Tag: Rooney

The Fosu-Mensah bros in England

Timothy Fosu-Mensah (18) gets paid well. He’s a raw diamond with everything to dream for. His brother Alfons (22) struggless at North Ferriby United and isn’t understood. Two brothers, together but also apart… From the Xmas special of VI.

Sale, the southern satelite town of Manchester. A typical street. It’s getting dark and in this particular home, the only light illuminating the living room is coming from the TV. Tim and Alfons Fosu-Mensah are on the couch, watching football. Don’t think it’s a coincidence. Fons: “This TV only broadcasts football, hahaha. Go and switch channels, I dare you: South American, Australian, Italian, the sandy desert. Whenever a ball rolls somewhere, Tim and I are watching. That’s how it was when we were young and it’s still like that.”

When you and pimpled, the brothers watched football on TV whenever they weren’t out playing themselves. Watching Ajax (they lived in De Bijlmer, a poor area in Amsterdam East, watching the Dutch team and all European games they could find. Dreaming of a life as pro player themselves. That fantasy became reality for both. But that’s where the comparison stops.

Timothy has played Europa Cup football for Manchester United on Old Trafford. Tim has been seen hanging off Zlatan’s shoulders after a goal. On the way to that game, he was reading Zlatan’s biography. Again. He played with team mate Daley Blind. The guy who gave him his first football boots years ago when Timothy was but a ball boy, and Daley played in Ajax 1. “They were a size too small already,” Timothy smiles, “but I kept them. They were my first real boots!”

Timothy-Fosu-Mensah-Daley-Blind-Boots-Man-Utd-714490

And now, Paul Pogba, the world’s most expensive player, is his friend. And only yesterday, he showered next to Wayne Rooney, David de Gea and Juan Mata. Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho only have positive things to say about him. Meanwhile, Alfons was playing on a rough surface in East Yorkshire, watching all the balls flying over his head, apparently aimed at the river Humber.

Alfons plays for United as well. North Ferriby United, to be precise. Hij plays with two bricklayers, a car mechanic and a couple of students.

The Daily Mail hails Fosu-Mensah: “He’s strong as an ox and highly skilled. A player with everything he needs to become a Man United icon!”. Asked about Alfons, the North Ferriby United PR man says: “Alfons. We haven’t seen a lot of him, to be honest.”

Two worlds come together in that house in Sale. In front of the house: a second hand Peugeot and a slick black Mercedes. Alfons: “I sometimes get to take the Merc. So cool, driving it to the club. Tim? No, he won’t take the Peugeot, he than grabs his grey Mercedes.”

tim zlatan

They played together for years on the street. “There were always amazing young players, the brother tz were always there. Queensy Menig (Ajax player on loan at PEC Zwolle) and Brandley Kuwas too (Heracles). Tim is younger than us, but I’d take him with me, as this level would teach him to man up,” smiles Alfons. “But I didn’t want him in my team. He never tracked back, he was only up front with the ball, dribbling. I always said: man, you gotta put in the work too.” They played a lot together too, just the two of them. Practicing. “I was his first coach. There were always dads doing this and criticising and yelling. Not my style. I taught Tim to use both feet. We did this for hours, playing the pass with his weaker foot. And long and longer distances. I had him dribble, sprint, do shimmies and tricks, finishing, everything.”

Timothy smiles, remembering it all. “He was the best coach, always positive. Whenever I made a mistake, he made me do it again and again, just to help me develop. But things went quick.” Alfons: “I just wanted to help him, as he was my little brother, but I also saw he had that knack. He was special already. He can make it big. So we put the time and effort in.”

And before they knew it, the student was better than the master. Timothy: “Hahaha, I know right? I was 12 years old, we did a 2 v 2 match and I was up against Alfons, and I nutmegged him, Perfect, in between the sticks, hahaha.” Alfons: “Yeah well, I was wrongfooted, just for a second. Pretty bad, but this was the moment where I thought: hmmm, my little brother has the best of me….”

