Robin Van Persie

[Merel]

He is a great person and a great player. I can't see him leaving Arsenal for a very very long time.

[Jenn]

Why this interview?...

I don't know why he wants to tell this, everyone can read it???

[smartypants.]

Umm.. some parts of that interview don't sound right like, is having a cigarette going over to the dark side? And I hope these were two seperate quotes from different parts of the conversation..

"I was one of the only white Dutch guys there - my friends were from Africa, Surinam, Morocco, Turkey.

"And, of course, there were distractions. Like when I was younger and was in a shop buying candy - I would pay for one but then take another one.

And this is a little mean.. "And do you know what? The ones who did it - none of them made it!"

Idk, maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[Merel]

Yes, I think you are. The streets of Rotterdam are rough and you get to know what drugs are very fast. More so than the areas outside of the Randstad(Amsterdam etc) and Zuid-Holland (Rotterdam)
I think Robin felt that to say sniffing cocaine, smoking pot and injection needles sounded a bit blunt, don't you?

He just meant that the people who weren't as busy with their health and career and doing stuff that are obviously not good for you, didn't make it into the footballing world. Giving a good message to the kids who want to become footballers to stay away that may distract you from your goal, as he had his own past.

[smartypants.]

Yes, I think you are. The streets of Rotterdam are rough and you get to know what drugs are very fast. More so than the areas outside of the Randstad(Amsterdam etc) and Zuid-Holland (Rotterdam)
I think Robin felt that to say sniffing cocaine, smoking pot and injection needles sounded a bit blunt, don't you?

He just meant that the people who weren't as busy with their health and career and doing stuff that are obviously not good for you, didn't make it into the footballing world. Giving a good message to the kids who want to become footballers to stay away that may distract you from your goal, as he had his own past.

I'm talking about what he said, not what he might have wanted to say. I don't see how trying a cigarette at 14 can be perceived as dark?

And making it in the football world is not the only way to "make it". What if they have become great drug counsellors in their community helping these kids in a different way? They may not have "made it" in the same avenue as him, but they may have "made it" it in a way that suits them. It came across to me as if he were mocking.

I just thought some parts of that sounded wrong. Tis all.

[Merel]

I understand what you mean.

Maybe it's a bit of an unlucky interview but we've all seen worse.

[r_s]

I think he meant 'made it' in a wider context and not just football. Like making it in life in general. Plus with the whole smoking at 14 thing he's actually got a point because where I come from people who indulge in those things at such a young age tend to be the kids in the 'bad rebellious' crowd, if you know what I mean.

[smartypants.]

I think he meant 'made it' in a wider context and not just football. Like making it in life in general. Plus with the whole smoking at 14 thing he's actually got a point because where I come from people who indulge in those things at such a young age tend to be the kids in the 'bad rebellious' crowd, if you know what I mean.

If he meant it in a wider context that is even worse. It is not up to Robin to judge someone elses success. Anyway..

@Merel - I agree, it may have been an unlucky interview. Everyone has good and bad days I guess.

[Jenn]

Robin and Shaqueel (between Gunnersaurus and Robin) at the Junior's Gunners picnic

[Jenn]

-

[toni01]

Yes, I think you are. The streets of Rotterdam are rough and you get to know what drugs are very fast. More so than the areas outside of the Randstad(Amsterdam etc) and Zuid-Holland (Rotterdam)
I think Robin felt that to say sniffing cocaine, smoking pot and injection needles sounded a bit blunt, don't you?

He just meant that the people who weren't as busy with their health and career and doing stuff that are obviously not good for you, didn't make it into the footballing world. Giving a good message to the kids who want to become footballers to stay away that may distract you from your goal, as he had his own past.

I'm talking about what he said, not what he might have wanted to say. I don't see how trying a cigarette at 14 can be perceived as dark?

And making it in the football world is not the only way to "make it". What if they have become great drug counsellors in their community helping these kids in a different way? They may not have "made it" in the same avenue as him, but they may have "made it" it in a way that suits them. It came across to me as if he were mocking.

I just thought some parts of that sounded wrong. Tis all.

I dont think there is anything wrong with the interview. He is very clearly talking about "making it" in football, and is pointing out that those people who played alongside him at a young age, who messed around with cigarettes and alcohol failed to make into the professional game, whereas those who dedicated themselves completely did.

If anything he is putting out the positive message that if you want to achieve your goals and dreams, dont mess around in childish rebellion, and put 100% effort into it, because what sounds like a great idea at 14, can shape your future, and waste your talent. He is the perfect example of someone who avoided the temptation and made it, others fell into the trap and have wasted their footballing talent.

