Agree with this. O'Shea pulled him back which clearly stopped him getting a proper contact on the ball – even so he still managed to connect.
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Agree with this. O'Shea pulled him back which clearly stopped him getting a proper contact on the ball – even so he still managed to connect.
Thing is, his first touch is so bad 99% of the time, that a little bit of me wonders whether that touch for the penalty wasn't a complete accident....
He was also clipped by O'Shea, he also held him arm.
He really didn't, I don't even understand how anyone can argue that.
You don't stay on your feet in this kind of situations, O'shea puts him off balance with his leg and then pull him backwards.
It depends what you mean by accident. He's done that type of stuff loads in his career, so it's more a throwback to his best days than 'an accident' (like if Heskey had done something like that). It could be an accident in that this throwback won't occur again this season though.
That's crazy, he was blatantly pulled down. The fact that he was still trying to get his shot away instead of just accepting the penalty only highlights it. Just look at the above video!
It depends what you mean by accident. He's done that type of stuff loads in his career, so it's more a throwback to his best days than 'an accident' (like if Heskey had done something like that). It could be an accident in that this throwback won't occur again this season though.
More like he just shoved his leg there and hoped for the best, as opposed to "controlling it" (in that he knew exactly where the ball would fall).
Like you said though - he probably fully meant every bit of it, as his career would point to a man that is more than capable... but based on this season, I can't help but be a bit cynical!
It was a penalty. The legend did smothered him.
The video isn't working for me. The way I remember it, he was pulled back by O'Shea but a stronger, better balanced striker would have still worked the keeper. For a big, strong bloke he does have an uncanny ability to fall over far too easily.
I could be wrong though. Will need to look at another replay.
He definitely does, but I think the penalty situation isn't a fair reflection of that, as he was genuinely pulled back.
Have to agree with you, he was seriously manhandled and pulled down hence why the shot was so ineffectual as he collapsed.
This morning there are claims that Valencia want him next season. We have certainly failed to get the best out of him and suspect he will be sent packing. My concern is that with our existing supply system, it's unlikely we will find a suitable replacement.
I was just thinking about that, Diego Costa or Ronaldo go down on this one, Falcao is turning a few seconds before it's a critical moment in term of balance.
It's because, he is powerful that he gives the impression that it was nothing.
In fact that vid just says to me that we're using him the wrong way. Comes alive in the box, like Hernandez used to.
To be fair though, Hernandez can do things outside of the box too that Falcao seemingly can't... namely run into the box with any great speed/conviction.
Also, I'd say thats more an isolated incident then actually "Coming alive in the box" ... he generally never seems to be in the right place in the area to pick up the ball/loose ends/get on the end of crosses.
I think he's being affected by the fact that he's playing for a permanent deal and the pressure is getting to him. LVG commented a while back about how Falcao would score any chance given to him in training (I'm paraphrasing) but you'd think that he was on about a different player when you look at Falcao's past games.
With Young back in what one would refer to as "respectable" form and RVP out, playing Young, Mata/Rooney and Di Maria/Mata/Januzaj behind Falcao should in theory be enough key passers to create decent amount of goal-scoring opportunities for him to slot home at least a couple of more goals before the dust has settled.
With Young back in what one would refer to as "respectable" form and RVP out, playing Young, Mata/Rooney and Di Maria/Mata/Januzaj behind Falcao should in theory be enough key passers to create decent amount of goal-scoring opportunities for him to slot home at least a couple of more goals before the dust has settled.
You could argue the first touch had an element of luck, but then all first touches do at that speed. The 2nd touch is definitely on purpose and quick thinking. That was a glimpse of the Falcao of old, if only he could show that more often we wouldn't be having these discussions.
Like other's have said though, the rest of his game is too low a level to be a starter at our club, he is playing even worse than Hernandez, no way is he worth the money Monaco want.
I was a big Chico fan but Falcao looks the more complete deal as a footballer. His speed over 5 yards and anticipation in the box is quite something. His lay off to Rooney for a goal earlier this season was impressive. Making him collect the ball 10 yards around the half way line however, seems to be a waste of his talents. We should pump balls at him in around the box as we did for Teddy S.