TIMOTHY FOSU-MENSAH kid

And now Alfons watches his little brother from the stands at Old Trafford. “And I still see him do things we practiced in Amsterdam, on the streets. And I think: well done brother! We spent hours working on this and that basic skills, that ball technique, he got that from the street. The foundation was laid there.”

The door opens and another young Dutch player enters. Rodney Kongolo, younger brother of Terence Kongolo of Feyenoord. He’s a player for Man City. The two played against each other since they were 6 years old. Rodney for Feyenoord, Timothy for Ajax. The two rivals have become firm friends. Kongolo’s impressive technique allow him to walk through the room, eyes on his iPhone, while avoiding all the obstacles on the floor. It’s a bit messy, there’s train tickets, cups, football trophies, coins, unopened bills and pizza folders. It looks like a shared student accomodation. “Ah no, usually it is nicely managed. My dad lives with us, and cooks and does our washing etc. But he’s back in Holland for a couple of weeks so… I now pick up food from Man United at times or I go and cook myself.” Alfons: “But if Tim goes to the supermarket I need to watch him. He throws everything he likes in his trolley, but most of it is not good for him, cookies, icecream…. I we cook here, it’s usually chicken rice or we eat pasta. No fastfood.”

The mum of the family lives in Amsterdam still. Their younger brother, a football talent as well, Paul is still in Holland, playing for Ajax (C1). Alfons: “Paul is a good player, more a traditional defender. Strong, tall, good header. Paul is a bit like Rio Ferdinand, whereas Timothy can play anywhere. Holding midfielder, full back, centre back… Me? I think I’m a striker Benzema style. Our styles are similar. A bit. I mean, I’m not that good but I am not focused on scoring alone, I wish to support the team and create. I’m a team player, skilled and very quick.”

alfons

Alfons

He’s playing in the National League, and makes gets he calls a Jupiler League level pay-check (between 50 and 100k euro per annum). Alfons: “I was unlucky. Everything that can go wrong, went wrong. I played for Zeeburgia (top amateur class) and I apparently was offered several test options from big clubs. They never told me. Finally, Almere City approached me directly. A step up, so I went. And then it started: knee was crook. Everything crashed. But FC Oss came along and after recovering there were issues with my transfer. Finally, I played a number of games for them and the Oss technical staff was amazing for me. The coach wanted to keep me, said he was very positive but he needed to work on my consistency. But I didn’t sign an extension. I wanted to go with Timothy and try my luck here. I got a chance with Southport and in my first game vs Oldham Athletic I got injured. The coach said: I do like you but can’t use you now. We gotta move on, so he signed another player.”

Ferriby Utd

The “Old Trafford” of Alfons….

He did all sorts of tests for clubs he can’t even remember anymore. “Then there was a chance with Colwyn Bay. And another kid I knew got a test too, so I drove with him. Guess what? It was in Wales! We drove for hours, over hills, through valleys…endless. And when I got there, I got a 5 minutes sub run. And after the match the coach said: I haven’t seen enough of you. Yes of course not! 5 minutes and then we drove back. I was glad they didn’t want me. I couldn’t be driving there all the time…”

In the meantime Rodney Kongolo and Tim Fosu-Mensah discuss Tim’s big chance to score a Man United goal. “If Zlatan would have passed the ball late in the game, I was in on goal. Goalie was out of position. I had run a mile, but I was still fresh you know. And he saw me! But he decided to score himself. He said: I haven’t been plodding in the cold here for 85 minutes for nothing you know, hahahaha.”

Timothy-Fosu-Mensah-in-Man-United-training-July-2016

Alfons smiles. He knows the anecdote well. His United anecdote makes him grimace. So North Ferriby. I never saw that before. It’s a tiny town, with a tiny football club. And all those old, fat creepy guys eating their pies and yelling “Fucking hell!” all the time, hahaha. We are fighting relegation. They were supposed to play football, the coach said, but now it’s all long hail marys forward. He told me: don’t ask the ball in your feet, run run run! And that just isn’t my game…”

But Alfons is a fighter. “I do everything I can, I enlisted a personal trainer and he trains with me three times a week. I need to become stronger. We got some new players in and they are quite good. So we might make it. And then I hope to be able to make a step up. When the chance comes, I need to be ready.” Timothy: “I have the utmost respect for Alfons, he is a hard worker and a good player. If all goes well he can easily play in the Championship. He had bad luck but keeps on getting up. My trajectory was quite simple. Ajax signed me from Zeeburgia at young age and the guidance I got from Ajax and then Louis van Gaal signing me for Man United at this young age. I am so fortunate. Trust me, I have to work super hard as well, but it’s different. He is working hard and hoping and I do not know, if I would be that strong.”

