This not an article to support Falcao. He has been anything but the Falcao I became a big fan of. As stated in the live match article, he obviously suffering from a loss of form and confidence but as I also believe he is suffering from LvG's #philosophy. Falcao has always thrived as the sole, focal point of attacks in his previous years. Everything went through to him at Porto and Athletico Madrid and he was always the RvN type IMO, always coming alive in the box. With LvG's 2-striker formation, he spends so much trying to get involved with build up play, dropping deep, getting mixed with the CMs in the middle of the park etc.
Like I said, this is not a pro Falcao article but I believe we can get the best out of him by playing to his strengths, quality wide men feeding him in the box and good support from the centre. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening with this philosophy and he's clearly behind R10, RvP and maybe Fellaini.
Thoughts anyone?
Ps. If he leaves, I hope we get Dybala. Really growing on me, the lad!
Falcao
posted on 16/2/15
People want him to succeed so badly and I get that. I did too and a part of me still does. But my head tells me we're a better team when he doesn't play (which is true) and he's not going to be here next season anyway. I don't care about individuals. I want to see a Utd team looking at their best again and I believe that will only happen with him out of the side.
We took a gamble and it hasn't paid off.
posted on 16/2/15
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.
posted on 16/2/15
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posted on 16/2/15
"I don't care about individuals. I want to see a Utd team looking at their best again and I believe that will only happen with him out of the side. "
Would rather play Wilson, he offers pace and good movement. Not a bad finisher also.
People slate him, but I'd rather see Fellaini play as a SS or CF ahead of Falcao, at least he is a nuisance and a option if we are to play direct.
Watching Falcao at Utd is painful, his inclusion is pointless because he offers very little. Loses the ball a lot, poor touches, pushed off the ball easily and to top it off, he hasn't been his lethal self in front of goal either. Time to admit the Falcao experiment hasn't been successful imo.
posted on 16/2/15
I was very excited when we got him on loan but it just hasn't worked out for a number of reasons.
We signed him a season or two too late.
posted on 16/2/15
Not comfortable with Falcao's name being mentioned along with RvN.
RvN was very underrated outside the box. His hold up play, technical ability and touch were top class and he could go past a player with quick feet. Pretty much the complete #9.
Falcao looks like he can't control a ball or that he'll be dispossessed every time he receives the ball with a defender right on him.
posted on 16/2/15
Good points raised here.
Also worth noting that a lot of Falcao's success was down to wing play. We don't often see him on the pitch when we are going for it with two wingers getting the ball in the box.
He's obviously not the same player he was so signing him permanently would be a mistake.
But we just aren't playing to our strikers' strengths and they are struggling for goals as a result.
posted on 16/2/15
Darren
Can't remember who it was but I saw a poster raise a very good point re. Falcao and why he hasn't worked out.
Throughout his career he has thrived on being the main man, the don, the head honcho if you will. At Porto and Madrid, everything was geared in getting the ball to Falcao quickly because they knew that 9 times out of 10 he'd stick it in ze onion bag.
He thrived off the direct play and we have been the total opposite of that at Utd. Di Maria, Mata and Young would be a good supply for him but in reality, he hasn't performed at a level to dislodge Rooney or an out of form Van Persie in my opinion.
He was always the traditional no.9 and never part of a partnership. At Utd where the play has been slower, the service much harder to come by, combined with his own flaws caused by age, injury and confidence, is it any wonder we haven't seen the best of Falcao?
I look back in fondness when he was a lethal striker who could score any type of goal, but this Falcao is so far removed from the one we are all hoping he would be.
I see the RVN comparisons, great predators and the perfect #9's but I would argue they were very different in their skill set, finishing aside. Falcao could score wonder strikes from anywhere in his pomp, whereas I'd say that Ruud was a bit better at the poacher role. Best striker I've seen at Utd Ruud was.
posted on 16/2/15
Marlo, yep I'd agree with all that.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Falcao next season.
He may not be the player he once was but I think we may see a lot more from him if he goes to a side that will make him the focal point of their attack.
Question is who could afford him and do that?
I reckon a move back to Atleti would be the best thing for him.
posted on 17/2/15
Does he have a problem with his eyesight?
Did you see him squinting trying to read his number on the board when he came off?