Tbf in Atletico's system which is centred around a strong defence and midfield, the strikers are a bit isolated and lots of times receive long/difficult balls and/or are surrounded by a lot of opposing players. Complete opposite of Barca or Bayern and to a lesser extent some other teams where you have short passing patterns and more options to pass the ball to teammates instead of losing it.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
He once again did not do well, at least not well enough to buy him.
He got us a point, that's good enough. In fact, he's won us 5 points with his goals this season, which is pretty good in my eyes.
Thought he was growing into the game and linked up well in some dangerous moments... then he got taken off, which was baffling because RvP was just invisible
Plays well. Gets substituted. Philosophy.
Van Gaal is nuts.
He did ok. Before his goal was very poor. But he dId better after
Looking at the MOTM stats and he is walking away with it? Smalling, Carrick and Jones all had better games.
Looking at the MOTM stats and he is walking away with it? Smalling, Carrick and Jones all had better games.
Eh? He was our best forward today. Shouldn't have been substituted.
I was finally starting to think 'hey, this guy might just work out', then he gets subbed off. Annoying.
Carrick barely controlled the game and Smalling could have given away a penalty. Falcao, poor touch occasionally aside, was our biggest threat.
His first touch is so bad. I was actually glad he was off.
Strange substitution. Was doing really well when he came off
He's always been that sort of player though. Might not see him for ages, then he'll pop up with a goal. Good finish, and i felt he did grow into the game. That said, some of his touches in the first half were frustrating.
Not having this game managing him stuff. RvP was doing nothing bar that flash of skill. We weren't winning and needed a goal. Ridiculous taking him off.
To be fair to Falcao he does ask for the ball in highly uncomfortable situations, he is a risk taker in that sense - so it helps to explain his high dispossessed stats. Although one has to admit that his first touch isn't particularly great at the moment.
Unless he was tired I don't know why he was taken off. Sure, his touch was loose for most of the first half but he gradually improved as time went on. The goal came from his predatory instinct and you could see him getting in positions that might lead to more. We barely posed an attacking threat and his movement might have made the difference for us. Still a lot more to come from him but he's getting sharper.
Was our best attacker today, still far from his Atletico days. Hopefully, many more goals to come from him in the second half of the season.
Would love to see him in a formation with 4 defenders. Either leading the line by himself or along side Rooney or RVP with Mata/Rooney in behind.
Great strength, but the lack of pace was exposed in some situations. I'd definitely play him ahead of RVP. But VG seems to favour his countryman.
Our attacking threat went when he came off and Rooney moved position.
Still rusty but a good predator's goal. In retrospect probably shouldn't have taken him off but he needs some looking after in such a busy period.
I thought he was lively but in terms of real goal threat, apart from the goal itself, he, like most of our team, was lacking. Better than the other day, though, which is encouraging.
A little surprised how complimentary everyone in here is being considering the amount of times he lost possession with terrible touches early in the game. He obviously got better as the game went on and started to look like a real threat, but reading through these comments it's like he had a faultless game.
As for the substitution, it must have been fitness related. There's no other reason for it.
As for the substitution, it must have been fitness related. There's no other reason for it.
One of the few players who actually looked like they wanted to win. The rest just drifted through, either expecting something to just fall into their lap, or content to take the draw.
Are there any figures (for the last few games) on his distance covered/game and top speed reached in the game as well
He seems fit, but not sharp yet, first half the ball was bouncing off him lots, same against Spurs
He seems fit, but not sharp yet, first half the ball was bouncing off him lots, same against Spurs
Getting better, getting stronger, getting fitter and scoring goals.
Good signs.
Good signs.
His finding his form and is working his socks off trying to get back full fitness, LVG if anything should have took him off against Spurs rather then today which was shocking when RVP was doing a disappearing act!
Inside I'm sure he's angry that he's always subbed off when Van Gaal's invisible mate RVP always stays on
He did the only thing worth talking about from our perspective: he scored. Everyone else on our side was shite in comparison.
Would like to see him get a handful games up front on his own. His touch was shit today but his movement and strength was there for all to see.
I'd like to see him up top on his own as well but we lack the wide players for a good 4-3-3 line-up right now. One thing I do like about Falcao is that he doesn't hide.
It's important he stays fit for the next weeks then his old form (Atletico Madrid days) should come.
Hopefully he starts against Yeovil and scores.
Hopefully he starts against Yeovil and scores.
It's like watching Hernandez stumbling around the middle of the pitch to control the ball and make simple passes. He is a poacher, whose best work is done in and around the box. Why isn't VP coming deep with him staying up, when Robin is better suited to the role?
Has Falcao's touch always been this horrendous? It's like we are paying the same amount in 6 months that we paid for Hernandez in 3 years (Fees and wages included) for basically the same thing.
Has Falcao's touch always been this horrendous? It's like we are paying the same amount in 6 months that we paid for Hernandez in 3 years (Fees and wages included) for basically the same thing.
He looked like he was limping a little as he was walking off.
This, even his goal was Hernandez like. But he clearly isnt fit and sharp enough, when he gets to that, he'll probably be the improved version of Hernandez. My question then is, why not just keep Hernandez and let him improve, he would add pace too. I'm sure that if we got Hernandez minutes, confidence, stability, he would become one of the better strikers in the world.
I'm not so sure but yet again you might be right. Hernandez is still on loan so..
7 starts, 3 goals 3 assists. Not exactly a terrible return.
I think lots of people, myself included, would argue it's because he wasn't ever going to improve to that extent.
He had his limitations ofcourse, but at a certain period he was doing great, had an excellent return and was learning to become more than just a poacher, then RVP was signed and it just stopped. If SAF stayed longer, and player Chicha up top with Rooney, I dont know why Hernandez couldnt become a top class striker. Not saying he'd become Aguero, but he was still young for a striker, scoring goals at a big club, and the difference would be confidence. He had all the attributes, was quick, made runs behind the defence, solid header, poacher like instincts, driven, he was a solid finisher with both feet, after RVP, it looked like it all just regressed for him.
Tbh I don't think he was on his way to being more than a poacher, or at least not good at that role, though I agree he did improve. I always felt that when we asked him to do that he looked ill-at-ease with it. Technically he just didn't look suited.
- Status