[Litch]

Someone explain to me Why would a player of Falcao's stature come to OT for a trial? (Call it a loan, still means the same thing in this case). If Falcao was brilliant, there was still no guarantees that he was going to stay anyway then if that's the case. Can you imagine, he scores 40 goals for us, we say yes, Falcao says no thank you, I'm off to Real......and that's why it makes no sense.
It's not he needed the money or that he was joining Barca or Real. It's not like he wanted champs league or a platform to kickstart his international career again.....and it's certainly not for the culture, restaurants or the weather. The only logic I see is we have provisionally signed him already with the outstanding issue of the fee.....

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Do you have anything to qualify that opinion? Or shall we just take your word for it as a football guru?

160 posts in a thread about a player clearly not liked - agenda

 

[Winrar]

Someone explain to me Why would a player of Falcao's stature come to OT for a trial? (Call it a loan, still means the same thing in this case). If Falcao was brilliant, there was still no guarantees that he was going to stay anyway then if that's the case. Can you imagine, he scores 40 goals for us, we say yes, Falcao says no thank you, I'm off to Real......and that's why it makes no sense.
It's not he needed the money or that he was joining Barca or Real. It's not like he wanted champs league or a platform to kickstart his international career again.....and it's certainly not for the culture, restaurants or the weather. The only logic I see is we have provisionally signed him already with the outstanding issue of the fee.....

We were originally going to buy him outright. Forgot how this became a loan deal, though.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Someone explain to me Why would a player of Falcao's stature come to OT for a trial? (Call it a loan, still means the same thing in this case). If Falcao was brilliant, there was still no guarantees that he was going to stay anyway then if that's the case. Can you imagine, he scores 40 goals for us, we say yes, Falcao says no thank you, I'm off to Real......and that's why it makes no sense.
It's not he needed the money or that he was joining Barca or Real. It's not like he wanted champs league or a platform to kickstart his international career again.....and it's certainly not for the culture, restaurants or the weather. The only logic I see is we have provisionally signed him already with the outstanding issue of the fee.....

I do hope not. I was in favour at the time but it's just not worked out.

 

[Kakeru]

I am highly critical of Falcao, but in today's game, he didnt play badly, just average. Certainly not good enough to be one of the highest paid footballers in the World.

This.

I'm still raging at the breakaway chance he missed when he smacked that ball against the outside of the post after he fooled Courtois completely. That's the kind of chance a player of his calibre can't afford to miss so many times like he did this season.

 

[Raoul]

He was anonymous for much of the first half, in fact I forgot he was playing until he eventually got a touch well into the half.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

This.

I'm still raging at the breakaway chance he missed when he smacked that ball against the outside of the post after he fooled Courtois completely. That's the kind of chance a player of his calibre can't afford to miss so many times like he did this season.

Whereas it is OK for Rooney to miss two sitters yet not a word against him. RVP has been missing sitters for last 2 years.

Falcao created that opportunity with his movement. His only fault today was not standing up to the tackles from behind by Terry and Cahill.

 

[Litch]

We were originally going to buy him outright. Forgot how this became a loan deal, though.

I think it's because we wanted the transfer fee to come out of this years budget and not last years? The only issue I believe is has he physically fully recovered from the injury and nothing to do with his football ability.

 

[markhrad]

He was anonymous for much of the first half, in fact I forgot he was playing until he eventually got a touch well into the half.

He had to drop back to get a touch of the ball because his constant movement up front was being completely ignored. Mata, Herrera and Rooney were pre-occupied with back, side and wing passes. This results in a good percentage of possession but starves our strikers.

 

[Amethyst]

We were originally going to buy him outright. Forgot how this became a loan deal, though.

Because Monaco didn't want to sell James and Falcao in the same window as it helps their FFP. I think.

 

[Raoul]

He had to drop back to get a touch of the ball because his constant movement up front was being completely ignored. Mata, Herrera and Rooney were pre-occupied with back, side and wing passes. This results in a good percentage of possession but starves our strikers.

Yep, I thought the service into the box was quite bad. A few more decent crosses and he may have had a chance.

 

[Kant-ona]

Falcao managed to become easily the successor of Fellaini as the Knight of the Sad Countenance. Whenever something goes wrong or doesn't work out, he seems to be the symbol of the process.

If we sign him for reasons beyond comprehension, let's hope he does what Fellaini did in his second season with us. Falcao 2.0? Well, I lack the faith to believe. And if we sign players for these sums, we will also lack money sooner or later.

