Van Persie

[TBM]

34 goals so far this calendar year........needs 3 more to break Alan Shearers record (Wolves and QPR to play)

Quite an achievement - will he do it?

I remember last year i posted a thread about 'Van Persie v Torres - who is better'.........the majority of you voted Torres and i was laughed at for suggesting Van Persie is one of the best strikers in Europe when he is fit.

[Ferris]

Needs just 1 more to beat Henry's Arsenal record as well. Definitely got a chance of doing it and I hope he does. I reckon a hat-trick against QPR

[Svlad Cjelli]

The only problem with this "close to record" situations is that the whole team tends to play to the record, so someone with a great chance to score will pass to RVP who only has a half-chance to score, and the team does less well as a result.

Seen it happen so many times....

[cmonurz]

The only problem with this "close to record" situations is that the whole team tends to play to the record, so someone with a great chance to score will pass to RVP who only has a half-chance to score, and the team does less well as a result.

Seen it happen so many times....

Go on, list them.

(because it's a 22-player and practically impossible to 'fix' in that way, save for penalties, which RVP takes anyway).

[Svlad Cjelli]

Certainly can't list them - but it's natural that when a team-mate is close to a record players will try to set up chances for him - when there's frequently a better option for themselves of someone else.

Wasn't Ian Wright waiting on his record for ages and ages, during which the team didn't do very well?

[Silver Fox]

The only problem with this "close to record" situations is that the whole team tends to play to the record, so someone with a great chance to score will pass to RVP who only has a half-chance to score, and the team does less well as a result.

Difference here being that the rest of the Arsenal team have been playing like this all season, either passing to RVP as often as possible or allowing him to have a shot when they might complain if another player did so instead of passing, and it seems to be working out OK for them

[roadrunner]

34 goals so far this calendar year........needs 3 more to break Alan Shearers record (Wolves and QPR to play)

Quite an achievement - will he do it?

I remember last year i posted a thread about 'Van Persie v Torres - who is better'.........the majority of you voted Torres and i was laughed at for suggesting Van Persie is one of the best strikers in Europe when he is fit.

The post will still be searchable...

Who's scored more career goals?

[Big Foot]

Certainly can't list them - but it's natural that when a team-mate is close to a record players will try to set up chances for him - when there's frequently a better option for themselves of someone else.

Wasn't Ian Wright waiting on his record for ages and ages, during which the team didn't do very well?

LOL absolutely stunning u-turn from


"Seen it happen so many times"

[FiNeRaIn]

Agreed..before I read the responses I was sat there thinking I haven't seen it once. Stunning made up claims.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Certainly can't list them - but it's natural that when a team-mate is close to a record players will try to set up chances for him - when there's frequently a better option for themselves of someone else.

Wasn't Ian Wright waiting on his record for ages and ages, during which the team didn't do very well?

LOL absolutely stunning u-turn from


"Seen it happen so many times"

Whatever - the fact that I can't list the specific occasions from 35+ years of watching matches doesn't make the observation less valid.

[Big Foot]

Certainly can't list them - but it's natural that when a team-mate is close to a record players will try to set up chances for him - when there's frequently a better option for themselves of someone else.

Wasn't Ian Wright waiting on his record for ages and ages, during which the team didn't do very well?

LOL absolutely stunning u-turn from


"Seen it happen so many times"

Whatever - the fact that I can't list the specific occasions from 35+ years of watching matches doesn't make the observation less valid.

Probably seen it too many times to remember

[FiNeRaIn]

Yep, so many times he's forgotten them all!

[chilipepper91]

Thought it was happening with Torres at the end of last season before he finally scored

[Svlad Cjelli]

As I say, whatevers.... I really don't see why it's such a big thing.

All I'm saying, in case you need clarification, is that when a player is close to a record - and also when a player is on a hat-trick - there's a tendency for team-mates to pass to him rather than take better chances themselves.

Because I don't have a spreadsheet listing every match I've seen this happen in certainly doesn't invalidate the opinion, and anyone who sees it as a u-turn is clutching at straws.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Thought it was happening with Torres at the end of last season before he finally scored

The record there being 1 goal.

[floyd__streete]

Because I don't have a spreadsheet listing every match I've seen this happen in certainly doesn't invalidate the opinion

This sounds like a job for

HANDBAGS HARRIS

[FiNeRaIn]

Thought it was happening with Torres at the end of last season before he finally scored

The record there being 1 goal.

Surely that shows how ineffective it can be then...actually having the opposite effect!

It actually put more pressure on him.

[chilipepper91]

Thought it was happening with Torres at the end of last season before he finally scored

The record there being 1 goal.

Hey, it cost me my 5/1 bet that he wouldn't score for Chelsea that season which I placed at the start of April even made them ring up their bookmakers as they didn't have odds for it

[Dave the rave]

Because I don't have a spreadsheet listing every match I've seen this happen in certainly doesn't invalidate the opinion

This sounds like a job for

HANDBAGS HARRIS

Or we could get Strap-on the case.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Certainly can't list them - but it's natural that when a team-mate is close to a record players will try to set up chances for him - when there's frequently a better option for themselves of someone else.

Wasn't Ian Wright waiting on his record for ages and ages, during which the team didn't do very well?

LOL absolutely stunning u-turn from


"Seen it happen so many times"

Whatever - the fact that I can't list the specific occasions from 35+ years of watching matches doesn't make the observation less valid.

What makes your opinion 'less valid' is the fact that this is Arsenal we're talking about. What you originally described is exactly the way they've played under Wenger for years, and the reason Van Persie is so popular and prolific is because he's actually willing to have a go when the majority of his team-mates look for a pass.

Anyway, this calendar year thing is rubbish. The season runs from August to May.