Rafael Van de Vaart

[nasescoba1985]

Boy do I miss this guy so much I know he's to old now to take back but what a superb player he was despite not being able to last a full 90 mins. I loved the guys passion, sublime ability and interaction with the fans which let's be honest is severely lacking these days. I don't think we have had many players in recent times bar Bale that tore Arsenal a new one every time we played them. He relished the massive games and almost always turned up which is signs of a true top class player. What I would love to have VDV back again and playing in our colours again. He also spoke out recently about spurs being a "special club" and how much he misses us. We miss you to RAFA!!! Fucking legend!!!

 

[chinaman]

You are not alone there.

 

[Nocando]

One of my favourite players before he joined us, even more so after. I'd still take him back for sure, along with Sneijder.

 

[allatsea]

Could do a job off the bench if he could stay fit ?

 

[only1waddle]

It's ok, Levy has bought Dempsey and Sigurdsson to collectively replace him, gonna turn out well i just know it...

 

[Nocando]

It's ok, Levy has bought Dempsey and Sigurdsson to collectively replace him, gonna turn out well i just know it...

To be fair I think that was one of AVB's biggest mistakes. He wanted to implement his style and VDV didn;t quite fit in with it and Siggy did. VDV wasn't going to take on a bit part role at that time and Levy saw an opportunity to make a few quid back.

It suited everyone apart from the fans and our results imo.

 

[Bulletspur]

Boy do I miss this guy so much I know he's to old now to take back but what a superb player he was despite not being able to last a full 90 mins. I loved the guys passion, sublime ability and interaction with the fans which let's be honest is severely lacking these days. I don't think we have had many players in recent times bar Bale that tore Arsenal a new one every time we played them. He relished the massive games and almost always turned up which is signs of a true top class player. What I would love to have VDV back again and playing in our colours again. He also spoke out recently about spurs being a "special club" and how much he misses us. We miss you to RAFA!!! Fucking legend!!!

He is gone, move on...

 

[only1waddle]

To be fair I think that was one of AVB's biggest mistakes. He wanted to implement his style and VDV didn;t quite fit in with it and Siggy did. VDV wasn't going to take on a bit part role at that time and Levy saw an opportunity to make a few quid back.

It suited everyone apart from the fans and our results imo.

Got no problem if Rafa wanted to go and he didn't fit what AvB wanted but neither Clint nor Glyfi are even close to being as good on the ball as Rafa, we made a massive mistake buying both these players and not buying a suitable replacement.

 

[easley91]

Eriksen is the Rafa replacement. Well if he is given a run of games he would be..

 

[Ribble]

Could do a job off the bench if he could stay fit ?

The staying fit thing is the problem, has been since he left. Said this before, he was one of my favourite players even before he came but we sold him at the right time sadly. Any return would just tarnish the memory.

Also Eriksen is fantastic, but he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve like van der Vaart.

 

[OmarsComing]

Gareth Bale was ok as well...

 

[Lufti]

Eriksen is the Rafa replacement. Well if he is given a run of games he would be..

Ability wise yeah, but I don't think he has that same mentality, leadership, fire and goal scoring instinct that VDV had We need a proven player who's been around the block and will show a bit of character in the midfield imo.

That's not to say I don't like Eriksen, just don't think he has the same attributes that VDV had to an extent

 

[Lilbaz]

Thought he left to be with his wife.

Van gaal no2? (now he probably has a restraining order)?

 

[easley91]

Ability wise yeah, but I don't think he has that same mentality, leadership, fire and goal scoring instinct that VDV had We need a proven player who's been around the block and will show a bit of character in the midfield imo.

That's not to say I don't like Eriksen, just don't think he has the same attributes that VDV had to an extent

There are similarities. Eriksen is only 22/23 and Rafa was much older and much more experienced. Eriksen should be the long term Rafa for us that also has fit hamstrings. I'm certain if Eriksen was given a long run in the side he'd be scoring and creating goals for fun. The line-ups we've had have meant stop-start relationships between players on the pitch. IF Eriksen starts every game in the VDV role, I have no doubts he'd be as good (if not eventually better).

 

[absolute bobbins]

Thought he left to be with his wife.

Van gaal no2? (now he probably has a restraining order)?

He did, then they broke up apparently because chemo made Sylvie infertile.

 

[Lilbaz]

He did, then they broke up apparently because chemo made Sylvie infertile.

Nothing to do with him punching her in the face?

 

[absolute bobbins]

Nothing to do with him punching her in the face?

Seriously? That's just wrong, it'd be like punching the Mona Lisa or a Ferrari




For the record, I don't condone punching uggo's either.

 

[Marcus_spur]

Could do a job off the bench if he could stay fit ?

yeah. Unfortunately he has some semi-chronic problems and a quack who makes him feel better. Since he feels better before his injuries actually heal, he gets injured more often (one of many reasons clubs should not employ quacks like this)

 

[fortworthspur]

it will sound judgmental, but its sort of chickenshit to split on your wife because she got cancer. Lance Armstrong did the same thing. People do it all the time, though.

 

[ClintEastwould]

Ouch.

/thread.