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I hear many arguments both on forums and in the pubs about the type of forward RvP is. The argument seems to stem from 2 things; just how far forward he plays, and his creativity and 'lack' of aerial threat, as well as his lack of 'seniority' when partnering either Dennis or Titi. The typical arguments are as follows:

1) RvP is a 'Second Striker' - He doesn't demonstrate a consistent aerial threat and he tends to hang on the edge of the box. He is not a 'battering ram' akin to the likes of Shearer. He shoots from range too much. He is the 'junior partner' in the Henry-RvP partnership.

2)RvP is a modern 'Centre Forward' - He plays up against the defense rather than dropping deep constantly, and he works the channels. He is the one forward we have who really 'leads the line'. He doesn't get into the box constantly and demonstrate an aerial threat constantly as that is not the way that we play. Whilst he is clearly a flair player, he does not have Dennis or Titi's vision to create like they do in the deeper/wider positions they take up, however he does hold the ball up well with his skill and close control.

Personally I'm in the second camp, he is a lot more of a centre forward than we've had since the likes of Smudger, with the exception of Kanu who I would also class as the same type of player, but he fits it to the way we play.

Would be interesting to see what others think.

i'd go with modern day centre forward all day, though regarding the heading ability he won the percentage of his headers against doncaster before limping off and in regards to vision, i beleive he's got it, it's just that he's a striker not a converted midfielder ala dennis and titi and thus the goal is the first thing on his mind.

I'm leaning towards the second as well. The important thing to say is 'modern' centre forward. Of course he isn't just a target man you can lump it to. But I feel that while he isn't your typical physically bossy CF Shearer/Big Dunc...whoever, he is tenacious enough to play with his back to the net and has the control to go past a man or two in the box. I don't see him as a player who wants to sit deep and play provider.
Ideally Henry will be the one to mature into this role as the inevitability of his physical wanning (loss of pace, increased injuries) creeps up on him. We all know he has the head and the touch for it.

The 'lack of aerial threat' is always something I have discounted to be honest as I think that is more down to how we play than anything else, the stats I have seen on him regarding heading have always been fairly promising to be honest. I'm also not saying he lacks vision, he has it certainly, and can certainly play that final ball to play in his strike partner if he is not confident of scoring, but I agree with you, he is a more selfish front man, which is something we've been screaming for since Anelka left.

About Henry and Dennis, neither were considered midfielders in their youth, only really in the middle of their careers (and again for Dennis now that he is dropping deeper again), but both are naturally unselfish and will look to create for others more than RvP will. Those 2 are certainly more natural 'Second Strikers' or in Titi's case you could really call him a Wing Forward, but certainly neither lead the line like RvP does.

Canuck I would say that Henry is naturally playing that provider role and always has, but he tends to provide from wide rather than centrally like Dennis does, and with the lack of a true Centre forward in the past, chances he would have laid on to his partner either had to be taken on himself, or laid off to the likes of Freddie and Bobby who did make the effort to get into scoring positions.

Reyes for me would also be a natural in the 'second striker/wing striker' role, which would explain why he and Thierry never seemed to click as a partnership, both are natural providers, but the difference is Reyes seems to need a more selfish strike partner to feed at this stage of his development, which seems to be proven when he and RvP are in tandem.

Robin is actually very good in the air just show the lack of those type of balls coming into the box. Totally off topic I have a sneaky feeling that is how Thierry got injured jumping for aerial balls which I have never seen him do!

dennis used to be a midfielder?

rvp is a natural born "attacking man" not a "killer"

he would be a worldclass attacking midfielder behind striker like zidane

or playmaker role like Maradona ..i trust this !
because in that position he will more "freedom"

he should be do every attacking stuff for team:
shooting passing assist.... goal!
because he have a superb vision and do everthing fine!

real?yep! i am so happy because robin will learn more from zidane

that's fantastic !

