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Robin Van Persie: The Best Decision Fergie Has Ever Made?

  By O-Posts Team | January 6, 2013 - 18:55 | , , ,
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Manchester United sit atop the EPL table comfortably looking down on the other 19 teams in the division thanks largely to the influential and sometimes breathtaking displays of a certain Dutch import, Robin Van Persie. It was like tales by moonlight when it was announced five months ago that RVP had agreed to join Manchester United from arch-rivals, Arsenal. Difficult as it was to believe, it was the reality of things. Another masterstroke by Sir Alex Ferguson, the evergreen warlord of the Red Army.

Arsenal fans ranted and raved, but that did not stop their beloved captain from following his heart. At his formal presentation as an MUFC player, he declared that the little boy in him told him to join the 19 time English Champions, even though noisy neighbours, Manchester City offered more money. It has been the best decision of his career yet and he has since not regretted it.

There have been masterclass signings from Eric Cantona, the undisputed king of the Theatre of Dreams to Cristiano Ronaldo who Fergie transformed to become the best player on the planet, but the RVP deal might just top them all. Sir Alex was enraged not only by the way Man Utd threw away the title last time out, but that it was won by goal difference.

He made his move to buy an established world class footballer to help out with the attacking frailties (even though Wayne Rooney came up with 27 league goals last season). English superstar, Wayne Rooney has been about the only one carrying the burden of the United attack on his broad shoulders, until a certain little pea was unearthed in Mexico.. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez took some of the weight off Wazza (Rooney), but Fergie wasn’t satisfied.

The record buy in MUFC history, Dimitar Berbatov became a bit part player and had to be shipped off, just as 2001 Ballon d’Or winner, Michael Owen was released. Danny Welbeck flattered to deceive, although we can excuse his immaturity because he is still learning the ropes. A tested and top quality forward had to be brought in to make the difference and that’s exactly what ROBIN VAN PERSIE has done this season.

From his first goal v Fulham to his hat-trick at St Mary’s to the last minute winner against Manchester City, the Dutchman has shown the world what he is capable of – if placed among fellow world class, goal driven, champions. His 20 goals this season includes 16 EPL strikes which puts him on top of the goalscorers’ chart.

The notion that he depends too much on his left foot is fast becoming an old fable as his last 3 goals for the Red Devils has been struck with his seemingly weaker right foot. The goal on Saturday (yesterday) against West Ham was blasted home with his right foot and that yet again, was a vital one as it ensured that Manchester United still remained in the F.A Cup- a trophy SAF so desperately wants to hoist this season. It has been 9 seasons since the 3 time European champions were crowned champions of the world’s oldest and most prestigious cup competition.

The decision to bring in RVP to the MUFC fold will go down as one of the best in sporting history. The way the marriage has gone thus far, it will continue to blossom and yield the right results.

It will be the most fantastic player purchase ever if he (Van Persie) leads the team past Real Madrid in the eagerly awaited UCL ROUND OF 16 match up.

 

Written by Ohireime Eboreime

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Manchester United: Van Persie could be United’s next legend

  By O-Posts Team | December 21, 2012 - 19:59 | , , ,
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Robin Van Persie was in attendance alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Dwight Yorke, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona as the Manchester United honour role of strikers witnessed the unveiling of the Sir Alex Ferguson statue at Old Trafford last month. It was a fitting tribute to a man who, in 26 years at the helm of England’s most successful club, had been at close quarters with such attacking greatness.

It is Ferguson who is best placed to pass judgment on Cantona, the eternal enigma who produced his best years under the Scotsman in four title winning years between 1992 and 1997.

Cantona still possess an aura of effortless brilliance and is still regarded as the man who bridged the gap between Ferguson’s also-rans of the old Division One to the Premier League behemoth it continues to be. Therefore, it is no modest achievement to be compared to the Frenchman by Ferguson, a man who is now, fifteen years after Cantona’s passing, reaping the benefits of a Dutchman who is having the same effect of galvanisation.

“A similar profile to Eric” was the manager’s verdict when describing Van Persie to Eurosport last week, testament enough to his immediate impact in Salford.

