[matherto]

We need to provide him with a midfield that can give him (and RVP) chances. Only then can we really judge where he's at.

If he's getting loads of chances and still not putting them away then it settles it but for now our strikers are feeding off very small scraps indeed.

 

[Will Singh]

We need to provide him with a midfield that can give him (and RVP) chances. Only then can we really judge where he's at.

If he's getting loads of chances and still not putting them away then it settles it but for now our strikers are feeding off very small scraps indeed.

Agree we need a midfeild who can supply him good balls but also to take into consideration is that he also needs a striker along side him who makes run and opens up space for him.

It's a tough one as what I see in him is what his done at other clubs and I keep thinking to myself that he will repeat that here, but it might not happen and that's hard to get my head round unless we sign Ronaldo

 

[PSingh]

I think the deal is already done, wouldn't make any sense for us to spend a whole year helping him recover from the injury to then pass him on to another team so they can reap the benefits.

 

[Zoo]

 

[Whiteside1985]

Hope I'm wrong, but it reminds me how I felt during the early days of Veron playing for us: I like him as a player, I really really want him to succeed...but I have this nagging doubt that he isn't going to hit the heights at United.

 

[decorativeed]

For me, he's the most underwhelming of the summer signings. I don't understand the adulation he recieves from the crowd, as he's done very little during his time here so far.

 

[Whiteside1985]

For me, he's the most underwhelming of the summer signings. I don't understand the adulation he recieves from the crowd, as he's done very little during his time here so far.

I think it's the combination of his previous achievements and a cool chant which have made him a bit of a cult hero!

 

[Sam]

I was watching his highlights of the game vs Spurs earlier, and I his overall play (outside the box) was actually pretty good. Good touches (in between some admitted shockers) good strength and hold up play, and pretty good linking up with others. However, in the box he was awful. Missed two really good chances, and was terrible to react to Mata's free kick off the post.

And the weird thing is, that display kind of summed up his performances for me so far for United. He came here with this reputation of being the most lethal finisher in the game, that only needs one chance to score, will score from pretty much any angle, but wont offer much outside the box. Yet, his work in the box, for the most part, has been awful. I see people moaning about lack of service and whatnot, but he's had plenty of chances, and missed a lot. He's been snatching a lot at chances, and showing very little composure. Yet his game outside the box has been pretty impressive.

All of which makes me wonder, was his reputation a bit exaggerated? I've seen a couple of posts (one around the time he signed) that showed that his goalscoring record, without the penalties, although good, isn't actually that special. At least not as good as his reputation and standing in the game would lead you to believe.

I know a lot of people think I hate the lad, but I really don't. I'm desperate for him to succeed, and love his work rate and desire. But he's become a real conundrum, and a bit of a mind feck to think about. He's seemingly good at the things I expected him to be bad at, and rubbish at the things that he's supposed to be brilliant at.

 

[gasmanc]

He's Radamel Falcao for f*cks sake.

 

[Browniee]

He's Radamel Falcao for f*cks sake.

This.

He's not getting any bloody service, with Angel back and Herrera in midfield he's going to shine, I have no doubt. He's getting fitter with every minute played.

 

[gasmanc]

I think with Vidic it was around 9 months back to first team action and then a further 6 months in and out of form and fitness (fking ACL)
Falcao should be just about nearing total fitness and to be fair he's looked sharp, the finishing is still being snatched at here and there, but that will come as the muscle memory returns, repetition is the only way.
Hoping for a good second half of the season from him and yes, now our best attacking midfield is fit we should get a good picture of where he's at.

 

[Sam]

This.

He's not getting any bloody service, with Angel back and Herrera in midfield he's going to shine, I have no doubt. He's getting fitter with every minute played.

See, a few people have been saying this, but I think thats a cop out. In fact, I think its utter nonsense.

Off the top of my head, in the limited games he's played, he's missed a pretty good rebound chance vs QPR on his debut, horribly miss hit two chances against Everton (one outside the area which would have been very difficult to score, but he still snatched at it horribly, and the other from a Shaw cut back into the 6 yard box, against that he snatched at and miss hit). Missed three very good chances against Spurs (snatching horribly at one great through ball from Mata, falling over on the turn from a Rooney pass, and tamely shooting at Lloris when one on one with a defender). Ashley Young has also put in some absolute peaches over the past few weeks (the type of delivery Di Maria was putting in earlier, which everyone was claiming Falcao would score tons from) yet so far he's managed to convert one of those crosses, either completely missing, or making little contact, with the rest.