Mod Edit TG: Please dont use text language. Next time your post will just be deleted.

I agree the most part of cloista's 2nd post.

doubtlessly, he's a selfish striker and his selfishness makes him a top goal scorer. but it doesn't mean he has no vision or he can't pass. recall his assist for robben in the game netherland vs finland, he had a good chance of shooting himself, however, he back passed the ball to the free man, he didn't even look back, simply aware of where robben was, spectacular!

robin's aerial ability is OK. his only weakness in air is his light weight. if he was 10 pound heavier, he would be more dreadful in air and I think he will be when he is 25. he is a typical central field material more than TT (TT's still showing some winger style, having played as CF for more than 5 years), although he was mispositioned in wing by van Marwijk.

I haven't seen robin a zidane stuff, at least , not now. dennis, was not a play maker at his early stage. he's been leading scorer of dutch league twice (?) and only converted into 2nd striker gradually. robin may follow his steps.

more of robin, he is keeping on improving himself and able to meet new challange. he is a perfect combination of intelligence, flair, mental toughness and desire of victory. all these characters would make him a super super star some day, maybe greater than dennis and TT, depending on the team acheivement , both dutch international and Arsenal (wish he is still wearing red-white when his name is becoming bigger and bigger, showing the same loyalty to the club as today).

He's playing as a modern centre forward , not a second striker at all. Henry plays deeper than he does.

dennis used to be a midfielder?

Yes, Bergkamp started off as an attacking midfielder and sometimes a winger in his early Ajax days. A bit like Van Der Vaart who played 2nd striker, central midfielder and winger.

dennis used to be a midfielder?

I think he was a wing-forward or something like that when he came thru in Ajax, aka one of the outter strikers in the Ajax three-men forwards-line, sorry for not knowing the corect therms. Didn't Dennis even play a little Cm before we got Gilberto?

I don't want RvP to play the Dennis-role but I don't say he won't develop in that direction. we need him more as a second goal-threat these days. And TBH the strikers who has been linked with us Torres/Kuyt doesn't play the dennis role either, we have a new playmaker in Cesc. Maybe Cassano could go in Dennis footsteps. I acctually doesn't think that torres or Kuyt would be better then RvP. It will be great to if Henry stays and develops a parntership with RvP that we be the greatest "playing" strikers duo if youy lnow what I mean, other teams almost always have one scorer and one provider, Raul/Ronaldo, Rooney/Horseface, Ronaldinho/Eto'o, Zlatan/Trez etc etc

First of all, RvP does have the vision to pick out the pass from deep. He can certainly match Thierry in that department.

Then, Dennis is not a converted midfielder. Dennis made his Ajax debut as a right forward in a 4-3-3.

To me, RVP sometimes plays like a ladyboy. He has the attitude but he doesnt go out 100%. Sometimes I see him like a chicken.

I cant answer the question beacuase I think RVP is a mixture of both elements but if there was another option and it is ladyboy, he certainly goes in that category.

i think rvp has the vision that henry has at the very least. the frustrating thing is that side of him is taken over by this natural selfishness that he seems to have. but i'm convinced that the end of the season we will see a far more selfless van persie and IMO thats a positive.

No way is RVP the next Bergkamp. When paired upfront wiith Reyes in the Carling Cup match against Reading, he was on most ocassions the furthest player forward. I think he is the only modern centre forward in our squad.

I guess that defining the way RvP plays isn't as easy as I thought it would be. He is usually our furthest man forward, he leads the line well, is a natural goal scorer and is selfish, but he links play well and has the vision to lay chances on for others, is a flair player, and seems at his best on the edge of the box.

He is not an 'out-and-out striker' like Wright was, is not a 'deep creative second striker' like Bergkamp is, and is not an 'old fashioned centre forward' like Smudger was, but he does display qualities linked to each of these types of forward. I think the term 'modern centre forward' is really the most fitting term I can think of.

Modern day centre forward.