Time to give the Dutchman the rest he needs?
24 goals, eights assists, United sitting 12 points clear of the Noisy Neighbours, to say the signing of Robin Van Persie has been a success is akin to stating Ryan Giggs has a bit of experience. The Dutch striker has grabbed the title race by the throat and all but strangled the life out of it.
Yet the past few weeks it’s been obvious that all is not quite as rosy as it once was for the player who’s become as essential to United’s team as a certain Scouse striker used to be.
In the past nine games Van Persie has one goal, a record nowhere near what a player of his quality should be enjoying. Now before you all start defending him let me add this isn’t a criticism of our star striker, merely a ‘fact’ that simply highlights the point I’m slowly bumbling towards, a point many Reds have noticed. Van Persie needs a rest, both physically and dare I say mentally of having to be relied upon even when he’s on the bench to ALWAYS come on if things aren’t going United’s way- Braga anyone?
Take the games previous to the last nine, where Van Persie’s record was nine goals in as many games- there’s the rub as the Bard would say, we know what he’s capable of and we do need him but he needs a rest. Looking at some of his recent performances you can see how vital RVP is to the side, his control, his link up play with those around him, his skill, but not recently his goals and dare I say “swagger” which seems to have deserted him a little of late.
The game at the Bernabeu was a case in point, I have no doubt that without Van Persie United would not have left their on equal terms as his contribution was fundamental to the Red cause. Yet let’s not sugar coat it, a fully firing RVP would have buried at least two of the three chances he had and all but ended the entire tie.
The Chelsea game on Sunday highlighted the problem United face with RVP- he needs a rest but we need him. One of the most disappointing aspects of United’s capitulation was the fact that yet again, we couldn’t allow the former Arsenal striker to have a rest, we HAD to bring him on.
Robin Van Persie is enjoying one of the longest runs he’s ever had in his professional career, yet it may just be time to let him have the rest he so obviously needs.
My worry over Van Persie is that his form will continue to suffer at the time when United need him the most, mainly as it seems too much of a risk to drop him from the squad altogether- even for the upcoming game against struggling Reading. Wayne Rooney’s erratic season and Danny Welbeck’s lack of goals mean that other than Chicharito the Reds don’t have a striker we can really rely on for goals if Van Persie is not available. Dare we take the chance and drop him from the squad this weekend? Give him a break from the pressure he’s under at the moment?
Do you agree or is this all completely bonkers? Feel free to comment suggest and abuse below:
fargie shud tink 2wise,while welbeck all d time knowin fully well dat hanandez is better dan him, was it bcos he was not frm england?
I tink cm is our problm coz we neva play 9mins convincingly
I totally agree with you… I think in terms of the way he was managed in the last few weeks or months wasnt good. He was rested when he shouldnt have been and now he isnt when he should be. I.e Fulham in the F.A. Cup wouldve definately helped him keep his goal scoring form alive, and being rested against Norwich wouldve been more feasible is one of many games i think he wasnt managed well. However as the club adapts and learns how to manage him and his influence we shud see him deliver once more for undoubtedly another 3 more best Cantonna esque influential years
Fergie plays RVP constantly because he can hold up the ball unlike Rooney or Hernandez so that our defense is not under constant pressure. Rooney thinks he is like Scholes and always tries France passes which causes us to lose ball possession.
All this can be avoided and RVP can get a good rest if our midfield is up to man utd standards, Carrick is just EPL standard and not world class, in fact his standard would be truly appreciated by teams stoke, villa or west ham, Cleverly is not not up to the standard but he’ll always play ahead of Anderson cause he is English. Valencia and Young is just rubbish this season. While Giggs and Scholes should belong to the museum.
Fergie should just retire so that a new manager can start utilizing our young talents rather losing them…..e.g. Pogba now a starter for Juventus, Fergie and his coaching staff like the ever useless Phelan should take full responsibility for this mistake.
I didn’t read the whole article but I don’t really agree if your talking about him being tired because he’s played too much, in my opinion the guy has lifted too much weight he looks heavy, lately I’ve noticed his body looking slightly awkward, yes maybe he’s tired but I don’t think its the games, its the fact he has to get used to extra muscles he’s added on his body, that happens alot in the epl
SAF needs to play the little pea more he clearly knows how to make the ball go in. He should play him as a sub at least and utilize kagawa in his regular position. I feel like the strongest team would be
Rafael Evans vidic evra
Carrick or Anderson in a more defensive role
Nani on the LM
Giggs on the rm or young
Kagawa in a attacking middle position behind the 2 strikers
Rooney Rvp and sub the one who’s doing bad for chicharito. Welbeck can play a wing position. Come on ferguson
Sell welbeck for a bag of chips then im with you.
SAF needs to play the little pea more he clearly knows how to make the ball go in. He should play him as a sub at least and utilize kagawa in his regular position. I feel like the strongest team would be
Rafael Evans vidic evra Carrick or Anderson in a more defensive role
Nani on the LM
Giggs on the rm or young
Kagawa in a attacking middle position behind the 2 strikers
Rooney Rvp and sub the one who’s doing bad for chicharito. Welbeck can play a wing position. Come on ferguson
Spot on fella…..100% agree, great article
RVP really need rest and wayne rooney also need more playing time.
RVP is a normal striker and they all go through goal droughts now and then. The guy has been fantastic for Man Utd. I agree a rest is a good idea, but he has had a break now. He played against Real Madrid last Tuesday, and played 20 min on Sunday.
I suspect that is enough of a break for the guy, and he will be itching to play against Reading. Like I said he is like any striker, and what he wants is to score goals. I tell you know, start him against Reading, and if we play properly then he will have chances to score. I would suspect a couple of goals would completely refresh him.