Paul: Robin Van Persie, Bum deal – or Deal of the Season?
Van Persie, Bum deal or Deal of the Season? by Paul N.
When Robin Van Persie secured his move to Man Utd (a ‘dream move’ in his words), many United fans, if not all, thought ‘Steal of the Decade’… I, however, have my doubts & they’re not without reason.
Some of us Arsenal fans, & maybe 1 or 2 pragmatic United fans, are questioning the business smart in the deal i.e. is it smart to buy a 29yr old with a known injury record (see below), with 1yr left on his existing contract, at a cost of ± £65m to Man Utd (24m plus an estimated 41m in salaries over 4yrs), just why did AFC sell the EPL’s best striker? & more importantly WHY did Man Utd take that chance?
In case you lost track of RVP’s injury records, I’ve included them for your consideration. I must also add that, as you read this, reports are surfacing that he had another injury scare in last nights International. A possible “thigh injury”.
Full Injury record from physio’s room:
Sprained Ankle 2004 November 26th
Sprained Ankle 2004 August 27th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2005 December 22nd
Knee Injury 2005 October 17th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2005 February 5th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2006 November 19th
Hip/Thigh Injury 2006 September 14th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2006 February 10th
Thigh Muscle Strain 2007 December 24th
Knee Injury 2007 October 18th
Metatarsal Fracture 2007 January 22nd
Hamstring Injury 2008 October 6th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2008 August 31st
Thigh Muscle Strain 2008 May 2nd
Thigh Muscle Strain 2008 April 4th
Thigh Muscle Strain 2008 January 11th
Sprained Ankle 2009 November 14th
Knee Injury 2009 September 13th
Groin Strain 2009 April 18th
Groin Strain 2009 March 30th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2010 August 28th
Ankle/Foot Injury 2010 June 1st
Ankle/Foot Injury 2011 August 7th
Knee Injury 2011 February 28th
Hamstring Injury 2011 February 22nd
Flu 2011 February 8th
Groin Strain 2012 February 29th
Quite a list hey, that’s a return of about 1½ good season’s out of 7? Shocking anyone? But he did have a stellar season 11/12… (that’s sarcasm guys)
Not too many clubs splurge the cash on players with one year left on
their contracts, the competing thought is ‘we could get him free next season’, so why go big now, you could save a penny or a couple of million…
So why did AFC sell him?
Despite all the rumors’ out there, none of us will really know the truth? But we can all agree, RVP should have kept his decision ‘not to sign’ out of the public domain. Who knows maybe that & the huge £24m offer, made Wenger’s decision to let him go a little easier…
Then, why did Manchester United take the risk??
Did the pressure & desperation to win the title back set off the risky deal? or maybe just a classic case of “Fortune favors the bold” i.e. Fergie’s retiring soon so let’s take one last chance & possibly waste ± 65m.
In conclusion, Is it a ‘Bum Deal’ or ‘Deal of the Season’? Only time will tell…
So my fellow gooners, what do you think? I however, am leaning towards ‘great buy, bad deal’…
Thanks for reading.
Paul. N
Stop writing on rvp.
he is no more our player.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
33 
10
Yeah we know he aint our player anymore, but you have to admit it’s gona be fun.. no no more like priceless if they look back at it & realize ‘shite, we may have bought a dud’ .. hehehehe
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
fingers crossed!!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Seconded ! Stop writing about him and posting where Arsenal fans can see ! Do u stalk ur ex-gf ?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
6 
2
Isn’t the article about the ‘business smart’ in the deal, NOT Robin!! Yes he is part of the subject in the article but the writer asked ‘what you think about the deal’?? Not what do his fellow gooners think about what Robin did or how they feel about his move.
Dude if you heard your ex (that left you for more money) isn’t performing & keeping her new bf happy, you gona smile & think ‘serves you right’… U wanted her… lol
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Really good deal for Arsenal. Robins injuries will only get worse and more frequent as he moves into his thirties. I was shocked at the money we got for him.Fergie will probably retire soon and i think your right he didn’t care how much Robin cost he just wanted to sign him at any price even if he knew in his heart it would be a massive gamble.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
17 
0
‘Bum deal’ for them, Deal of the Century’ for us. Ha ha ha!!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
20 
0
Good deal 4 Arsenal but Fergie will regret of doing business with Le Prof.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
I am ardent Arsenal fan. However, as much as Van Persie is a Man U player now, I wouldnt rejoice to see him injured as my fellow fans will do. I would rather rejoice when he goes out of form not injury. After all, the injury will go, he will come back and score against Arsenal. Let’s just wish him well. How many great players have gone through the Arsenal ranks. They have left but the club keeps on going. May the remaining players seize the chance and do what Van Persie failed to do in the 8 years now-win a trophy.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
4 
0
I think fergie has forgoten that rvp is prone to injury,he has started another injury career with united,wish him long recovery,
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
Good deal for both. We can all sit here and say that he’s crap, injury prone and so on but if truth be told we’d all be made up if he renewed his contract with us. But he chose to leave. 4 goals in 2 1/4 games isn’t a bad return so far for the mancs. Me personally? I just can’t see why he went to them. He accused us of not being ambitious enough but to be fair to Wenger this Summer is probably the most ambitious we’ve been for a decade in terms of signings. French international league winning Giroud, 100 cap German international stalwart Podolski and the mecurial (as good as Iniesta) Spanish international Cazorla. Add to that an in form RVP and you’d have a title winning team. And ManU(re)? They’ve got 300 year old Scholes and Giggs, The most inconsistant Nani, bed ridden Fletcher, average Carrick?? It was never about ambition, it was about money. Anyway let’s all move on, forget the dutch c*nt and look forward to some manc spanking home AND away. I just hope TV5 can rupture his knee in a 50/50.
