Falcao signing is a big gamble which I doubt will pay off. But hey, it's not my call luckily. If it were I'd be inclined to bring in a younger striker with pace.

 

[2mufc0]

All those factors point towards RVP being a risk worth taking - while factors like uncertainty about the extent of Falcao's recovery, his performances for us thus far, his sluggishness and his price tag along with the wage packet makes Falcao much more of an unknown quantity.

My point is excactly that those are two completely different situations - hence why I thought the RVP signing was a no brainer and the Falcao signing is a big gamble which I doubt will pay off. But hey, it's not my call luckily. If it were I'd be inclined to bring in a younger striker with pace.

We have James Wilson.

Yes it's a risk i'm not denying that but i think people are jumping the gun and writing him off before he's had a chance to show what he can do.

 

[marjen]

We have James Wilson.

Yes it's a risk i'm not denying that but i think people are jumping the gun and writing him off before he's had a chance to show what he can do.

We have James Wilson, who at the moment is nowhere near the quality bringing in a striker of Falcao's pedigree (while at his best) would add to us - and probably never will be of that quality.

If we're going to sign a big name striker, I'd sign a pacey striker that gives us variety, so we don't have to blood a totally unproven striker just to add much needed pace to the side. Let Wilson develop in his own tempo.

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

I don't think pace is an issue with Falcao at all. I was watching highlights of himself in his prime at Athletico and he is/was pretty fast, not Aguero fast but still pretty quick. Not sure if his injury has fecked his speed up but he runs proper weird now, almost slow motion like.

 

[marjen]

I don't think pace is an issue with Falcao at all. I was watching highlights of himself in his prime at Athletico and he is/was pretty fast, not Aguero fast but still pretty quick. Not sure if his injury has fecked his speed up but he runs proper weird now, almost slow motion like.

You're contradicting yourself there - yes he wasn't slow, but he's not got the pace he once had.

It's one of the reasons I'm against his signing even though I like him as a player. The knee injury seemed to have fecked up his running, at the very least he's not moving as freely as he did before. Also he's slower on the turn, not the explosive predator in the box he was at his best.

 

[Litch]

You're contradicting yourself there - yes he wasn't slow, but he's not got the pace he once had.

It's one of the reasons I'm against his signing even though I like him as a player. The knee injury seemed to have fecked up his running, at the very least he's not moving as freely as he did before. Also he's slower on the turn, not the explosive predator in the box he was at his best.

Like I said, can we at least wait this he's played 90 mins on more than a couple of occasions before we make assessments about what he was and now isn't?

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

You're contradicting yourself there - yes he wasn't slow, but he's not got the pace he once had.

It's one of the reasons I'm against his signing even though I like him as a player. The knee injury seemed to have fecked up his running, at the very least he's not moving as freely as he did before. Also he's slower on the turn, not the explosive predator in the box he was at his best.

Some people were saying he has never had pace in the first place, I seen one video where Falcao runs box to box and skins about 6 Barca players to score.

 

[Ekeke]

I have seen both Ronaldo and Messi marked out of games looking like they aren't even on the pitch. And how can you be certain he won't be performing once he reaches 30?

People moan about the fee but Falcao is a very popular and marketable player, looking at the amount of money the club makes the finance guys there know what they are doing and are not stupid, they wouldn't invest so much money in something if they didn't think there would be a return on it whether on the pitch or off it. So money shouldn't be the concern here for a player like Falcao.

You say we should spend 40m on another striker but who is available? the best strikers in the world at the moment are Ronaldo, Messi, Ibra, Suarez, Lewandoski, Aguero, Costa none of them are available and some of them would cost a lot more than 40m.

I said 31 which tends to be the decline. He'll be 29 by the summer when we buy him. 2 years from then he'll be 31

No he's not going to make the money back off the pitch especially in such a short space of time. And just because we have the Falcao money doesn't mean we need to spend it, or more importantly spend all of it. If we can get someone who fits in better with what we have (we lack pace up front) or can do just as well as Falcao with goals, it doesn't matter if they cost £40 million or £20 million.

But there are obviously going to be players out there who will perform closer to their pricetags than Falcao at £44 million so we should be studying them all right now.

 

[Silent_Running]

I watch this video (which i'm sure will have been posted many times already), and it's hard to imagine that the talent to do these things would just disappear. Which makes me optimistic.

Then I think, Shevchenko.

 

[EricaNo7]

Let's just let the lad retain his fitness before we get too pessimistic

 

[Silent_Running]

Let's just let the lad retain his fitness before we get too pessimistic

I agree.

 

[RoadTrip]

It's just that things need time in football. We all as fans are impatient and every other week write off a new player and it annoys me when everyone jumps into conclusions without considering all circumstances

Happens the other way too though, people will rave endlessly about players who've had a couple good games. You'll always get people on the extremes. In reality it's as you say. Things need time. And even then, you never know how things will pan out.