I thought it was a promising start.

Didn't really see them being worried by him tbh.

He couldn't get past their defenders and collapsed when Koscielny went shoulder to shoulder for the ball...he doesn't look strong at all.

We heard all the 'making the right runs' with Torres so that isn't exactly filling me with confidence.

We need Costa to be back fit because he's a good few levels above what we have in backup for strikers.

He couldn't get past their defenders and collapsed when Koscielny went shoulder to shoulder for the ball...he doesn't look strong at all.

 

But I think that's the problem, he shouldn't need to be strong, if he's bouncing off players like he was, it points to other problems, the Falcao we want is the player that avoids challenges with exquisite ball control, he's not a Costa.

 

The big question is, will match fitness and regular football get him back to a world class forward ?

 

The 2nd big question is, can we compete on 4 fronts with the 3 strikers we have got ?

But I think that's the problem, he shouldn't need to be strong, if he's bouncing off players like he was, it points to other problems, the Falcao we want is the player that avoids challenges with exquisite ball control, he's not a Costa.

The big question is, will match fitness and regular football get him back to a world class forward ?

The 2nd big question is, can we compete on 4 fronts with the 3 strikers we have got ?

Not a chance on 4 fronts IMO

But I think that's the problem, he shouldn't need to be strong, if he's bouncing off players like he was, it points to other problems, the Falcao we want is the player that avoids challenges with exquisite ball control, he's not a Costa.

The big question is, will match fitness and regular football get him back to a world class forward ?

The 2nd big question is, can we compete on 4 fronts with the 3 strikers we have got ?

I don’t think he will ever get back to the player he was.

People have been waiting for that for more than 18 months now and there has been no sign it is coming.

The effort is there and I’m sure the desire is as strong as ever but when that spark is gone then it is a lost cause. We have seen it with countless players who have suffered a bad injury and they simply cannot get back to being the player they were.

I watched plenty of Falcao a few years back at Atletico and he was a genius…he was rapid, strong and could score all type of goals…he just doesn’t seem that player anymore…he’s slower, weaker and can’t seem to get by defenders like he did before.

Those 3 would be enough if Costa stayed fit but sadly that looks unlikely this season as he’s already injured and it’s still pre season.

Edited August 3, 201510 yr by Chelsbear

But I think that's the problem, he shouldn't need to be strong, if he's bouncing off players like he was, it points to other problems, the Falcao we want is the player that avoids challenges with exquisite ball control, he's not a Costa.

 

The big question is, will match fitness and regular football get him back to a world class forward ?

 

The 2nd big question is, can we compete on 4 fronts with the 3 strikers we have got ?

 

On your first question: No, he'll probably never reach that status again. He's 29 years old and over his peak.

 

On your second question: No, but i don't think we can anyway. Our squad isn't good enough to go far in Europe, unless we have another run like 2012.

On your first question: No, he'll probably never reach that status again. He's 29 years old and over his peak.

 

Since when is 29 past your peak? I can think of plenty of strikers who have continued to dominate games into their 30's. 

Since when is 29 past your peak? I can think of plenty of strikers who have continued to dominate games into their 30's. 

 

Players are generally at their peak between 27 and 29, plenty of research about it on google. It's not an exact science of course, but if you take his age and injury into consideration, it's pretty much guaranteed that he will never become that world class striker again.

Some of these statements sound like that what United's fans were saying during last season. He's making good runs and all that. 

But even at United he could shield the ball and get involved in the midfield play. The only reason we need him though would be his potential end-product: goals, goals and more goals.

My perception is that he is well past it: not fast and not strong enough anymore. (Of course, I'm hoping I'm wrong.)  

I don’t think he will ever get back to the player he was.

People have been waiting for that for more than 18 months now and there has been no sign it is coming.

The effort is there and I’m sure the desire is as strong as ever but when that spark is gone then it is a lost cause. We have seen it with countless players who have suffered a bad injury and they simply cannot get back to being the player they were.

I watched plenty of Falcao a few years back at Atletico and he was a genius…he was rapid, strong and could score all type of goals…he just doesn’t seem that player anymore…he’s slower, weaker and can’t seem to get by defenders like he did before.

Those 3 would be enough if Costa stayed fit but sadly that looks unlikely this season as he’s already injured and it’s still pre season.

Saying he was out of form 18 months isnt really fair, it's only 12 months since he has started playing again.

I don't think he was ever particularly quick or strong at atletico, but he was explosive and attacked the ball better than any striker in the world at the time.

If we are comparing him to torres and Sheva, which I think is unfair, them you also have to take into account that both of those players had blistering pace, which something falcao has never had to rely on.

I think he needs to hit the ground running, if he can get his first goal in his first 3 games then I think it will give him the belief he needs to get back to the top level.

If he doesn't get amongst the goal early on then I think he will struggle psychologically.

He will never be the player he was at atletico, but if he keeps making the right runs I think he can still score plenty of goals over the next few seasons, as he has that goalscoring instinct that kept the likes of raul and inzaghi scoring regularly into there 30's.

Have to say that I am not buying into the "he is making the right runs" line that a lot of people are trumpeting, to me it has the air of distant hope rather than extreme confidence in him as a striker. And I also remember him having a fair bit of pace when he was at Atletico, as well as being able to ride a challenge and get past a man. Holding it up with back to goal and bringing others into play? No, but having that extra yard to get on the end of a ball and take the chances that fell to him, yes... and for me, it was that extra yard of pace which allowed him to capitalise on these good runs by actually being able to get to the ball ahead of the man. That seems to have gone and he gets himself into position, but too often falls / fails under a challenge.  

