Skip to content

Rafa Don’t Depaart

2 min read
by The Fighting Cock
I’ve never written an article before, and don’t plan to write another one; especially about Tottenham Hotspur. However, my love for a certain football player has driven me to put some words together about the man himself – Rafael van der Vaart. Talk of a possible exit for the Dutchman has fluttered about the chambers […]

I’ve never written an article before, and don’t plan to write another one; especially about Tottenham Hotspur. However, my love for a certain football player has driven me to put some words together about the man himself – Rafael van der Vaart.

Talk of a possible exit for the Dutchman has fluttered about the chambers of Twitter several times this summer, and the thought of his gorgeous face leaving the lilywhite colours behind upsets me like the departure of no other current spurs player can.

And the reasons? Mr. Van der Vaart, to me anyway, is what football, supporting a football club and crucially Tottenham Hotspur is all about. By a mile, he is my favourite player in our current squad to wear the shirt – but more importantly – ‘love the shirt’. Passion oozes out of him, the way he celebrates every goal like a he scored a 50 yarder makes me feel, as a supporter, that he’s scored for me. He loves that cockerel on his shirt and I think he gets what ‘is Tottenham’. Football is about us – the fans – and he seems to deliver this and understand this part which is so frequently lost in the modern game.

[linequote]Mr. Van der Vaart, to me anyway, is what football, supporting a football club and crucially Tottenham Hotspur is all about.[/linequote]

I won’t be able to get across and express my true love for the player that he is, but look at the way he scores against Woolwich. How eager he is to get fit after his perhaps too frequent injuries. The talisman qualities he possesses as he so often opens our scoring. The respect he seems to have in the dressing room.

Being instantly materially successful, unfortunately is what football is becoming about, but doing it with players like Van der Vaart makes it all that more special. I’d love to see Rafa lift a trophy with us.

However, sadly, this maybe all irrelevant come Friday at 11pm, as the chances of an exit seem to be getting more likely by the day. With new ‘similar’ players coming in I can see why Rafa might not be against a move.

Personally, even if we got a silly money offer for Rafa I wouldn’t sell. I’ve enjoyed celebrating his goals more than any other player, this is what is most important to me and what I’ll remember. A similar reason to why I always had a soft spot for Luka, regardless of the goings on, he celebrated any spurs goal with a mouse-like jump of glee.

Please don’t break my heart again, Spurs.

VDV

[author name=”Nevill_H” avatar=”https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/2407053564/image.jpg” twitter=”Nevill_H” tag=”Nevill_H[/linequote]

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

21 Comments

  1. Jonson
    30/08/2012 @ 7:21 pm

    V.D.V has to leave now ,his Spurs career has peaked .His set pieces are shocking & any player who can`t last more than 60 minutes is a worry .The V.D.V & Spurs romantic affair is over & it`s best for all parties to part ways .Besides he wants to go to Germany anyway as his wife spends most of her time there & Hamburg is where he feels very much at home more than he ever will Spurs .Thanks V.D.V but this season is not going to pan out if you stay with Spurs .Topman & can leave with his head held high

    • siggy23
      30/08/2012 @ 8:03 pm

      While I can agree with the sentiment, unfortunately for us my friend, sentiment doesn’t EVER seem to win cups!
      The truth is, I feel a little bit (emphasis on the little) short changed by Rafa. On his day, a world class talent, VDV for me, has failed to produce the breathtaking moments of magic he became renowned for at all of his previous clubs, on a consistent basis in a Spurs shirt.
      Without a doubt, the Dutchman has played a huge part in increasing the overall image of the club, and figured prominently in the Champions League,where he offered us the additional quality and experience, in the forward positions, to enable us to flourish on Europe’s grandest stage.

      But has he improved since? Has he taken his game to a level where he can honestly be considered a starter for Spurs in the upcoming season, with the prospect of a host of new signings before tomorrow nights deadline?

      I would argue no! Especially if you take into account the style of play AVB wants to implement and a potential change in formation.
      I’m by no means saying that we should get rid of the talented Dutchman, but keeping him and not playing him, as much as he thinks he should play, could well cause us more problems.

      • Andy
        30/08/2012 @ 11:06 pm

        I think your expectations of him are a little high. Let’s face it, if he’d always produced these moments of magic at other clubs on a consistent basis, then he wouldn’t be at spurs, he’d probably still be at Madrid. Also, we signed him when he was 27, which for a footballer is arguably his prime. There was never much scope for him to improve. Despite all this, I would hate for us to sell him. Yes he’s flawed, and the business perspective probably makes sense for him to be sold, but I love that guy and he has to stay

  2. Alan
    30/08/2012 @ 7:22 pm

    Have it. Nice little article! Oooooooooh matron, I think I just came.

  3. Walter "Heisenberg" White
    30/08/2012 @ 7:29 pm

    Rafa Van der Vart … and I, I, I, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, OOOOOOOOOOOOOO, and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

  4. Deano
    30/08/2012 @ 7:32 pm

    I’m going to have to agree with Jonson on this one, bye bye VDV, Thanks for the memories! :)

  5. Nevill_H
    30/08/2012 @ 7:33 pm

    Have to agree with you in certain parts. I think I’m just too biased. But I do believe he is our best player; on and off the pitch- especially at the passing game.
    Football is entertainment fundamentally though, and for me he provides that in its best forms.

