We might not be playing to his strengths.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 29
- Goals
- 4
- Assists
- 5
- Yellow cards
- 2
- Status
The literary affectations in that article are hilarious.
He's had all the chances he should be afforded, chances based on past achievements. Sadly, he's not the player he was. It's time for Wilson.
Preferably up front on his own.
Preferably up front on his own.
His job won't be at risk because Woodward will know the situation.
I think one out and out striker would be enough. Rooney should be played as a striker again or at the very least as a center forward and Wilson should get his chances upfront aswell. That would be 3 strikers combined with the attacking midfielders we have that would be more than enough for me. Also I think we should sign Depay as a left winger/ left forward.
Wilson+Rooney+Dyabala/Lacazette+Depay+Di Maria+Januzaj+Mata+Young(+Fellaini) = our attack next year
Nah, success on the pitch is more important to United's financial situation than keeping Mendes happy so even if Woodward was ok, I dont see the Glaziers tolerating bad results just to facilitate Falcao.
Bear in mind this is Falcao he is playing up front, not a hopeless cass like say Bebe. LVG might well believe that Falcao needs to keep playing through this bad patch to get to his best. Plus Falcao has sat out many games already so the theory doesn't hold water.
I noted a wild theory... my poorly worded point was that the problem is so obvious, without any reasonable explanation, that the conspiracy theories and other wacko ideas are now actually in print.
I did share your enthusiasm and hope that he just needed a few matches to get into the swing of things, but instead of getting better he's somehow getting worse. Yesterday he made MICHEAL KEANE look like Cannavaro and Nesta rolled into 1
I do think he will perhaps play better when we spread the pitch and give him more space, but why should we be hoping that he suddenly can score? we should have the best of the best available. People like Danny Ings or Sakho would do a much better job and wouldn't cost us 40m and 300k a week!. It's sad but true
Yep, cant argue with that. Just sad that we cant get the best out of him
For that kind of money he's earning he should be scoring like Ronaldo or Messi. What he's given us is nothing but a total fraud. To see people defend him is provoking me. I understand that some of you have a weak spot for this guy and actually fell in love with the idea of having him in the team. He should be sent home as soon as possible for the good of everyone. No matter how you put it there's no way you could get this little output with all that money. I don't think there's any other forward in the league who could manage to score only 4 goals in 18 appearances for Manchester United. It's RIDICULOUS. Even if he started scoring goals now he would never be able to catch up on what he owes us with his feckING WAGES. Not even half of that is justified atm. Now listen, a player like that should be showing AT LEAST 16-20 goals by now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nikica Jelavic, Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll (who are laughing now?), Jonathan Walters - players who have all scored more goals than Falcao this season Even guys we've let go (Diouf) are scoring more goals. I could might as well have said: anyone is scoring more goals than Falcao. I can't stand the sight of that piece of garbage anymore.
Nikica Jelavic, Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll (who are laughing now?), Jonathan Walters - players who have all scored more goals than Falcao this season
Even guys we've let go (Diouf) are scoring more goals. I could might as well have said: anyone is scoring more goals than Falcao. I can't stand the sight of that piece of garbage anymore.Ok.
For that kind of money he's earning he should be scoring like Ronaldo or Messi. What he's given us is nothing but a total fraud. To see people defend him is provoking me. I understand that some of you have a weak spot for this guy and actually fell in love with the idea of having him in the team. He should be sent home as soon as possible for the good of everyone. No matter how you put it there's no way you could get this little output with all that money. I don't think there's any other forward in the league who could manage to score only 4 goals in 18 appearances for Manchester United. It's RIDICULOUS. Even if he started scoring goals now he would never be able to catch up on what he owes us with his feckING WAGES. Not even half of that is justified atm. Now listen, a player like that should be showing AT LEAST 16-20 goals by now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nikica Jelavic, Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll (who are laughing now?), Jonathan Walters - players who have all scored more goals than Falcao this season
What a fan,a true example.
Terrible again last night, surely after that performance LVG will have to drop him and basically just give up on him now, it looks unlikely he will even do anything to make the loan deal a success let alone come close to earning a permanent contract. There is no upside in continuing to play him although Mendes won’t be happy I think he will get over it quickly because he won’t want to miss out on the money Utd might be throwing around.
Falcao has tried his best but for him the season is a write off he needs to go away and think about his next move, if we could send him back to Monaco today I would do it because he is having an adverse effect on the team and living off his reputation. Wilson, Fellani, Herrera or Mata all deserve a chance ahead of him and I don’t think any of those would keep their place if they played as consistently badly as Falcao has done. Whether or not we drop Falcao could be the deciding factor in the race for the top 4, there just isn’t a defence for him anymore and he has to be left out of the team.
