Van Persie | A Footballing Great?

As van Persie departs to Turkey, the question is did he achieve his potential or have we been left with a sense of disappointment?

As Robin Van Persie looks set to join Fenerbache  there has been much debate on how the Dutchman will be remembered and valued. In many ways Van Persie can be regarded as one of the best forwards of the 21^st century, however there is a sense that he could have been so much more. With this move to Turkey it seems, like his Dutch teammate Wesley Sneijder, that this is a move which signifies the end of his time at the top level, a period of time in which Van Persie has promised greatness, yet perhaps has failed to deliver the consistency which warrants that label.

For several years after arriving at Arsenal Robin Van Persie looked to be a delightful prospect, a player with excellent technical ability and a ruthless left foot. Although there were concerns over his attitude there was no doubting his talent. It looked as though Arsenal had a new gem in the making. Arriving in 2004 Van Persie was part of a dominant and high quality squad. Although he was a consistent part of the squad, it wasn’t easy to break in to a team that had Henry, Bergkamp and Pires in the forward line. 

After the Champions League final Bergkamp would leave Arsenal giving Van Persie a greater role in the side. In the early weeks of the 06/07 season Van Persie scored one of the greatest volleys in the league’s history against Charlton, highlighting his technical ability and also his reputation as a scorer of great goals, yet perhaps not a great goalscorer. That season was his first to reach double figures at Arsenal in the league, even if injuries curtailed some of the season. 

And this would be van Persie’s problem, consistency; both in scoring and fitness. It became something of an annual trend that Van Persie would show promise, look to be fit and ready to make a serious mark on the league scorers chart, and then fall victim to an ankle problem or muscle injury. Dutch fans gave him the nickname ‘glass ankles’ and so it proved. Unfortunately this trend was all too regular an occurrence for the Dutchman and Arsenal as a whole to be honest, with questions over their pre-habilitation methods and ultimately a reason for their lack of success. Injuries really prevented the forward from becoming one of the league’s best. 

After Henry left to Barcelona there was the sense that Van Persie would step in to the main forward role, however he just couldn’t get fit for long enough. Since 2004 his departure to United Van Persie played 278 games for Arsenal, averaging about 26 games per season, roughly half of the teams games. However by 2010 Van Persie seemed more mature and had grown into a leadership role at Arsenal. Perhaps this extra responsibility brought out more in the Dutch forward in terms of overall quality and influence, perhaps this maturity had improved his diet or he had worked harder to be fitter and stronger. What was clear was that Van Persie was not only Arsenal’s key player, but now the league’s most consistent and ruthless finisher.

Up until this point Van Persie always seemed a disappointment when considered in the realms of the leagues best. You could make an argument for him being up there and then counter it with a ‘but’. Injuries, Arsenal’s lack of success and continued choking issues led to questions over Van Persie’s personal quality. And remember too that he was competing with some incredible forwards in that period; firstly Henry, Shearer, van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney. Then came the emergence of Drogba, Ronaldo and Torres. All seemed more consistent and ruthless than van Persie. 

So what is it simply case that the Dutchman just wasn’t on their level? Was the expectation all simply overhype on a talented yet perhaps not world class player? It all seemed to change in 2010 (perhaps when the league was going through a difficult stage in terms of star quality?) when van Persie found form, goals and consistency. 18 goals in 2010/11 and then a huge 30 in 2011/12, proving that he was the league’s best finisher, with the world class Rooney and Aguero behind him. 

It wasn't just goals, he showed an all-round quality in that season, playing in the '9.5 role', between a classic forward and between the units as a deeper forward/playmaker. He was majestic and it seemed finally he was fit, focused and now able to show what he could do. Importantly he was the key player in the side, something which many players require to become the best (read this article on why being 'the key man' brings out the best in players). It was clear that he had finally reached the potential that he promised for so many years.

The decision - stay or succeed?

That being said, Arsenal still looked off the quality to compete for the title yet perhaps another addition or two would help them push on. This is what van Persie asked of Wenger, he would have stayed had Arsenal showed more ambition to build a winning side. However he was told that Arsenal wouldn’t change their model. Van Persie therefore made the decision to leave in order to win things. 

While Juventus was a constant link with the forward, and while Barcelona seemed a perfect destination for him, it was Manchester which would be his destination. Both United and City wanted him and there a sense that whoever signed the league’s best player would go on to lift the title. And so it proved. 

Van Persie was a revelation for United and the £22m seemed a snip for a player who proved the difference in what would be Ferguson’s final season. After the last minute heartache the season before Ferguson was on a mission to win the league and bring the title back to United. He knew van Persie would help, yet perhaps didn’t appreciate just how good he would be. United would look shaky and defensively suspect throughout the season, yet van Persie’s goals would turn draws, and even defeats, into wins. United stormed the league and van Persie was the key to it finishing top scorer for the second year in a row. 