LVG Tim

Alfons: “You would have said “Fok it!” hahaha. I just need the right club, and a coach who gets it. I actually need my Louis van Gaal but…I don’t think I’ll find him at the level where I am at, hahaha.”

Timothy: “It’s not always easy for him, sometimes he does get down and then I pick him up. I believe in him and I tell him: it will work out… You need a buddy like this. He is there for me, whenever he is here, life is pleasant, it’s positive. Memphis took a good friend with him to Manchester for the same reason. Someone who’s real to you. Who you can trust. Our whole family is like that. We’re strong together.”

There was always love in the Fosu-Mensah family, but not a lot of money. “My dad worked two jobs to pay for everything. He worked at the flower-auction and had a night job as taxi driver. My mother took care of us. They couldn’t see us play all the time, simply no money to travel to the games. They sometimes took the train illegally, without a ticket, just to come to a match. All my team mates wore the newest clothes while I had hand-me-downs from Alfons. I owe it all to my family and now as a Manchester United player I can repay them. My family and The Lord. They made it happen.”

Alfons laughs and pokes his brother, who by now is lying flat on the sofa: “Hey we have visitors. Sit up!”. Timothy: “Just tired man, had a massive session at the club today.” Alfons starts to organise the house. “He always was trouble. We would keep the house clean and sit up when visitors came in, but he would be exactly how he is now. But I’m proud of him. He is doing well and hanging with some of the best players on the planet. And I get to know his team mates now too. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford come on down for a chat and Jesse Lingard came by last week to hang. That’s cool, they’re all cool guys…”

Timothy Fosu-Mensah of The Netherlands U19 during the EURO 2016 U19 qualifying match between Netherlands U19 and Northern Ireland U19 on March 26, 2016 at Sportpark Parkzicht in Uden, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Timothy Fosu-Mensah of The Netherlands U19 during the EURO 2016 U19 qualifying match between Netherlands U19 and Northern Ireland U19 on March 26, 2016 at Sportpark Parkzicht in Uden, The Netherlands.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)

Are you ever jealous, if you see what Timothy has and where you are? “No not jealous, but I do have…you know I wanna play football. Focus on football. And where I’m at is different. There’s always something. But that is something all of us on this level have to deal with. And yes, sometimes people can’t stop talking about Tim. Even my team mates are constantly fishing for tickets or jerseys….”

What are the plans for the coming years? Timothy knows it by heart. “I want to be important for Man United. Focus on a starting spot, reach Champions League football, develop myself, stay on the radar for Oranje…” Van Gaal gave him his chance, but he feels the support of Mourinho too. “Well yes, I’m part of the squad more and more and I did renew my deal with Man United and obviously Mourinho will have agreed to that. But I don’t see myself as a talent anymore. I’ve arrived. Whenever there is a spot in midfield or in defence, I’m ready.”

Alfons’ answer is clear as well: “Play football in the Football League. That is my aim for this year. But I don’t wanna go lower. I’m almost 25 now so it’s time. And if that doesn’t work, well… I have finished my marketing degree. I will assist Tim for when he launches his fashion label.”

Timothy: “Done deal brother. But I’m starving now. Let’s get some food. Pasta time!”

 

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Memphis, from love to loathing

Euros Schmeuros…. I’m watching a lot of games, keen to see a moment of brilliance of Modric, Bale, Ozil or Dembele. So far, it was not great. Some good stuff here and there. Shaqiri’s goal, Ozil little flicks, Bale’s runs, Iniesta’s allround game. But also dreadful football at times. Wales – Northern Ireland… what a drama. Never seen such a bad game of football ever at this level… And then to think we are not there…. Aaaarggh…

But, we’ll need to drink the poisonous chalice all the way, I guess.

