van Persie

[dww]

Maybe I'm deluding myself but I don't think it's a good buy. They have glaring issues elsewhere in the team, had bought Kagawa to play the no.10 role in a 4231 and RVP undermines all of that. 29, injury prone, £25m and huge wages.

Many United fans feel the same - I've never known a superstar signing to go down so badly with a set of supporters.

The thing is that Fergie more than any of the other manager in the PL has always like 4 forwards he can rely on. It's been key to most of his sides. I think RvP will enhance the side. It's not a long term move but for the next couple of seasons it will make them stronger.

The questions of whether Cleverly and Evans can keep improving enough to balance out the ageing of Scholes, Ferdinand and Vidic further back is a big question. But in the past United have managed to defend by terrifying the opposition. I think they will do it again in the league but struggle in the CL.

[Nicey]

Well hes been utterly utterly superb now for a very long time ... people forget he was also going great guns before he got injured ... but hey last season was the first full season I can remember him putting in

[dom9]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19179833

Manchester United have agreed a £24m deal to sign Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on a four-year contract.


"Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement for the transfer of Robin Van Persie," the club said in a statement.

"The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course."

United will pay £22.5m, with a further £1.5m one-off bonus to follow if they win a Premier League or Champions League title in the next four years.

It is understood Arsenal were willing to make Van Persie their highest paid player ever, but never actually offered him a new contract.

The Netherlands international, who scored 44 goals in 57 games for club and country last season, maintained he would not discuss his future until after Arsenal's final match at West Brom on 12 May.
Van Persie statistics

Three days later, he opened dialogue with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis at Wenger's house.

Wenger and Van Persie disagreed on their vision for the club, transfer activity and the team's performance in the 2011-12 campaign.

No contract was discussed and Van Persie joined the Dutch squad on 17 May to begin their preparations for Euro 2012.

He announced he would not be extending his contract on 4 July and returned to training on 17 July, the same week he was the subject of bids from United, Manchester City and Juventus.

All three offers fell short of Arsenal's valuation - they were reluctant to enter formal negotiations until a bid exceeded £20m, and hoped to hold out for £25-30m.

United, City and Juventus increased their offers but, of the three, United were the only side Van Persie would consider joining.

He was not part of the Gunners squad that left on 21 July for a pre-season tour to Asia but did travel with them on 6 August for a week-long training camp in Germany.

It is understood Van Persie was encouraged by the arrivals of Germany forward Lukas Podolski, France striker Olivier Giroud and Spain midfielder Cazorla - to the point where he was open to the idea of staying with or without a new contract.

But Wenger pulled him aside shortly before Sunday's friendly victory over Cologne, told him he would be sold if a deal could be reached and informed the Dutchman he was no longer part of his plans.
Past transfer dealings

Transfers between Arsenal and Man Utd are rare - Viv Anderson was the last to make the move, in 1987, although Mikael Silvestre did go in the other direction in 2008.

Formal discussions between Arsenal and United began immediately, with Gazidis and United chief executive David Gill agreeing a fee of £22.5m on Tuesday, only for it to be vetoed by Wenger as he held out for £25m.

On Wednesday morning, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson called Wenger to offer £23m and Wenger quoted him £24m.

But a compromise was finally reached on Wednesday evening and Van Persie will travel to Manchester on Thursday to discuss terms and begin his medical.

Van Persie was named Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year but scored only once as the Netherlands were eliminated at the group stage of Euro 2012.

[Trippendicular]

I don't understand how he's gotten the tag as a player who wins games from nothing. He obviously scored a lot last year, and hence won Arsenal a lot of games, but he hardly makes the chances for himself and even at his most prolific is still quite a wasteful striker.

[rudedog]

I think he will suffer from the Torres effect. That Arsenal team last season was built around him. The whole style of play was aimed at getting him chances. When he goes to United that won't be the case and I think his game might suffer for it. We'll see.

Anyway what a cunt, another lying, backstabbing fake piece of ****. "Always be a Gunner" my arse

I think he'll get plenty of chances at Utd - its not something they've every really struggled with. Can't really blame him for moving - he probably just wants to win something before he gets too old.

[Fosterbloke]

I'm not going to start out doubting him because I'll look like a cunt. I hope he ****ing fails though.

[Pablo]

I think he'll get plenty of chances at Utd - its not something they've every really struggled with. Can't really blame him for moving - he probably just wants to win something before he gets too old.

Were you fine with Torres moving to Chelsea then? To me this is the same thing. I was disgusted in Torres and I'm disgusted in Van Persie.

[Nicey]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN4TXyL8z48&feature=g-high-c"]SHOW ME THE MONEY! - YouTube[/ame]

[Rich]

The only way this move will fail IMO is if he starts back with the injuries.

He is dynamite in front of goal, so deadly. It is a lot of money for a 29 year old but Fergie knows what he's doing. Of course he'll have half an eye on leaving a good young team as a legacy when he retires but RvP can help them win things right now.

[Buzzo]

Am I the only one who is completely nonplussed by this move?

I'm not arsed at all. Or as you say 'nonplussed'

[Nicey]

He cant score goals if they cannot get the ball to him ... I am less than impressed with there MF set up .. suspect we will see Jones in there again ..

And he really is gambling on Carrick being the 2nd coming this season

[dom9]

I'm not arsed at all. Or as you say 'nonplussed'

Not arsed is good too.

[Gingawaria]

He cant score goals if they cannot get the ball to him ... I am less than impressed with there MF set up .. suspect we will see Jones in there again ..

And he really is gambling on Carrick being the 2nd coming this season

Don't forget they've still got Scholes too

[RedReet]

The only way this move will fail IMO is if he starts back with the injuries.

He is dynamite in front of goal, so deadly. It is a lot of money for a 29 year old but Fergie knows what he's doing. Of course he'll have half an eye on leaving a good young team as a legacy when he retires but RvP can help them win things right now.

The way I see it is he will score goals for them and create a few. I don’t think he’ll get nearly as many as he did for Arsenal as he’ll lose set-piece priority and wont be the focal point of every attack. He’ll still score and create, but so to would Berbatov have and Hernandez if fit. He’s better than both of them and you would expect he’ll be involved in more goals, but would the difference be enough to justify the price and wages. Maybe a good chunk will be offset if they get rid of Berbatov, but it’s still a lot of money.

That’s all depending of course if he stays fit which is a big if, if they can fit his ego on the pitch with the rest of the United cunts and if he reacts well to Ferguson’s style of management.

Time will tell, but I don’t think it was a great move for either party.

[Red_Polo]

Maybe I'm deluding myself but I don't think it's a good buy. They have glaring issues elsewhere in the team, had bought Kagawa to play the no.10 role in a 4231 and RVP undermines all of that. 29, injury prone, £25m and huge wages.

Many United fans feel the same - I've never known a superstar signing to go down so badly with a set of supporters.

I think ten years back the financial position they were in it would make sense. Now I don't think it's the best use of their resources. He will improve them, but I've never rated him as high as most and I think he's more Arsenal's loss than United's gain.

So yeah add me to the dom9 non-plussed list.