Is Manchester United's Robin Van Persie over the Hill or Just out of Form?
From 2011/12 through 2012/13, Robin van Persie was the Premier League's preeminent forward.
2011/12 saw the Dutch international score 30 goals in 38 matches for Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. Nonetheless, unsatisfied with the Gunners' silverware deficiency (and possibly Scrooge-like tendencies), the prolific striker sought greener pastures elsewhere—and they were provided by Manchester United.
Controversially moving from the Emirates to Old Trafford in August 2012 for £24 million, Van Persie's north London move has been largely vindicated.
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Used proficiently by Sir Alex Ferguson, the Dutch striker was instrumental in United’s 2012/13 Premier League winning side—netting 26 goals in 38 games.
Marrying fitness and rampant goalscoring prowess, Van Persie gave the Red Devils his best season as a senior professional—goals and trophies considered.
Fifty-six goals in 76 league matches over two seasons (complete with 29 assists) is an unseemly tally for any forward not named Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
If honesty is our aim, the only place for the Dutchman to go, in terms of form, was downward—and he has followed inevitable suit. Since lifting the 2012/13 Premier League trophy and losing the managerial genius of Ferguson, Van Persie's pace has slumped.
From a possible 65 league games, the United striker has played in 45 matches, scoring 22 goals. In complete fairness, these are great statistics—in a vacuum—for most Premier League "No. 9s," but considering his world-beating form three years ago, questions are circulating whether Van Persie has reached the point of no return.
When a footballer reaches 30, there is a collective groan amongst supporters—as the "any day now" clock is set. What goes largely unspoken, however, is most players plateau at 32.
While not as quick or agile as a decade previous, their mental acuity and veteran savvy supersedes most physical handicaps; 30-31 is a fantastic period because bodies are able to generally cope with the daily rigours of being a professional footballer.
Once above 32 or 33, the grind becomes considerably more arduous; while still cognitively sharp, the body becomes fragile and truculent with day-in-day-out demands. Now 31—turning 32 on 6 August—there is every possibility Van Persie's career has reached its summit.
Currently out of Louis van Gaal's team through injury, the Netherlands' captain is thought to be sidelined for at least two weeks; his manager telling the media, via ESPN FC's Richard Jolly: "He is injured. It is an ankle problem. I do not think it is very heavy, but ankle problems can take a long time—it is not one or two weeks."
No stranger to the physiotherapist's table, Van Persie has an ominous and depressing past with injury—this does him no favours moving forward.
Suffering a groin strain, hamstring setback and knee problem since the 2013/14 campaign, RVP has had tough luck. Add in the 2014 World Cup—where the Netherlands played the maximum amount of games—denying him a full summer's break, and the writing appears visible on the proverbial wall.
Van Persie's concerns, as his contract runs through 2015/16, should be Van Gaal spending sizeable money on a marquee striker in the summer, acknowledging Wayne Rooney's best position is nearer the goal and/or fostering the evolution of James Wilson—all three situations would shroud the Dutchman’s place.
One of nine Premier League footballers with over 10 goals this season, one would advise caution in announcing Van Persie "out of form" in 2014/15, he is simply at the mercy of his own ludicrously proficient history—which makes 10 goals in 24 starts seem rather lightweight.
So, while not over the hill just yet, the 31-year-old forward is certainly close to commencing his descent.
Having completed the job Ferguson funded in 2012/13, when United sealed the title by an 11-point margin, it could be argued Van Persie successfully wrote his Old Trafford chapter three seasons ago—anything left to write will be determined by durability, or lack thereof.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com and TransferMarkt.co.uk where not noted.
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