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Robin Van Persie Netherlands flag

2014-15 Performances

View full 2014-15 profile

5.4 Season Average Rating
Appearances
29
Goals
10
Assists
3
Yellow cards
5
Status
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Sometimes he's also the victim of the expectations his own brilliance has created. His run into the box to hit Di Maria's pass first time was very good, but it leaves him with a very difficult chance. Last match he took pass down with his chest to strike it from a small angle, and shoots wide, "should have scored" said MotD. But if he would have scored them, both would have been absolutely brilliant goals. So he should have scored goals that are brilliant? For most strikers these passes aren't even chances, becaus they're not able to take them like that, so they can't be blamed for not scoring.

He's not on top form, but he's playing all right. His pass to Falcao when he had a decent angle himself says a lot about the kind of teamplayer he is. Falcao has a huge task beating Van Persie for first choice. He's a very good striker, but he's just a striker, not an allround centre forward as Van Persie. And he has also yet to reach the level Van Persie has been playing on for years. Don't forget he's been a big hit in the Europa League, not in het Champions League. Last week the news was he is 30, not 28, but also at 28 he hasn't that much to show for on the highest level.

With Van Persie's history of injuries and Rooney not indestructable either, my guess is that Van Gaal has chosen three top strikers for two positions, while Rooney could also play as a '10', but he won't be hoping that Falcao needs to replace Van Persie.
 
BigDunc9 said:
He's a moaning bastard if someone doesn't pass to him when he feels they should isn't he ? Very unlikable player.
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TBF If it's the Januzaj bit at the end he had all the right to be angry. Adnan should have passed instead of shooting (and missing badly). But I agree he seems a bit frustrated, needs a goal or two.
 
I suspect LVG wants to see if RVP and Falcao can form a great partnership. It was good to see RVP try to pass to Falcao in the
 
Raw said:
I'm probably being a bit picky, but I'm just watching Herreras goal again and saw RvP screaming for it before Herrera shot and scored. RvP didn't smile in the celebration, quickly hugged him and walked off. He really needs a goal.
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I noticed that as well. But RVP has always been like that, he gave Januzaj a dirty look after he had that shot instead of passing to him. But it's what you expect from a striker to be honest. I admire the way he always wants the ball and has enough confidence in his own ability to want it.
 
Dr. Funkenstein said:
Sometimes he's also the victim of the expectations his own brilliance has created. His run into the box to hit Di Maria's pass first time was very good, but it leaves him with a very difficult chance. Last match he took pass down with his chest to strike it from a small angle, and shoots wide, "should have scored" said MotD. But if he would have scored them, both would have been absolutely brilliant goals. So he should have scored goals that are brilliant? For most strikers these passes aren't even chances, becaus they're not able to take them like that, so they can't be blamed for not scoring.

He's not on top form, but he's playing all right. His pass to Falcao when he had a decent angle himself says a lot about the kind of teamplayer he is. Falcao has a huge task beating Van Persie for first choice. He's a very good striker, but he's just a striker, not an allround centre forward as Van Persie. And he has also yet to reach the level Van Persie has been playing on for years. Don't forget he's been a big hit in the Europa League, not in het Champions League. Last week the news was he is 30, not 28, but also at 28 he hasn't that much to show for on the highest level.

With Van Persie's history of injuries and Rooney not indestructable either, my guess is that Van Gaal has chosen three top strikers for two positions, while Rooney could also play as a '10', but he won't be hoping that Falcao needs to replace Van Persie.
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What? For years? What, two and a half years, where Falcao's equalled him.
Since coming to Europe in 2009 Falcao's scored 155 goals in 201 games.
 
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I'm not writing him off or anything dramatic, I just think he looks out of sorts right now, he seems physically fit but a bit lacking in sharpness and enthusiasm, I also think he looked better with Falcao than with Rooney, I just think him and Rooney often want to occupy to much of the same space.
 
