He had a real fire and desire to play for Fergie, once he left that determination left him and he looked a bit disheartened. He obviously thought Fergie would stay a few more years.
Robin Van Persie - Were you happy we sold Jaap Stam?
- Thread starter Amethyst
- Start date
RVP covered more distance than any other United player. He tried his best.
Edit: under LVG.
Edit: under LVG.
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Poor guy, I don't think he would have come here if Fergie said he wasn't sure he would be here much longer but I'm sure with how his career has gone he will cherish that year and that title. Fantastically gifted player, injuries prevented him from having the career his talent deserved. Skill set wise one of the best players I've ever seen play for us.
I'm sure I read somewhere that RVP asked for assurances when he signed that Ferguson wasn't planning to retire anytime soon. It was either him or Kagaws anyway.
Yeah it was him. Don't think he would have joined if he new Fergie was leaving after 1 year.
IIRC Robin had better goals/minutes ratio under Moyes than he had in his Fergie season, he was just injury-struck in the Moyes season and hence people remember that season as being shit (for obvious reasons, not all of them relating to RVP himself). We've just hit a purple patch with him, his last season at Arsenal and the first for us were two seasons where he was at his peak and he wasn't struggling with injuries.
To get a player like that, at his absolute peak when he was arguably one of the top 3-5 strikers on the planet was an absolute steal at 22m. Last year of his contract or otherwise.
Will always have fond memories of that season. Despite having a defence like a sieve, he seemed to take us up a level. It didn't matter if our porous midfield and shaky back line let in 3, i was confident we'd get 4.
Will always have fond memories of that season. Despite having a defence like a sieve, he seemed to take us up a level. It didn't matter if our porous midfield and shaky back line let in 3, i was confident we'd get 4.
I really believe that if we hadn't won the title that season Fergie would have stayed on. He was never not going to leave United not a winner.
If we had to choose between Rooney and RVP I guess longevity at the club came into the picture for why a new manager chose one highly paid player past his peak over the other, even though I don't think he would've been worse than the Rooney we have seen the past 2 years had he played enough. Certainly out of him, Rooney and Falcao in hindsight he was probably the best choice. I remember thinking to myself when I saw him in Fergie's last year if only we had gotten to see a little bit more of him and that he hadn't gotten so many injuries at the beginning of his career which robbed him of a lot of pace.
Yeah it's been brought up before. Doesn't excuse his drop in from when Ferguson left but I could imagine signing for a team to win trophies (due to Ferguson especially), winning the title finally, then Ferguson retires and Davy feckin Moyes saunters in. I'm surprised half the team wasn't clinically depressed.
Rio got his testimonial so it ain't that bad.
I'd agree with you on 'hindsight' but let's be honest the only thing can that kept Rooney ahead of RVP was his reputation and history with the club. Both players were getting absolutely slattered for their performances under Moyes and LVG let RVP go because he had to keep Rooney. Even with all his injuries and lack of pace, RVP's sublime technique and general hold up play and intelligence is miles ahead of Rooney, then and now. RVP would have been the Zlatan (talisman/target man) for the squad had LVG had put the trust and tactics for him. But againt that was never gonna happen. It's taken 3 years of terrible performances and 3 managers to just start the beginning of the removal of Rooney.
I agree, hence why i mentioned longevity. it's unfortunate that since Fergie's retirement Rooney has been a political issue for all of his successors just because he couldn't sell him in time. It's only this year that we have made an attempt to make sure we phase out his 'marketablity' by signing Pogba and ibra which was one reason why i suppose we were reluctant to sell him before.
Hopefully Martial/Rashford (and for England)/Pogba take up that mantle of being the star of the club.
I don't think he particularly care about United as he was from Arsenal and knew about the rivlary in the late 90s. He came to United to play for Fergie and get that one title or hopefully a couple more under his belt. Little did he knew the manager retired and that fire was gone. It's obvious he appreciated the fans though
nah RvP was done in 14/15. Rooney looked more agile than him which says something.
Plus there are many reasons to keep Rooney over RvP. Rooney scored more in the previous season, was younger, could play decently in multiple positions, knew the club etc.
I think there's a bit of revisionism on this forum when it comes to Rooney. RVP was absolutely terrible in LVG's first season. Rooney wasn't great but he was better than RVP. Given age, reputation and performance, it was definitely the right decision to choose Rooney over RVP.
Shouldn't forget that Van Gaal worked with Van Persie on the national team before he joined us. He was well aware that Van Persie had been struggling with his fitness for a long time. Even that 2014 World Cup tournament, where Van Persie played alot, there were constant concerns about his fitness and the effect on his performances. I think Van Gaal soon realised this wasn't going to improve and that he would never be a consistent performer again at top level.
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I won't argue about agility but he was and still is a better box finisher than Rooney. The only thing Rooney was better at was being familar with the squad and being the 'bigger' name at the club. I guess also he suited LVG's tactics in the sense he was able to roam around aimlessly and seen to make more effort. Distance covered and agility is nothing without quality. RVP would have destroyed Premier League defences with the current team.
His exit still bothers me. Even Di Maria got an acknowledgement from the club. I wonder if there was something else behind the scenes, or if some intern at Marketing forgot to hit the 'Tweet' button and no one bothered to check.
I remember when he first came to United. I didn`t know he was that good. He was also bigger, stronger and faster than I thought which makes his rapid decline all the more baffling.
The amount of amazing goals in his first year with us was astonishing. He lost steam after the new year but feck me what a start he had. RVP, Carrick and Rafael!
The amount of amazing goals in his first year with us was astonishing. He lost steam after the new year but feck me what a start he had. RVP, Carrick and Rafael!