  6. milky bar yid
    30/08/2012 @ 7:34 pm

    VDV is unfit and overweight and has been for a year. Waddles around the pitch for an hour trying to get involved but hasn’t got the pace to beat the slowest of opponents. Plenty of effort but a shadow of the player we saw in a Spurs shirt that first season. His constant demand to take every corner and free-kick is embarassing as non ever come to anything. Sad really how a player can go backwards so much in such a short space of time. Will remember him most from our CL exploits and 3-2 at the Emirates….ill block out the last year unfortunately.

    • DaveYid
      30/08/2012 @ 9:26 pm

      Hang on hang on hang on a minute…what is it with everyone’s obsession with pace?
      Yeh it’s important to zap the other team’s energy when they’re trying to chase you, but speed is only important if you are a winger or a defender, which Van Der Vaart is neither. He is a playmaker.

      Berbatov likewise was slow, even slower than VDV, but he expended his energy through his intelligence and vision on the ball. It’s not just speed which makes a player special.
      Van Der Vaart’s finishing ability cannot be faulted.

      AVB claims to have VDV in his plans.

      AVB 4 VDV @ THFC on TV’s BBC HD MOTD…and don’t you forget it!

    • Andy
      30/08/2012 @ 11:09 pm

      I’m sorry, do you not remember last year when he equalled the club record for consecutive games scored in? Everyone tailed off last year because redknapp never bleeding rotated the squad. If his ego can take it, then I think Rafa and Gylfi rotating throughout the year when they get fatigued sounds pretty tasty to me

  7. lilywhiteATF
    30/08/2012 @ 7:41 pm

    i have to say – with me still being a student and of course it being summer break for the colleges and universities etc, i’ve spent my whole summer just reading tottenham blog after blog after blog and realising that whilst half of them are a crock of shit full of transfer rumours that’ll never happen (eg – i actually read one reading that lionel messi may be unhappy at camp nou, and spurs are enquiring. please, i’m not fucking stupid) but this is the genuine FIRST blog i’ve read in a month, word for word, and agreed with every single word written. i couldn’t agree more – every goal he scores is like a winner in the world cup final to him, whether he’s going to hamburg for family reasons or not is understandable to him, he is tottenham hotspur.i’d be utterly devastated if he goes, he’s been on the back of my shirt every year since he arrive, ad has been a revalation. there are not many footballers on earth i genuinely admire, but he is one. i had the pleasure of meeting him about a year ago now, and even the way he just greets the fans is remarkable, makes them feel like part of the club. please don’t leave rafa, you are tottenham. COYS!

    • Nevill_H
      30/08/2012 @ 7:50 pm

      Cheers man, have to agree with you too. Absolutely adore the man.

  8. Teddyboy
    30/08/2012 @ 7:50 pm

    Totally agree and feel the same way Nevill, 100% the kind of player we must keep, all the flair and all the commitment, must keep him, till he’s completely worn out.

  9. Mattaaaay
    30/08/2012 @ 7:51 pm

    Once on FIFA 12 i got an offer of £96,000,000 for VDV from Chelsea. I decided not to accept because i liked him too much.

  10. ian
    30/08/2012 @ 8:08 pm

    not quick enough for our fizzy style of football no room for sentiment onwards and upwards coys

  11. paul
    30/08/2012 @ 8:34 pm

    I will miss him if he goes , good footballer and seams a genuine guy , if he goes i wish him all the best for the future. Of course if he dose go i hope the bitter taste will be sweetened by one or two equally as good including his commitment and work rate. ( but with a bit more pace )

  12. spur1950
    30/08/2012 @ 8:52 pm

    funny isnt people say he cant last 90 mins he manages quite a bit for holland ,but then redcrapp wasnt the manager,he luved certain players but had to put up with rafa because he was that quailty that we couldnt do without but he didnt buy him just like Sandro and in my mind sandro would hardly get a kick if redcrapp was still here and parker was fit like last year
    And whole heartily agree he celebrates every goal with the fans and last sat for those un educated prats once he went off Sat so did our composure and control, he is our 1 bright spark not bloody livermore or jenas
    some of you ought to get a coaching badge or learn the fundamentals of soccer
    avb
    you are taking the soul out of spurs with dawson and vdv and leaving jenas ,bently, your man management is still crap sorry avb i am a fan so i thought ?

  13. Nevill_H
    30/08/2012 @ 8:54 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO8MafydOT8
    I don’t know how anyone can not adore this man. Yids.

  14. Mike
    30/08/2012 @ 10:35 pm

    VDV is a classy footballer,

    but £11 Million just makes good business
    Because
    1. He only plays 60 minutes a game when fit.
    2. Constant hamstring and other injury niggles meant he was only available for
    60% of matches.
    3. Can’t defend from the front,
    4. Can’t run fast, so he has to be clever with his movement
    5. He is nearly 30, so injury recovery will take longer

    I think we got the best out of him, its not going to get better.
    We were lucky to have him, and we have an opportunity to sell him for more then
    we got for him. Lets take it and move on

  15. Nevill_H
    30/08/2012 @ 11:48 pm

    But we’re not club directors-, a Levy; who reaps the benefits of that £11m- we’re supporters and I highly doubt, especially as its tomorrow (the final day) that he’ll be sold and we replace sufficiently or directly. As a supporter- yes we’ve been lucky to have him but he’ll continue to have more majestic moments- all be it less frequent.

  16. Nevill_H
    31/08/2012 @ 2:30 pm

    :(

Would you like to write for The Fighting Cock?