He's had no pre-season, this was his 3rd game since the World Cup. Couple more games he'll be banging them in again.
 
Much better but he needs that goal to settle him down. He's snatching at everything at the moment...a bit too eager for it.
 
Disappointing yet again. He's a million miles from the player we signed right now and I'm not sure we'll ever see that level consistently again.

The injury rumours made me think that there's an excuse,but to hear he's fully fit is a bit worrying when you see how old he's looking on the pitch.
 
Speak said:
What? For years? What, two and a half years, where Falcao's equalled him.
Since coming to Europe in 2009 Falcao's scored 155 goals in 201 games.
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How many goals in the CL? He's a goalscorer, not an allround centre forward, so it's fair to judge him on goals. He's just not proven himself yet like Van Persie, Muller, Lewandowski, Benzema, etc.
 
Needs to up his game and fit into the team if he wants to keep his place. I can see him being dropped but he is still quality and will bounce back
 
pocco said:
Disappointing yet again. He's a million miles from the player we signed right now and I'm not sure we'll ever see that level consistently again.

The injury rumours made me think that there's an excuse,but to hear he's fully fit is a bit worrying when you see how old he's looking on the pitch.
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3rd game of the season after having no pre-season. There needs to be an icon for knee-jerk.
 
pocco said:
Disappointing yet again. He's a million miles from the player we signed right now and I'm not sure we'll ever see that level consistently again.

The injury rumours made me think that there's an excuse,but to hear he's fully fit is a bit worrying when you see how old he's looking on the pitch.
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If you sign a player at his peak, don't be remotely surprised if within a couple of seasons, he's looking more like an ordinary player than the star performer he was when he arrived. There is a certain inevitability to what we are seeing, due to his age.

I thought he played ok today but his total contribution this season is way below the standard you'd hope for from a United forward.
 
He improved in the 2nd half. I am sure LvG wants both him and Falcao match fit therefore both will get enough playing time because he knows what both can do in top form. He won't start all of them every game, but if we really need a goal he most probably wants to bring on an on form and match fit striker, be it RvP or Falcao.
 
He almost played as an inverted winger today, sans the occasional run into the box. Couple that with the fact that he was noticeably sharper, more involved and mobile and the template responses are that much less deserved, although predictable.
 
I thought he did ok today, with the amount of attacking players we have its only to be expected some have quieter games than others some weeks, wouldn't surprise me if next week RVP takes the plaudits
 
Singings of Di Maria and Falcao are just the motivation RVP needed for this final phase of his career. He will have to perform every game or risk being dropped. Great position for us to be in!

If only he could have scored that volley today from the Di Maria chip .... would be been a genuine early condenser for goal of the season!
 
THought he was a bit absent from the QPR match. Didn't play bad, just not involved as much as you would like for a team, especially in the first half, who were full throttle and attacking at every opportunity. I think that if/when Falcao gets fully fit and sharp, that RVP will be third choice striker. That being said, he has a lot to offer, and this may well motivate him. Also, being able to mix and match between RVP, Rooney and Falcao for strikers is a nice problem to have. They all bring different qualities and attributes to the table.
 
He's looked better each game he's played so far. Just a matter of time before he's at 100%.
 
I hope our only worry after the next few games is RVP not playing to his best.

What a wonderful season that would be if RVP was the biggest problem in the squad.

The squad is full of attacking talent and they will not all play at their best every match, LVG has the luxury of rotating the forwards or playing them all for parts of the match like today. Personally i'm not concerned about Robin at all...c'mon its RVP!

He will smash a volley past some helpless keeper before to long and then all this silly talk will be forgotten.
 
Dr. Funkenstein said:
How many goals in the CL? He's a goalscorer, not an allround centre forward, so it's fair to judge him on goals. He's just not proven himself yet like Van Persie, Muller, Lewandowski, Benzema, etc.
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In my inbox from a new member:
Hey Speak, can't post on main forum but you should reply to that dr funckenclown asking how scoring goals against the likes of Sparta Prague, Olympiakos, Steaua, Rosenborg, Hamburg or Zagreb etc (Which Rvp has) is a 'higher standard' than Falcao scoring against the likes of Valencia Villarreal Sevilla Braga (final) etc in the Europa league.

