[Fener1907]

I suppose it doesn't help Falcao that Di Maria has wasted no time in showing his talent and heavily influencing games (as if every player at a new club immediately shows their worth).

That said, it's three games, and not even three games where you'd say he's been poor. It's just absurd that it can even be considered a realistic point of contention.

 

[Trizy]

Add the headers that he scored for Monaco and Columbia (which are missing in this video) and he has likely scored more than 60 headers in his career. It is really an amazing stat and I doubt that there is an another player who matches it.

To be fair he could've had another 3-4 for us in his handful of appearances, he's forever in the right place for the crosses its scary. As I recall he's been inches away from about 2-3 headers already that would have resulted in certain goals.

 

[LR7]

I think it's a bit silly for people to be underwhelmed. He's recovering from a serious knee injury which we all knew about, meaning he hasn't played properly for months. He is joining a new team in a new role where he is partnering another striker for the first time rather than being the sole focal point and he's done just fine so far. Two assists and a goal in 4 appearances (231 minutes) isn't bad at all. He's also shown some good link-up play, his ability to hold the ball up is fantastic and he doesn't let defenders bully him at all, and his movement in the box has been really good too. Give him chance, he was always bound to be a little tentative/rusty to begin with. The good signs for me is that it is clear that he is getting into good goalscoring positions and more and more the chances are falling to him and it wont be long before his sharpness is fully back. He will be brilliant for us, and so far the signs are all positive. He coming into form at the right time. That passion when he scored was brilliant. I remember reading a Sid Lowe article (I think) a while back - when he was heavily linked with Chelsea (probably after that Super Cup game) where he said his game is all about what he does inside the box and that people shouldn't expect anything outside of it. I think he's been excellent for us so far in terms of build up, he's so much more involved than he usually is and the fact that he has two assists already is a bonus considering he got 0 in 17 Ligue 1 apps last season and 1 in 34 La Liga apps the season before.

I wouldn't mild us adopting a sort of christmas tree formation with Mata and Rooney behind Falcao because I think if we give him that freedom to be the deadly predator in the box, it will bring the best out in him, but I don't think LvG will be dropping RvP any time soon.

De Gea
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Herrera - Blind - Di Maria
Rooney -- Mata
Falcao​

 

[Feed Me]

So I'm not allowed to think he's been "underwhelming so far" in 3 starts?

Of course I am, I am allowed to have an opinion after 1 game. I have this opinion after 3.

It is a bit impatient to be fair, Ekeke.

Falcao, despite being underwhelming in your eyes, has got a winning goal and a couple of assists. Not bad at all for someone settling in a new team following a serious injury.

 

[Trizy]

I think if he stays fit he'll be back to his very best, who knows, maybe even better? There's a number of factors stopping him from reaching a confident form, playing for a massive club, basically being on a trial (the loan) and trying to prove people wrong after a career changing injury. Even if he is 100% and his knee is stronger than ever it must constantly be on his mind because every reporter that talks to him brings it fecking up...

LVG seems to have the right idea, keep playing him even when he's not scoring, even if that might be frustrating and even though its early days I honestly think we're gonna hit a win on this one.

Two assists and a goal in 4 appearances (231 minutes) isn't bad at all.

Not a bad start at all.

 

[Feed Me]

So I guess it stupid to say that Di Maria or Herrera have been impressive or how about Costa or Fabregas, seeing as its only been 4 games, right?

You can't have it both ways.

I'm shocked anyone would say they are underwhelmed with a goal, two assists and a clear building of match fitness in three games.

Pathetic to call that underwhelming, especially given the context - new club, culture and recovery from serious injury.

 

[Feed Me]

This talk of Falcao underwhelming is a joke, even if his detractors are saying they only mean "so far".

Take a look at Welbeck and Hernandez uselessly plodding for us last season, that was underwhelming.

 

[Nights]

This talk of Falcao underwhelming is a joke, even if his detractors are saying they only mean "so far".

Take a look at Welbeck and Hernandez uselessly plodding for us last season, that was underwhelming.

According to the caf (his thread at least), Welbeck is the second coming of Messi based on some of the carryon that was going on in there.

 

[Feed Me]

According to the caf (his thread at least), Welbeck is the second coming of Messi based on some of the carryon that was going on in there.

