Robin Van Persie - a goal delight at Old Trafford!

“…that’s a cute little ball from Kagawa, Rooney takes it on the turn, skips past one, skips past two, Van Persie making ground in the middle; oooo, that’s a perfect ball to pick him out. Business as usual at Manchester United, they are back amongst the goals!!“

–a commentary excerpt that every United supporter would want to listen once the new season gets underway this weekend.

After a long and busy summer where United did early business by signing Shinji Kagawa and Nick powell, it was suddenly quiet at Old Trafford after the deals to land Luka Modric, Lucas Moura and Leighton Baines faded into the back pages and Arsenal offering stern resistance to let Van Persie go to a direct rival.

But after days of speculation and negotiation between the clubs, where Sir Alex Ferguson even had a personal discussion with Arsene Wenger, Manchester United announced yesterday that they have agreed a deal with Arsenal to sign their captain and talisman, Robin Van Persie!

As far as the statement of intent goes, this is a big signing. A signing that proves United is flexible enough to break its own transfer policy and not wait for the future at the cost of the present, especially after the last season’s events of the last day drama in Manchester. It sends a clear message across to all the rival cubs, that we want our title back and want it this year.

The very idea of signing a 29 year old striker and going against United’s tradition and transfer policy is to reap instant rewards and answering the call of the hour. If Van Persie maintains his form and fitness that we saw last season and in the process help United reclaim the title; it will turn out to be a very good piece of business indeed. However, what he takes away from United is the big opportunity to play alongside Rooney that Welbeck and Chicharito might otherwise have had if van Persie wouldn’t have arrived. So, the signing has its own pros and cons and let’s try and analyse the same in detail.

PROS

The very prospect of pairing up Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie as your central strikers will send shivers down the spine of all the defenders in the Premier League.

The top two leading goal scorers from last season getting service from the likes of Kagawa, Valencia, Young, Nani, Scholes and Giggs promises to be a goal delight at Old Trafford.

Having already established himself as a star performer in the Premier League while playing for Arsenal for years, Van Persie will fit seamlessly into the United attack where he can be used on the left, off the main striker or up alone as the main striker. He can link up quite well with the midfield, hold up the ball and has that eye for a goal or that killer pass which will bring in a variety of options to United’s attacking prowess. Moreover, he is also very good in the air; a quality that United’s strikers have been lacking for years now and will give wingers of the quality of Valencia, Nani, Young and Giggs a target in the 6 yard box to aim at.

Another noticeable value that he will bring to United is to take the weight off Rooney’s shoulders. Both players can share the same stage and thereby helping each other relieve themselves of pressure. Just imagine a Van Persie or Wayne Rooney enjoying their game.

Moreover, Van Persie is hungry for titles. He might have won a plethora of individual titles, but as a team he is yet to win a silverware and his hunger will very well complement the hunger for titles at Old Trafford, which has been a tradition for them for over quarter of a century now. This is one of the reasons he has personally opted to play for United ignoring interest from other clubs.

Arrival of Van Persie now makes the competition for places in the strike department even more intense. Players like Welbeck and Chicharito will now have limited chances and they will have to pounce on every opportunity that they get which will make them work hard and not take anything for granted, which will in turn increase United’s squad strength.

All in all, Robin Van Persie promises to be a name synonymous to ‘goals’ at Old Trafford and a return of 20-25 goals in the coming season is good business for Sir Alex.

CONS

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Nigel De Jong of Manchester City fouls Danny Welbeck of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on April 30, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Ok, United have made a very big signing and everyone is very excited to see Van Persie in the famous red shirt of Manchester United and recreate the magic he displayed last season. But nothing can be taken for granted until the results actually show on the field.

Although, he is a well established player in the Premier League, but it does not really guarantee a return. Take for example the transfer of Fernando Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea. Unlike Robin Van Persie, Torres still has age on his side.

Another question mark remains on the pairing of Van Persie and Wayne Rooney up front and how will they gel together as both of them are in the similar mould. Not to mention the ego clashes as both of them have been the talisman of their respective clubs for years.

The above two factors are still a doubt and they might or might not happen, but one thing van Persie certainly takes away from Manchester United is the opportunity from its young strikers, Welbeck and Chicharito.

Danny Welbeck was deemed to have the most important season of his career until the arrival of van Persie. He was brilliant last term and he did no harm to his limitless potential by his performances in the Euros as well. Ardent United supporters, who have seen United always banking on building teams and nourishing young talent by using their hunger, fearlessness and passion to bring glory to Old Trafford might not support this signing at all.

Wayne Rooney and Van Persie will now be the two names always available by default on United’s team sheet, which will make opportunities for Welbeck and Chicharito very limited and with the stage and the form of the career they are currently in, it might irk them looking for pastures new and thereby harming the long term future of Manchester United.

However, all of this still remains to be seen and having said this, at this very moment in time, United signing Van Persie looks to be a very promising and exciting move at Old Trafford that sends a clear message to their neighbors that finishing second always hurts Manchester United and they want to reclaim the top spot as early as next summer.

The last dutch striker with a ‘Van’ in his name which United signed in 2001, became a goal scoring machine for Manchester United with 150 goals in 219 appearances. So, things already look good for those who believe in traditions.

The stage is set, all eyes are now on the opening weekend!