[markhrad]

If we get a creative midfielder Falcao and RVP will again be seen as world class. They both are established top strikers for club and country and have not suddenly become crap. It is clear that the midfield we possess are not creative or adventurous enough for us to utilize them properly.
They must be extremely frustrated.

 

[Cassidy]

Watching him its pretty obvious hes not quite back when he stands up or is one on one with a defender. Old days it would be a quick setup over side step and look for the shooting opportunity. He had that chance vs Stoke I think it was and he seems to just not want to take the player on and tried to shoot through/round him.
Saying that though he is improving, his movement looks good and he is holding up the ball, taking players on (from deep) trying to move the game forward.

Anyway all part of the recovery process, lets see how he progresses but hes definately not looking like a 40m+ player right now. If we haven't already signed on the dotted line, I think that price tag needs to be renegotiated.

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Why? Falcao has always been reliant on service and we've been poor in that aspect for a while. He has still scored a few important goals for us this season and has basically won us 4 points with his goals versus Everton, Villa and Stoke. It's not like he's been Torres mk2 for us, he's been mostly decent and if we could pick him up for €25m at the end of season it'd be a great deal.

Actually in many respects he has, as a couple of people thought earlier in the thread. The lack of pace and strength, the way he never seems to be in the right place at the right time, which only now and then results in a goal. Difference with Torres is he wasnt coming back from an injury I guess.

We used to sit there going on about his hold up play and ability to assist as well early on before it dawned on us he actually used to be a world class goal scorer.

 

[Walrus]

If we get a creative midfielder Falcao and RVP will again be seen as world class. They both are established top strikers for club and country and have not suddenly become crap. It is clear that the midfield we possess are not creative or adventurous enough for us to utilize them properly.
They must be extremely frustrated.

I just dont particularly like RVP and Falcao as a strike partnership. They are too similar and I have been saying that since day 1. Not many top teams play with two strikers nowadays, the benefits you get from having the extra midfielder are substantial. In my book, in order to facilitate having two strikers on the pitch, they need to be of a very high quality - which ours are - and offer versatility and a variety of options - which ours dont.

I dont dislike Falcao, I just think he was an unnecessary signing and that we would have had a more balanced and versatile squad if we had stuck with one of Welbeck or Hernandez for this season. Trying to fit Falcao, RVP, Mata, Rooney and ADM into a team is proving to be a challenge for LVG and understandably so, but it is a situation he created.

 

[IwatUwat]

If we get a creative midfielder Falcao and RVP will again be seen as world class. They both are established top strikers for club and country and have not suddenly become crap. It is clear that the midfield we possess are not creative or adventurous enough for us to utilize them properly.
They must be extremely frustrated.

Herrera, Mata, Rooney....these guys are all pretty creative. Think its the style we are playing with rather than the players.

Our only creativity is going wide and putting balls in, its terrible. Therefore Falcao and Rooney just feeding off scraps or perfect balls in (1 in 25). As you say we need creativity but I think we have the players to do it, its just our tactics or their choices are currently poor! Teams seem to find it easy to defend against us and I think thats just because we keep going wide. So they defend narrow wait for the pass out wide and then back themselves in either a bad cross or beating Falcao RVP in the air, which they should.

LVG needs to mix things up here.

Interesting one for me is Falcao hasnt dominated a game yet, he still may well be finding his feet (fitness for me prob not so much he's been back 2+ months now), like created chances out of nothing for himself, think of the other best players / strikers in the league. (Sanchez, Aguero, Hazard, Costa) these players have all dominated and bossed a few games this is what we need to see from RVP and Falcao turn a simple ball into their feet into a goal on a more regular basis. Di Maria has done this for us a couple of times early on this season.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Actually in many respects he has, as a couple of people thought earlier in the thread. The lack of pace and strength, the way he never seems to be in the right place at the right time, which only now and then results in a goal. Difference with Torres is he wasnt coming back from an injury I guess.

We used to sit there going on about his hold up play and ability to assist as well early on before it dawned on us he actually used to be a world class goal scorer.

You wont let it go, wont you?
Ok you think he lost it but you never seem to tire of pointing that out.

If he hits form and goes back to his old days (if of course) I cant wait to hear from you first.

 

[RedFish]

That goal against Stoke was a real striker's goal. He had the skill to react with fantastic technique to shunt the ball home. Doesn't look like a striker who has lost his sharpness to me. Quite the opposite......