The revisionism on Welbeck is cringeworthy. He never justified anything other than a bit part role at United. At Arsenal, he's grabbed a few goals but largely underwhelmed in the big games. No loss.

 

[The Mitcher]

Three games played and people are saying he's an underwhelming signing...there's no pleasing football fans.

 

[NoLogo]

The revisionism on Welbeck is cringeworthy. He never justified anything other than a bit part role at United. At Arsenal, he's grabbed a few goals but largely underwhelmed in the big games. No loss.

I always liked Danny and thought he would come good for us but even I was a bit surprised at the outrage that went through his thread when we sold him. Especially considering that he always seemed like one of the cafs favorite whipping boys mainly for his sub-par finishing. So I was really surprised that there was such a massive outcry over him leaving.

 

[The Mitcher]

I always liked Danny and thought he would come good for us but even I was a bit surprised at the outrage that went through his thread when we sold him. Especially considering that he always seemed like one of the cafs favorite whipping boys mainly for his sub-par finishing. So I was really surprised that there was such a massive outcry over him leaving.

Its typical football fan kneejerking and fickleness on display. We actually replaced him with Wilson imo, not falcao.

 

[Raees]

Falcao looks like he has a lot of gears in him though to be fair, like you can tell there is a beast waiting to be unleashed if his fitness is right.. he still looks quick to me, but it is the match sharpness, dribbling, turning etc which is still sluggish. He needs a long period of staying fit before we can truly judge his worth.

 

[Escobar]

Three games played and people are saying he's an underwhelming signing...there's no pleasing football fans.

You really wonder sometimes. Football fans can be spoilt idiots

 

[NoLogo]

You really wonder sometimes. Football fans can be spoilt idiots

Yeah especially with someone like Di Maria also coming new into the team and pretty much running the show here from his first game. But Falcao was always going to take longer until he gets going he missed the WC due to an injury and only came here in the last hours of the transfer window.

 

[Ekeke]

This talk of Falcao underwhelming is a joke, even if his detractors are saying they only mean "so far".

Take a look at Welbeck and Hernandez uselessly plodding for us last season, that was underwhelming.

Yes it was and thats why they aren't here anymore.

But they've been brigther for their new clubs than Falcao has been for his.

So far.

If that doesn't change, we shouldn't buy him. It has to right?

 

[Redo91]

Yes I'm underwhelmed by all of those players so far this season.

But none of the others came into the season with the reputation of being the best striker in the world, nor is this thread about them.

And you have every right to be underwhelmed by them as they have underperformed.

They also didn't come into this season after having suffered a serious injury. They also came into the season playing for the same club as they did last season and in the league in which they have played for the majority of their careers. Basically you cannot judge the performances of Falcao as strictly as those of the likes of Mata, Rooney and RVP. Their circumstances are completely different and it's unfair to expect Falcao to perform at the same level as them given his circumstances.

I'll use a hypothetical situation to explain this. If a player has been out for a number of months and has been named on the bench for the first since recovering from this serious injury what would you expect from them when they come on the pitch? If they came on for 20 minutes and looked sluggish, had a poor first touch or lacked composure in front of goal, would you say you were underwhelmed? The correct answer is no. The player is obviously going to be rusty and will take a few weeks to get back into top gear. It would be unreasonable to expect any more from them. Conversely, if a player who has been fit all season, comes of the bench for 20 minutes and plays just as poorly as the first player, then they ought to be open to criticism. There are no mitigating circumstances that can excuse their poor performance. They shouldn't be rusty or lacking match fitness.

This is my point with Falcao. Obviously his situation is quiet similar to that of the first player. He clearly is finding his way back to form after a serious knee injury. Anyone is "underwhelmed" with his performances so far need a reality check. He is only human. If anyone expected him to be banging them in already then they were wrong to expect that from a player that isn't fully fit. Remember Ronaldo at the World Cup? Even he couldn't perform to his usual levels. People a can be underwhelmed by Falcao's performances if he is playing at this level come Christmas (not that he has been poor so far). However, they are wrong to be expecting so much of him at this stage given his circumstances. Give the guy a chance.

 

[The Mitcher]

You really wonder sometimes. Football fans can be spoilt idiots

Indeed.

 

[entropy]

You really wonder sometimes. United fans can be spoilt idiots

Fixed

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Falcao has been fine but I understand people who are underwhelmed. Anybody who watched him 2 years ago knows how good he was/can be. He just looks a little rushed in front of goal to me.