Falcao has tried his best but for him the season is a write off he needs to go away and think about his next move, if we could send him back to Monaco today I would do it because he is having an adverse effect on the team and living off his reputation. Wilson, Fellani, Herrera or Mata all deserve a chance ahead of him and I don’t think any of those would keep their place if they played as consistently badly as Falcao has done. Whether or not we drop Falcao could be the deciding factor in the race for the top 4, there just isn’t a defence for him anymore and he has to be left out of the team.
I don't see Van Gaal accepting advice from the Glazers about who should play and who shouldn't, and certainly not take orders. Uli Hoeness tried that and he had to sack him to get his way.
But he's not going to give up on a player just because of one very poor game. Of course his performance yesterday has been noticed and will influence the decision on future starting line-ups. But he will get other chances, but if he keeps on working hard and does well in training, he will get games. Van Gaal might not like to admit he overestimated him, like lots of people did, and feel responsible towards the player, but also his stubborness has limits. It was last minute rent, Van Persie had injury issues, Wellbeck was not good enough and Wilson too young, not really that big a deal that it didn't work out. But the decision whether to keep him or let him go is not to be taken now.
No I got that you weren't advocating it as truth and I suppose I responded more so because Mendes' status makes such an event improbable rather than impossible.
There are limits. A guy like Falcao, who comes in with his contract will obviously provoke fans. The fact the guy is not giving any kind of value sure as hell won't help his case. He and his people put all this pressure on themselves and should get to deal with what we think about them. To support Falcao at this point is just stupid.
Agreed, I think at the time this was seen as a shrewd piece of business. We took Falcao from under the nose of PSG on a seemingly risk free loan. i don't think Welbeck or Wilson would have faired much better when the team has been quite poor overall in an attacking sense. Falcao is probably unfairly highlighted due to the fact he is on loan with an option to buy. RVP and Rooney have been largely disappointing this season too.
And Falcao is?
Yes, but I still think Falcao wasn't from the same level as Van Persie and Rooney when the last few years and still isn't. He was a bit of a hype, very well marketed but never really world class.
Van Gaal often gets tempted by an out an out goalscorer, as do many managers: We create a lot of chances, if we only had a real finisher.... then they get a real finisher and then it's if only we created more chances.... This is a classic problem that has a lot to do with the rule that there are only 11 players per team allowed on the pitch. Playing a player who's just their to score the goals often proves a high cost for the team in terms of loss of posession and all the creative work others have to do. Modern world class strikers can do both.
I hoped he was going to be the Batistuta/Salas South American striker dream that didn't happen, but sadly it's not to be.
Never forget that it was Diego who made them scousers cry though, and we still have to go to Anfield...
Absolutely great points - you've nailed it with that post.
And on the second bolded text - I totally agree, modern elite level strikers have more to their game than being a target man with no pace, and seeing so many on here excusing Falcao's atrocious contribution to our season is really strange ("he's a lovely guy", "seems like a top bloke" - based on what, exactly?). But as you said, it's hype, and hype goes a long, long way with most people.
In many ways Falcao (at his best) is a throwback. I could imagine if he'd turned up at the PL (in good form) in the early 2000's he'd probably have been a revelation, but football has moved on and evolved - even the modern number 9 like Costa for Chelsea contributes all over the pitch far more than Falcao (or RvP) does, he has hustle, he gets under opponents skin, he has a good touch, his hold up play is fantastic.
Falcao's presence is actively damaging how we're playing, and we're paying him elite player wages for that. This bothers me and I think the club should stop rewarding him with starts. We need to play RvP with Rooney behind him and bring on Falcao for RvP in the last 30 mins to make an impact.
The two of them should be competing for 1 position, not enjoying automatic starts together that are hindering the team. It's pathetic.
Mata has scored a goal (5) or made an assist (3) once every 184 minutes on the pitch.
Van Persie has scored a goal (10) or made an assist (2) once every 158 minutes on the pitch.
Rooney has scored a goal (8) or made an assist (4) once every 154 minutes on the pitch.
Herrera has scored a goal (2) or made an assist (3) once every 141 minutes on the pitch.
AdM has scored a goal (3) or made an assist (7) once every 130 minutes on the pitch.
Falcao has scored a goal (4) or made an assist (4) once every 117 minutes on the pitch.
Just saying.
Van Persie has scored a goal (10) or made an assist (2) once every 158 minutes on the pitch.
