There's just too far many on his highlight reel to try and narrow it down.
How good was Robin van Persie?
- Thread starter Paxi
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Video ends at 3:33
Cool as you like, so glad he played for us and was able to win a title. Maybe the only player at the club since Ronaldo that gave you that feeling of complete confidence that he would put away any chance given to him consistently, like Shearer, RVN, Suarez, Drogba, Kane etc kind of levels. Makes winning games so much easier.
Sorry! 0:45.
Articulate cnut.
Berbatov is still my favourite player in a red shirt that I've seen live,
Beats Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes (just)
Played the game at his own pace but made everything look so so simple.
Him, RVP and Bergkamp were on a different level technically
Beats Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes (just)
Played the game at his own pace but made everything look so so simple.
Him, RVP and Bergkamp were on a different level technically
Yeah, one can definitely make a case for DDG as well. But it's a difficult comparison, I agree.
Best player in the league in Fergies last season, would have walked into any team in the world and we probably would have got another season or two of the same out of him if Fergie had stayed.
Absolute class act on and off the pitch and one of my favourite United players of recent years.
Absolute class act on and off the pitch and one of my favourite United players of recent years.
Could watch that all day, superb.
Incredible pass and incredible control and finish. The goal doesn't get enough love. I think it was a late winner too.The goal at Upton Park against West Ham in the FA Cup was better. I think it was Giggsy who passed it to him and he controlled it superbly before finishing off with his right foot
Absolutely magic, his first season for us was his season. He will look back at it in retirement and be satisfied with his choice, he knew it was his last shot at glory and he took it whole heartedly.
What a wonderful player he was just a shame he declined so quickly after but he had his best season with us no doubt.
What a wonderful player he was just a shame he declined so quickly after but he had his best season with us no doubt.
Yeah. That subtle touch just to bring the ball forward enough to evade the defender's foot, while having enough space for him to take the pot is just phenomenal.
He went on a lean spell not scoring for around 10 games. The madrid game was probably in between that spell. Maybe it's just my memories being clouded but he was phenomenal in both legs. Yeah he missed some chances too but his overall buildup play was causing so much problems to Madrid's defence. What a player he was. Wasn't the quickest in his latter years but still a ridiculously good footballer. One of the best at that time. SAF's retirement screwed everything up for him. He was absolutely wasted under Moyes and LvG and didn't have enough time left in his career.
His goal against Charlton away for Arsenal is maybe the best goal I saw live. Inexplicable.
For his last two seasons with Arsenal, and his first season with United, he was legit world-class. Scored 89 goals in 129 games, and loads of them were absolute beauties. He was far more technically gifted than most strikers. Wonderous left foot on him, good balance, good feet, great big game mentality.
If he isn't quite regarded as among the very best of his generation, that's only because of his injury record in his younger days.
If he isn't quite regarded as among the very best of his generation, that's only because of his injury record in his younger days.
In fact, he's quite unlucky that he came through at Arsenal just as they were entering their baron period. At a United, or Barca, or Madrid, or Bayern, or Milan, he'd have won everything.
Very.
Middle class Van Basten, which is really good
Incredible that season for United and for a few seasons before for Arsenal. Took too long to become the main man there though, playing on the wing or as a second choice because of his injuries he couldn't be the main man really.
There was talk of him going into the WC that he was past his past, and some of the United/Holland staff knew it but he had a good WC. Under Moyes, he still scored some important goals but was a bit like Ibra lite last season, a lot of wasted chances and poor play but put up good numbers in the minutes he did get.
All in all, one of our best signings. There was absolute no chance we would have won the league if he didn't join.
There was talk of him going into the WC that he was past his past, and some of the United/Holland staff knew it but he had a good WC. Under Moyes, he still scored some important goals but was a bit like Ibra lite last season, a lot of wasted chances and poor play but put up good numbers in the minutes he did get.
All in all, one of our best signings. There was absolute no chance we would have won the league if he didn't join.
