You couldn’t have called it could you? Radamel Falcao amongst Manchester United’s biggest underperformers. Unfortunately, this season review of the 29-year-old is anything but goals, goals, and more goals but at least we can go into plenty of detail on those occasions he did appear on the score sheet.
It seems a lifetime ago that the striker (and yes, he is still a striker) made his pledge to persist with the club and etch himself into Red Devils fables and folklore. Although I still believe he would be brought to tears if he entered the changing rooms at Old Trafford once more, it would probably be out of the regurgitation of bad memories as opposed to joy.
His introduction to the Reds was a positive omen at first as he stretched his legs for 23 minutes in the 4-0 demolition of QPR, his sides’ first victory of the 2014/15 campaign. Warming up with assists in his next two matches as United were successful in their clashes with Leicester and West Ham, Falcao’s introduction to life in England was seemingly cushioned with an easy start against mediocre opposition.
However, plagued by injury, the Columbian was not able to feature until December, and as an early Christmas present, netted against Aston Villa in a one-all stalemate. His perfectly timed header and his adjusted body shape was handed many plaudits on the resulting Match of the Day as things looked up for the loanee.
Given a good run of minutes in the starting line-up, the ex-Atletico ace wasn’t making us foam at the mouth and was discarded to the Under-21’s competitions. The media did not aid his attempts to return to form – with a pundit proclaiming ‘another night of nothing from Falcao’ after he was unable to trouble Preston North End with a single shot on target that evening – but what exactly stalled the now-Chelsea bound man remains a mystery.
Without any physicality or height to dislodge Robin van Persie, any stimulating pace to get in ahead of James Wilson, or any team-playing qualities to rival that of Wayne Rooney’s, Falcao slipped to fourth choice forward. Additionally, experiencing a drought of that finishing ability that he had once been renowned for, our former number nine was weeping regularly according to his agent. Perhaps Louis van Gaal did not get the best out of him – after all, his managerial techniques are not compatible with all players – or the frontman that was burning a £265,000 hole in United’s pockets each week was simply unable to enjoy his football as he hit a rough patch in his career.
Also, Falcao was handed the jersey unexpectedly against top dogs Chelsea, where he completed the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, not the gaffers best tactical decision you can agree.
In summary, four league goals in 26 league appearances is below par for the once prolific striker, but a clean sheet (no Falcao related pun intended) is what is required for the man-in-question to kick start his career once more.
However ‘disrespectful’ van Gaal was towards this term’s flop, he did the dutiful deed by refusing the option to sign him on a permanent basis. It would be a pleasure to see him do so and return his name to the halls of fame, but if you’re a United enthusiast then you’d hope he isn’t unstoppable under Jose Mourinho as this could pose a threat to our title designs.