 

[ItsEssexRob]

You wont let it go, wont you?
Ok you think he lost it but you never seem to tire of pointing that out.

If he hits form and goes back to his old days (if of course) I cant wait to hear from you first.

This whole thread is one long repetition anyway, so why not? If he comes good so be it, it will be nice to have a player of his calibre in the EPL. I will be first to acknowledge it.

 

[FujiVice]

That goal against Stoke was a real striker's goal. He had the skill to react with fantastic technique to shunt the ball home. Doesn't look like a striker who has lost his sharpness to me. Quite the opposite......

Would you pay £44 million for him if you were the Chief Executive? Its not a case of whether he's got anything left in the tank. I reckon he probably does. Its about whether what he gives the team (or rather what our system gets out of him) if he's worth paying the huge figure in wages and fee that we'd need to bring him here full time. I dont see how you could justify it. Especially when there are far more pressing issues in our squad than up front. You could get Godin and Hummels for £50 million. And I certainly cant see us buying him on a perminant.

 

[RedFish]

Would you pay £44 million for him if you were the Chief Executive? Its not a case of whether he's got anything left in the tank. Its about whether what he gives the team (or rather what our system gets out of him) is he worth paying the huge figure in wages and fee that we'd need to bring him here full time. I dont see how you could justify it. And I certainly cant see us buying him on a perminant.

If he showed before the end of the season that signing him could be the difference between winning the CL or not then I would definitely consider it. At the moment he hasn't had enough opportunity. Come March/April, we should have a much clearer idea about how this potential transfer might go.

 

[stepic]

Even if he scored 30 goals I would consider his signing as a bad piece of business.

29 and a footballer is already too old. I know people like to see young players develop but it's gotten pretty ridiculous.

 

[Sarni]

Would you pay £44 million for him if you were the Chief Executive? Its not a case of whether he's got anything left in the tank. I reckon he probably does. Its about whether what he gives the team (or rather what our system gets out of him) if he's worth paying the huge figure in wages and fee that we'd need to bring him here full time. I dont see how you could justify it. Especially when there are far more pressing issues in our squad than up front. You could get Godin and Hummels for £50 million. And I certainly cant see us buying him on a perminant.

We will try to negotiate it down I think and will end up paying £20m for him if we end up signing him. I'd be baffled if we signed him for £44m but if we did it'd be a good will gesture towards Mendes a'la Bebe and we'd probably tie up De Gea to a long contract and sign a couple of his other clients in the meantime.

 

[Ekeke]

29 and a footballer is already too old. I know people like to see young players develop but it's gotten pretty ridiculous.

Its not that he's too old.

Its that he's too old for an extremely expensive transfer, which is why you rarely see a 29 year old bought for such a price and usually the fee is a lot less than you would pay for the player if he was 25 and in the best form of his career. Instead we're paying as much as he's ever been worth, maybe more for a player who isnt at his best, probably wont be and has a short time left at the top

 

[Rooney in Paris]

This whole thread is one long repetition anyway, so why not? If he comes good so be it, it will be nice to have a player of his calibre in the EPL. I will be first to acknowledge it.

You don't believe that at all (which isn't shocking for an oppo fan really), the whole Falcao stuff is turning into a real agenda for you. Well, it had quite a while ago, in truth.

 

[devilish]

29 and a footballer is already too old. I know people like to see young players develop but it's gotten pretty ridiculous.

He's not old but he's certainly not worth 40m+ especially since

a- he's a striker
b - we're already have enough experience upfront.

That money can be easily invested elsewhere ie where we need it most.

 

[stepic]

Its not that he's too old.

Its that he's too old for an extremely expensive transfer, which is why you rarely see a 29 year old bought for such a price and usually the fee is a lot less than you would pay for the player if he was 25 and in the best form of his career. Instead we're paying as much as he's ever been worth, maybe more for a player who isnt at his best, probably wont be and has a short time left at the top

In today's market, Falcao would be worth more than the current valuation (still not even sure what it is given conflicting media reports) if he was 4 years younger. He would surely be worth as much as Di Maria.

Even besides that, I'll never know why people get so hung up on paying too much for players. People would actually turn down a 30 goal scoring forward that they can enjoy and cheer to in favour of seeing an extra £40 or so listed in a balance sheet. I find that odd.

