Falcao deal leaves United fans in two minds
- adamhigginsuk
- Sep 2, 2014
- 3 min read
AS Manchester United supporters awoke for the start of Transfer Deadline Day, few would have anticipated the arrival of one of the world’s most prolific strikers.
It was a pleasant surprise when news filtered through that the Red Devils had pushed through a lucrative loan deal to bring Monaco’s Radamel Falcao to Old Trafford for the season.
Louis van Gaal believed the opportunity to land the Colombian international, who arrives with a proven track record from five previous years in Europe, was too good to turn down once his availability became public knowledge.
The wow-factor undoubtedly lifts the mood of dispirited fans but the general consensus has been divisive with many under the impression that investment to improve the unstable defence and lightweight midfield required more urgent attention.
Conceding seven goals in four games in all competitions, United’s unconvincing defence has been a major contributory factor to their winless start to the campaign.
Although left-sided players Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind have yet to be integrated into the fold, there was room for strengthening down the right side of a backline which is alarmingly unbalanced following the departures of experienced duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
Meanwhile, solving the midfield conundrum has been high on the agenda for numerous years without ever being fully addressed.
Michael Carrick’s ankle injury and the indifferent form of the likes of Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini on top of Shinji Kagawa’s return to Borussia Dortmund has left Darren Fletcher carrying a heavy burden in single-handedly screening the back four.
Blind demonstrated his versatility to occupy a deep-lying midfield role with Holland at the World Cup and Ander Herrera has arrived from Athletic Bilbao.
But, when the likes of Nigel de Jong and Kevin Strootman are available for reasonable fees, the United faithful appear less than satisfied by some transfer business in a key area which has lacked creativity for a sustained period.
It cannot be disputed that, in Falcao, United have acquired a dangerous centre-forward with lethal predatory instincts who boasted an average of almost a goal every game in two-season stays at both Porto and Atletico Madrid.
His 11 goals in 20 appearances last term in Ligue 1 was also an impressive return given his season was cut short with a serious injury which prevented his participation in the World Cup in Brazil.
The unexpected but much welcome signing even allowed van Gaal to move on Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck to Real Madrid and Arsenal respectively while snatching Falcao from under the noses of Manchester City, who were interested in his services, will only add to United’s gratification.
In a wider context, the Barclays Premier League is also benefitting in general from the striker’s presence with the move providing further proof of English football’s ability to tempt the best players from across the globe.
However, with Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj already in the ranks, the main questions posed by Falcao’s arrival revolve around how the 28-year-old will be accommodated and whether van Gaal will persist with the 3-5-2 system which is the make-up of his coaching philosophy.
As with many of the deals completed on football’s equivalent of Christmas Eve, time will tell if the deal to take Falcao to the Theatre of Dreams is a managerial masterstroke and a perfect fit or a pure act of desperation.
The overriding feeling is United have purchased another a world-class talent, on the back of smashing the British transfer record to take Angel di Maria from Real Madrid, to help reinstate their status as a world-class team. Now it is down to them to prove that they are exactly at.
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