Paul Scholes Says Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie Trio Won't Work

The hysteria caused by Radamel Falcao's Manchester United arrival is very much alive, but Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes says Louis van Gaal faces a conundrum in satisfying the needs of his star attackers.

Falcao completed a season-long loan from Monaco on transfer deadline day, and Scholes writes in his Independent column that either him, Wayne Rooney or Robin van Persie will have to be dropped:

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At United, on loan for this season initially, Falcao creates competition in United’s forward line. There is no way that Louis van Gaal can play Rooney, Robin van Persie and Falcao together. It will have to be two from three and which two it is hard to say as yet.

[...] Now it is over to Van Gaal to shape the team. The big question for the United manager will be how he gives all his players games. That is quite some squad and only two competitions left to play for.

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In his Manchester United tenure so far, Van Gaal has utilised a 3-5-2 formation, but his side have scored just twice in their first three Premier League games.

It's another damning twist on what's been a difficult decline for those at Old Trafford, but the arrival of Falcao, along with fellow summer signing Angel Di Maria, promises to change those figures for the better.

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All three strikers—Falcao, Rooney and Van Persie—have the right to feel they deserve a starting spot, and although yet to make his debut, it's perhaps new boy Falcao who will be considered the automatic inclusion, given his scoring reputation and the new pressure to ensure he succeeds.

Rik Sharma outlines the difficulty of the current situation, each player boasting their own reasons as to why Van Gaal must pick them:

Scholes' word isn't final, of course. The manager would still be permitted to find a place for all three forwards if a suitable formation could be adapted, but the switch to 3-5-2 has already sparked confusion in the camp.

That being said, Mark Ogden of The Telegraph says a 4-3-1-2 could be the answer, abundant in finishing potential with Van Persie and Falcao partnering one another:

However, if Rooney were to drop into a No. 10 slot, it would leave Juan Mata's place in the squad up for debate, fans having seen that he's not as effective when placed near the flanks.

In a way, the dilemma proves that while Falcao's arrival certainly boosts United's chances of success, he wasn't the kind of player Van Gaal needed at this moment in time, their resources in defence and midfield a far more desperate cause.

Squawka depicts that, based on 2013-14 season statistics, shot accuracy was the only facet of attack in which the South American striker bested his new team-mates:

Meanwhile, Daniel Harris of The Guardian attests that Rooney and Van Persie simply haven't been up to scratch of late, reason enough to justify their dropping to the bench:

Scholes will have been familiar with how things were run under the regime of Sir Alex Ferguson, but United are hoping to take matters in a new direction now that Van Gaal has assumed control.

It's a difficult challenge given that the Dutchman is essentially rebuilding his squad from scratch, although this summer proves he'll have ample resources with which to go about his work.

There's no reason to believe any player dropped in the next outing is out for good. One significant factor in the three-way battle is that each forward offers a brilliantly different set of skills.

As such, different fixtures will require different attacking personnel, and it may be that no recognised two-man partnership truly emerges.