Manchester City’s first title win, secured in dramatic fashion on the last day of the season to United’s expense, riled the 71 year old whose will to win rages inside like no other. He promised his side would be back and he turned to the purse strings to ensure it, spending £16 million on Shinji Kagawa and £24 million on Van Persie to give his attack line the same fearsome look it did back in the treble winning year of 1999; for Cole, Yorke, Sheringham and Solskjaer, read Van Persie, Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez.

It was a move borne out of Arsenal’s failure to tie him down to a new contract at the end of a year in which he demonstrated the scintillating form of 44 goals from 57 appearances for club and country.

For a striker approaching 30 years of age with an admittedly poor track-record with injuries, an outlay in excess of £20 million may have represented a gamble but with Manchester City also in the hunt, a claim that since been certified, it was one Ferguson had no problem fast-tracking in order to steal a march on his neighbours.

Five months later, a period in which Van Persie has played 24 games, 17 goals have been scored as Manchester United sit 6 points clear of City in top spot and are also in the last 16 of the Champions League, a feat they did not manage last term.

It is an achievement in itself how the 29 year old has kept the injuries at bay, there was a suspicion that his prolific year in north London was an anomaly amongst several years of misfortune dogged by ankle and foot injuries that saw him fail to make over 30 league appearances in a single season before last year. This season, he has already made 17 and it is not yet Christmas. His last forced absence was of March 2011 as he finally begins to shake the “injury prone” tag.

Van Persie goals, 12 in total in the league, have provided United with the same catalyst for success Cantona’s had done. The defence is still ropey, but Van Persie’s goals have earned wins over Liverpool, Arsenal, Southampton, West Ham and Manchester City whereas Cantona famously did the same back in 1996-97 upon his return from his karate-kick induced suspension.

Then, the Frenchman hit winners against Tottenham, West Ham, Arsenal, Coventry, Liverpool in the FA Cup final and most vitally, Newcastle at St James’s Park which ultimately decided the fate of the league title.

His goals were a figurehead of the team’s success just as Van Persie’s are now, there was a feeling that his last gasp free-kick winner in the recent Manchester derby roller-coaster, or his hat-trick at St Mary’s to rescue a 2-0 deficit, was an instance of him dragging an imperfect squad from the slipstream to out in-front, it is a huge difference and Van Persie makes it.

His effect not only on the goal scoring charts but on his team-mates has also not gone unnoticed by his manager who was glowing in his reference to the quality summoned in the likes of strike-partners Wayne Rooney, who has tallied eight goals and Javier Hernandez, who has nine.

43 goals have been amassed as a team in total, ten more than closest challengers Manchester City, as they have won 14 of their 17 games. Such a potency has seriously outweighed the vulnerable back-line which has shipped 24 goals as a philosophy of “we’ll score one more than you” has seemingly been adopted; Van Persie also scored in the near-ridiculous 3-4 win over relegation threatened Reading.

There is no doubting that Van Persie’s impact can be likened to Cantona’s but there is an opportunity for the Dutchman to build a comparable legacy, just like the stars he joined to tribute his manager at the end of November. There is a chance for Van Persie to score the goals needed for United to be a consistent force both in domestic competition and on the continent, marking his name in Manchester United’s history like the series of greats before him as he does it.

That explains why he listened to the little boy inside when he made his decision between Manchester clubs in the summer, leaving Arsenal behind after seven barren years without a trophy and one glance at the further malaise occurring at the Emirates, minus his 37 goals, suggests the quality he brings to a team.

However Arsenal is the past for Van Persie and Manchester United promises an extremely bright future.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Adam’s Premier League Column: Weekly Roundup Week 5- RVP steals the show as Man United beat 10-man Liverpool

  By O-Posts Team | September 24, 2012 - 18:33 | , ,
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Above: Robin van Persie seals the three points for Man Utd from the penalty spot.

Above: Robin van Persie seals the three points for Man Utd from the penalty spot.

 

Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2

An emotional day for Liverpool, after the recent Hillsborough reports. Liverpool were reduced to 10 men after a somewhat strange decision. Jonjo Shelvey looked to have played the ball, replays suggest that too, but referee Mark Halsey thought otherwise, and Shelvey saw red.