And with all that, we also have to face the fact that the hope of the Nation – Memphis Depay – has reached a big low and we are all keen to see that he will come out of it…

Benched for Oranje, on the stands in Manchester, ridiculed by the fans… Once touted as the biggest talent of the country since a long time, he has now lived through a year of self doubt, criticism and disappointments… Where did it go wrong? Will it ever come good?

London

The loud music is blaring from the big speakers. On the big screen, we see amazing footage of the biggest athletes on the planet. Awesome coverage of sports heroes, all winning and sweating in sports apparel by Under Armour. Lindsey Vonn, Michael Phelps, Andy Murray, Jordan Spieth…

memphis hat

Adrienne Lofton is the CEO of this massive American brand and she flew to London to personally introduce the special guest to the audience. The guest of honour is The New Face of international football, she says, proudly… She is talking about someone who “perfectly represents the brand”. A young super star and the face of the new marketing campaign. “Ladies and gentlemen, here he is… MEMPHIS!”…

The player walks onto the state in The Bike Shed, a glorious venue in East London, capital of hipsters, slick ad execs and filthy rich creatives… It is late February 2016 and Man United won that night in a match 0-3 versus Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup.

Memphis actually played the full 90 minutes again. The million dollar signing became a bench warmer at Old Trafford. The words “disappointment” and “failure” have been used a couple of times already in the English media. The Dutchman struggles. With himself, and with the ball, for months already and his credit with Van Gaal seems to have dissipated.

At the end of the evening, Memphis muses about his situation. “This is a tough phase to be in. Making mistakes is terrible. But… I just have to remain confident and believe it will make me a better player. This is the only thing I can do: work hard, keep focus and believe in myself.”

memphis doubt

Memphis is sipping on a bottle of water, leaning against a table. You don’t need a PhD in psychology to know he is not comfortable. He signed the Under Armour contract in his last season with PSV, when it was clear he was going to go far. Under Armour saw him as the perfect face for years to come. The new C Ronaldo, Beckham, Ljungberg… Memphis was honoured and saw this line of fashion befitting to him. It matched his personality. Kees Ploegsma, former PSV manager and his agent, expected that this partnership would work and advised the youngster to commit. Memphis, a lad of extremes. A player who wants to become the best on the planet. A super star in the making.

Ploegsma: “We manage the affairs of Cillesen and Strootman too… But we make different decisions for them, scout different options for them. They’re different than Memphis. Or maybe, Memphis is different to them… Memphis is an all or nothing kinda guy. He loves that.”

But, these sort of things will work against you if it becomes nothing. There is no way Memphis can duck out. He signed a contract with a billion dollar company. The brand is key. Contract is contract.

memphis chest

Dublin

Nothing works. Every action he starts ends in clumsy loss of possession. A stray pass? It can happen. A dribble being stopped. Sure. But at some stage, Memphis is wrestling with the ball, trying to keep it under control. A typical sign the player is lacking all confidence. He looks lacklustre. Without inspiration. His season seems to end in style, in a way, in a dramatic friendly between Oranje and Ireland. The cocky youngster seems to come to grips with this phase in his career and is vulnerable and open in an interview just some days before. “Oh yes, I had periods I doubted myself. But, those are now behind me.”

Memphis’ problem is that no one seems to have an eye for his vulnerability. He is the big summer signing of Man United. He accepted the legendary jersey #7. He is the lad buying the Rolls Royce. The arrogant star who refused to speak to the media. And…he also wears a hat at times! A hat!! How dare he? And he taunts and debates with the 101 times capped international Robin van Persie. He created his own reputation of course, but no one seems to care for the young player who struggles with self doubt and expectations. A player, desperately looking for some confidence.