Don't necessarily agree with that, maybe not so much these past few matches but his movement in the box is overall excellent. He usually makes 3 or 4 different runs in just one chance. For a while, there was just absolutely no service to him. Now there's a bit more, not much, but a bit more, but he's a bit rusty in that aspect.
True. It happened against Sunderland, great ball in from Young, no one in the six yard box. But is some of that to do with how we're set up? Playing in front of teams all the time and not using the wingers enough – hard for a forward to get on the end of stuff if that's not the consistent set-up? Or am I being too kind? Saying that he needs to make runs in behind – but the whole team needs to do more of that too. In the first half we were very static again.
Yeah that could well be right. Maybe signing him on a permanent deal, from the start, would have let him play with less pressure.
It's been weird for him. He started well, but failed to quickly get that first goal. Was still putting in decent performances but the pressure was clearly increasing. Then he got injured, and the same cycle got repeated, but with poorer and less certain performances.
I would go with this. I was surprised, and quite chuffed, at the applause he got when he was subbed on Saturday. The fans are so willing him to ignite. And it clearly was appreciated by him.
That's worth trying. When it comes to attacking balls inside the box, he's far better than Fellaini IMO.
I don't think we've used Falcao or RvP correctly this season. They've not played particularly well either but they could be used better.
Maybe I'm focusing too much on his movement from the Preston and this game (both of which I made a point of paying attention to him - to see if the often mooted "but his movement is great" stuff actually rang true - particularly Saturday as it's easier to do at the game) where his movement was, honest to god, atrocious.
The irony is of course that he didn't actually move much to receive the ball for the penalty... maybe that's where he's going wrong!
If we were all true to ourselves I think we all know the quality that's lurking there and perhaps bursting to come out. Not sure all this psycho stuff influences him on the pitch though. He took his chance on Saturday which suggests his mindset is not effected; but the supply he's been offered thus far has been pretty barren.
I agree with Scholes to a certain degree. Words to the effect of "a side is only as good as its strikers." We lack cohesion; too slow at coming out of our area, and don't cope with being pressed high up. In those conditions it's unlikely any striker in any club will do much more than twiddle their thumbs.
The only solution is to play the strikers higher up and drive balls at them to force the opponent to back off. Once faced with one-on-ones and flank attacks, teams will become more reluctant to fill the middle with boxes or press higher up. Since Xmas we have faced this problem and LVG has been unable to find a good solution. I think it's time to pepper the strikers with long passes and play with wingers, until we can get the midfield moving forward aggressively again.
This. He makes a lot of runs, short movements looking for passes and dummies and balls are very often not sent his way or over hit. Di Maria was guilty of so many poor passes his way in the first half.
If we're looking for movement up top, then the 4-2-3-1 is the way to go with Rooney behind. We'll have higher ball retention up the pitch, Falcao's service *should* improve and we will create chances. Plus with any combination of Mata, Di Maria, Januzaj and Young either side of Rooney, we'll have decent to good movement which is far better than we've seen so far this season.
I would agree with you if the attacking midfielders were making headway but a lot of the time they end up boxed in. We need to create more space, speed up our movement, and increase supply. The solution is well supplied conventional wingers with two strikers up front - classic 4-4-2. The midfield are now so predictable they are ineffective for quite a long time in games.
Said this about the Shevchenko comparisons ages ago.
He's done, his runs aren't with the same intensity or pace they used to be, he can't hold defenders off anymore and he can't run past them. His touch has also been appalling, it's not a coincidence we score from the first chance in the game where the ball came to Falcao and he wasn't instantly brushed aside or shinned it into no mans land. It's the same with RvP, they're both finished.
We need a striker who is difficult to play against, not just scoring clear chances we create. Aguero, Costa, Suarez, Lewandowski, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Benzema, Ibra etc. all get the ball and make something happen themselves every now and again regardless of service. They're scary to play against because they can force mistakes rather than relying on a perfect pass or someone to feck up of their own accord. None of our strikers really do this anymore and they haven't since RvP in Fergies last season.