Look, I'm not saying we've been creating chance after chance, or that he's been missing chance after chance. But I'd argue that a top striker shouldn't need to be spoon fed all his goals, and that a Falcao of a few years ago would have quite probably scored most, if not all, those chances I mentioned above. Now, I accept that in quite a few of his cameos its been 10/15 minutes where the game has been dead, and therefore he's not got any chances. But he has had chances to score in other games, and has missed, quite badly in some cases. And thats why this excuse of no service bugs me. The service hasn't been great, but he's still had, and missed, chances.

 

[gasmanc]

he's missed a pretty good rebound chance vs QPR on his debut, horribly miss hit two chances against Everton (one outside the area which would have been very difficult to score, but he still snatched at it horribly, and the other from a Shaw cut back into the 6 yard box, against that he snatched at and miss hit). Missed three very good chances against Spurs (snatching horribly at one great through ball from Mata, falling over on the turn from a Rooney pass, and tamely shooting at Lloris when one on one with a defender). Ashley Young has also put in some absolute peaches over the past few weeks (the type of delivery Di Maria was putting in earlier, which everyone was claiming Falcao would score tons from) yet so far he's managed to convert one of those crosses, either completely missing, or making little contact, with the rest.

Look, I'm not saying we've been creating chance after chance, or that he's been missing chance after chance.

Well to be fair that's pretty much what you have just said

He's recovering from the games most dreadful injury and the service hasn't been excellent, he's desperate to score his way into form which does explain why he's snatching and scuffing shots but when you've had ACL reconstruction the muscle memory is all but lost. The tissue around the operated area is actually new tissue and only time and repetition will get him back to anything like the Falcao we have all seen.
Personally I think he is worth the wait and for me he gets time, as much as he requires, within reason of course.

 

[Sam]

Well to be fair that's pretty much what you have just said

He's recovering from the games most dreadful injury and the service hasn't been excellent, he's desperate to score his way into form which does explain why he's snatching and scuffing shots but when you've had ACL reconstruction the muscle memory is all but lost. The tissue around the operated area is actually new tissue and only time and repetition will get him back to anything like the Falcao we have all seen.
Personally I think he is worth the wait and for me he gets time, as much as he requires, within reason of course.

No I haven't. I've named 6 specific chances (one very much a half chance) that I expect a player of his ilk to better with. I've not said that he's been missing 3 chances every game (which he obviously hasn't).

 

[gasmanc]

No I haven't. I've named 6 specific chances (one very much a half chance) that I expect a player of his ilk to better with. I've not said that he's been missing 3 chances every game (which he obviously hasn't).

We've not created him 3 a game yet
Like I've already stated, he's going to need time to get back on top of his game and he's also going to need good service.
Hopefully the returns to fitness of Herrera and Di Maria mark a change in that, he's not had consistent game time in front of either.

 

[thejtrain]

If he's going to be so much reliant on service, what's the point of keeping him over Chicha? Wasn't this the same problem we had with Chicharito? Do people on here think Falcao has been / will be significantly better than him in terms of their all-round games rather than just the goals and chances created? Gotta admit, I haven't seen enough of Falcao's all-round game prior to Man Utd, so it's an honest question.

 

[kouroux]

If he's going to be so much reliant on service, what's the point of keeping him over Chicha? Wasn't this the same problem we had with Chicharito? Do people on here think Falcao has been / will be significantly better than him in terms of their all-round games rather than just the goals and chances created? Gotta admit, I haven't seen enough of Falcao's all-round game prior to Man Utd, so it's an honest question.

Chicharito wanted to leave (also Welbeck too) so another striker was needed but not sure Falcao should have been the answer.

 

[Pexbo]

Chicharito wanted to leave (also Welbeck too) so another striker was needed but not sure Falcao should have been the answer.

£6m loan punt on a World Class striker coming back from injury with a first option to buy when we still have Rooney, Van Persie and Wilson?

