[walkinhop]

He is done. Gotta go!

 

[Amethyst]

Should have scored with that one that he drilled at the keeper but the volley was as good as he could do plus he created two good chances. Not great but definitely better than Falcao.

 

[Hed Zitin]

Seriously needs dropping. He's just mindlessly hitting it and hoping.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Should have scored at least one. Inexcusably poor finishing but if people want a striker dropped it should be Falcao. Persie's hold up play was and is far better.

 

[Boycott]

I've had enough of his shit attitude. When the going gets tough he shrivels. No fight, no determination to push the team on. And these days he can't even control the ball under pressure let alone pull something out of the bag.

 

[Ixion]

Falcao will obviously get most of the stick but RVP was poor as well. He can strike the ball well when it drops to him but the rest of his game needs improvement, he's getting lazy.

 

[Nighteyes]

Falcao will obviously get most of the stick but RVP was poor as well. He can strike the ball well when it drops to him but the rest of his game needs improvement, he's getting lazy.

He set up Falcao with a great ball as well.

 

[Sam]

There was a moment in the second half where he had a pull back (possibly from Shaw), he could have hit it first time into the far corner, instead he took a touch and the chance was gone. That split second hesitance has become a real feature of his game this season. He's not playing on instinct.

 

[Amethyst]

There was a moment in the second half where he had a pull back (possibly from Shaw), he could have hit it first time into the far corner, instead he took a touch and the chance was gone. That split second hesitance has become a real feature of his game this season. He's not playing on instinct.

I actually think that Wilson and RvP could be a good partnership if van Gaal is willing to try it for a few games in a row. van Persie's hold up play is still good even if he's maybe not as clinical as he used to be and with Wilson's pace and movement dragging defenders out of position it could open up more space for him in the box.

 

[Acole9]

He needs to be dropped. He looks very laboured out there.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

As I said in the Falcao thread, when the teams having such a poor game as we did today and you get one chance to score, you expect a guy of Van Persie's finishing prowess to score.

 

[LR7]

Just play him up top with Rooney in behind and he will be fine.

 

[Orton]

Still our best striker. Got to remember he created a clear cut chance for Falcao with his brilliance. Wasn't the best overall game from him, and might have done better with that 2nd chance he had, but he holds it up, brings others into play much better than Falcao. His performance at Southampton is arguably one of the best individual game from any of our players this season so those saying he's finished are wide of the mark. Him and Falcao as a pair just don't work so hopefully that's the last of it.

 

[No11]

Great take on the chest from Rojos through ball, decent hit on target.
Great through ball for Falcao from which he completely fecked up.
Decent effort from Falcaos pass again on target, did he miss a sitter today?
Most of the time he gets them on target.
Yes he hasn't played as well as he has done but who the feck has?

 

[No11]

Still our best striker. Got to remember he created a clear cut chance for Falcao with his brilliance. Wasn't the best overall game from him, and might have done better with that 2nd chance he had, but he holds it up, brings others into play much better than Falcao. His performance at Southampton is arguably one of the best individual game from any of our players this season so those saying he's finished are wide of the mark. Him and Falcao as a pair just don't work so hopefully that's the last of it.

Man its good to see some common sense at last.

 

[ZDwyr]

He was poor. I don't think we should be getting rid of him though. He is clearly not what he used to be but it would be good if he accepted a smaller role in the squad. He shouldn't be our number one striker anymore. LvG has some big decisions to make. I kept hearing that he is a manager that isn't afraid of the big calls or the big egos, but it hasn't looked like that so far. RvP is an issue that needs fixing.

 

[NessunDorma]

Still our best striker. Got to remember he created a clear cut chance for Falcao with his brilliance. Wasn't the best overall game from him, and might have done better with that 2nd chance he had, but he holds it up, brings others into play much better than Falcao. His performance at Southampton is arguably one of the best individual game from any of our players this season so those saying he's finished are wide of the mark. Him and Falcao as a pair just don't work so hopefully that's the last of it.

RvP has scored one more goal than Rooney in the league, despite having played more minutes, and having played exclusively as a striker (while Rooney has played 75% of his games as a midfielder).

But you want to talk about his 'brilliance', and 'the best individual game from any of our players this season'.

I wouldn't mind so much, if you weren't so persistently critical of players who are playing at least as well as/as poorly as RvP, even while out of position.

