One of the greatest things that happened in football was Robben winning the UCL in 2013 scoring the decisive goal and his great World Cup in 2014. It would be really sad if Robben had gone down in history as a bottler, many people dismissed him as a bottler before 2013. His reputation really improved significantly afterwards and when everyone talks about Robben now, people talk about the great player that he was without any "but". His performance against Spain in 2014 was also cathartic.
One of the greatest things that happened in football was Robben's redemption in 2013!
- Thread starter matbezlima
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one of the greatest things to happen on football!
I think this is, how do I put it, meh
He was clearly the best player at the 2014 World Cup in fairness to him.
Not a fan. He’s like Suarez where despite the breath taking talent, it’s completely negated by him being a serial cheat.
I remember him taking the Premier League by storm for a few months when he first appeared for Chelsea after recovering from his injury. I think they initially struggled to score goals before his made his debut, and then went on to score 2-4 goals in numerous games with him in the team. I have to admit as a Blackburn fan that he was the victim of an overly thuggish approach from us in a game at Ewood Park that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Of course he had to make way and leave Real Madrid following their spending spree in the summer of 2009, but I remember he played pretty well for them during his 2 years there including in his 2nd season when they went on an excellent run (something like 17 wins and 1 draw from 18 matches) in La Liga after Juande Ramos took over and in-between their 2 Clasico defeats. I think he was a fans' favourite.
Of course he had to make way and leave Real Madrid following their spending spree in the summer of 2009, but I remember he played pretty well for them during his 2 years there including in his 2nd season when they went on an excellent run (something like 17 wins and 1 draw from 18 matches) in La Liga after Juande Ramos took over and in-between their 2 Clasico defeats. I think he was a fans' favourite.
Funny thing is he did actually fluff his lines again in the 2013 final but got the lucky bounce and it trickled in.
Sometimes it just takes one thing going for you.
Sometimes it just takes one thing going for you.
Robben was on the bench for much of the early part of that season as Heynckes preferred to play Muller on the right and Kroos in the centre, but when Kroos got injured he became a first team regular.
He scored in both semi-final matches plus final in the CL that year was definitely a noteworthy achievement. I wonder how many other players have done that in a European Cup / Champions League campaign.
He scored in both semi-final matches plus final in the CL that year was definitely a noteworthy achievement. I wonder how many other players have done that in a European Cup / Champions League campaign.
Neymar in 2015.
In 2012 he missed a penalty to give Dortmund the title, missed a penalty to give Chelsea the Champions League and then had a truly awful Euros where the dutch went home in the group stages with 0 points. It was a nightmare year like very few top players have ever had, credit to him for managing to come back from it and win the treble next year.
The last minute goal in 2013 changed perceptions of him but I still think that overall he messed up way too often in the big stages during his career for a player that was as good as he was. His miss in the 2010 WC final vs Casillas comes to mind.
The last minute goal in 2013 changed perceptions of him but I still think that overall he messed up way too often in the big stages during his career for a player that was as good as he was. His miss in the 2010 WC final vs Casillas comes to mind.
As a Dutchman I'm obviously glad people have come to speak so fondly of Robben. For me he is top 3 Dutch player along with Cruyff and Van Basten.
But at the same time his achievements really sadden me, because it reminds me that for individual acknowledgements like the Ballon d'Or, marketing and social media is more important than actual on pitch performance. Robben not winning the golden ball at 2014 world cup is a disgrace, as well as him being continuously neglected at the Ballon d'Or.
But at the same time his achievements really sadden me, because it reminds me that for individual acknowledgements like the Ballon d'Or, marketing and social media is more important than actual on pitch performance. Robben not winning the golden ball at 2014 world cup is a disgrace, as well as him being continuously neglected at the Ballon d'Or.
Good shout for some reason I forgot that he scored twice in the 2nd leg of the semi-final in Munich, so at least both Neymar and Robben have a noteworthy CL feat there that neither Ronaldo or Messi have achieved. In fact Neymar scored in both quarter-final matches against PSG in 2015 as well didn't he.
I thought that Gerd Muller might have done it for Bayern in the 70s, but not quite.
Yes, Neymar did
Van Basten scored 4 goals in 3 matches against Real Madrid and Steaua, not only 3 goals.
Thanks so Robben was the first player to do it for 24 years. I was born in 1990 and I thought at the time that it wouldn't have been accomplished that regularly.
