Manchester United strike-force struggling for goals

Manchester United’s strike-force of Robin van Persie and Rademel Falcao looked ineffective against West Ham, as Wayne Rooney once again started in midfield for the Red Devils

Manchester United drew 1-1 at West Ham yesterday, but United needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Dutch defensive midfielder Daley Blind to rescue a point.

The Red Devils again looked like they lacked ideas going forward.

The high-profile strike-partnership of Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie drew a blank against a make-shift Hammers backline.

Fantasy

An attacking line-up of Van Persie, Falcao, with Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria in midfield seems like something from fantasy football.

United fans must have been relishing the prospect of the quartet lining-up together for their team.

Falcao has been in and out of the team due to injury, as has Angel Di Maria who enjoyed an encouraging start to his career. Van Persie has not enjoyed his best season in front of goal for United either.

Out-of-position

Wayne Rooney now seems to be a regarded as a midfielder by Van Gaal, after being switched from his usual number ten or forward role. Whether the switch will be successful remains to be seen.

The stats prove that Rooney is a far more productive player when playing up front. From midfield he has created just one goal and scored three. However when played in a forward role the England captain scored five goals and collected three assists.

It does not currently seem like Rooney in midfield is working out very well for Louis van Gaal and his team. With a quality central midfielder like Ander Herrera sitting on the bench it seems strange that Van Gaal currently prefers Rooney in the role.

Similar

The problem for United at the moment seems that Van Persie and Falcao are quite similar in their styles of play. Both have been world-class strikers and still are when given the chances, but they tend to want to occupy the same spaces.

The lack of movement and energy in the United frontline yesterday was obvious. Rooney gives the team that endless running and work rate upfront, whereas the other two are very much static in their play.

No doubt either Van Persie or Falcao could benefit from a livelier partner in attack. Neither is the sort of striker to run around all day for the team. They are now goal poacher more than anything and they are both very good at their job given the right supply.

Without the right supply and they look very ordinary and struggle to make an impact on the game, just like yesterday’s game.

High-Profile

United boss Louis Van Gaal does not normally allow players with big reputations to get the better of him. If he needs to make big decisions he will and not let reputations get in the way of him creating a winning team.

Van Gaal has made what is arguably a big decision by moving Rooney into midfield, but he may have to make an even bigger decision by playing with either Van Persie or Falcao up front and dropping one of the strikers to the bench.

Loan

Radamel Falcao is only on a season-long loan deal at United from Monaco and he has a lot to do to prove that he is worth signing on a permanent deal, especially as he could cost the Red Devils a reported £44million to join on a permanent basis in the summer.

Falcao has been prolific wherever he has played, but he is more accustomed to playing as a lone striker, or with a number ten style player to combine with. However, it seems the effects of a nine month injury lay-off are still being suffered by the striker.

If Falcao was played up front on his own with the likes of Rooney, Di Maria or Juan Mata in support he would no doubt be more effective. That would mean Van Persie dropping out of the team, but judging by his last 18 months of form for United that maybe would not be so bad for Van Gaal’s team.

Top four

Despite United’s strike-force struggling to score goals, United are still in the top four of the Premier League. The Red Devils are currently odds of 1/ 2 to make the Champions League spots this season and find themselves just five points behind arch-rivals Manchester City, who are second in the table.

If Van Gaal can find a successful combination from within his available strike-force then United could maybe even snatch second this season, but after yesterday’s performance second spot looks a long way off.

Should Van Gaal drop Van Persie or Falcao?