ROTTERDAM

Memphis is looking for words. And when he does, he tends to look into the distance. He is looking for words. And uses hip hop terms and streetjive, such as “ya know?” and “crib” and “positive vibes”. He speaks the language of the big cities in Holland. Robin van Persie, ironically, was one of the first to show of his street lingo, when he was a young player. The masses watching tv don’t like it. The papa mamas in Hierden, the kids in Loenen or the labourers in Enschede… it makes him distant and otherwordly. But Van Persie survived this stage. Hopefully Memphis will too. Memphis is in Rotterdam, he’s been given a couple of days off and he decides to go for a big interview with Algemeen Dagblad. The interview is like pulling teeth for him. A good friend says: “Memphis is very open, very outspoken and generous… But you need to win his trust first. He will always assess the situation before he allows people a look in. From when he was young, he had to deal with this. He is hurt a lot, as a kid. Damaged. That makes him a bit detached… ” But, after a while, he starts to open up. And speaks with detail and in a calm fashiong about his motivations and the contradictions in his personality. And he tries to find the reason for his insatiable appetite for fame and success. He talks about his love-hate relationship with the spotlights…. sometimes loathing the attention and sometimes actively looking for it.

memphis dick

It becomes a long interview, a fascinating talk, and mainly due to the somewhat scruffy portrait Memphis paints of himself. “I demand of myself that I am 100% there from the get go. I think that is the street in me… Don’t fail! Failure is NOT an option!” Another soundbite: “I don’t know what it is but I loathe being mediocre. I cannot be mainstream. The middle of the road is not my thing. You get hit by a car in the middle of the road…”

About his extraverted hobbies. “Some people collect stamps. Some people are fanatical about WW2. Others have pigeons. I like fashion. I like new things, art, beauty. This is what makes me feel good. If I would have to wear what others want me to wear, I’d be unhappy. I wouldn’t be me.”

London

Memphis is walking on the pitch of Wembley. No football boots. Normal shoes. He congratulates and cuddles with his team mates who just won the FA Cup. After he saw all the players, he crosses paths with Louis van Gaal. The coach who didn’t pick him for the match squad. Van Gaal puts his arm around Memphis’ shoulder. A clumsy hug follows. It is the last episode of a relationship gone wrong. Van Gaal was the coach who allowed Depay to make his debut in Oranje, he paid millions for him to get him into a ManU jersey and he put him in the starting line up for months. An insider: “Louis van Gaal has a narcissistic trait. People with this disorder will support people who do what they say, support what they say and play along with the tricks. Once a player talks back or shows his lack of commitment to the behaviour of the narcist, things can unravel really quickly.” This seems to have happened with Memphis and Louis. Something happened. And as a result, Memphis was out of grace. He does have some decent turns as a sub but almost the same number of sub-turns amount to nothing. With crucial loss of possession even. He does play a sensational game against Midtjylland and the hope returns to Old Trafford… Would it start now?

memphis berguis

But, Van Gaal doesn’t use Memphis in big games anymore. Once Louis’ love is gone, it won’t ever return, it seems. Some people say Van Gaal doesn’t like all the off-pitch shenanigans of Memphis. The cars, the sponsor deals, the hats… But insiders say it’s not like that. Van Gaal couldn’t care less if Memphis would perform, he can wear the suit of Big Bird on his days off. Insiders claim that Memphis wants to play his own game. And isn’t coachable as Van Gaal wants to see it. Interestingly, most ManU players seem to have difficulties with Van Gaal’s tight straightjacket approach. Fellaini, Rooney, Carrick, Januzaj, Herreira… most players want to have some more freedom on the pitch. Memphis probably first in the line to need this…

But there were no complaints at Man United – from Van Gaal, Giggs or anyone else – about his work ethic and focus. The player has his own nutritionist, his own mental coach, he asked for more hours on the practice field and selected a very quiet suburb in Manchester to live. Away from the spotlights.

