Landing gear design

And now for my 500th post (taaadaaaa) I would like to ask a semi intelligent question: If you look at the landing gear on aircraft like the FW190 and the Brewster Buffalo you'll notice how the main gear struts are canted inward when the gear is extended.
It seems like they would have been stronger if they had been built to be perpendicular to the wing like those on the P-51. I've never read anything that said the FW190 had weak gear but I have read things about the Buffalo having gear problems. Does anyone know what advantages if any there are of canted gear?
Thanks,
Jim
It seems like they would have been stronger if they had been built to be perpendicular to the wing like those on the P-51. I've never read anything that said the FW190 had weak gear but I have read things about the Buffalo having gear problems. Does anyone know what advantages if any there are of canted gear?
Thanks,
Jim