Nail on head. He has just been trying a little too hard to get off the mark. Now that he has I'm sure he'll relax a bit more and the goals will flow.

 

[marjen]

He's fluffed chances so far. The goal vs Everton will do him a world of good. I don't think he's physically at the level he was pre-injury but still, with the likes of Rooney, Mata, Di Maria and Herrera providing the ammunition he'll score shedloads. Just wait and see.

 

[thejtrain]

One thing that's been bothering me slightly over the past few months. Is he rightly labeled a mercenary? Is he one really?

 

[DWelbz19]

One thing that's been bothering me slightly over the past few months. Is he rightly labeled a mercenary? Is he one really?

http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1e8ncw/explaining_the_falcao_move_to_monaco

 

[pocco]

The revisionism on Welbeck is cringeworthy. He never justified anything other than a bit part role at United. At Arsenal, he's grabbed a few goals but largely underwhelmed in the big games. No loss.

I've not got involved in this Falcao vs Welbeck debate as I recognize the qualities of both players and rate them both highly.

However, if there has been any revisionism regarding Welbeck, it is by his now detractors. Nobody was so down on Welbeck previously.

Yeah his goal scoring was always debated, but everyone accepted that he was very good at everything else. Now you'd think he was shite based on what you read on here.

 

[LeChuck]

Can't wait for him to put up the same figures he was putting up for Porto ad Atleti!

 

[thejtrain]

http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1e8ncw/explaining_the_falcao_move_to_monaco

Cheers. That would explain why he so badly wants to succeed at United.

 

[NinjaZombie]

So what's the deal with his third party ownership thing nowadays? How are we allowed to sign him up when the league forbids third party arrangements?

 

[daniel9988]

So what's the deal with his third party ownership thing nowadays? How are we allowed to sign him up when the league forbids third party arrangements?

He's not under 3rd party anymore.

 

[wr8_utd]

I don't understand why Di Maria is taking corners for us. It should be Rooney for left and RVP for right. They are better at it.

He actually takes very good corners. But he seems to be struggling here. Maybe it takes time to get used to the slope.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

His link-up play has been amazing and he has 2 assists and a goal.

Underwhelming? Simply ridiculous.

 

[Sam]

His link-up play has been amazing and he has 2 assists and a goal.

Underwhelming? Simply ridiculous.

Jesus

 

[pseudo_canadian]

Jesus

You think it hasn't been? Seems we're watching different games. Holds up the ball incredibly well and is picking the right passes between Mata/RVP/Rooney.

 

[Sam]

You think it hasn't been? Seems we're watching different games.

I think its been good. His first couple of apperences he looked a bit sloppy, but the two games since he's shown good touches and hold up.

I don't think its been anywhere near amazing though.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

I think its been good. His first couple of apperences he looked a bit sloppy, but the two games since he's shown good touches and hold up.

I don't think its been anywhere near amazing though.

Amazing is probably hyperbole, but I think he's been better than Rooney and RVP at hold up play.

 

[Sam]

Amazing is probably hyperbole, but I think he's been better than Rooney and RVP at hold up play.

Yeah I'd agree with that.

 

[itso 7]

We badly need this guy in beast mode if we are to get anything in games vs Chelsea and City.

 

[Kill 'em all]

So what's the deal with his third party ownership thing nowadays? How are we allowed to sign him up when the league forbids third party arrangements?

I think Monaco bought his 100%

 

[Everest Red]

You think it hasn't been? Seems we're watching different games. Holds up the ball incredibly well and is picking the right passes between Mata/RVP/Rooney.

And I love his ability to keep the ball after being hounded by three opposition players. Fully fit Falcao and Rooney will be tasty.

 

[Everest Red]

One thing that's been bothering me slightly over the past few months. Is he rightly labeled a mercenary? Is he one really?

I think he's one(I am using it as a descriptive term and not as a pejorative).

I find it strange though. He comes across as an humble and modest guy who is pleased to be here and will give it his best.

 

[thejtrain]

I think he's one(I am using it as a descriptive term and not as a pejorative).

I find it strange though. He comes across as an humble and modest guy who is pleased to be here and will give it his best.

True, it's really a strange one. He's so humble and hard working, but on the other hand, a few of his big money moves do raise the question.