[VanGaalEra]

Most recent reports suggest the fee will be £31M.

I hope we snap him up at the value ASAP.

 

[Carlsen19]

Just spent the last hour at work watching videos of him on YouTube. I want him to succeed as much as anyone but he looks a million miles away from the player he was at the moment (which is understandable given the injury etc). If he gets back to anywhere near his old self though then the figure quoted would be a steal. Big if, mind.

 

[JUPITER]

Just because a player is doing better elsewhere doesn't mean you'd take him here, e.g. would you take Neuer over De gea right now? I wouldn't..

In that case why ever sign anyone?

And yeah, Falcao's showing thus far is comparable to DDG's form isn't it?

Diego Costa is a world class bully of a striker who's taken to the PL like a duck to water, if we had him spearheading our attack we'd be better off than we are now. Anyone suggesting they'd reject an immediate swap deal of Falcao for Costa is talking utter nonsense to borderline troll levels, or is deluded.

 

[Momochiru]

In that case why ever sign anyone?

And yeah, Falcao's showing thus far is comparable to DDG's form isn't it?

Diego Costa is a world class bully of a striker who's taken to the PL like a duck to water, if we had him spearheading our attack we'd be better off than we are now. Anyone suggesting they'd reject an immediate swap deal of Falcao for Costa is talking utter nonsense to borderline troll levels, or is deluded.

Dude, no one is saying that Costa is not having a great season so far, but lets not forget that he is playing as a focal point of a 4-5-1 at a very dominant Chelsea team with the most creative midfield players behind him. Falcao on the other hand didn't have a pre-season with us, is returning from serous injury, struggled with fitness, half of his minutes are in very short cameos, plays in a defensively set-up 3-5-2 and still managed to produce almost as many goals/assist per minute as Costa. I think Falcao is the better player and once he returns to 100% he will surpass him in the EPL the same way he did when both of them played at Atletico.

 

[Will Singh]

Plenty of people made the point that we paid too much for RVP in the first place.

And again Falcao has circumstances of his own, A) not fully fit B) not at his best, may not physically be able to be C) he's done at Monaco. They tried to get Real Madrid and when that didnt work out, they made sure he went to United. If we dont sign him, he's not going back to Monaco he's going to the highest bidder that he's going to accept playing for (he'll obviously have to give the go-ahead). Its more complicated than having a year on his contract, but he's clearly done at Monaco and is just as available as RVP was.

Good point and with Arsenal and Liverpool sniffing around for a striker that would be devastating if we payed for his rehab and they reap the rewards!!!

 

[Classical Mechanic]

What do his numbers prior to his injury have to do with anything? Do you have proof that it won't effect him? That crystal ball must be really handy.

25 goals is just a more realistic (but still extremely hopeful/positive) expectation given he has to adapt to a new league and is unlikely to be 100% what he was before. Thats a lot of goals

He is a superstar too. He is worth a lot off the pitch as well as on it.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

He definitely 'looks right' in a United shirt, I'll give him that. He looks like someone's second attempt at making Carlos Tevez.

 

[Dion]

I think Falcao is the better player and if he returns to 100% he will surpass him in the EPL the same way he did when both of them played at Atletico.

 

[stepic]

I wouldn't swap Falcao for Costa either. I wouldnt want Costa's ugly mug anywhere near OT.

 

[Momochiru]

@Dion - there are no guaranties in football. It's clear that he is not at 100%, but even the below par Falcao is the 11th most productive player in the league ahead of the likes of Benteke, Sturridge, Welbeck, Sterling, Lukaku, Pellè, RVP, Rooney, Mata and many more. He can only get better with regular football, but even if he doesn't fully return to his Atletico form, he is still better than the available alternatives.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Worth remembering too that all Falcao's assists this year have been proper assists where he put the goal on a plate for his colleagues.

 

[11101]

Im going to stick my neck out and say in 12 months time Falcao will be our starting striker and RVP will be clear second choice, maybe even by May. Its a long time since weve had a striker as instinctive as him, and its clear even with his injuries the movement is still there even if the finishing is abit rusty.

 

[Roboc7]

He is improving but still think we are a worse team when we try to play him and RVP together and price is too high to sign him permanently. Would like to see him given the opportunity to play up front without RVP and see how he gets on but we seem determined to shoe horn them both in.

 

[Utd7]

My guess and belief is that the 6 million loan fee is part of what it would cost to buy him permanently. If it was 6 million plus an additional 44 million, that would be 50 million pounds, the figure Monaco paid for him when he was undoubtedly the best no.9 in the world. Considering the fact that he put up decent, not spectacular numbers at Monaco last season and that he was coming off a torn ACL, I highly doubt we would have to invest 50 million quid on Falcao. If that was the case, we would've bought him after his Atletico days.

 

[bugmat]

I reckon by next year he will be a beast - and next year is when we really should be able to mount a title push. I really think we should keep him (money is meaningless wrt our status financially).

 

[Godfather]

Really hard to decide where to stand as far as the permanent signing of him is concerned.
I see glimpses of what he was and that really makes me hopeful. Then again the money talked about could probably be spent more wisely.
I've a soft spot for him though as he is working his bollox off and his stats so far aren't half bad either but it's obviously important for him to improve in the new year if he wants to stay with us, and even more important to stay fit.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Most recent reports suggest the fee will be £31M.