 

[Jed I. Knight]

I only got to watch the match up until right before the goal unfortunately, due to family obligations, but there were a couple of times up until I stopped watching where it looked like Falcao had glue on the soles of his shoes. He just couldn't get around fast enough to apply any sort of pressure to their defender's on the ball, and in those situations just showing yourself makes a difference.

Without comparing him to anyone, I just don't think he has the legs to play up front with the style we are playing, that relies heavily on the striker to be mobile enough to show himself for both centre backs when on the ball. Other than that, he looked better than what I've seen so far from him on the ball, but that moment when he lost the ball for the goal really looked like something that's become a bit too familiar when seeing him this season.

No idea how he did in the second half, obviously, but in sum I think it's clear that he just isn't capable of producing what we'd expect given his name and stature, wages and potential transfer fee, and we'd be much better off trying to find someone else to fill the role he's currently occupying in the squad.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

This.

I'm still raging at the breakaway chance he missed when he smacked that ball against the outside of the post after he fooled Courtois completely. That's the kind of chance a player of his calibre can't afford to miss so many times like he did this season.

I was convinced he was going to score it. He took the pass well and made the space for the shot - had the right idea going near post too. Just sliced it.

I'm convinced he's just not handling the pressure of playing for us. Just seems he panics every time he touches the ball at times - or that he's just trying too hard. Slices shots, slips when he shoots, over/under hits passes.

It's unfortunate.

 

[Litch]

Because Monaco didn't want to sell James in Falcao in the same window as it helps their FFP. I think.

Might be right. Like I said I not sure what Falcao or Monaco had to gain from the loan deal. Why would Utd sell Welbeck to accommodate Falcao cause clearly selling him had nothing to do with Wilsons development.

Again, if he was brilliant, what was stopping Monaco saying, we are keeping him after the loan move? Or someone offering more money?

Are we suggesting that Monaco are that stupid that they are going to loan a player that if it doesn't work out, is going to be worth less than the value before it.

 

[Bilbo]

If we owned him outright I'd be up for giving him a second season, but we don't. It's a pity, but he has lost his confidence and he won't get it back here.

I hate to compare the two, but I think Welbeck would have been a much better option playing in this system

 

[WyoManU]

Why are we still talking about this guy? He hasn't shown a single match where I have thought he was worth even 1/4 of the asking price and weekly wages. Don't care what the name on the back of his shirt reads. He looks like a pub player. Done. Bye.

 

[Litch]

If we owned him outright I'd be up for giving him a second season, but we don't. It's a pity, but he has lost his confidence and he won't get it back here.

I hate to compare the two, but I think Welbeck would have been a much better option playing in this system

Do you think Monaco or Falcao would agree to him coming to OT for a trial?

 

[Bilbo]

Do you think Monaco or Falcao would agree to coming to OT for a trial?

I'll be honest I've thought for a while that this is a transfer that is already wrapped up and was from the start. It will be a real shame if we have committed to paying £40m+ for him though, because he is looking very unlikely to justify it.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

From someone who wants rid of Falcao asap... am I the only one who thought he was ok today? He messed up a pass early on in the game, but other than that I thought his movement was outstanding. Very unlucky not to have a goal, ridiculous angle though. Also, he was fouled leading up to Hazard's goal.

It's nothing incredible but a solid 6/10 for me.

 

[Cassidy]

I'll be honest I've thought for a while that this is a transfer that is already wrapped up and was from the start. It will be a real shame if we have committed to paying £40m+ for him though, because he is looking very unlikely to justify it.

Considering whats been said by his agent lately, I think its safe to say we wont be signing him. Even if there was some option to sign him already wrapped up (which I believe there was) it would always have been an option dependant on some things etc

 

[Amar__]

He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great either, I'd say decent performance considering the circumstances.

As I said last week in Rooney's thread, Falcao is capable of playing at pretty much same level on which was Rooney playing during last few weeks, praise for Rooney's tactical greatness was way over the top, but nothing we didn't hear before.

 

[LR7]

I thought that we wouldn't be keeping him since about January, so I said I'd rather Wilson gets all of his minutes.

Feel the same after today. It's a waste to give him any more game time.

 

[ForlansHair]

Someone explain to me Why would a player of Falcao's stature come to OT for a trial? (Call it a loan, still means the same thing in this case). If Falcao was brilliant, there was still no guarantees that he was going to stay anyway then if that's the case. Can you imagine, he scores 40 goals for us, we say yes, Falcao says no thank you, I'm off to Real......and that's why it makes no sense.
It's not he needed the money or that he was joining Barca or Real. It's not like he wanted champs league or a platform to kickstart his international career again.....and it's certainly not for the culture, restaurants or the weather. The only logic I see is we have provisionally signed him already with the outstanding issue of the fee.....