You would have thought that that would have depleted Liverpool, but after the break, Captain Steven Gerrard took the ball on his chest, swivelled and thumped the ball into the bottom corner which saw Liverpool take the lead.

The lead didn’t last for too long, though, five minutes later Rafael guided a left footed curling shot in off the post to draw level.

Tackles started flying in, and the game really stepped up. Manchester United won a penalty, perhaps a little unfortunate for Liverpool, on 81 minutes. RVP made no mistake in tucking away the penalty, despite ‘keeper Pepe Reina getting a hand on it.

Liverpool still haven’t recorded a win this season, but I am sure it won’t be long until they register their first three points.

 

Manchester City 1 Arsenal 1

After Man City’s calamity in Spain midweek, they took the lead through England defender Joleon Lescott after he found faults with Arsenal’s zonal marking system with an unmarked header.

Man City were then on top for most of the game, changed formation, and struggled from then on.

Another defender, this time Laurent Koscielny converted his chance to draw level late on in the second half. City came incredibly close to re-taking the lead, when Vincent Kompany’s spectacular over-head kick effort was saved and then Sergio Agϋero glanced wide from a matter of yards.

I thought Silva, Kompany and Garcia played quite well for the Citizens, and as usual this season, Podolski and Arteta shined.

I feel Arsenal will be pleased that they got a point, and it was a closely fought contest.

 

Southampton 4 Aston Villa 1

It was a tale of two Lamberts at St Mary’s as Southampton looked to register their first league victory of the 2012/13 season. However, in the first half Villa dominated, Darren Bent scored his first league goal since February to send Southampton 1-0 down at half time.

Southampton came out all guns blazing and was a completely different side second half.

Thanks to two goals from in-form forward Ricky Lambert, a deflected Puncheon shot and a well taken goal from Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton came out the victorious side.

Influential playmaker Ramirez played really well, and his looped pass to set up Clyne was exquisite.

 

Swansea 0 Everton 3

After an emotional game at Merseyside mid-week, Everton managed to put behind what happened last Monday, by thrashing Michael Laudraup’s Swansea 3-0.

The Toffees squandered some great chances in the opening minutes of the game, however, Anichebe opened the scoring on 21 minutes through a well taken goal, which he struck into the bottom corner past ‘keeper Vorm – Fellaini the influential player in that particular attack.

Swansea had their chances on 39 minutes, with Danny Graham and Ki Sung-Yeung missing some good opportunities.

Mirallas scored Everton’s second of the game on 43 minutes, Fellaini again setting up the attack.

Swansea’s day got worse after Nathan Dyer saw red, his first a dubious decision, his second offence was a poorly timed tackle.

On 82 minutes Fellaini deserved to get his name pencilled onto the score sheet, albeit it took a big deflection.

Everton could have easily scored 5 or 6 goals, picking up many holes in Swansea’s defence.

All in all, a job well done by David Moyes’ Everton with three goals and a clean sheet.

 

Chelsea 1 Stoke 0

A change in personnel for Chelsea, after their Champions League draw against Juventus mid-week, as players like Lampard found themselves on the bench.

Walters rattled the crossbar early on, a warning sign for Chelsea of a difficult match-up.
Torres missed a sitter at the other end soon after, and really should have tucked it away. Chelsea were denied two penalties by referee Oliver, both players booked for simulation.

Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure, Torres, Mata and Ivanovic all firing over. If it wasn’t for Stoke’s ‘keeper Begovic, the score-line could have been embarrassing.

The breakthrough came on 85 minutes; Ashley Cole dinked it over an already diving Begovic, to seal a win for The Pensioners and a somewhat unfortunate defeat for the Potters.

 

Wigan 1 Fulham 2

Hugo Rodallega, who was Wigan’s saviour last season, and on his return to the DW stadium scored against them to head Fulham in front with muted celebrations.

Fulham carried on pressing, Wigan didn’t present too much of a threat until Gomez’s effort thumped the wood-work. Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz then came close from a free-kick which was saved well by Ali Al Habsi.

