View of the Strengths and weaknesses of this deadly duo
After the long awaited
transfer saga, Robin turns a RED DEVIL. A stunning buy indeed, good signing.
Maybe he’s entering his peak now. Being in the right place at the right
time is a very underrated skill. That’s why RVP scored a lot last season, he
has the knack. I don’t think we have had a ‘scary’ strikeforce in 3 years
after the Rooney, Berba, Tevez, Ronaldo era. Van Persie would certainly help to
change that. If you compare what we had last year to City’s four options, it’s
no wonder they won on goal difference.
71 goals between Rooney
and Van Persie last season. Sounds good to me. RVP is definitely a more
out and out striker, getting most of his goals from inside the box. Rooney
on the other hand, drops a lot deeper – without his penalties he would have
scored 26 goals, meaning about 1 in 5 of his others came from outside the box
(excluding free kicks). On this evidence, you could see them striking up a good
partnership if Van Persie joins in with immediate effect, with Rooney playing
off RVP. They wouldn’t really get in each other’s way, from the looks of
things.
Strengths
Experience
If the deadly duo can
develop instantaneous understanding, this partnership could be a
lethal development for the opposition attacks to handle. With humongous
minutes and wealth of experience under their belt, this could be the
difference during tight situations.
Finishing
Wayne is a more clinical
finisher and has better movement in the box than RVP, but RVP is better
technically and links play better and is more creative. Reverse the roles they
played last season and you’d see the best of them in a altogether different
opinion. Just contrasting this, it was evidently seen that Van Persie’s
goals often came from a pass to him from out wide or in midfield, and he would
take a touch and finish it. The majority of Rooney’s goals came after he had played
the ball off to somebody, and he sprinted into the box to get a header, or
rebound off the keeper. Which would indicate that RVP is better further
forward. Of course, if both played together they would quickly work
it out for themselves.
Competition for
places
RVP and Rooney will
benefit from the competition for places, Rooney, in particular, needs a lesser
burden on his shoulders in terms of games played and producing the goals.
Considering the strike force, RVP brings to us an added attacking dimension –
he’s adept at playing either as a lone forward, one of a pair, or in a
more withdrawn role just off the front . And that’s also him at his most
useful – deep enough to create for those around him, high enough to remain a
goal threat.
Hernandez and Wellbeck
will certainly get their share of games and if they are more influential
enough, they will stamp their authority into the first team. When it
gets busy later with the
local domestic cups and champions league, (two games a week etc), they will
need these strikers to play, so that the top strikers can rest.
Passing
“Threatening” is the
first word that comes to mind with this pair, because not only can they put the
ball at the back of the net with supreme ease with respect to converting
chances, but these duo also possess the passing ability and technical ability.
The notion that elevates them from other forwards is their passing efficiency
and creating chances for others. Both had their respective pairs of assists
last season and it eagerly remains to be seen how this partnership starts up.
Formation
Options
With the addition of
ammunition or rather re-enforced Arsenal, United can employ traditional 4-4-2,
4-4-1-1 or 4-3-1-2 or even 4-2-3-1.
My opinion would be a
4-2-3-1 with Kagawa playing CAM along with Rooney, Rvp, Valencia/Nani
completing the front 4. I would prefer playing Rooney out wide because
Kagawa is not as good as Rooney defensively so he would leave too much space
for Evra to be attacked from, hence why he shouldn’t play there. And RVP,
Rooney and Kagawa would probably interchange a bit. Our left wingers have
to track back and Kagawa is not too good at that.
Support from
Kagawa’s footballing abilities
Kagawa is a type of
player we haven’t had, and have been missing. He could sit at the head of a
midfield three, keep possession, link the midfield to our attack and wingers
and create chances. I think that is the main situation he has been bought
for. He will allow us to play a midfield properly and hopefully compete for
possession with other good midfields. Kagawa has the footballing brain to
play in any attacking position. His best position is in a 4-5-1 which we don’t
play apart from in big games. In big games, he will be a massively important
player at the tip of a midfield trio because we have no other players who can
play the position.
Weaknesses
Aerial ability
Van Persie has very poor
timing with headers and Rooney seems to be a lot better with his head than
RVP. Competiting consistently on the aerial basis with taller defenders would
be a challenge worth watching.
Injuries
Everyone knows the long
list of injuries and the long spells on the treatment table. Maybe, its
an age when footballers peak. Remember Teddy Sheringham ?
RVP’s alledged reason to
leave was the club’s lack of ambition, they at least appear to be showing some
for the 1st time in a while, maybe it’s too little too late for RVP?
