United must move for van der Vaart in wake of Khedira’s transfer
Rafael van der Vaart represents fantastic value
With the transfer of Sami Khedira to Real Madrid, there is even more competition for central midfield position at the Bernabeu stadium and several players will find themselves surplus to requirements. Amongst them, one name is particular stands out form: Rafael van der Vaart. Once regarded as one of the finest midfield talents in Europe and exciting fans in the Bundesliga, he is now almost a forgotten man in world football.
A quiet World Cup has also not helped his cause or reputation, but maybe it will help him make a cut-price exit from the Spanish capital.
Madrid fans have only seen a glimpse of this talented player and while he has shown flashes of his brilliance, his time at Madrid pales in comparison to his trail-blazing performances for Ajax and Hamburg.
Van der Vaart has all the attributes you would want in a creative midfielder and is not shy of getting stuck in. He was often targeted by opponents during his time at HSV and he showed time and time again that he can handle physical challenges. Not only does his balance and determination allow his to ride out bad challenges, he is also capable of retaining possession when being closed down and can use his trickery to get past opponents.
If you look at the current market where players like Silva, Yaya Toure and James Milner can command price tags of over 20million pounds, van der Vaart would represent terrific value. He moved to Madrid for a ‘mere’ €13 million and i believe Madrid would let him leave for a similar price.
A lot of fans are hoping for United to sign Mesut Özil and at only 21 he would fit United’s new transfer policy, but for me Rafael van der Vaart would fit better into United’s system and at 27 still would have 4 or 5 of his best seasons in front of him. van der Vaart could also play in a 2-man midfield if necessary and that is something Özil cannot do at the moment.
He has a great range of passing, fantastic vision, creativity, touch, ability to run with the ball and has an eye for goal. If Fergie wanted value in the current transfer market, Rafael van der Vaart would certainly fit the bill.
Have I mentioned that he happens to be pretty good at dead ball situations?
Here’s a look at some of his skillful moments at Madrid, Hamburg and Ajax:
July 31st, 2010 at 12:45 am
So interesting but no money to spend bcos we are in huge debt
July 31st, 2010 at 12:59 am
I would like to see VDV with us.. As you said, he is creative with good vision + he can scores from free-kicks which we missed last season.
July 31st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I think at 27, he has given his all – been at his best. 21-year-old Ozil, or 22-year-old Steven Defour would be a better purchase for the long-haul… what do you think ?
July 31st, 2010 at 1:49 am
Truly Reds – With Ronaldo gone and Hargreaves out, we realy did miss a good free-kick taker. Berba took a few for Spurs, but was happy to let others try. VDV would offer a very complete package.
UnitedLatest – Of course Oezil and Defour have age on their side and for the long haul – yes, would be more feasible. My concern with Defour would be that he’s not as skillful (from what i’ve seen) and is just recovering from a pretty bad injury, so United will wait at least a season to see if he comes back fighting fit. We don’t need to purchase another permanently-crocked player.
As for Oezil, he would need a season or two to build up his stamina and beef up under Mike Clegg’s supervision, as well as become more consistent. Oezil has the potential to be better than VDV, but VDV would immediately improve the squad and probably have an easier time adapting.
July 31st, 2010 at 2:30 am
I think we should go for him. I for one, do not believe all those crap that say we do not have any money, c’mon we are Manchester United ! I hate the Glazers too and want them out, but I do not believe what the papers write about our club what those anti-united fans want us to believe. We are the biggest club in the world, that is an undeniable fact
July 31st, 2010 at 2:30 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ulrich Nebbeling, Ulrich Nebbeling, Akhilesh Bhagwai, Dennis Morgan, RedForceRising and others. RedForceRising said: New blog: United must move for Rafael van der Vaart in wake of Khedira’s transfer http://tiny.cc/3hapq #mufc #manutd #manchesterunited [...]
July 31st, 2010 at 2:54 am
I’m disappointed with man united fans do we love man u more dan sir alex do we think he ll sit and watch united be destroyed. Believe me wateva sir alex say goes.he say there’s money believe me there’s money.
July 31st, 2010 at 4:49 am
Interesting that you now switch your attention to Van der Vaart.