Im pretty certain that this wouldn't be allowed under accounting rules. If we'd agreed to buy him then I think there would have to be a provision in the accounts accompanied by notes. Otherwise our accounts would be misleading investors and the auditors won't (or shouldn't, rather) sign off accounts that don't provide a true and fair view. I'm going off degree level logic here so maybe someone who knows more in depth accounting would be able to clarify.

Anyway, I thought he was ok actually, not great but not spectacularly awful. Just isn't the world class finisher he was. Had he been we'd have drawn this game at the least.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great either, I'd say decent performance considering the circumstances.

As I said last week in Rooney's thread, Falcao is capable of playing at pretty much same level on which was Rooney playing during last few weeks, praise for Rooney's tactical greatness was way over the top, but nothing we didn't hear before.

I thought he looked sharper. Had he not been playing against the league's best defence, I think he'd have scored. I don't want us to keep him, too old, injury prone, playing shite, etc, but he is looking better to me. Wouldn't be surprised if he went to La Liga or Serie A and started banging in 30+ a season.

 

[Litch]

Considering whats been said by his agent lately, I think its safe to say we wont be signing him. Even if there was some option to sign him already wrapped up (which I believe there was) it would always have been an option dependant on some things etc

Why do people think the loan deal was only in Utds favour, don't people think Monaco and Falcao would have wanted assurances too. A player of Falcao's stature wouldn't be going to any club to prove his abilities. If that was the case why wouldnt every club just sign the player on loan first and then see if it works out before buying them? The only thing Falcao I believe needed to prove was his fitness...

 

[Badunk]

I saw him at the start of the season and I loved his movement and the fact that he was always playing on the shoulder of the last defender. He has lost his mojo big time, though. I don't know what LVG wants to do with him, but he's shown this season that he can revitalise players, so if he thinks he can bring him back to his best, I'm happy. Part of me thinks that this is a Shevchenko or Torres kind of situation, and that he might be past his best.

I really hope he's just lacking confidence and needed some time to get used to the pace and physicality of the premiership, because he's one of the greatest strikers in the world when he's on form. Him and ADM being the players we all know they can be would be feckin phenomenal for us next season.

 

[Litch]

Im pretty certain that this wouldn't be allowed under accounting rules. If we'd agreed to buy him then I think there would have to be a provision in the accounts accompanied by notes. Otherwise our accounts would be misleading investors and the auditors won't (or shouldn't, rather) sign off accounts that don't provide a true and fair view. I'm going off degree level logic here so maybe someone who knows more in depth accounting would be able to clarify.

Anyway, I thought he was ok actually, not great but not spectacularly awful. Just isn't the world class finisher he was. Had he been we'd have drawn this game at the least.

Not sure, might be right. I think the fees agreed, just needed to prove his fitness. Players like Falcao don't go to football clubs on a years trial to prove anything other than that!!

 

[Cassidy]

Why do people think the loan deal was only in Utds favour, don't people think Monaco and Falcao would have wanted assurances too. A player of Falcao's stature wouldn't be going to any club to prove his abilities. If that was the case why would every club just sign the player on loan first and then see if it works out before buying them? The only thing Falcao I believe needed to prove was his fitness...

I'm not saying it was a loan for United favour (to see if he can make it back). The loan I reckon was probably to benefit Monaco, what I am saying is there would have been some things have to happen for the deal to go through from a contractual standpoint, given his agents comments this season, I think its safe to say that those things haven't happened and we wont be signing him.

Lucky for us, as I actually reckon we would have probably preferred to sign him permanently last summer, but Monaco wanted to defer for FFP reasons luckily for us

 

[Litch]

I'm not saying it was a loan for United favour (to see if he can make it back). The loan I reckon was probably to benefit Monaco, what I am saying is there would have been some things have to happen for the deal to go through from a contractual standpoint, given his agents comments this season, I think its safe to say that those things haven't happened and we wont be signing him.

Lucky for us, as I actually reckon we would have probably preferred to sign him permanently last summer, but Monaco wanted to defer for FFP reasons luckily for us

I just don't see it. That aside, both Falcao and the club would then know that he wasn't staying if what your saying is true. Do you then think LVG would then play a player that knew he wasn't staying? Not to mention in the biggest game of the season? In fact given where we are at present, do you think the player would be anywhere near the dressing room? Do you think Falcao looks like a man who's thinks he's not here next season?