Rooney has scored a goal (8) or made an assist (4) once every 154 minutes on the pitch.
Herrera has scored a goal (2) or made an assist (3) once every 141 minutes on the pitch.
AdM has scored a goal (3) or made an assist (7) once every 130 minutes on the pitch.
Falcao has scored a goal (4) or made an assist (4) once every 117 minutes on the pitch.
Just saying.
You're not 'just saying', your intentions are quite clear.
Perfect examples of how useless stats can be.
Every 135 actually but nice try.
Actually it seems that all those stats are wrong because you're leaving FA Cup out of your maths for some reason.
well...it was worth a punt. At least we didn't buy him. Could have turned out to be a master stroke...but sadly it didn't. Can't see him suddenly turning the corner now....too little time really.
Unless he scores hat-tricks against Chelsea or Liverpool....I really can't see him proving he is worth the permanent deal.
I like the guy, but that miss against West Ham.....oh dear....
I like the guy, but that miss against West Ham.....oh dear....
I was stoked when he was announced, but it's just not worked.
I do hope it was structured as a loan with the option to buy rather than any obligation to buy to allow monaco to reduce their FFP responsibilities.
I do hope it was structured as a loan with the option to buy rather than any obligation to buy to allow monaco to reduce their FFP responsibilities.
Heard a stat on the Football Ramble: of all the players to have 20 or more shots in the league, only Costa has a higher shooting accuracy percentage than Falcao, which sounds mental if true. Of course, it means absolutely nothing really, if anything it says to me that A) he's probably not had a huge amount of shots, and B) most of his shots are straight at the keeper-maybe he doesn't have the confidence to 'hit the corners' when he does shoot, and is just getting weak efforts on target? I don't know.
The elephant in the room here is the fact that Van Gaal plays him all the time. Perhaps he rates him? Gave him a big high five yesterday when he brought him off. We might still sign him...
It'd be a really, really bad move from the club if we did.
His presence could soon (if not already) have a detrimental effect in the dressing room - players are highly competitive and not the emotionless robots that many fans assume them to be, and it won't have gone unnoticed that he's dramatically overpaid, over-played and utterly shit.
You can't have the absolute worst performers getting the highest wages and the most opportunities for long before disharmony sets in - that goes for any workplace.
I don't think he's been nearly as bad as people try to claim, at worse he's anonymous but then so is RVP and his performances go by largely unnoticed most of the time. If he's lucky he's getting maybe one chance a game on average at the moment, same with RVP. If people are expecting him to bang in the goals its just not going to happen. It's taken till mid February for our top scorer to get to double figures, our strikers just aren't going to score goals with the way we're playing at the moment. At least he got another assist last night.
I'd like to keep him, he has no confidence and is playing in a very un-cohesive team but I'm still quite sure the quality is there.
Not hiding from the fact he was poor, the worst I have seen him play. However, in defence of him, he was shot by his teammates. So many players got the ball, looked up, saw Falcao with 3 players around him then gave him a bouncing ball to control. He was not helped one bit.
If we make top 4, I would do everything to keep him (yes it's a shot load of money but welcome to 2015, well be spending a lot more than that in a few years). I truly believe the top striker that he is, is still there but others areas need to be fixed in order to get the best out of him. And I think his best, is better than what RVP can offer over the next 2-3 seasons.
If we make top 4, I would do everything to keep him (yes it's a shot load of money but welcome to 2015, well be spending a lot more than that in a few years). I truly believe the top striker that he is, is still there but others areas need to be fixed in order to get the best out of him. And I think his best, is better than what RVP can offer over the next 2-3 seasons.
No pretending he hasn't been poor. But the thing about Falcao is, he's a poacher in the purest sense. Play him in a team that players any semblence of normal attacking football with a reasonable amount of creativity and he'll convert the chances. We've not exactly done him a favour by being so crap in terms of build up and creation.
If we played 20 metres higher up the pitch, he would be a completely different player. And a completely different team to be honest.
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So you are comparing the stats of a centre forward with everyone else barring another centre forward, and Rooney has not played there is 2 months. Amazing. Why don't you throw in similar stats for DDG to let us all know how much better Falcao has been.
I wonder if the loan included an agreement to sign him the next season no matter what, considering similar moves have been made by other clubs recently. While I don't think there's any ffp reason for that, it might help to keep the numbers in check or avoid giving the impression the spending was getting out of hand. Just speculation, but it's a possibility I thought about when the loan was announced.
To be fair I think that was always what the impression was at the start, but hopefully we've not agreed anything iron clad. I would hope Woodward had a get out clause, but then everybody thought Falcao would be a success
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