 

I agree with Big Blue in that he needs to get in amongst the goals f**king pronto for the sake of his own self belief. If he goes a few games without scoring then I just cannot envisage any outcome other than a frustrating season of falcao near misses and false dawns when he finally does score against relegation fodder.  

 

Our squad is pretty strong, and strong enough to be up there for the PL, albeit no foregone conclusion. We saw yesterday in what was admittedly a glorified friendly how arsenal were able to shut up shop and close out a 1-0, arguably that is due to cech coming in and providing some assurance for their back 4 and bollocking them into order. They will be our nearest challengers this season for the league and I think it will go all the way. We were comfortable last season due to the march we stole early on, largely due to costa's goals and all round contribution... it looks likely that we will be starting the season without him, and I would say with relative certainty that Jose will play Falcao ahead of Remy, which brings me back to the initial point - we need falcao scoring goals ASAP or we could find ourselves in a spot of bother.

 

When is the last time falcao scored a goal from open play? This isnt a facetious comment, if anyone has the answer on his stats from open play over the last 12 months then I would be grateful if they could paste em into this thread. 

 

I am concerned about the lack of depth in our squad. Ramires again has looked short of the required levels, and with CM backups being Mikel and an un-tried Loftus Cheek, then compounded with our obvious issues at RW then we are likely to hit some bumpy patches throughout the season. Oscar NEEDS a big season, we desperately need some creativity in our AMs as Hazard simply cannot carry the burden himself, coupled wtih the fact that teams are just doubling up on him and sending in crunching tackles week in week out... and no hazard = big problem. Number 10 has been a position that we havent had any commanding, consistently creative presence since our Juan left, and I feel that we desperately need Oscar now more than ever to start showing us on a consistent basis what he is made of. Cesc at 10 doesnt work IMO, when he dropped further back yesterday we looked much more comfortable and (again IMO) when he played centrally with matic last season it is when he was able to dictate the pace of play far more effectively than he can at 10.   

 

On the competition front, Europe for me will be much the same as last year. I dont think we have it in us, as it stands, to be going into a game against Real, Barca or Bayern as clear favourites or even supremely confident, and I think we are still susceptible to the odd suckerpunch from any decent opposition in Europe; equally, those other teams will be susceptible to a trouncing from chelsea, on our day. 

 

Repeat: this stinks to me of City's situation after they won the league in 2012, and while i dont think we will finish 12 points behind (I think that was the gap that United put between themselves and city in 2013), I do think we are in for a really tough season. City didnt strengthen that year, and I have said it before... only 6 or so weeks ago Jose was saying he wanted 2 or 3 new signings in to add competition for squad places, however now he has stated that its a one in one out policy. I know we are limited for squad spaces for overseas players, but it is the manager's job to manage the squad accordingly, and part of that remit is player purchases. I am all for integrating RLC and traore gradually, but any squad needs a few quality additions each year to keep things fresh and keep things competitive. Our starting XI is easy to predict if everyone is fit, keeping those players hungry is extremely important. 

 

Not panicking over what has been a relatively abject pre season, but we have a lot of work to do and it is up to the gaffer to get us in a position to come out the blocks firing on all cylinders. Goals are needed, I dont think falcao has those goals in him. 

I think his last goal from open play was early on in the Copa last month or maybe before it.

Edited August 3, 201510 yr by Chelsbear

I think his last goal from open play was early on in the Copa last month or maybe before it.

I was sure he had gone through that entire tournament without even a shot on target...

will have a look now and see what the stats are

I was sure he had gone through that entire tournament without even a shot on target...

will have a look now and see what the stats are

It might have been just before it in a warm up game but I remember him scoring it, think Cuadrado crossed it for him.

And no I'm not dreaming FC, Cuadrado got an assist!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/radamel-falcao-scores-colombia-copa-5839218

I think his last goal from open play was early on in the Copa last month or maybe before it.

 

Nope...Falcao didn't score in Copa America

Nope...Falcao didn't score in Copa America

I know it was the game before it started in June, I posted the link above.

I know it was the game before it started in June, I posted the link above.

 

somehow I missed your retort ;) Cheers Mate!!!

question, I am I the only thinking it would have been better business to give Bamford the chance to be the 3rd striker than Falcao? IMHO it seems they are going to score vs the same opposition. Relegation fodder or lower league sides we meet in Domestic Competitions. I will give El Tigre love, but I can't see him doing much this season. Sorry to be the Doubting Thomas, but that is what I see from him.

The thing that strikes me most about Falcao is his balance seems pretty poor nowadays. If you remember back Torres became the same way imo. What happens to these footballers when they go through a rough patch to make their sense of balance completely desert them? All preseason and with United Falcao seems to struggle to stay up right and ride a challenge like he so often did at Atletico and Porto.

Can we rule Falcao out after he's played a good chuck of competitive football for us? Or is that to far away for some people. May as well remain the thread Falcao - The "Groundhog day" Thread with all the doom and gloom in here.

 

He's never going to be the player he was but if he pops up with a good chunk of important goals then he will be a good signing.

An interesting assessment and conclusion based upon 45 minutes of a pre-season game.

 

I have watched him all last season for MU, he looked exactly the same.

I have watched him all last season for MU, he looked exactly the same.

 

and he looked the same in the Copa America

Can we rule Falcao out after he's played a good chuck of competitive football for us? Or is that to far away for some people. May as well remain the thread Falcao - The "Groundhog day" Thread with all the doom and gloom in here.

He's never going to be the player he was but if he pops up with a good chunk of important goals then he will be a good signing.

100%

I just discovered that Falcao will start for the Fiorentina match - hopefully he can build some confidence for the start of the New Season in this match