Was Van Persie undroppable yesterday??

[g88ner]

I have a theory... so bare with me!

Van Persie was un-droppable [sic] yesterday.

With his new contract still unsigned, Wenger didn't want to put fresh doubts in Van Persie's head by benching him for the showpiece semi-final.

I think Wenger really wanted to play 3 in centre midfield to match Chelsea (fair enough, really), and that meant playing 4-5-1 (or 4-3-3 as Wenger will no doubt call it) - But call it what you want, it essentially means you play with ONE central striker and 2 wide forwards/wingers.

Having decided to play 4-5-1, and feeling obliged to play Van Persie, Wenger had to fit him in somewhere, and that meant playing Van Persie, way out of position, on the left.

Now, I'll take a lot of convincing if I'm to accept that Van Persie is a better wide player than Arshavin; He's just not equipped for the role - Simple!

Barca play 4-3-3, yet their wide forwards (Henry & Messi) are blessed with PACE, an abiity to beat a player, a goal threat, craft and creativity - these are essential when you are asking a player to not only create chances for your central striker but also support him and be a goal threat yourself.

Even Mourinho, when he favoured 2 wide forwards, played Duff and Robben - both blessed with some pace, creativity, crossing ability, an ability to take players on, etc.

BUT NONE OF THIS RINGS TRUE WITH VAN PERSIE!

Van Persie has no pace, he doesn't have the ability to beat a player, he isn't going to beat the full back and whip in dangerous crosses, and beacuse he's all left foot, he isn't going to cut inside the full back and be a goal threat because he's turning in onto his "chocolate leg" which is no threat to Cech from 30 yards!

He's also not a great defensive player like Rooney or Tevez, so playing him to offer better support to Gibbs is also out the window....

So, what possible FOOTBALLISTIC reason could there be for favouring Van Persie on the left wing over Arshavin???

Answers on a postcard!

He played Van Persie because dropping him for a showpiece game like yesterday might have caused him to have a re-think, just as he's on the cusp of signing a new contract!

You heard it here first

[RaM]

Think he has played on the right wing for Holland in the past. Only difference is there he can turn inside onto his stronger foot.

[g88ner]

Think he has played on the right wing for Holland in the past. Only difference is there he can turn inside onto his stronger foot.

The right wing is different.

As you say, he is then cutting in onto his favoured left foot where he can join the play, create and have shots.

[IW8Goalmachine]

that's an interesting point and also very worrying if true

[harryo45]

ive never seen wat people see in van 1 foot van percy. every thing he does is for his own benifit. the most 1 footed predictable football player i have ever watched. wish i was markin him every week. hes slows the team down takin every pass on to his left peg . he wont pass if there is a chance of glory for himself. wens the last time he scored from a free kick yet he takes them match after match. arshavin should have been playing were he was yesterday and showed wat a real player is. get 15- 20 million for this fraud and run wenger

[Irish Gooner]

Replace undroppable with shit and I agree.

[RaM]

This thread feels very Quartz-esque with all this RVP slagging!

He's been one of (if not the) best of our players this season, the only one who has looked any good at all in some matches. Wasn't any complaining then (apart from the aforementioned Quartz... )

Sure he's only got one foot, but (and I feel a bit uncomfortable saying this as I wasn't even born when he played) so did Liam Brady from what I've been told.

Ultimately, it was Wenger who picked the team yesterday, RVP just does what he's told.

[goonersid]

Good point g88ner, thats exactly what i feel was the case, add to that he was poor and frankly is over rated, I am glad he has picked up another one of his countless injuries, and any decent offer for him in the summer should be taken.
Fabregas' link up play with Nasri and in the few games with Arshavin was key to any success we might have had yesterday,Van persie's dithering and wastefulness on the ball denied us any such link up.
The disastrous goalkeeping display would have happened whether Almunia was fit or not, as "professor mad" had already decided that Fabiwankstain would be in goal in the cup games.
Someone has pointed out that I haven't offered alternatives to Wenger, fact is if you have read previous posts I have offered many, I just can't be bothered to keep repeating them.

[skipper]

IMO not playing Arshavin yesterday is simply unforgivable, but I think that it was Adebayor who should have been on bench, with RVP as a central striker...as for theory that Wenger played RVP to sweeten him into signing a new contract; I thought Wenger's 'philosophy' was about team not individual players!?

[g88ner]

This thread feels very Quartz-esque with all this RVP slagging!

Certainly no Van Persie slagging from me, and I started the thread!

I've put my case across properly, and at no point do I have a go at RvP.... I'm just pointing out that he's many things, but a wide left player, he is not!

Playing RvP centrally is fine... that makes sense to me, as he can be World Class in that position and a real threat to the oppostion. Even playing him wide right, where he can cut in onto his dangerous left foot, has it's merits...

BUT I've yet to read a convincing (or any!!) argument as to what Van Persie gives us on the left wing that Arshavin doesn't?? Is he a World Class left winger? is he even a threat in that position? and if so... to whom?

To me, it was like trying to force a square peg into a round hole, when you have a perfectly formed round peg sat on the bench!

Honestly, I'm stumped.

[RaM]

Not you G88ner. Was just these one after another:

Replace undroppable with shit and I agree.

ive never seen wat people see in van 1 foot van percy. every thing he does is for his own benifit. the most 1 footed predictable football player i have ever watched. wish i was markin him every week. hes slows the team down takin every pass on to his left peg . he wont pass if there is a chance of glory for himself. wens the last time he scored from a free kick yet he takes them match after match. arshavin should have been playing were he was yesterday and showed wat a real player is. get 15- 20 million for this fraud and run wenger

I agree with what you're saying re: the left wing, it shocked me when I saw the team sheet, especially with Arshavin on the bench.

Just don't want to think about the un-droppable theory, would be disgusting if true.

[g88ner]

Just don't want to think about the un-droppable theory, would be disgusting if true.

Well, it's only a theory.

To be honest, I'm usually very pro-Wenger and I understand that football isn't an exact science, but seriously.. for the life of me, I cannot think of a tactical reason to play RvP on the left wing when you have a fresh, raring to go, Arshavin sat on the bench.

Van Persie's contract remains unsigned, and if Wenger is desperately trying to convince Van Persie to stay, then is it really that far out to think that dropping him for such a showpiece event would perhaps have a baring on Van Persie's decision??

After all, dropping him for such a prestigious game would undoubtedly upset Van Persie (it's only human nature!) so....

Just a theory!

[mrgnu1958]

Great opening post G88ner agree 100%

[RaM]

Oh but the theory sounds so convincing and I don't want it to be!

[g88ner]

Oh but the theory sounds so convincing and I don't want it to be!

You should hear my theory on why I believe that aliens are living in Spain!