I think he's angry with LvG about his exit. He went out of his way to thank Ed Woodward in his first press conference for Fenerbahce calling him a gentleman.
His goal against Villa on the volley is still one of the best technical goals I've ever seen.
My god that's a confusing sentence.
hardly. he didnt have the pace that even ibra or rooney seem to have. If he wasnt sold last year, he would have been sold by jose.
The 'pace' you're saying Zlatan has, is athleticism sure but also touch and then stride. RVP or Zlatan for that matter isn't going to blow past people but their technique, movement and touch would mean they would get ahead/make that space needed to be effective. We'll have to agree to disagree but RVP was imo a superior player then and now over Rooney. RVP didn't need to be as 'pacey' as Rooney around the pitch, his technique and intelligence is already a yard ahead.
The way he silently left us. He deserved a proper send off. We didn't even acknowledge his departure on social media.
Hopefully we give him a well deserved sendoff at Old Trafford. One of our best players ever in my opinion.
And I too would have kept him over Rooney. He might not be fast but he makes up for it with technical ability and shooting. Rooney has never been a good technical player and his pace and shooting are completely non-existent these days. RVP would definitely offer more. In his last season with us, he still scored 15+ goals and people called it a bad season for him.
Hopefully we give him a well deserved sendoff at Old Trafford. One of our best players ever in my opinion.
And I too would have kept him over Rooney. He might not be fast but he makes up for it with technical ability and shooting. Rooney has never been a good technical player and his pace and shooting are completely non-existent these days. RVP would definitely offer more. In his last season with us, he still scored 15+ goals and people called it a bad season for him.
RvP wasn't anything like that in 14/15 though. He was slow, weak. What that meant was that he was only good in and around the box and wouldn't have been able to drop deeper like zlatan. 9/10 managers would keep Rooney over RvP based on 14/15. Plus RvP wanted to leave so that he can fight for a place in the euros.
If that's the case Rooney also scored 15 last year. Amazing season.
2/3 managers kept Rooney and lost their jobs in the process. I can understand their thinking, no matter how flawed it is but as a spectator and fan, I can't believe you actually think Rooney was the better choice. RVP left because there was only space for one underperforming striker and out of the two, Rooney stayed because Rooney.
None of them lost their job because of Rooney. They lost their job because they failed in their expectations.
Rooney scored more goals in the 2 seasons before that, he was also more agile. It wasn't surprising that under LvG the run of good games came with Rooney upfront. RvP was quite easily the worse among the 2 and 90% of the managers out there would have made the decision LvG made.
Robin van Persie says he is relishing returning 'home' to Manchester United
Van Persie: I am now playing for Fenerbahce and I want to do well for my team but of course it will be special to play at 'home' [Old Trafford]
Always got time for this guy.
Van Persie: I am now playing for Fenerbahce and I want to do well for my team but of course it will be special to play at 'home' [Old Trafford]
Always got time for this guy.
At least finally we thanked him for his time here!
He'll get a great reception, he's a crowd favourite!
He'll get a great reception, he's a crowd favourite!
Great video, I was sad when he left under what appeared to be a cloud. Looks like there's no hard feelings though, he was a truly fantastic player for us and helped send Fergie on his way with his final title.
Already did.
Robin van Persie's Fenerbahce move finalised
Manchester United confirms that the transfer of Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce has now been fully completed.
While the striker was presented to the media by the Turkish club earlier this month, the paperwork required in order to release his international registration certificate was not finalised until this week.
The Dutchman joined the Reds on 17 August 2012 and enjoyed a debut campaign to remember, making 48 appearances and scoring 30 goals - including 26 in the Barclays Premier League as Sir Alex Ferguson's men claimed the club's record 20th title.
A last-minute winner away at Manchester City was one of van Persie's most important strikes in that season, and he hit a memorable hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa that sealed the championship in what proved to be Sir Alex's final term as manager.
Van Persie followed up by netting 18 times and playing 28 games during his second season, 2013/14, before ending the 2014/15 campaign with a tally of 10 from 29 matches. His final goal for the club came from the penalty spot, in the 3-1 win over Burnley at Old Trafford in February.
Everyone at the club would like to wish Robin well for the future as he links up again with Nani, who also joined
Manchester United confirms that the transfer of Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce has now been fully completed.
While the striker was presented to the media by the Turkish club earlier this month, the paperwork required in order to release his international registration certificate was not finalised until this week.
The Dutchman joined the Reds on 17 August 2012 and enjoyed a debut campaign to remember, making 48 appearances and scoring 30 goals - including 26 in the Barclays Premier League as Sir Alex Ferguson's men claimed the club's record 20th title.
A last-minute winner away at Manchester City was one of van Persie's most important strikes in that season, and he hit a memorable hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa that sealed the championship in what proved to be Sir Alex's final term as manager.
Van Persie followed up by netting 18 times and playing 28 games during his second season, 2013/14, before ending the 2014/15 campaign with a tally of 10 from 29 matches. His final goal for the club came from the penalty spot, in the 3-1 win over Burnley at Old Trafford in February.
Everyone at the club would like to wish Robin well for the future as he links up again with Nani, who also joined
I can't see that we actually thanked him in that statement. But at least we issued a statement, which I couldn't remember.
We wished him well, some seem to think that tweet was the first mention of RVP from the clubs since he left.
I miss RvP. What a player. One of my favourite United players ever.
He says he wants to live in England when he retires. Hopefully, he comes back in some capacity.
Deserves a huge reception tomorrow. Was unbelievable for our 20th, gutted we let him go