I can follow your line of thinking I have been banging the Drum for ages on this topic.Not this Particular player I hasten to add.Simply that we need penetration from midfield.
We cannot expect all though wish and hope that Wayne contributes the same amount of goals as he did last season.
I felt when you looked at where the goals came from ok Dimatar and OG got into double figures.
Chelsea who had Fat Frank he contributed in the last three seasons 2010/09 . 2009/2008 .2008/2007. Goals scored /assists. 27/11 20/19 27/20.
Now I am not joking around a player I admired greatly at the World cup is and was Micheal Bradley.He to me appears for some reason to have slipped under everyones radar.He is equally as strong a goal threat as VDV and Oezil although Oezil is my preference.
I understand and believe B M’Gladbach are not difficult to deal with.
Like most blogs, i NOTE On here also. Its always the same fans divided totally on the financial situation at the Club, and I certainly am not laughing or smiling there.
July 31st, 2010 at 4:52 am
HUMBLE Apoligies the Stats for Fat Frank should read.
27/10 20/19 20/11
July 31st, 2010 at 7:05 am
shit post ozil is way better an is 21 which would be great to sign get 10+ years out of him he has everything VDV has but VDV is as slow as shit ozil is quicker,better and younger and did i mention ozil is good at dead ball situations u clearly have no clue abt football
July 31st, 2010 at 11:25 am
jack-muFC.
From your style of writting, I probably have been watching football for longer than you have been alive. I’m a super moderator on a ManUtd forum, so I know younger fans still are not good at judging talent.
I follow the Bundesliga regularly and Oezil disappears quite frequently, so your claim that he is better is totally inaccurate. It’s ok. You’re misinformed opinion is shared by many United fans who have only seen him at the World Cup. the problem is, he wasn’t even good at every match in the World Cup, but people only see the highlights and think he’s God.
Ask any Werder fan and they will only confirm what I say, Oezil is talented, but he has the tendency to become anonymous when the going gets tough and struggles with stamina.
I have already stated in above comment that at 21 Oezil would be a good-signing for the long terms, but VDV would adapt much quicker.
Please think carefully before making shitty, misinformed comments. If you knly know a player from YouTube vids and the World Cup like 95% of ManUtd fans, maybe you should not be speaking so much on the topic. I actually follow the Bundesliga and know how inconsistent he can be.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:31 am
RedScot – I complete understand your line of thinking.
We need more directness and penetration through the centr of the pitch. Bradley would definitely help us in that respect.
I just think there are players who would do that and more.
For me Bradley’s short passing game isn’t as good as say VDV, Khedira or Oezil’s. He also doesn’t have an eye for goal as they have.
The flipside is that he is very much the type of midfielder Fergie appreciates. But as I said, there are players like VDV who might not be as physcal as Bradley but who could act directness, creativity and goals through the centre.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:33 am
jack – by the way, I never said Oezil is a bad signing.
I just would prefer Rafael VDV at the moment.
We have a lot of players “for the future” I would like UNited to sign one who is ready and experienced who would require little time adapting.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:54 am
Really great informative blog post here and I just wanted to comment & thank you for posting this. I’ve bookmarked youi blog and I’ll be back to read more in the future my friend! Also nice colors on the layout, it’s really easy on the eyes.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:25 pm
It wuld be great if SAF signs this prodigy midfielder (0zil). He’s very good on d ball, skillful & has goal sense; he’s a kind of guy that makes quick decision wen it requires. My fellow mutd fans, let us grab it as it flows toward us
July 31st, 2010 at 10:13 pm
look i only said what i said because i think ozil we be great whens hes 25 26 and i would really like SAF to sign him and i am on newsnow every day an there has been nothing abt VDV so i just got a bit annoyed when i read VDV would be a better signing than ozil
August 2nd, 2010 at 3:32 am
Cheers for response.Take on board what you say.
Agreed Bradley is not as proactive as the others you mention,but agreed defenitely a Sir Alex type player work ethic and effort.
Agree with the other lads that have posted I will look out for you posts on Newsnow.
Notice you had a top story with the Oezil article.Congratulations, and good luck with your site.