***FA Cup QF and Premier League 7th March***

Just how does Eduardo do that? Oh yeah, check me out, I'm just running to intercept a cross, oops, just smashed it into the far post off my outside ankle while moving with pace. No biggie.

Ridiculous.

wedgie said:
Vaguely recall the discussion, wasn't the general consensus that RvP had the potential to exceed Bergkamp, but to put him against the entire career of a great such as Bergkamp was a bit much?
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That's always been how I've seen it. Bags of ability yes, and he definitely seems to be proving it in his first largely injury-less season, but still some way to proving himself as top class. Plus I don't think he's ever done amazing things for the Dutch team.

Ripper said:
Hoping for a United/Arsenal final, 2005 revenge.
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As long as its more bloody entertaining than that game.
 
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Visionary said:
They are no match for Man U at the moment, but are definitely improving under Hiddink and getting results.
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Their performances have pretty much been more of the same, but they've not played anyone of value yet, although I don't disvalue Hiddinks European pedigree which will serve them in good stead.
 
It seem's unfair comparing RvP to Bergkamp - Since, there isn't many players that can be compared to him. RvP is a brilliant player, your not going to see a much better technique around. BUT, and its a big but - Bergkamp is one of the best footballers ever. He could have walked into any team in the world, at any time.
 
Indeed, Berkamp was from a golden generation of Dutch players, most of whom rose through the Ajax youth squads and ended up at the top clubs in Italy and Spain.

De Boer brothers, Kluivert, Davids, Reiziger, van der Sar, Overmars* etc.

I don't think RvP can compare to Berkamp. RvP's a good player, very talented, but doesn't touch the Ice Man really. If RvP doesn't start to peak now, then when will he? He's not a youngster any more.

*Who has come out of retirement (partially) lol!
 
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HangTime said:
Bergkamp was 26 years and 1 month old when he joined Arsenal, whereas Van Persie is currently 25 years and 7 months old, so a difference of 6 months. I wouldn't call that "a lot younger".

Like I said at the time, I can't say whether RvP will be a better player than Bergkamp in the long term, I just didn't think it was a valid claim to make, and I still don't think he has proven it. Lets see what he's done after WC2014.
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fair enough - I had the impression Bergamp was a lot older when he joined:)

You never know RvP may well just make that step in the next 6 months (ok maybe unlikely but it could happen)
 
drunkenmaster said:
I'm the one that got crap for saying RVP was better than Bergkamp two years ago, which he was and is, he just didn't have the reputation or amount of games. This year he's proved more deadly infront of goal, more capable of running a game, scores more, more assists, stronger, faster, tougher. But I guess when everyone else said he wasn't that good and I was singing his praises, that was me complaining about another player right?
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You got crap because anyone who genuinely believes RvP is a better provider than Bergkamp is living in a land with pink skies and clouds made of marshmellow. I like RvP but he is still too inconsistent for me to be considered world class, and he isn't anywhere near what i would call a playmaker.

Bergkamp was one of the finest passers and playmakers the EPL has ever seen for gods sake......sounds to me like you've never actually seen him play on TV, let alone in the flesh @ Highbury.

Give it up already dm, you're just so wrong on many levels.
 
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drunkenmaster said:
I'm the one that got crap for saying RVP was better than Bergkamp two years ago, which he was and is, he just didn't have the reputation or amount of games. This year he's proved more deadly infront of goal, more capable of running a game, scores more, more assists, stronger, faster, tougher. But I guess when everyone else said he wasn't that good and I was singing his praises, that was me complaining about another player right?
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You only got crap because at the moment its not true. I also don't remember anyone saying RvP wasn't that good and you are just trying to come off like some footballing oracle. Bergkamp was one of a very elite group. He could do and see things that other players could not. He wouldn't be out of place in a top ten footballers of all time.

RvP has the potential and always has but its whether he can stay fit. I'd still be suprised if he equals Bergkamp let alone passes him.

Everyone was going mad about Song after the game and rightly so, but thats not the first time he has done that against what you would class as lesser opposition. He needs to start doing it, if he is able, against the majority of Premiership clubs.

What a finish from Eduardo. He has shown what we have badly missed, a good finisher.

It looks like we may be coming good with form and injuries just in time.
 
While Bergkamp was a great player I think he is over-rated in some quarters. An all-time great that would have got into any team in the world...at any time? I don't think so. Undoubtedly would have made Premiership team of the Season or been therabouts between 1996-2000 but he wouldn't be in a UEFA team of the season during that period.There were better forward/playmakers at the time.
 
I was surprised when I saw the stats for his assists. I thought they'd be higher. He had players like Wright and Henry with him, also wingers like Overmars and Ljungberg who were regular goalscorers, you'd expect more. For me, Zola was far better. A greater goalthreat and creator for his team-mates.
 
elroberto said:
I was surprised when I saw the stats for his assists. I thought they'd be higher. He had players like Wright and Henry with him, also wingers like Overmars and Ljungberg who were regular goalscorers, you'd expect more. For me, Zola was far better. A greater goalthreat and creator for his team-mates.
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Although its not the be all, Zola's stats seem lower than Bergkamp's both for club and country. Certainly in England anyway.

This doesn't really give an overall picture though and considering how creative the Arsenal team was he played in, he still managed to stand out.
 
B1gbeard said:
Although its not the be all, Zola's stats seem lower than Bergkamp's both for club and country. Certainly in England anyway.

This doesn't really give an overall picture though and considering how creative the Arsenal team was he played in, he still managed to stand out.
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I feel Zola was more influential on his team. While Chelsea had a reasonably good squad they were nowhere near the strength of Arsenal's. Bergkamp had a much easier time of it. If Zola had played for United or Arsenal his figures would have probably shot up as more opportunities for him to score would have been laid on and he also would have had better players to provide assists for who would be more likely to put away the chances he created. It's academic now though as the relevant strength of the league is a bit higher than it was then and both would have found it trickier as more and more teams 'park the bus' these days.
 
Tummy said:
Park was really good against Fulham, I think all the attacking players were fantastic. I'd say almost every player at United played really really well, suddenly there is a lack of discussion on how well he played, and proving some of us wrong, however showing what a lot of us have said all along. I'm waiting until he's asked to play more defensibly and everyone jumps on the we hate Park band wagon.
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You want a discussion on how well Park played? Go ahead start a new thread. He had an excellent game and I said as much, in fact many of us have. I'm fed up of hearing the words 'hard working', 'workrate', it's the type of description people give average players to disguise the fact that in every other department they are weak. I give credit where I think it's due.
 
I really like Park, people talk about his hard work but I think he's good on the ball too and is very reliable, probably the best utility player in the league. I'd take him in the Arsenal squad in a second.
 
The only thing that lets Park down is his composure in front of goal, that being said he was amazing against Fulham and his goal was incredible.
 
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