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He was probably taken off to save him for the game on Wednesday, I don’t know how or why but he seems to be someone LVG wants to play pretty much every game despite his really poor performances. Having had a look at him it would seem inevitable we will send him back to Monaco without even a second thought based on his age, the cost and his performances but I have this horrible feeling we will buy him. It would be a terrible signing but I can’t really see any explanation for why he continues to play regularly at the expense of other players.
We need a striker who is difficult to play against, not just scoring clear chances we create. Aguero, Costa, Suarez, Lewandowski, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Benzema, Ibra etc. all get the ball and make something happen themselves every now and again regardless of service. They're scary to play against because they can force mistakes rather than relying on a perfect pass or someone to feck up of their own accord. None of our strikers really do this anymore and they haven't since RvP in Fergies last season.[/QUOTE]
Very good point. Except those players have got squads behind them that do ensure their supply. They can make something happen because their squads are functioning more effectively. We have efficiency to some extent but no effectiveness and that is exposing Falcao and others. BTW is Lewandowski having a prolific time at the moment?
I thought that too, perhaps another 15 minutes before subbing might have been better for everyone if the decision had been set in stone.
Very good point. Except those players have got squads behind them that do ensure their supply. They can make something happen because their squads are functioning more effectively. We have efficiency to some extent but no effectiveness and that is exposing Falcao and others. BTW is Lewandowski having a prolific time at the moment?
I thought that too, perhaps another 15 minutes before subbing might have been better for everyone if the decision had been set in stone.
The modern game is so super-athletic that if you don't have a striker that can contribute in more than one way then you're going to find it hard to make up for it. Most strikers do that by being able to drop out of the box and link up play, as Aguero, Benzema & Rooney do. Some do it by working and pressing defenders incredibly hard, like Costa or Lewandowski. Some double as wide players, like Ronaldo or Messi. Suarez ticks all these boxes.
Falcao got away with it at Atleti simply by being a crazily good finisher. What his highlights reel and there's every type of goal from every bit of the box. Service involved him simply having the ball, not getting chances on a plate ready to finish.
But if he's not at that crazy level of finishing, and he has nothing else to offer, then he's simply a standard striker.
I disagreed with you when you first floated that Shevchenko comparison but it's looking more and more like it was on the money. I also think you're right about RvP (something I've been thinking myself since last season) All of which is fecking depressing but there you go.
Could be the end of the road.
At this point, even if Monaco dropped their asking price it would be a poor purchase. By next season Wilson will hopefully have bulked up a bit, and Europe is full of promising looking strikers who are worth a punt at £10M-£15M or so. Its always possible that he'll roar back into form at any moment, but frankly it's far more likely he won't.
Sad though, he's a really likeable guy.
I just get the feeling RF is a brace away from kicking on. One good solid performance could be the turning point, but i'm basing that on past showings and nothing he has done in a United shirt, mind.
Its just boggles the mind how poor he is this season compared to his previous ability, he looks a totally different player - lets hope it's all in his head and he can get over it.
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, there is no way on earth Monaco are going to get anything close to 25m for him.
Its just boggles the mind how poor he is this season compared to his previous ability, he looks a totally different player - lets hope it's all in his head and he can get over it.
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, there is no way on earth Monaco are going to get anything close to 25m for him.
I suspect we will be looking at a new striker in the summer. Falcao won't be signed (unless Mendes really is as conniving as he is portrayed) and Van Persie will probably still be here but as a back up on the last year of his contract. I'm genuinely surprised by how bad Van Persie has gotten, he just doesn't contribute and so no one is likely to come in for him in the summer.
The depressing aspect for me is that it has taken an injury for us to drop Van Persie. We should have reverted to Rooney up front a while ago.
Of course you do, you Muppet supreme, you. That being said at this point I'm also starting to think we need a new striker. But I would love to bring in a young (u23) striker talent and play Rooney up top until he turns shit as well or our youngster can show he is better than Rooney.
Angelo Henriquez maybe?
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