That goal was some ninja shit.
One of the most elegant strikers in Premier League history.
The way he took the ball in his stride was unbelievable.
He broke after Fergie and van Gaal seemed to finish him off.
He broke after Fergie and van Gaal seemed to finish him off.
Really?
His technique, up there with the best for me. Especially when you consider he joined Arsenal who had Bergkamp, Kanu and Henry on their books and some of the goals and skills they did were ridiculous. Didn't look out of place.
Shame about his injury record. I remember he scored a worldie against Inter, could watch this again and again.
Shame about his injury record. I remember he scored a worldie against Inter, could watch this again and again.
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Good but not world class.
It's good that he was able to win the league with us - one of the best strikers in the world between his last season at Arsenal and his first season with us. He had a great understanding of the game, he's ball control was superb and I'm not even going to try to describe his shooting ability. Immense.
Perfectly summarised
Immense player. Was over the moon when we got him, and I just knew he’d fit into a United shirt like he always belonged.
The premature decline talks are just one part of the story though. I put that firmly down to Moyes’s archaic training methods, running players to the ground. We had some of the best backroom staff in the league, won a trophy while getting peak performances out of several players at advanced footballing ages, all of whom declined sharply after Moyes and his merry men took over. The way it was all handled still fecking pisses me off.
Could’ve possibly gotten another 2-3 seasons of RVP, Evra et al at their very best if the man had some sense and humility to slot into our set-up, rather than turning it into Everton.
The premature decline talks are just one part of the story though. I put that firmly down to Moyes’s archaic training methods, running players to the ground. We had some of the best backroom staff in the league, won a trophy while getting peak performances out of several players at advanced footballing ages, all of whom declined sharply after Moyes and his merry men took over. The way it was all handled still fecking pisses me off.
Could’ve possibly gotten another 2-3 seasons of RVP, Evra et al at their very best if the man had some sense and humility to slot into our set-up, rather than turning it into Everton.
Unblievable tekkers Jeff!
Go away!The last best signing by Fergie.Absolutely fantastic in that season
From taking corner to scoring a volley;just ooze with inspiration
Oooo Robiiin Van Persiee
From taking corner to scoring a volley;just ooze with inspiration
Oooo Robiiin Van Persiee
The one thing that always stood out to me when watching Van Persie was how good his movement was. He must have been a midfielder's dream to play with given all of the passing angles and runs he used to make.
Apart from Henry and Suarez, I think he was as good as any other striker over the past decade at his peak. One huge regret from his career is that I still think he had a lot to offer after the 12-13 season but it just didn't work out for whatever reason. When you consider what Zlatan was doing last season at 35, it's quite disappointing that someone with Van Persie's qualities wasn't able to contribute too much after his 30th birthday.
Apart from Henry and Suarez, I think he was as good as any other striker over the past decade at his peak. One huge regret from his career is that I still think he had a lot to offer after the 12-13 season but it just didn't work out for whatever reason. When you consider what Zlatan was doing last season at 35, it's quite disappointing that someone with Van Persie's qualities wasn't able to contribute too much after his 30th birthday.
Probably the best forward we had under Fergie talent wise. At his best, he was as good as any striker playing today. Sadly, He could not show it more often.
We would have gotten at least one more Champions League win if we had signed him much earlier in his career.
Imagine a frontline of Rooney, RVP and Ronaldo.
We might have enough firepower to just win Milan even with our defense decimated.
Imagine a frontline of Rooney, RVP and Ronaldo.
We might have enough firepower to just win Milan even with our defense decimated.
Absolutely sensational and one of the best buys we've ever made.
Great player but his importance for us is a bit overrated. He was amazing up until new years in that first season. Then he went 13 games from mid-january to the middle of april with only scoring one goal for us. That includes missing some absolute sitters against RM in the knockout-stages of the CL. Great season overall, but his last season at Arsenal was something else.