On 68 minutes, Damien Duff doubled the Cottagers lead with a spectacular right footed effort, his third league goal this season.

I think Fulham are looking a strong side with the new recruits and could pose a big threat this season if they carry on playing like they did today.

Wigan got a consolation goal on 90 minutes thanks to Kone, but it was too little too late for the Latics.

 

West Brom 1 Reading 0

West Brom were on top throughout the game, Reading really haven’t played to their full potential yet have they?

Refreshed striker Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, put West Brom in front on 71 minutes, a superb left footed effort. He really is a top class player, and when he returns to Chelsea, expect him to make a few first team starts.

Reading had their chances in the dying embers of the game, but couldn’t capitalise.

All in all, West Brom will be happy with the win, Steve Clark is doing a fantastic job and he really has impressed me.

His counter-part Brian McDermot will be asking questions of his Reading side, they need to step up their performances to survive this closely contested season.

 

West Ham 1 Sunderland 1

Sunderland took the lead early on, from who else other than Steven Fletcher? His razor sharp form is truly outstanding; all four of his Premier League shots have resulted in goals. Not a bad start, eh?

The Hammers tried to get back into the game, Ricardo Vaz Te and Diame linking up well, but they couldn’t breakthrough the strong Sunderland defence.

Kevin Nolan had two overhead kicks saved, but he eventually scored his 16th goal for West Ham since he joined at the start of the last season in the 90th minute to nick a point. But the scoring could have been more if chances hadn’t been pondered early on, most noticeably from both Collins and Benayoun.

Martin O’Neil will be very unhappy as they were denied their first win of the season; Sam Allardyce should be and will be glad that the Hammers rescued a point.

 

Tottenham 2 Queens Park Rangers 1

Spurs’ boss Andre Villas-Boas registered his first home league win at QPR, despite initially going behind.

QPR started strongly, Bobby Zamora and Shaun Wright-Phillips linked up well in the early stages. Zamora put QPR ahead on 33 minutes, with a well taken goal.

That goal inspired Tottenham to score twice in two minutes in the second half. The first was a really unfortunate own goal, a corner was whipped in, the ball went past everyone and bounced off of Alejandro Faurlin’s shoulder as he turned. I think that his positioning could have been better, and if QPR are to survive this season, they need to stop giving away easy goals like that.

Tottenham kept on pressing, this time Jermain Defoe was the hero, after Gareth Bale’s initial cross cannoned off the cross-bar and into the path of the England frontman who only had to tap-in.

Defoe looks to be flourishing this season when played off of another frontman, and I think with Jermain’s recent scoring efforts, Adebayor may have to wait.

 

Newcastle 1 Norwich 0

Demba Ba criticised the management team’s selection policy in the week after he came off the bench to score twice in the Toons’ 2-2 draw against Everton. He started against the Canaries, and of course scored.

Suddenly doesn’t look too fazed by Pappis Cissé anymore, does he?

Newcastle have looked as if playing of Thursday’s in the Europa League is taking its toll on the squad, and when that happens you have to grind out a result. Despite not being at their best, 8 of their 16 shots were on target, whereas Norwich had 8 shots and only 3 forced saves from stand-in ‘keeper Harper’s goal.

Newcastle could have made it 2-0 but Cissé’s penalty soared high into the stands at the Sports Direct Arena.

Norwich boss Chris Hughton has his work cut out, as Norwich currently sit 17th in the table, with three points from five games.

 

My Team of the Week

Written by Adam May

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Debate: Is Loyalty In Football ‘Dead’?

  By O-Posts Team | August 26, 2012 - 21:13 | , , , , , ,
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James Constable kissing the Oxford United badge

You’ve been hearing from almost every Arsenal fan for the past week or so that loyalty ‘is dead’. But the truth is, we’re in a new age of football – Player power. The new Sky-sponsored Premier League has got as much to do with this supposed lack of loyalty in modern football as Jean-Marc Bosman’s predicament.

English football may not want to admit it, but its players are bigger than the clubs they represent. And bigger even than the national sides they are picked for. But the question is, does this problem originate solely from football? Or is it bigger than that? Is this a problem more so with modern society? Are people dropping their morals as more and more of us reject religion? But that’s another question for another time.

