RvP the Next Ronaldo

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Ibracadabra


With all the talk at Arsenal surrounding Eduardo’s feel-good two goals against Cardiff in his return to football after a year long absence with a horrific broken leg injury, one man seems to be slipping under the (fantasy) footballing radar a bit. Robin van Persie.

I’m no Gunner, but I am a huge admirer of RvP. As some of you recall, I predicted this would be the “Year of RvP” from a fantasy footballing perspective back in August 2008 – and gave the Dutchman the Captain’s Armband in my gameweek one lineup. And as some of you recall, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rewarded my confidence in his striker by resting Van Persie on that opening day against WBA due to Champions League qualifying. Thanks, Arsene.

Wenger has notoriously rested and rotated van Persie thus limiting his fantasy premier league consistency and production in the past, but at just 25 years old, and with significant calf, foot, toe, and knee injuries presumably behind him – perhaps 2009 will be the year that RvP can finally break away from Wenger’s coddling.

This could be crazy, but I am going to say that if Wenger cuts him loose (this is a huge if) – that in 2009/2010 RvP will produce a season that will statistically rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007/2008 Premier League campaign.

RvP is pure class. The best technique in the Premier League. A free kick that rivals Ronaldo’s. A stone cold penalty taker. Speed, power, and aerial ability. Whilst he remains “touch and go” this season from a fantasy perspective due to a congested fixture list that sees the Gunners still involved in the FA Cup and Champions League, he remains the best future fantasy option in the game, in my opinion.

We are in line for another statistical aberration in 2009-2010, I can just feel it. Without a true “Ronaldo” performer in this Premier League season, fantasy football managers have been left frustrated – high expectations, minimal returns… Ronaldo has given us a bit, Lampard and Gerrard too, but those are the usual suspects. We yearn for something out of the ordinary in 2009-2010 – something Ronaldo-esque – and I know the man for the job:

With a fully fit Fabregas back in the Arsenal fold next season, look to van Persie to break Wenger’s coddled shackles and give us the 225+ point fantasy season we crave from a Captain. Jot it down now. Call it a Monday evening hunch. Call it a baseless prediction. Call it what you want. But come gameweek one in August, regardless of opposition, I’m firmly affixing the Captain’s Armband on van Persie’s bicep once again. 

Let’s just hope Arsene puts him on the pitch this time around.

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  2. Breaking News: Ronaldo Ends Scoring Drought; Clearly More Important Today than Obama Taking Office for Thousands Worldwide
  3. EPL Gameweek 21 Fantasy Preview: Can Rooney, Rio, or Rafael Give Ronaldo a Ride to the Matches, Please?
  4. D(r)iver Ronaldo Wrecks Ferrari
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This entry was posted in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, eduardo, fantasy premier league blog, Robin van Persie. Bookmark the permalink.

12 Responses to RvP the Next Ronaldo

  1. Ash says:
    February 17, 2009 at 2:06 am

    When will it be the year of the Kalou?
    He’s got amazing output for the minutes he is played… he’s similarly out of position as Ronaldo is.
    I know it’s early to predict, but maybe 2013/14 :-)

    He’s an amazing dribbler, changes games, ghosts in, heading ability… and with Hiddink as coach, playing in a world class team with a world class manager. Just a thought…

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    February 17, 2009 at 9:50 am

    i have rvp right now, i am hoping for cron liek numbers over the next few weeeks, not just next season!

    Reply
  3. Ibracadabra says:
    February 17, 2009 at 10:56 am

    Ashwin –

    Kalou is a sight to behold. Won African Young Player of the Year in 2008. Long rage shooting and free kicks/finishing are still a MAJOR question mark with him, but you are right – his pace and dribbling can change games from the flank… a “healthy” Arjen Robben like player if he is at his best…

    Anonymous – it’s very dangerous to go with RvP right now, though he should start this weekend. Have you seen Arsenal’s schedule the next few weeks? Prem League, FA Cup, and Champions League with midweek and weekend games all month… With Eduardo fit, Arshavin to debut, Vela available, and Bendtner looking to step up and fill Adebayor’s shoes, RvP will SURELY be rested by Wenger at some point… SOON.

    I just hope for your sake he is not rested when you give him the captain’s armband like I did in week ONE! good luck.

    Reply
  4. Silent Jay says:
    February 17, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    RvP screwed me in Week 1 as well. The end. Unless Wenger signs a written declaration that he’s starting him every game, I’ll place my faith in (and the armband on) someone else.

    A player who misses about 1/3 of all games (and has missed considerably more in the past) is not worth gambling on. Certainly not at a premium price.

    And, statistically, he hasn’t improved over the last 3 years. Slightly more bonus points, slightly less goals/assists.

    And he may score 225 points one of these years… maybe. But credit where credit is due – that’s still nowhere near CRon’s ridiculous 283 points from last season! (And even if he’d equal those 31 goals (which he won’t), he’d still have to make up 31 points elsewhere, since midfielders get an extra point per goal.)

    I don’t see him being any better value next season than he is now. Not unless Arsenal sell every other striker they have, and don’t bring in any new ones. And even then he’d just get injured again.

    PS: I don’t hate RvP or anything. But he’s the china in that shop with the elephant in it. Michael Owen is another one I’ve banned from my fantasy team for the same reason.

    Reply
  5. Ibracadabra says:
    February 17, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Jay –

    A fair enough comment – especially the big “IF” that I mention – “IF” he stays healthy and is not rested- but take a look at his points per game this season. Even without Cesc (for most of the season) and with an out-of-form Adebayor (for most of the season) RvP has brought in 5.3 points per game. No. 1 in the league for strikers.

    Berbatov? 4.8. Anelka? 4.6. Zaki? 4.4.

    It sucks that those 5.3 points per game are often rested and rotated – but IF (big If again) he was not rested/rotated he would be an INSTANT captain selection in my choice when CRon moves to Madrid next year…

    Reply
  6. Silent Jay says:
    February 17, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    I won’t argue that point. But that IF is so big that it’s basically a NO WAY IN THE WORLD.

    He’s fantasy dead to me. It’d just piss me off too much when he’s rested at home against Hull or West Brom, only to score a hattrick in the Champions League or something…

    Reply

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  8. LOL says:
    December 13, 2011 at 11:39 am

    You were right :)

    Reply
  9. LOL says:
    December 13, 2011 at 11:40 am

    Wow, were you right or what?

    Reply

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