 

[Cassidy]

He's not old but he's certainly not worth 40m+ especially since

a- he's a striker
b - we're already have enough experience upfront.

That money can be easily invested elsewhere ie where we need it most.

Whilst I agree with the general sentiment, I think its quite obvious we really don't already have enough upfront and although tbh I'm not convinced (yet) Falcao is the guy.

 

[stepic]

He's not old but he's certainly not worth 40m+ especially since

a- he's a striker
b - we're already have enough experience upfront.

That money can be easily invested elsewhere ie where we need it most.

Spending £40m on Falcao doesnt mean we won't have that money to spend elsewhere. We have the money to do both. Worrying about using funds frugally is a mid table club mentality, not United.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I just can't shake the feeling that he's now just alright...

 

[ItsEssexRob]

FFS, what is your deal with Falcao? Got a very strange obsession with him. I didn't see you in this thread when he was hammering Newcastle, nor when he scored against Stoke. Give it a rest.

Hammering Newcastle? He got one assist! The ironic thing is you guys do him a massive disservice by going on about one assist being a hammering, and being patronizing going on about a bit of hold up play here and there, yet he was one of if not the deadliest players in the world. If anything I am the one who praises him because I can see how far he was fallen, injury or not.

Besides im not the sort of person who comes back after ONE goal to say how brilliant he is then criticizes when he doesn't score, rinse and repeat.

In fact both the Villa and Stoke games that he scored in I thought he was poor, but then I am holding him to standards that he was my favourite striker from 2010-13.

 

[Cooksen]

I want to see him as a loan striker where the midfield is working.

I still think there is a 30 goal a season striker in there, I know I am in a minority and more on the optimistic side.

 

[Ekeke]

In today's market, Falcao would be worth more than the current valuation (still not even sure what it is given conflicting media reports) if he was 4 years younger. He would surely be worth as much as Di Maria.

Even besides that, I'll never know why people get so hung up on paying too much for players. People would actually turn down a 30 goal scoring forward that they can enjoy and cheer to in favour of seeing an extra £40 or so listed in a balance sheet. I find that odd.

How? Di Maria makes things happen out of nothing and can play multiple roles, Falcao is a box striker who needs service. That type of player is nowhere near as valuable.

Ruud wouldnt cost you as much as Di Maria

 

[Brophs]

In today's market, Falcao would be worth more than the current valuation (still not even sure what it is given conflicting media reports) if he was 4 years younger. He would surely be worth as much as Di Maria.

Even besides that, I'll never know why people get so hung up on paying too much for players. People would actually turn down a 30 goal scoring forward that they can enjoy and cheer to in favour of seeing an extra £40 or so listed in a balance sheet. I find that odd.

I don't think that's the case. If he was the Falcao of old, without the serious baggage of his knee injuries, I reckon most people would be for it. As things stand the player you described might never come back. History isn't especially favourable towards strikers of his age with his injury record. Very few care about the balance sheet, I suspect, but rather what we could do with that £40m otherwise. For example, if it was an either/or I would have much preferred seeing a top midfielder bought last summer instead of Falcao, which would have allowed us to keep Welbeck and play Rooney in his actual position.

Of course, if our spending last summer is the new model then that's mostly moot and we'll all have to move with the times and get used to a wave of expensive mercenaries being parked here at the peak of their careers by whatever agent we're in hock to at the time. I can't say that's something I'm especially looking forward to.

 

[devilish]

Spending £40m on Falcao doesnt mean we won't have that money to spend elsewhere. We have the money to do both. Worrying about using funds frugally is a mid table club mentality, not United.

We work with a budget and 40m+ would leave a dent in every club's finances. We've got other priorities in mind such as defense and midfield. If LVG is determined to add a striker then I hope he would be someone younger with more pace and who proves himself to be more prolific for us then Falcao.

 

[devilish]

Whilst I agree with the general sentiment, I think its quite obvious we really don't already have enough upfront and although tbh I'm not convinced (yet) Falcao is the guy.

It depends on the tactics we play to be honest. If we're determined to play with a one man striker system then we've got all the talent we need. Rooney is a fantastic striker, RVP is showing early signs of decline but he could be prolific if used wisely, Mata is fantastic in the hole and Wilson is a great young talent. I seriously doubt that Real will buy Hernandez so he will probably return after the season is over.