Falcao also has a good return against Real and Barca which is the highest standard in football.

He makes Falcao sound like Javier Hernandez ffs. RVP is not superior to Falcao out the box imo.

33 goals in 30 EL games is an awesome return. Also got four in seven CL games.

Guy is taking some amount of rubbish!!!
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It's a silly argument you're putting forward.
Falcao has proven himself. You say he hasn't matched the level van Persie's been at for years, but van Persie was only at a truly 'top' level for two and a half years, and Falcao absolutely matched it, and against similar teams.

And you under play Falcao's ability to play outside the box. He doesn't dally on the ball and slow things down, but he moves it quickly and moves - which I'd say is better for the type of team we're looking to become.

Comparing to Benzema is silly. Benzema isn't expected to score the majority of his teams goals, and it shows in his play.
 
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Wasn't at his best but I thought it was an improvement on his previous appearances this season. Probably helped that the team was dominating though. Hopefully he gets better, still a little concerned though.
 
Many fail to realise that Van Persie never really starts a season on fire. Only season in his career where he started off very well was in 12/13 but even then he wasn't 100%. He had a slow start in 11/12 which was arguably his best ever season. Same with 10/11 and 09/10. He usually peaks around October/November time almost every single season in his career. From there he either goes on to have a top season or gets injured. Hopefully the former occurs.

He is getting better game by game which is a good sign. If Van Persie is anywhere near as good as he was in 12/13, we will win the league providing our top players stay fit which is quite likely considering the lack of games this season.
 
Had a poor first half, but I thought he was very good the second one. Involved in everything, it looks like he is slowly getting back to his usual standards.
 
I actually thought van Persie was brilliant yesterday. Great movement throughout. Good work rate and willingness to drop deep and get involved.

van Persie was often pulling off into space at the opposite end of play to get on the end of a cross or pass - see Herrera's goal. van Persie was in a 10yard circle of space for about 10 seconds before the ball crossed the line, like Shearer vs Holland all those years ago, just waiting for the extra pass to smash it home.

There's key parts to RVP's role that go unmissed:
a) it's very similar to the approach LVG used with Holland, softened slightly with options
b) he's an outlet ball, high or low, in approx 9/10 phases of play
c) by pulling off into space, he forces either a full back to mark him and leave space for a midfielder to push into, or a centre back to pull wide and mark him and leave space for another attacker to move into (Rooney, Mata, Falcao etc).

van Persie didn't score yesterday so the headlines won't mention him but I actually thought he was one of our better players.
 
In the world of "those that played the best should play the next game" - RVP should be on the bench against Leicester.

If one of Mata/Rooney/Falcao doesn't play well in that game, he should come back in the week after.
 
If he scored that volley then opinions would certainly be different. He was much better yesterday. Just needs a goal.
 
I know it's bit of stretch but I wonder if motivation is one of his big problems right now judging by his body language last season and this year, considering he came here to win trophies and then suddenly saw Fergie leave and United stuck in a rut.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
In the world of "those that played the best should play the next game" - RVP should be on the bench against Leicester.

If one of Mata/Rooney/Falcao doesn't play well in that game, he should come back in the week after.
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That would imply that Falcao was better than RVP which he really wasn't. I'd also take RVP ahead of Mata
 
Honestly, what game did people watch yesterday? These guy held the ball well, missed a couple of difficult chances, set up a few but failed to score. I think he was good, moved freely and looked hungry. I think you people expect too much from him, it's ridiculous. He's not setting the world alight now but he was not poor yesterday at all. Falcao will have to be eased into the team, none of this new toys syndrome [drop Mata, drop Rooney, drop RVP] etc.
 
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