We'd have been crazy to turn that down.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

£6m loan punt on a World Class striker coming back from injury with a first option to buy when we still have Rooney, Van Persie and Wilson?

We'd have been crazy to turn that down.

This so much.

 

[shaggy]

He's Radamel Falcao for f*cks sake.

I'm sure Chelsea said the same thing about Andriy Shevchenko, or even Torres. Thankfully we only loaned him so we shouldn't waste £40 million if he doesn't start putting in top quality performances regularly.

 

[MDFC Manager]

The only reason I'd not sign him is because Rooney has been extremely inconsistent in midfield.

 

[kouroux]

£6m loan punt on a World Class striker coming back from injury with a first option to buy when we still have Rooney, Van Persie and Wilson?

We'd have been crazy to turn that down.

If it is just a loan then yeah it was a great decision but if like it's also been said, it's a loan anticipating the buy then it's a bad move.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

If it is just a loan then yeah it was a great decision but if like it's also been said, it's a loan anticipating the buy then it's a bad move.

It's just my opinion, I wouldn't have a clue what the details of the deal are but I would put my money on a trigger making the move permanent if we make top 4 and the loan finishing if we don't.

If we do make the Champions League, Falcao would be a massive 'addition' to the squad.

 

[Pexbo]

I'm going to reserve judgement on him until we get the more creative players back behind him. The likes of Herrera and Di Maria Nd an extra man in midfield rather than defence. They're feeding off scraps with no space to play in.

 

[kouroux]

It's just my opinion, I wouldn't have a clue what the details of the deal are but I would put my money on a trigger making the move permanent if we make top 4 and the loan finishing if we don't.

If we do make the Champions League, Falcao would be a massive 'addition' to the squad.

I would love nothing more to be completely wrong about him and to be even laughed at.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Fit or not his touch is worse than Rooney and is taking up Rooney's best position.

I do believe he is better than this but it's frustrating watching a player come back to fitness when we are trying to get top 4 and move on from the darkest year the club has seen in 30 plus years.

Sometimes I was Chicharito stayed despite being horrendous outside the box. He has pace which we lack desperately.

Saying all that Falcao can easily go on a crazy run of goals. Let's hope that happens.

 

[luckyspurs]

He's Radamel Falcao for f*cks sake.

Reminds me of all the "he's Mesut f-wording Ozil" comments from Arsenal fans last season.

From fans who thought Eriksen would flop in the Premier League.

 

[Nighteyes]

. I see people moaning about lack of service and whatnot, but he's had plenty of chances, and missed a lot. He's been snatching a lot at chances, and showing very little composure. Yet his game outside the box has been pretty impressive.

Full agree with this. His finishing hasn't been upto the mark.

 

[Roboc7]

If he's going to be so much reliant on service, what's the point of keeping him over Chicha? Wasn't this the same problem we had with Chicharito? Do people on here think Falcao has been / will be significantly better than him in terms of their all-round games rather than just the goals and chances created? Gotta admit, I haven't seen enough of Falcao's all-round game prior to Man Utd, so it's an honest question.

He is all about goals, not got a great touch or particularly great all round and has lost some pace and mobility.To get the best out of him he needs to play up front on his own with Rooney or Mata behind him and we need to play with more width to get crosses in. He was never really fast but he was quick enough and he has slowed down dramatically, he is never going to out pace anyone and he is only going to score a lot of goals from crosses (he is brilliant in the air) or through balls where his movement can compensate for the fact he can’t run.

Playing as we are now he is going to struggle to make much of an impact whether he is fit or not but that means ditching 3-5-2 and dropping RVP neither of which look likely at the moment. I assume the club will make the right choice about whether to sign him or not, if he improves considerably then we should think about buying him if not then he can go back to Monaco. Whoever buys him in the summer is taking on a big risk no matter how he performs a 29 year old for a big fee, big wages, a player who hasn’t been world class since 2012-13 and has had few serious injuries. The upside is of course that even if he only gets back to 90% of player he was he is one of best number 9’s around, personally I can’t see many teams being willing to shell out much more than £20m on him though.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

He's Radamel Falcao for f*cks sake.