What he said was as clear as day, I dont get what the controversy is about!

[smartypants.]

Yes, I think you are. The streets of Rotterdam are rough and you get to know what drugs are very fast. More so than the areas outside of the Randstad(Amsterdam etc) and Zuid-Holland (Rotterdam)
I think Robin felt that to say sniffing cocaine, smoking pot and injection needles sounded a bit blunt, don't you?

He just meant that the people who weren't as busy with their health and career and doing stuff that are obviously not good for you, didn't make it into the footballing world. Giving a good message to the kids who want to become footballers to stay away that may distract you from your goal, as he had his own past.

I'm talking about what he said, not what he might have wanted to say. I don't see how trying a cigarette at 14 can be perceived as dark?

And making it in the football world is not the only way to "make it". What if they have become great drug counsellors in their community helping these kids in a different way? They may not have "made it" in the same avenue as him, but they may have "made it" it in a way that suits them. It came across to me as if he were mocking.

I just thought some parts of that sounded wrong. Tis all.

I dont think there is anything wrong with the interview. He is very clearly talking about "making it" in football, and is pointing out that those people who played alongside him at a young age, who messed around with cigarettes and alcohol failed to make into the professional game, whereas those who dedicated themselves completely did.

If anything he is putting out the positive message that if you want to achieve your goals and dreams, dont mess around in childish rebellion, and put 100% effort into it, because what sounds like a great idea at 14, can shape your future, and waste your talent. He is the perfect example of someone who avoided the temptation and made it, others fell into the trap and have wasted their footballing talent.

What he said was as clear as day, I dont get what the controversy is about!

Where did he say that those who didn't engage in such "childish rebellion" did make it? Did I miss something? He only gave himself as an example.

All I'm saying, is that to ME, he sounded like he was mocking. I don't get how a 14 year old can be condemned, when they are doing what children do. He said he stole, and they smoked and drank. Are there no footballers who smoked and drank that did make it? And thieves that didn't?

How can Robin say what "making it" is? I don't understand. What if these old friends of his become successful football managers at age 40? Isn't that success? What if Robin never wins as many trophies as C. Ronaldo? Couldn't that be deemed as failure? This is why I thought he was mocking. It is not up to Robin to judge someone elses success.

I still like Robin, I just didn't like elements of that interview. All of you can go back and forth with me, but my opinion will not change. There is no controversy, just my opinion. If that is controversy, than I must be someone important in the World.

[Merel]

Really, you are looking too much into this. He is probably a bit unlucky but he cleary meant success as a footballer. The ones who took care of themselves have made it, the ones who didn't take care of themselves, did not. Not much about it.

And yes, there are many retired footballers who smoked and still do. One of them is one of the greatest all time; Johan Cruijff.

[smartypants.]

Really, you are looking too much into this. He is probably a bit unlucky but he cleary meant success as a footballer. The ones who took care of themselves have made it, the ones who didn't take care of themselves, did not. Not much about it.

And yes, there are many retired footballers who smoked and still do. One of them is one of the greatest all time; Johan Cruijff.

Where did he say that the ones who didn't smoke made it apart from himself?

I am not looking too much into anything. On that note, you just proved my point. Johan Cruijff smoked, and look where he is, Robin didn't and look where he is. They both achieved their own goals, so how can Robin condemn those others? He can't. Wayne Rooney smokes and Frank Rijkaard smokes.

One minute you get my point, the next minute you don't, and the next minute you prove it. You're confusing me.

I didn't realise my opinion could bring so many people who haven't posted in a while out of the woodwork, lol.

[Merel]

Wayne smokes? That's the first time I heard that

But to why I am confusing you. I get what you mean, but I don't agree as I think you look too much into the whole thing. Smoking is only a small bit of what Robin is obviously meaning. He didn't say it, but you can't live on the streets in Rotterdam without having seen drugs, abuse, violence etc a million times in your life. There are footballers and trainers who smoke but the overall bad behaviour is bigger than just smoking. And he has been there himself too, with the rape accusations and all but he has turned his life around and he has made it. People who haven't stepped over their teen experiments and get problems out of it, they don't make it. We have this same kid. Brazilian (You know how they are..) 20-year old (then 19) who had a wild life and foolish attitude. He became a father, got married this year, new trainer and he started to see that if he didn't turn his life around, he would play on amateur-base in Brazil. He turned it around and now he is a regular starter on the team. In just a few months time.

There are many who can deal without being as protective over their bodies and mind as Robin, but there are even more who can't. And they have to look out for not screwing up their future. There is a reason why a person is on the youth teams but when you show bad behaviour, you can easily be a lost case. You know, he's spreading the good message.

The thread is indeed alive.