It’s all well and good if a player is winning trophies, but as soon as that success stops, or is not achieved in a certain amount of time, the player will always want to move (Matt Le Tissier, Steve Bull and Lloyd Doyley aside). And we’ve seen this with Robin Van Persie. It’s been 7 years since Arsenal last won a trophy of any kind. 7 years! The reason he’s moving isn’t financial, although he won’t be too unhappy with his reported £200,000-a-week wages.

The reason he’s moving is the same reason Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea, and countless others over the last few years. He can see the end of his career rapidly approaching, and at 29 this is his last chance to move to a club that will be challenging for silverware.

Arsenal will challenge for silverware, but not for a few more years, and Van Persie clearly sees that as time he doesn’t have. And it will leave a bitter taste in the mouth for Arsenal fans that they stuck with him despite his injuries for the previous eight years, but such is life. Things change. People move.

Last January, I witnessed an interesting case of how loyalty is still very much alive in football. We have to go to the fourth tier of English football, and to a club that play at the Kassam Stadium. Oxford United. My club. Anyone who knows a little about Football League rivalries will know the feeling of hatred between Oxford United and Swindon Town. The inventively named ‘A420 derby’.

James Constable, Oxford’s number 9, is a modern icon at the Kassam Stadium after his goalscoring feats of the last four years. In fact his goalscoring feats are not too dissimilar to a certain former-Arsenal player. And it was these goals that attracted Swindon Town and Paolo Di Canio, who were sat at the top of League 2, to place a bid.

A reported £300,000 was accepted by the Oxford United board. When a football club accept a bid for a player, there is usually only one potential outcome – that player is leaving. But, Constable had other ideas. Not only did he reject Swindon’s contract that would have tripled his wages, but he didn’t even travel up to Swindon to discuss the move.

So loyalty. Dead in football? Only at the top level, it seems.

 

Written by Youcef El Barhadi

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Arsenal: Why the Gunners Were Right to Offload Van Persie

  By O-Posts Team | August 20, 2012 - 11:05 | , , , ,
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player

 

The transfer saga of the summer is finally over – and Arsenal fans are once again coming to terms with the big-money departure of another club legend.

player

It’s exactly a year to the day since Cesc Fàbregas left the Gunners to return to the Barcelona team, Robin van Persie’s protracted move to arch-rivals Manchester United become a reality to all.

Losing Van Persie will be a bitter pill to swallow for most Arsenal supporters after the club showed such patience and stood by him throughout his many injury woes. Many fans will be wondering where the goals are going to come from this season as there is no time to replace the forward before the first game.

And losing the man who scored 44 goals for club and country in all competitions last season to United will hurt all the fans.

But let’s look at the bigger picture here on Van Persie’s exit from an Arsenal point of view….

 

Van Persie is no spring chicken

At 29, it’s probably safe to assume that Van Persie’s best days are behind him. In fact, the Dutchman may just have peaked last season. He may have one or two seasons left but Arsenal were reliant on Van Persie last season, if he played badly then they played badly.

Getting in excess of £20million for a player fast approaching 30 has to be viewed as good business sense, particularly as he had 12 months left on his contract and pretty much had no intention of staying after the 2012/2013 season.

 

Van Persie could be viewed as Injury prone

Much is made of the fact that injuries have dogged Van Persie throughout his Arsenal career.

When he is fit, the striker is almost unplayable, but the problem was that last season aside he spent long periods out of action. On his way to the golden boot he even had one or two injuries.

Despite the injury proneness he is 6/1 to reclaim his golden boot this season by bookmakers Ladbrokes. If he has a good season at Manchester United then it will be up to himself as to whether this becomes reality for the Dutchman.

 

He is replaceable

If there’s one thing Arsene Wenger has grown accustomed to in recent years, it’s rebuilding after losing influential players. He lost the likes of Wright, Bergkamp and more and has kept the club near the sharp end of the Premier League.

And with his transfer budget increased by £24million, Wenger will be plotting his next move and eyeing up a couple of younger, promising replacements.

 

Van Persie has gone and it’s time to move on.

 

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