Now before we move on to the following seasons post-Ferguson there were signs that season, particularly in Europe, where van Persie seemed somewhat short of the quality and sharpness required to be up there with the ‘best’ players. Against Real Madrid he was wasteful with good chances, situations in which the best players make chances into goals, and seemed also on the periphery of the teams play. Whether that was because of the team lineup and strategy or perhaps just a sign that the Dutchman excelled in the ‘average’ Premier League, but struggled more on the bigger stage? That being said, van Persie was United’s key man now and would be a key part of David Moyes era. Or so people thought. 

Two goals to win the Community Shield pointed to van Persie’s importance for the team yet Moyes would ocus on Wayne Rooney, a bumper contract instead of perhaps a smarter transfer out of the club showed the difference between Ferguson and Moyes. Ferguson clearly saw van Persie as the leader for United yet Moyes saw it differently. And to be honest, United became a mess. From Champions to mediocrity in the space of a few months. 

Van Persie grew frustrated, complaining of players getting into his space and closing his passing lanes, a reference no doubt to Rooney who had the freedom to roam and go where he wanted, rendering United a tactical nightmare and affecting results as well as van Persie's form and happiness. The Dutchman lost his focus and sharpness, rumours of issues between him and the new manager as well as a prolonged rather suspect injury issue. All was not well at United. Moyes paid for his job, but perhaps the damage was done to van Persie.

A new start, the same problems

Louis van Gaal was not only going to bring success to United and make the club great again, but he was seemingly going to make the team centred around van Persie once more. This was his captain and after their dual leadership took Holland to the World Cup semi-finals and a third placed finish it seemed likely the new manager would make van Persie captain and give him the kind of service and tactical focus to bring out the best in him once again. But van Gaal would do the same as Moyes, Rooney as captain (not a crazy idea, Rooney has been at the club for over a decade and been a key player in that time). 

Perhaps this decision wouldn’t be a problem if van Gaal could bring van Persie back to form, but there was a sense that the Dutch forward was tired and could not get back to the levels he was at a few years before. Although the distinctive memory of van Persie in Brasil was that glorious headed goal against Spain, the truth is Holland’s progress was built on the speed and quality of Robben, van Persie was not that important in a playing sense, in fact for the most part he was quite average. Van Gaal would have seen this and made a decision that for all his respect to the player, he could not rely on van Persie to push United forward. 

His decision to play Falcao and van Persie as a front two, which on paper (more so in 2011) would be regarded as one of the deadliest striking partnerships in the game, highlighted both players shortcomings now in 2014. It did seem as though van Gaal was playing them both to simply prove that they weren't at the level required for his team moving forward. As a pair they didn't work, both lacked sharpness and dynamism, both were too similar, they made similar runs and played for their selves and not so much together. Add in the absence of Carrick, a true provider for forwards (van Persie excelled in his first season at United with the supply from Scholes and Carrick) and van Persie was now denied the supply he needed. It all added up to frustrations and a drop in performance. After three seasons at United his time was already up. 

Van Persie now moves to Turkey in a move which highlights how he has fallen. Perhaps he could have found a club in a bigger league but he wouldn’t get the £200k a week wage elsewhere. Van Persie’s career at the top levels of the game has ended. And at just 31 years of age it seems a very premature end. 

Flashes, yet a sense of lacking

Van Persie has shown flashes of greatness in his career, he found true consistency for three seasons in his late 20’s. He found maturity and leadership in his personality and excelled because of it. Will he be remembered as a legend or a great?  He is in the top 10 of 21^st century Premier League forwards yet has he done enough on the international stage or in Europe? His limited success in terms of trophies may be a reflection of his time at Arsenal, yet it may also reflect on him. There is a feeling with van Persie that while he is a very talented player, he is not a great of the game. He will be remembered for great moments, but falls short in the pantheon of true footballing greats. 

He won’t be remembered as a legend at Arsenal either, he will be seen as a traitor, a player who selfishly left the club, yet perhaps it is Arsenal who let him down? He was right, he demanded more from the club and they couldn’t or wouldn’t deliver. Ironically the club is now starting to do what he asked of them. Perhaps his failings in a success sense is the fault of the club, not him?

As for United, he will be remembered for what he did in that league winning season. He was simply fantastic, and not winning player of the season that year was an incredible injustice! He may actually be more valued by United fans than Arsenal for what he did, but there will be a sense of disappointment that he could not continue what he did in that first season. Not to make another excuse for him but David Moyes destroyed the club in his time as manager, and mis-handled van Persie dearly. Had he continued under Ferguson you sense van Persie’s time at United would not be seen as a disappointment and perhaps would be continuing now. It will be intriguing to see where United go now to replace van Persie, this is one of Europe’s finest forwards, he won’t be easy to replace. 

Personally I have loved van Persie in his decade in England, but have always been left with that sense of wanting more from him. He's not a 'great', but he's not a disappointment either. We obsess to much and compare too often, we should simply value players for who they are and appreciate what they offer. 

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address