Memphis and Van Gaal did not have a break up due to his (Memphis’ or Louis’) antics. Louis knew what he was dealing with. But Louis left Memphis out because Martial simply was better on his position.  And the more the pressure mounted, the more Memphis tried to make every single ball contact count. He became too focused on doing something special. A trick, a dribble, a shot in the top corner, a shimmy… He wanted to give the fans what they needed and craved for.  And obviously, whenever he failed, it meant loss of possession. The risk in his game would become too high. Van Gaal needed wins over performance and went with players who played simple. Ashley Young became a relief striker because he only does what he does well. Memphis succumbed under the pressure of the expectations, the transfer fee and his obsession to be special.

But, at the same time, Memphis started to become more and more frustrated with the philosophy of his coach. And with him, other players as well. Rooney, De Gea, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Herreira… Control and discipline were key. The Dutch coach constantly focused on keep possession, no risk, tactical tasks and as a result the creativity and intuition and impulse disappeared from Man United’s game.

So, add all this to the fact that any player needs to adjust to the English league, and the causes for his disappointing first season are there. “It wasn’t a great season, but it also wasn’t a terrible one,” he said himself.

jose manu

MANCHESTER

Incoming ManU coach has his own ideas. He also is not a figure-head of beautiful football (although Van Gaal used to be). The Overrated One believes in winning. The centre back type that is Daley Blind doesn’t fit in his philosophy. In his teams, he always used to “destroyers” in the center defence. He doesn’t want tactically strong but physically light players with good ball and passing skills.

He will get millions to throw around, but there is a fair chance that most players will still be at Old Trafford once Jose starts. The rumours that Memphis will have to go are simply just rumours for now. Because Mourinho does like “characters”. He will play compact and will need speed up front. Memphis is a perfect player for a more counter-attacking game plan.Memphis is not the greatest in confined space. He needs space to use his skills and his golden right foot.

Memphis will have a couple of weeks to fight for his future at Manchester United. The fans and the media are done with him. It will be all or nothing. Exactly like Memphis wants it….

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RVP gets 20 points out of 10

This post was produced a week ago already but due to crash of blog site, is only published now. Apologies…

Robin van Persie is seen as the reason why Man United won the 20est title in the EPL. Mancini said it months ago already, the Man City coach stating that if RVP would have picked the noisy neighbours, they would have run away with the title.

Scoring a hattrick in style with that blistering volley resulted in the local Manchester newspaper to award Van Persie with 20 out 10 (see pic).

A beautiful tribute to the man who came to Old Trafford with only one aim: to win silverware.

Sir Alex: “We had high expectations of Robin as he is clearly one of the world’s best but that he would be this good and would adapt so smoothly and quickly was a surprise to us all…”

The 29 year old is probably the most exciting striker (not counting Messi as a striker) on the planet today. And it didn’t look like this would happen, when RVP started his career in Rotterdam.

The son of an artist couple was always known to be “unadapted”. He spent most of his days playing football in the streets of Rotterdam, with lads like Luigi Bruins (ex-Feyenoord), El Hamdaoui (ex-Ajax and ex-Spurs) and Said Bouhatar ( ex-Feyenoord). Cocky, arrogant and oozing of talent.

He moved from his first club Excelsior to Feyenoord when 14 years old, as a result of a ‘situation’ between his youth coach and his mom. At Feyenoord, the youngster developed into a successful playmaker, only to allow Raf van der Vaart to eclips him in the pecking order in the Oranje youth teams.

His name went round in Rotterdam, amongst Feyenoord fans and I saw him make his debut in the first team at 17 years old, as a winger. He was fast, full of trickery and with a beautiful left foot. Lanky, gutsy and very confident. The problem with RVP in those days, was that everyone around him saw him as the biggest talent Feyenoord ever developed and told him so, day and night. His parents didn’t “get” football and were not able to ground him.

This resulted in that infamous row with Pierre van Hooijdonk on the pitch. It was against RKC. Feyenoord was 1-0 down. RVP came on in the second half.

Van Hooijdonk: “The hierarchy was crystal clear. I was the set piece man. Whenever I didn’t feel it was my angle or distance, I could appoint another player. When Robin took the ball and repositioned it a bit, I thought he was trying to confuse the wall. And I expected him to take the run and step over the ball. To my horror, he hit the ball. I was furious. I couldn’t repeat here what I said to him. Van Marwijk was flabbergasted!”

