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September 1st, 2014 was the day that Ed Woodward and other executives at Manchester United pushed the boat out and secured a loan deal for one of the best strikers in world football.Little did they know back in September that their big-name loan signing Falcao would fall dramatically short of everyone’s expectations of lighting up the Premier League. For the past 5 months, the Colombian has been showered with criticism and told that he’s not worth the wages he receives. It has been reported that the Red Devils could look elsewhere in order to sign a big-name striker in the summer and here is a look at alternative players who can do a better job than Falcao at Manchester United.
#1 Paulo Dybala
The 21-year-old Argentinian hot shot has sprung himself onto the world stage after netting 9 times in 17 appearances for Serie A outfit Palmero. Dybala’s main assets are his dribbling and agility. Being slightly short in stature, his low centre of gravity helps him massively and enables him to swivel and ease past defenders pressing to get the ball back.
It is said that Dybala’s weakness is his ‘ambidexterity’ – which allows him to use either foot to the same level of adequacy, hinting at his poor decision making, but that will come with time as the ability to use either foot is a huge bonus.
For someone who is not very well built, the Palmero striker’s ability to fend off players is remarkable to watch. The Premier League has been labelled as ‘brutal’ and a ‘physical battle’ but seeing the Argentine regularly brush off defenders who are much bigger than him, he should have no problems handling the English league’s physicality.
However, besides his agility, speed and ambidexterity – why Dybala’s name has risen to the forefront of everyone’s minds is his ability to pick the ball up from outside the box on either flank, run directly past defenders and expertly finish – guiding it carefully past the keeper. His one-on-one finishing is second to none.
#2 Alexandre Lacazette
The 21-year-old French international has arisen from being a ‘future prospect’ into a name that is now well known across Europe in the space of 2 years. Some transformation. No-one could have predicted Lacazette’s rise to fame and goalscoring record this season, as he has netted 24 times in 28 appearances for Lyon.
The striker’s prolific tally has made top clubs aware of his availability and they will be scouting the player very carefully in the next couple of months. He has proven himself in Ligue 1, but if he wants to cement his name among the top 5 strikers in Europe, he must move to a bigger club in Europe and be their talisman.
Lacazette’s game has a vast array of assets - most notably his pace and ability to run in behind the defence. His finishing has improved drastically over the course of the last two years and now he is known to be a deadly finisher. Still at a tender age, Lacazette has all the ability needed to become a world class number 9.
#3 Edinson Cavani
Slightly older than Dybala and Lacazette, Cavani, 27, has a wealth of experience under his belt after competing at the top level with Napoli and PSG for a number of years. Edinson Cavani has been labelled as one of the best out-and-out strikers in the world but has had to do whatever he can from a wide position at the Parisian club, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been played in the central striker’s position.
During his time at Napoli, he scored 78 goals in 104 appearances, and it was no wonder that Paris-Saint Germain had to fork out a whopping €64.5 million for him. The Uruguayan would be well suited to the Premier League; possessing an aerial threat being 6’2” and having a physical side to him – something that is important in England.
Everyone has seen that Cavani has the components to excel in the English League. What remains is to see whether he now joins, with United said to hold an interest in his signature. His arrival would see the forward line get some much-needed quality and will make it a formidable and deadly United attack.
#4 Karim Benzema
Having a fine season with Real Madrid, Benzema is showing fans why he’s dubbed as one of the best number nines in Europe. The Frenchman has shown that he’s not just a player who can finish a move off, but one that can involve all of his team members and get the best out of them.
His work for Los Blancos goes unseen, but he is still valued very highly, despite the presence of other stars such as three-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.
However, Benzema’s movement and ox-like stamina enables the striker to punish teams and not give up like others would. He chases every ball, whether or not he knows it’s going out, if he thinks there is a remote chance of him getting on the end of it. If it wasn’t for the players behind him, Rodríguez, Ronaldo and Bale, Benzema would be the main man of that Real Madrid side.
If he does move, he’ll be one of, if not, the most decorated player of that side. French legend Zinedine Zidane rates him very highly and so should you.
#5 Arjen Robben
Robben and Louis van Gaal have always got on. This was prevalent in the World Cup with the Netherlands. The Dutch boss placed the conventional winger in more of an attacking role alongside Robin van Persie. It seemed to be an odd move, but it paid off. Robben’s raw speed and tenacity to get on the end of a pass is magnificent and rather mesmerising to watch.
In the opening game of the Netherlands’s World Cup campaign – the remake of the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and them, one of Robben’s goals came from a hoofed clearance into Spain’s half with the Bayern forward running past two defenders and finishing it off. He had no right to be first to the ball in that case, but did it nonetheless.
Just like Van Persie, Robben has a great relationship with Van Gaal and understands his “philosophy” that he keeps repeating to the media. If United were to sign the winger, then it wouldn't take long before you saw a more familiar role of Robben partnering a striker. He’s not a target man, nor does he try to be, he’s a player that can draw defenders out of position and run the lines in behind. He’s every midfielder’s dream striker.