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
6
its a known tactic to buy players who are in the form and prime of their lives…united did it to spurs with berbatov…and i feel fergie may have done it again to arsenal with rvp…taking away a clubs best player[s] to significantly weaken the opposition…the same way that city have…examples…adebayor a 30 goal striker before leaving…nasri had a significant 1st half of the season before making the mercenary move…i know its not the case in all transfers…but its an interesting theory…especially how there are many reports of arsenal being a feeder club…which i disagree with…clubs with bigger financial clout are able to lure our best players with riches…and then become bit part players…as you can see with many players who leave arsenal…hleb…fabregas…soon to be song…?
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I really believe and trust Wenger. We have to give him time and space. He has brought good players in our squad. with exit of Robin maybe we are not sharp enough front of the 6 yard but i believe we will get better they just need time.
No matter what was RVPs motivation but i am happy that Wenger
did act quickly. LETS FORGET AL ABOUT ROBIN AND HOPES FOR THE BEST, AFTER ALL PLAYERS COMES AND PLAYERS GO BUT ARSENAL IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
great buisness Mr. Wenger, a fantastic player but very injury prone. We r looking sharper as a team so keep it going guys
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Deal of the season has got to be Carzola / Podolski. I know most people wouldn’t go for Podolshi but the guy is amazing. His work rate and his timing to get into the box is something we no longer have. The guy is gold. He is always up and down covering the whole of the left side. For me he is a definite starter and definite one of the best signing of the season if not the best.
Carzola…….. what can I say? He is just amazing. It’s as if he’s been playing for Arsenal all his life. Didn’t need to take any time to get settled in. I feel Carzola is definitely on par with FibreGlass. He’s a bit more dynamic and penetrative, which can be a great asset for us to unbalance the opposition defence. Can’t wait to see us back in action!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
So why did AFC sell him?
Simple answer, For just making good profit which AFC is looking for every year.
So why did AFC sell Song?
Simple answer, they didn’t get any good bid for Walcot. And sold Song to get some profit after they bought 3 players.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
If u think he is 29, injury prone blah blah blah…. Why crying for him to renew his contract with us??
Like or Dislike:
3 
1
@samie: we just said further up the article was NOT about RVP, yes he is part of the subject but it’s about the ‘business’ behind the deal…
Did the writer at any point suggest AFC is going to need or miss him & perhaps AFC must to do this or that??
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Good deal for us IMO. Last season was incredible for
Van Pur$ey but it took him eight years to produce that and I can’t see him replicating that again. Spending £65m over 4 years on an injury prone player who will be almost 34 by the end of his contract represents a poor investment to me. So great deal for Arsenal poor one long term for the Mancs. and to cap it all I think our team/squad look much stronger all round than Utd and will win something this season.
COYG
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Am baffled, has RVP injury been confirmed? Not that i am jubilating )coz hcould easily been in our Arsenal team only for Manure promise of 200k per week.
Now we should just look forward smirking and reminiscing 6 years he spent
on treatment room earning 50k-60k per week in that time then doing
one whole season after which he discovers Arsenals lack of ambition.
Anyone expecting us to cry and wailing at that report is naive at best anda mug.
When was it ever popular to be happy when your ex getting it together with your
friend let alone your enemy. If its true hes injured i call it JUSTICE.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Don’t you just love the way this gooner thinks!!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Some fans cant let go. Cesc and Robin etc.
Like or Dislike:
4 
1
It’s a shame he left at his peak but as much as it’s a shame too cheer his potential injuries. He will have a decent season considering the 4 goals scored so far but he will defintely not find the same form and goalscoring run as last year. As we saw with Berbatov, the season is long at Man U and things can go wrong very quickly.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0