I don't think he's quite the player he used to be.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I think the deal is already done, wouldn't make any sense for us to spend a whole year helping him recover from the injury to then pass him on to another team so they can reap the benefits.

It would make more sense for us to have signed him on loan with a first preference option to buy in case he finds top form and fitness, than to outright buy a recovering 28 year old for big money. At least that's what I hope happened.

 

[luckyspurs]

It would make more sense for us to have signed him on loan with a first preference option to buy in case he finds top form and fitness, than to outright buy a recovering 28 year old for big money. At least that's what I hope happened.

Problem is if you don't now sign him, you're left with a 32 year old Van Persie and Wilson as the only outright strikers. Which means you desperately need to spend big money on a striker (if it isn't Benzema or Cavani, will probably make Bony look like a masterstroke).

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Problem is if you don't now sign him, you're left with a 32 year old Van Persie and Wilson as the only outright strikers. Which means you desperately need to spend big money on a striker (if it isn't Benzema or Cavani, will probably make Bony look like a masterstroke).

I think Rooney would do great right uptop. His finishing is class these days. And Rvp should have plenty left in the tank too. We've also got other players like Mata who can play in the hole or as second strikers.

 

[IwatUwat]

The only reason I'd not sign him is because Rooney has been extremely inconsistent in midfield.

Really - maybe for the Rooney thread? But you think Rooney has been inconsistent in CM?

 

[Orton]

Hopefully having Di Maria back will make a difference to Falcao. He needs service. Him and RVP have been feeding from scraps most of the season.

 

[luckyspurs]

I think Rooney would do great right uptop. His finishing is class these days. And Rvp should have plenty left in the tank too. We've also got other players like Mata who can play in the hole or as second strikers.

Average goals a season had they played 38 games.

2011-13
Van Persie 28, Rooney 24, Mata 10, Di Maria 8
Total 70

2013-15
Rooney 21, Van Persie 20, Mata 9, Di Maria 6
Total 56

You're relying on your strikers to make up for the limitations in midfield and defence. But the strikers aren't the players they were a couple of seasons ago. Barely scraping 20 a season if you played every game, makes 80 goals a season very difficult, let alone the 100 Man City got last season.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Average goals a season if they'd played all 38 games.

2011-13
Van Persie 28
Rooney 24
Mata 10
Di Maria 8
Total 70

2013-15
Rooney 21
Van Persie 20
Mata 9
Di Maria 6
Total 56

You're relying on your strikers to make up for the limitations in midfield and defence. But the strikers aren't the players they were a couple of seasons ago. Barely scraping 20 a season if you played every game, makes 80 goals a season very difficult, let alone the 100 Man City got last season.

Your logic is really flawed there, in that you're assuming strikes score goals independent of the service they receive.

I can tell you for a fact that we our wingers and central midfielders were in much better form in 2011-13, then they have been since. Plus the whole 2013-15 stats is based almost entirely on an absolute disaster of a season in the immediate aftermath of Fergie's retirement. Not to mention that Rooney's been played in mifield far more in these last two seasons than he did in 2011-13. Things seem to be turning around now but let's wait until the end of the season before making assessing whether or not our attacking players are in some kind of terminal decline

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Your logic is really flawed there, in that you're assuming strikes score goals independent of the service they receive.

I can tell you for a fact that we our wingers and central midfielders were in much better form in 2011-13, then they have been since. Plus the whole 2013-15 stats is based almost entirely on an absolute disaster of a season in the immediate aftermath of Fergie's retirement. Not to mention that Rooney's been played in mifield far more in these last two seasons than he did in 2011-13. Things seem to be turning around now but let's wait until the end of the season before making assessing whether or not our attacking players are in some kind of terminal decline

This.

 

[SirAF]

I think his situation could also hinge on de Gea.. Mendes is the agent of both, and if I were him I'd tell Woodward to sign up Falcao in order to keep de Gea. Pure speculation of course.

 

[Ozio]

I think his situation could also hinge on de Gea.. Mendes is the agent of both, and if I were him I'd tell Woodward to sign up Falcao in order to keep de Gea. Pure speculation of course.

You're overestimating the power Mendes has. It's not like De Gea's contract runs out in the summer and he hasn't shown any signs of unhappiness. He won't be able to use him as a bargaining chip.