From Raj Kumarasuriyar : Give Robin more credit
I’m sure you get sick of people writing to you telling you to lay off Van Persie, and pulling out the stats in 2011 to back it up with.
However, I’m going to do it myself, just because I still think despite you giving him credit, you’re still not giving him enough.
I think what you need to give him credit for is something that only great players are able to do, which is basically completely revamp their natural game and perform at a world class level.
Remember when we signed RVP?
I remember reading articles about him in his early days at the club, about how as a child he was playing street football in cages, and constantly getting into trouble with the police.
When he signed for Arsenal, he came with a reputation similar to Balotelli; supreme talent but a bit of an upstart, a bit outspoken and lippy with a lack of respect for his seniors.
I remember the stories of him annoying all of his senior teammates when he was a youngster at Feyenoord, eg. his bust-up with Van Hooijdonk for taking a free kick that PVH had lined up for himself. He had raw talent and belief, that was for sure.
I remember you made a comment once in one of your articles about when Henry was declining in his Arsenal performances and Van Persie’s body language said something along the lines of ‘Everything you can do, I can do’.
However, he was still a livewire, remember when he got sent off for 2 stupid yellows and Arsene was so visibly angry at him.
On the footballing side, he had a killer left boot and he had skills. His long range shooting was a real strength. I remember a large amount of his goals coming from outside of the area.
Anyway Myles, how things have changed!! In every way!!
Look at him now, as a person he’s calm and rational, and leads by example on the pitch.
He plays with responsibility, pride and composure. His behaviour and demeanour remind me a lot more of Dennis Bergkamp than Balotelli now!
Look how happy he is when he scores, it’s not anger, it’s happiness, like a man who is happy with who he is and is enjoying his football. And he has completely changed his game!
He was once one of the most one-footed players around, and now he’s the most two- footed striker in the Premier League. He’s extremely selective of when he tries the extravagant, instead he sticks to basics.
Importantly, how many of his goals do you see coming from outside of the area these days? His movement is exceptional now.
He knew that he had an opportunity to cement his place as the number one striker at the club, and he believed in his ability to adapt his game, work on his weaknesses, and become world class.
If this position he’s currently playing in is not his best position, then surely if he was allowed to play in his “best position”, he’d have to be one of the top 5 players in the world?
In conclusion, I think you should give him more credit!
He’s a better player than you keep suggesting, even when you are trying to sound like you’re being nice.