 

[DanNistelrooy]

The sad thing is I think that was his best performance for us so far. Shows how disappointing he has been overall

 

[Golden Nugget]

Despite a potential foul from Terry for their goal - it really looked like an awful first touch from him - something we've seen too much of this season.

After that, he did come into the game a lot more in the second half - he really didn't stop trying - should have scored the one where he hit the post, but was unlucky not to score the ther chance due to great defending from Cahill. Also a good save Tom Courtois.

The commentators kept saying it, but I noticed it all game - the players just don't trust him. They don't want to thread him through when he makes runs, aim for others when they cross - it really doesn't give a striker too much confidence. He's been awful for most of the season, but today he wasnt awful - just not good.

 

[Cooksen]

Such a shame that it did not work.

I was so excited and happy that we got him.

 

[Roboc7]

Why do people think the loan deal was only in Utds favour, don't people think Monaco and Falcao would have wanted assurances too. A player of Falcao's stature wouldn't be going to any club to prove his abilities. If that was the case why wouldnt every club just sign the player on loan first and then see if it works out before buying them? The only thing Falcao I believe needed to prove was his fitness...

Of course he has to prove his abilities he is recovering from a serious injury from which recovery is not guaranteed, any player is going to have to prove himself after that. Factor in his age, the wages, transfer fee and a loan deal was the only option, either that or stay at Monaco and seeing as they wanted his wages off the books that wasn't going to happen. Monaco and falcao weren't really in a position to bargain just as they won't be this summer, there is no way it is a permanent transfer, falcao and his agent have spoken numerous times about playing elsewhere next season.

The reason other teams didn't take him on loan was because not many could afford his wage and the few that could didn't need him and didn't want to waste huge wages on a backup player.

 

[11101]

I was convinced he was going to score it. He took the pass well and made the space for the shot - had the right idea going near post too. Just sliced it.

I'm convinced he's just not handling the pressure of playing for us. Just seems he panics every time he touches the ball at times - or that he's just trying too hard. Slices shots, slips when he shoots, over/under hits passes.

It's unfortunate.

He does seem to slip over an awful lot, on and off the ball. Maybe he just needs a new pair of boots.

 

[Lawman]

The sad thing for me is I think if he got a run of games up top himself he'd soon be banging in the goals plus his confidence would flood back. Our players would get used to him also as his strength are his runs in behind and in the box power movement and finishing (confidence plays a part in this). We just haven't utilised this enough and getting him to come short just doesn't work for him. He is far to expensive for a gamble given his age and how he's performed but if he'd drop his wages and the right transfer fee was agreed if not be against him starting as our main striker next season. I'd also have a bet on he'd be top scorer in the league. But as it stands right now there is no way we will sign him and that is correct given the outlay.

 

[The Hacker]

From someone who wants rid of Falcao asap... am I the only one who thought he was ok today? He messed up a pass early on in the game, but other than that I thought his movement was outstanding. Very unlucky not to have a goal, ridiculous angle though. Also, he was fouled leading up to Hazard's goal.

It's nothing incredible but a solid 6/10 for me.

Agree.

I think it's a shame for him as a) all strikers work off confidence, and his must be very low right now and b) there isn't a fan that doesn't want it to work out and I think he knows that. That adds pressure which makes each miss worse and takes confidence down again.

I think he suffers, as all do, when Carrick isn't playing and Rooney drops deep. He needs movement around him, which Rooney would provide, to give him those few seconds a lone striker rarely gets to make his shot. Our system hadn't suited him all season and he has seemed to struggle with the physicality of the prem.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Of course confidence makes a lot of difference, but his first touch has never been reliable and he's never been strong with a defender in his back. That means it's not only questionable wether he's enough quality to play for United, it means also he's not the right kind of striker for this style of football.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

Falcao is clearly not suited to the van gaal system. He was always great in a counter attacking 4:4:2 line up. Would have been great in a SAF United.
Pretty sure he'll be returned to Monaco, and we'll enter a bidding war with chelsea for Bale. Bale is our man.
All this crap about Madrid not selling = rubbish. They have to say that in order to maintain his value to recouperate their money. With fickle madrid fans turning against him, and being dropped and substituted, madrid won't get the kind of marketing return on him they would have wanted. Won't be too many madrid fans buying Bale shirts. The whole thing is leading up to a fight between us and chelsea for Bale. Forget Falcao.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

How much did we lay Monaco for the loan deal?