 

[Orton]

RvP has scored one more goal than Rooney in the league, despite having played more minutes, and having played exclusively as a striker (while Rooney has played 75% of his games as a midfielder).

But you want to talk about his 'brilliance', and 'the best individual game from any of our players this season'.

I wouldn't mind so much, if you weren't so persistently critical of players who are playing at least as well as/as poorly as RvP, even while out of position.

The system hurts and limits him at the moment. His finishing has been off and he started the season very slowly, as did the whole team. Playing up top with current Falcao would hurt anyone at the moment though, and playing without a proper midfield hurts, as does the woeful service they get. It's obvious none of our attacking players are delivering as they should at the moment but I have to laugh when I see posts about RVP being finished.

 

[NessunDorma]

I have to laugh when I see posts about RVP being finished.

Coming from the guy who thinks we should sell Rooney and his style of play is 'predictable and shite'.

Don't really want to turn this into a Rooney Vs RvP thing, but it's blatantly obvious you give RvP a much easier time of it - and if the system is limiting anyone, it's Rooney, given it's putting him in a position he has never played with any regularity.

 

[Sam]

His finishing this season has been, on the whole, woeful. He might be our top scorer, but for all the grief about 'lack of service' he could have quite easily doubled his tally from Di Maria assists alone.

 

[Orton]

The service is shite though, and that's down to the system. Strikers don't put away all the chances that are created for them. Maybe we should sign Giroud hmm

We'd play much better with Herrera, Mata and Di Maria behind a striker. The 3 of them linked up brilliantly earlier in the season.

 

[Hamadovich86]

RvP basically has the same status as Rooney i.e "privilege" aka undroppable, hes started every PL game he was available for but with 9 goals in 22 games this is not the same RvP of old. I hate this privilege shit of van Gaal's if a player is not performing and you have others that can fill in then fecking sub him off! Still I do agree that he has not been getting great service (was it THAT much better in 12/13?) in the box he needs more chances to score which is why I hold Ruud at a higher esteem that guy was a machine.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

His form fluctuates in correlation with Carrick's absence. Correlation does not always imply causation though.

 

[matherto]

His form fluctuates in correlation with Carrick's absence. Correlation does not always imply causation though.

Carrick has a knack of finding his runs that nobody else does so that's not a surprise.

 

[dirkey]

Non existent in the first half today.

 

[DevilRed]

Him and Falcao are just looking like they will never form a proper partnership. Too similar types of players and not getting enough service either.

One of them needs to be dropped to make way for more width and/or an extra body in midfield.

 

[Roman Bellic]

10 goals ...terrible season

 

[Nighteyes]

Excellent pen.

 

[Rado_N]

Great pen, which will no doubt overshadow a generally shite performance, and he'll start all our remaining games.

 

[Kag]

10 goals ...terrible season

Wow, well that's that then.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Great pen, which will no doubt overshadow a generally shite performance, and he'll start all our remaining games.

Though he improved ever so slightly as the game went on. Shite is a little harsh. Close enough though.

 

[rio's upper lip]

Looked absolutely pissed.

 

[Rado_N]

Though he improved ever so slightly as the game went on. Shite is a little harsh. Close enough though.

Even if we upgrade it to 'close to shite', he shouldn't be starting games in my humble opinion.

 

[shamans]

Excellent Pen. Terrible game.

 

[Orton]

Always guaranteed to hold the ball up and bring others into play. Falcao was disastrous. RVP should start upfront alone in the next game.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Even if we upgrade it to 'close to shite', he shouldn't be starting games in my humble opinion.

Nor mine.

 

[bosnian_red]

Has looked a lot better playing deeper, got a lot more involved and had more space to do things. Showed som good passing and dribbling at least

 

[Giggsy92]

You could have been forgiven for thinking he wasn't playing until he took the penalty. Took it well though.

 

[NinjaFletch]

My main problem with him is he doesn't get involved when the balls not into his feet. He doesn't move, and he doesn't hassle.

But, when he does get the ball he's still magic. His hold up play is excellent, he can beat a player with the ball and his passing is very good. I think its a case of shafting Falcao and playing Wilson to do both he and Van Persies running.

 

[matt23]

I think we could merge RVP and Falcao's thread. Both have been woeful all season.

He clearly still has a decent finish in him but so do most of the ex pro's.