I hope we snap him up at the value ASAP.

So do I.

 

[Redo91]

So do I.

Hows Balotelli working out?

 

[Stookie]

I think the supply lines need to improve to see the best of him. This pedestrian possession type of play really doesn't suit his game at all.

 

[marjen]

As others have said, I think playing him right up top through the middle, supported by a second striker/AM and with a couple of dangerous wingers either side of him would suit him more.

He's having to do an awful lot of the build-up play himself now, drifting wide and stretching defences, taking care not to move into RVP territory. It's not what he's good at. Getting the job done in and around the box is.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Hows Balotelli working out?

Not well. Why?

 

[Redo91]

Not well. Why?

I thought you were suggesting Falcao has been a flop, or that at £31 million he would be over priced. If you were saying that Liverpool should bid £31 million for him then I've misinterpreted what you said.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I thought you were suggesting Falcao has been a flop, or that at £31 million he would be over priced. If you were saying that Liverpool should bid £31 million for him then I've misinterpreted what you said.

I'm saying that £31m is a terrible price for Falcao given his age and clear decline caused by his injuries. Not sure what Balotelli has got to do with that.

 

[matherto]

I'm saying that £31m is a terrible price for Falcao given his age and clear decline caused by his injuries. Not sure what Balotelli has got to do with that.

Well we've got loads of money so #yolo

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

if I had a say i would do everything in my power to grab reus instead if it was a possibility. although im sure we have yet to see the best of falcao.

 

[VanGaalEra]

I'm saying that £31m is a terrible price for Falcao given his age and clear decline caused by his injuries. Not sure what Balotelli has got to do with that.

£31M is a terrible price for one of the best number 9's in the world. Ok then.

 

[Sied]

if I had a say i would do everything in my power to grab reus instead if it was a possibility. although im sure we have yet to see the best of falcao.

I'll have one of each please.

Edit - Glad my 3000th post was good'un!

 

[Redo91]

I'm saying that £31m is a terrible price for Falcao given his age and clear decline caused by his injuries. Not sure what Balotelli has got to do with that.

What clear decline? He is just finding his way back from a serious injury and acclimatising to a new league yet has contributed 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 starts. If he hasn't improved by this time next year then yes he has declined in comparison to his Athletico days but to say there has been a "clear decline" based on a handful of performances is just laughable really. I mentioned Balotelli because ye paid £16 million for a complete dud yet you think we would be mad to pay less than half that for an infinitely better player in Falcao.

£31M is a terrible price for one of the best number 9's in the world. Ok then.

This. I only rate Suarez and Aguero higher.

 

[CassiusClaymore]

Stop whinging. It's feckin obvious he's class. The goals will come. The fee is irrelevant.

 

[VanGaalEra]

What clear decline? He is just finding his way back from a serious injury and acclimatising to a new league yet has contributed 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 starts. If he hasn't improved by this time next year then yes he has declined in comparison to his Athletico days but to say there has been a "clear decline" based on a handful of performances is just laughable really. I mentioned Balotelli because ye paid £16 million for a complete dud yet you think we would be mad to pay less than half that for an infinitely better player in Falcao.



This. I only rate Suarez and Aguero higher.

Exactly, and before 2014, Falcao was rated higher then both.

 

[Redo91]

Exactly, and before 2014, Falcao was rated higher then both.

Ya while he was out injured they both improved rapidly.

 

[bugmat]

We need to fix our defence (allowing the CM to create rather than continually help defend) and midfield composition (i.e. play Herrera more and play Rooney less) and then both he adn RvP will score more as the chances increase.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

£31M is a terrible price for one of the best number 9's in the world. Ok then.

He's not one of the best number 9s in the world any more, that's the point.

 

[VanGaalEra]

He's not one of the best number 9s in the world any more, that's the point.

Yes he is, he's still quite easily top 5.

 

[Aboutreika18]

He's not one of the best number 9s in the world any more, that's the point.

It's clear to anyone who watched him regularly at Atleti, he's a complete shadow of that player.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Ya while he was out injured they both improved rapidly.

Yup, they had outstanding 2014's.

 

[Momochiru]

So do I.

Falcao: 604 minutes played, 3 goals + 3 assists; 101 minutes per goal or assist
Balotelli: 737 minutes played, 0 goals + 0 assists; infinity minutes per goal or assist (737 / 0 = infinity)

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Falcao: 604 minutes played, 3 goals + 3 assists; 101 minutes per goal or assist
Balotelli: 737 minutes played, 0 goals + 0 assists; infinity minutes per goal or assist (737 / 0 = infinity)

Yeah, again that's cool but I've never said anything about Balotelli being a good signing.

 

[VanGaalEra]

I don't think we should compare Falcao to Balotelly, seems to be degrading Falcao immensely.

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

When exactly was he the best number 9 in the world?

2011/12 RVP was waay better
2012/13 I'd still say RVP was better, Lewandowski was better as well
2013/14 Suarez, Aguero, Ibrahimovic, Costa
2014/15 Aguero, Costa

I'd maybe but Falcao top 2/3 from 2011/13 but not sure if he was the best overall no 9, definitely up there though