'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There are handfuls of world-class forwards in Europe. By world-class I really mean the elite ones and not the ones who on the back of one wonder season are termed so by their football agents and chairmen.
When we talk about the crème la crème of forwards in world, one name is always in the list irrespective of anything. He is known as Radamel Garcia Falcao or simply Radamel Falcao. The Columbian is widely regarded as one of the best number 9’s in the world. Manchester United certainly managed a coup de grace on deadline day when they landed the striker on loan from Monaco by beating the likes of super rich Real Madrid and Manchester City.
But the 60 million dollar question arises, whether United should make a permanent move for him? Simple answer for this question by millions of Reds all over the globe would be a thundering ‘YES’. I’ll have a look at the pros and cons of signing this superstar striker, if United choose to do so.
I’ll begin with cons of Falcao as finding flaws in him is as difficult as finding a defect in a Queen’s cut diamond.
Cons
El Tigre has his share of injuries which can most probably end his career prematurely. He has ruptured his ACL twice in his career and has had hefty layoffs on both the occasions. Many players have ACL injuries in their career and many have had fruitful careers post their injuries. But Falcao’s case is a bit different. He has ruptured his same knee not once but twice. There are almost miniscule chances of him being third time lucky and come back after injuring his knee.
The loanee himself has admitted that Manchester United has taken a gamble by signing him. This surely indicates that there is more than it meets the eyes. He was quoted by all the major media outlets,
"Manchester United were the ones that gambled on me when it was very difficult to do so."
The former Porto man knows very well that he is absolutely on the edge as far his career his concerned at the moment. The gamble is that the Old Trafford club are paying a staggering £350k-a-week! So to have a player who is just one injury away from being sidelined permanently is not just a gamble but a huge one. But what is more worrisome is the forthcoming quote from the horse’s mouth; it states he is still not fit as he once used to be.
"I'm still going to need some time to be OK, but I am feeling very comfortable and very good on the pitch, in harmony with myself, with the ball and with football.”
Now this raises a huge question, whether he is worth all those pounds United are willing to pay for him? The ghosts of Owen Hargreaves are still haunting the Mancunians world over and United with their roller coaster present circumstances don’t have the luxury which they had whilst Hargreaves fiasco. Along with his tryst with injuries, one other minor flaw that he has is his lack of discipline as he commits an unnecessary foul quite frequently. United fans will be thinking that is he another Wayne Rooney? Well in a way yes, but he isn’t such a hot head as the United skipper and rarely makes a rash challenge like his captain as well. But yes he trips quite a few opponents here and there.
Pros
Radamel Falcao is surely the dream forward for any team and any manager. He is sublime when he plays as an out and out number 9 and he is also versatile enough to play as a withdrawn forward. There is always scepticism around his abilities whenever he plays in a front two, but if you look at his current stint at Manchester United, he has already contributed a lot more with his pace, vision and hard-work. His role in 2012-13 Copa Del Rey final against Real Madrid is testament to his versatility, where he played as a playmaker instead of his preferred role of a complete forward and propelled Roji Blancos to Copa glory.
One goal and two assists are a decent return for a forward who has been with this team just for over a month and is returning from a serious injury. Statistically he is one of the best strikers in Europe. And historically he has always worked in tandem with his partners. Be it Hulk in his Porto days or James Rodriguez at AS Monaco.
Like all top strikers he too has a venomous shot from distance which perfectly complements his excellent poaching skills. He is a constant nuisance for centre-halves as he continues to hover in and around the penalty box. The term ‘Floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee’ is so apt for the former Atletico Madrid man.
He is entering his prime years as a footballer as he is aged 28, which is when all the strikers have their golden period. Just have a look at these stats and you will know what I’m talking about.
It is clear that no manager in the world will afford a chance to miss a forward with that goalscoring record in Europe especially when he is into his best years as a professional footballer. He along with Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and a young James Wilson can emulate the famed quartet of 1998-99 treble winning season, where Sir Alex had luxury of playing Andy Cole, Dwight York, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunar Solskjaer.
Verdict
It seems that fitness is the only stumbling block in Falcao’s path to greatness. Radamel Falcao is a Rolls Royce whose pros far outweigh its cons. When fit, he is certainly on par with the best in the world but, the main question is can he stay fit long enough without damaging his brittle knee? Only time will tell.