The Feyenoord coach was never able to control the youngster. Another low in their relationship was the Super Cup game between Feyenoord – UEFA Cup winners – and Real Madrid (CL winners). This was clearly a game RVP relished but Bert used this game to punish Van Persie for his lacklustre performances and excluded the winger from the squad.

Something broke and RVP knew his future would not be in Rotterdam, as he was not “valued” as he should have been. In those days, there were not takers though. Most clubs seemed to think he was poison. Guus Hiddink and PSV and Wenger and Arsenal informed in the winter of 2004 but it wouldn’t be until the spring of 2004 that Arsenal decided to sign him. Wenger knew of Van Persie’s talents and was adamant to have his “assistants” (Henry, Bergkamp, Adams) to educate the youngster.

Van Persie knew he has to adapt. He was no longer the protected lad in a club he knew well. He was now a no-name in a big football nation in a club with players that would eat him for breakfast.

He changed. He worked hard. He listened and he learned.

And when his mentors Bergkamp and Henry left and other top talents like Nasri and Fabregas departed, Robin took the leadership role. With responsibility, his egotistical personality changed into the personality of a leader, a role model…a guy delivering the goods.

Funnily enough, his injury proneness also changed. In his first years, he wasn’t able to stay fit for longer than a couple of months, over the last years he has been fit like Superman.

Robin will probably have 3 more great seasons in him. And once age starts to hit him, he is a player that can play one line back without a problem. Maybe Ryan Giggs will inspire him to play for another 10 years in a playmaker role from the back?

Sir Alex names Robin in the same sentence as David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Ruud van Nistelrooy. ManU Legends. A wonderful honour, when you take into account his first season hasn’t even ended yet.

What does tickle the mind of the Dutch National Team fan is, how can we make sure he performs at this level in the orange jersey??

His Oranje career was a bit stop and start? Was it Bert van Marwijk’s influence? Was it the fact that wasn’t always used as a striker? Was it the dreaded hierarchy again (Raf and Wes vs Robin)?

Fact is, he never shone as he does and did with Arsenal/Man U.

Under San Marco, he has a good two games at the WC2006. An assist on Robben and a scorching goal from a free kick.

In 2008, coming back from injury, he scored and was important, but still in the shadow of Sneijder, Van Nistelrooy, Van der Sar and Kuyt.

In 2010, he scored one goal. As a striker. In a campaign that took us to the finals. The main roles were for Sneijder and Robben. The most memorable image of Van Persie of that tournament was his complaining and whinging with Van Marwijk for being subbed…

Did Robben and Van der Vaart cramp his space when playing as wingers? Did Sneijder ignore Van Persie and only try to find Robben? Was it the Bert van Marwijk connection?

In 2012, the main image is that of Van Persie missing the ball completely against Denmark. Holland had at least 20 chances and the top forwards of Arsenal and Bayern Munich were not able to score.

RVP did score a great goal with his right against Germany and had a good chance to score a second even…. But other than that ( and other than an ok game as shadow striker vs Portugal behind Klaas Jan), the 2012 campaign was a disaster.

So, with Wenger and Sir Alex getting the best out of him and Bert van Marwijk not being able to do so (twice), it might be that our new coach Van Gaal is capable of making RVP important.

Making him the first name on the team sheet. With Sneijder not at his best and with Robben instructed to keep the playing field wide, we might see a different Van Persie.

His connection with Raf on the playmaker spot was quite good in recent matches (the two highly respect one another) and we saw some good interplay between Robben and Robin and RVP and Maher in recent games too.

Lets hope Van Gaal knows how to “touch” RVP like Wenger and Sir Alex have clearly done. And with a more dynamic player behind RVP (sorry Wes), we might see the interplay Robin so desperately needs. With Maher and Van der Vaart, we seem to have those players and I have personally not given up yet on Afellay either.

Lets hope that RVP20 is capable of working his magic even when he’s 30 years old.

And lets hope he will win us the World Cup title (with the other 22 players of course) next summer.

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