Often one person's pain (although Kroos has had an unbelievable career for Bayern, Real Madrid and Germany of course) can be another's gain, and if Kroos hadn't been injured in 2012/2013, would Robben have started those CL matches against Barcelona and Dortmund. At least he got his CL win, and he has proven himself in 4 different leagues.
No it wasn't and nobody cares.
You need to watch more football
Not even the greatest thing that happened in 2013.
In any other era outside the Messi/Ronaldo era he would have won a Ballon D'or
Fifth best player of this era imo behind Xavi and Lahm.
For me this era started in 2008 (Pep took over Barca, Zidane already retired, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho declined)
For me this era started in 2008 (Pep took over Barca, Zidane already retired, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho declined)
He never played more than three games in a row in the first half of the season due to a variety of injuries.
In the second half of the season, he was not played in a couple of league games at a point where Bayern already had the title bagged and when CL games were up ahead. He never was benched when fit for any other reason afair
So, where does he rank in the running ‘who was the best winger’ debate given he played in and around the same era as Giggs and Bale? (Albeit not for 20 years 
)
)Better than Bale, but not even close to GiggsSo, where does he rank in the running ‘who was the best winger’ debate given he played in and around the same era as Giggs and Bale? (Albeit not for 20 years
Well of course not. Not enough years at the top for a start.Better than Bale, but not even close to Giggs
Do any serious discussions of football literally categorize players in the "bottler" category? Also...
bit harsh but yeah what this guy said
bit harsh but yeah what this guy saidGutted when we sold Robben, Fantastic player Was probably because he couldn't defend too. Classic Mourinho.
Mainly responsible for Del Horno getting a red in Barcelona CL game in 2006. I think that's why now.
Sold that summer. Never understood it at the time.
Mourinho was out in September at start of next season.
Mainly responsible for Del Horno getting a red in Barcelona CL game in 2006. I think that's why now.
Sold that summer. Never understood it at the time.
Mourinho was out in September at start of next season.
Already assisted the first goal, though. And for all necessary luck, his goal was quality, from anticipation to finish.
Edit: Just watched it again. Only bit of luck during the whole attack was for Piszczek's slight deflection of Ribery's backheel. Rest was deliberate from all players involved, Boateng, Ribery, Robben.
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Better than Gullit, Rijkaard, Neeskens, Seedorf, Stam?
That's a bit hard to believe.
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Have to throw a defender in there. I don't think Koeman/De Boer was top top top level.
Rudi Krol then
I bet Borussia Dortmund fans don't think so.
For me, and I think many other Dutchies, yes. Quite convinced he'd have many more personal acknowledgements if he'd bothered with marketing, pr, and social media.
He is within Holland also the undisputed best Dutch player in an era where we came 2nd and 3rd in the world cup, 2014 being entirely thanks to him. Of the names you mentioned, only Rijkaard and Gullit can be considered really. The others, Stam, Bergkamp (who you forgot) etc are a notch below Robben.
probably more to do with the fact he was injury prone and unreliable early on his career - and then also seen as a cheat with his diving and theatrics rather than a lack of a PR team.
You can’t really compare Robben with a centre back in any case and I’m surprised anyone would pick Robben over Bergkamp.
We probably could have got him + the same amount of money for Ronaldo had we asked at the time (Yes and Sneijder too)
The truth is his injuries stopped him from winning the award. If he had played the full campaign In 2013 he would've probably won it that season given his teams accomplishments.
I know he dived a lot and all but I really wish we had signed him from Real madrid as a part of deal for Ronaldo. Proper winger who sir alex would have loved to have. Top player.
Robben and Wesley Sneijder both said at the outset they would not used as makeweights in any deal for Ronaldo so that was never on the cards.
Then we could have bid for them separately. Both went for around a mere 15 million. Truth was Glazers were saving money back then. That was the beginning of our downfall. Sir Alex being a genius made us win some more trophies but we were regressing since Ronaldo and tevez left.
Feck that final and feck his contribution for Bayern. Summer of 2010 is when it should've happened.
Still a brilliant player though. Best Dutch player I've seen since Marco van Basten. Should've at least won player of the tournament in 2014. A balon d'or would've been nice, but he played in the era of those 2 cnuts.
Still a brilliant player though. Best Dutch player I've seen since Marco van Basten. Should've at least won player of the tournament in 2014. A balon d'or would've been nice, but he played in the era of those 2 cnuts.