 

[Ibi Dreams]

I'd take him over RVP, honestly. He's looked better overall and he's not even settled properly yet

 

[Cassidy]

If Real Madrid wanted him in exchange for Benzema I wouldn't be opposed to that deal.

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

The thing is, we probably have to buy a striker in the summer anyway, RVP is going to be 32, Hernandez will likely move on, so we will only really have Rooney as a prime striker. Who else is a world class striker that will available? Aguero? No, Lewandowski? Nope, Suarez might be available if he doesn't score much but I doubt we will even consider buying him, which leaves Falcao the only reasonable option, unless we move for a young striker with potential.

As it stands, I'd buy him as a RVP replacement in the summer but that doesn't hide the fact he has been shocking in some games so far, he can't seem to run properly and hasn't adapted to the English game yet. Then again it's likely already a done deal and Falcao is probably already a United player but then we should be looking to move RVP on in the summer.

 

[khoazany]

The thing is, we probably have to buy a striker in the summer anyway, RVP is going to be 32, Hernandez will likely move on, so we will only really have Rooney as a prime striker. Who else is a world class striker that will available? Aguero? No, Lewandowski? Nope, Suarez might be available if he doesn't score much but I doubt we will even consider buying him, which leaves Falcao the only reasonable option, unless we move for a young striker with potential.

As it stands, I'd buy him as a RVP replacement in the summer but that doesn't hide the fact he has been shocking in some games so far, he can't seem to run properly and hasn't adapted to the English game yet. Then again it's likely already a done deal and Falcao is probably already a United player but then we should be looking to move RVP on in the summer.

Cavani?

 

[Cassidy]

Cavani?

feck no! Benzema if anyone

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

Cavani?

He would have been perfect if Moyes was still here, but we don't really play towards a target man any more. He's only 1 year younger than Falcao and apparantly £50million has been quoted for him which is ridiculous. He also seems to have major attitude problems as he has missed training quite a few times now and has recently been fined for it.

 

[SammyUnited_83]

If Real Madrid wanted him in exchange for Benzema I wouldn't be opposed to that deal.

Wouldn't we need to buy him 1st?! Would love Benzema but just can't see that one happening. I really hope we are scouting some other strikers at the moment.

Here is a question, knowing what we know now - would you have Welbeck back over Falcao?

 

[Cassidy]

Wouldn't we need to buy him 1st?! Would love Benzema but just can't see that one happening. I really hope we are scouting some other strikers at the moment.

Here is a question, knowing what we know now - would you have Welbeck back over Falcao?

No.

Falcao has a 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 starts
Welbecck has 4 goals and 2 assists in 14 starts

Whilst Falcao has underwhelmned he has had mitigating circustances (injuries and not alot of playing time). I've watched Welbeck at Arsenal and he is the same player he hasn't really progressed at all.

I think its best he moved on, and I still would bet Falcao would probably double Welbecks goals by the end of the season.

EDIT: With Walcott coming back to fitness and Giroud back I wouldn't be suprised to see Welbeck warming the bench a few times at Arsenal

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

You never know, The club may say to Monaco that they want a re-structered deal if things stay as they are. At this point I can imagine there will be a few nervous faces at Monaco as their cash cow is starting to lose real value to them.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

If we don't buy him, I can totally see City pulling another Tevez.

 

[Cassidy]

If we don't buy him, I can totally see City pulling another Tevez.

That would be very bad...

 

[Ekeke]

That would be very bad...

Not at all. Tevez was 24-25 and had many years ahead of him, Falcao would have 2 or 3

 

[Brophs]

You never know, The club may say to Monaco that they want a re-structered deal if things stay as they are. At this point I can imagine there will be a few nervous faces at Monaco as their cash cow is starting to lose real value to them.

I'd normally agree but with Mendes pulling the strings he'll be parked somewhere next year, even if not with us.

 

[Cassidy]

Not at all. Tevez was 24-25 and had many years ahead of him, Falcao would have 2 or 3

Yes but if he got back to his best sort of form that would be him and Aguero up top, no thanks.

 

[Ekeke]

Yes but if he got back to his best sort of form that would be him and Aguero up top, no thanks.

After 18 months it'd look like a waste of money and theres always the chance it doesn't go absolutely perfectly. In fact theres a much higher likelyhood of that