Bus-Conductor
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They havent split, they are giving it another go
So you don't think he left to be with his wife ? You really think he left because AVB told him he's getting no special favours ?
VDV left because of bad start with AVB?
- Thread starter Mr Pink
- Start date
So you don't think he left to be with his wife ? You really think he left because AVB told him he's getting no special favours ?
parklane1
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- May 4, 2012
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You can not beat a good old confuddlement, especially at this time. 
absolute bobbins
Am Yisrael Chai
- Feb 12, 2013
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THat has got to be post of the week
Misfit
President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
- May 7, 2006
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Was a corker.
Well I must be a fool, because if you search my posts when he left I was one of the few that thought him leaving was a combination of VDV wanting to go and AVB not showing enough faith in him. Don't get me wrong I love what AVB is doing, and it may have seemed like bias at the time (maybe even so now) but VDV was one of my favourite players even before joining us. He was simply on another level to most we have had for some time.
Anyway I had a feeling at the time that AVB wasn't that fussed about him. AVB had a different system, which was evident all through pre season and this was compounded when he didn't start against Newcastle. I agree that I think at the time Sig had the advantage and I suspect AVB thought Sig fitted his system better due to being younger and supposedly more active (I still think VDV has an incorrect reputation of being a bit lazy).
So I believe a combination of his injury record, VDV not being the centre of attention, not suiting AVB's style, not being near his wife, and the opportunity for DL to recoup a large fee suited all parties to an extent (but not me and the true VDV lovers).
Anyway that's done now he's gone and we should look ahead. In fact it's amazing to think where we are now considering how much of a mess the first part of the season was!!! We should take stock and it's a shame VDV didn't recognise this in his interview.
Bus-Conductor
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If having something to do with it was saying he's going to have to fight for his place like everyone else then I'm gald he did have something to do with it, but if you read the article it's a little bit bullshitty and contradictory. You really think AVB said later on on, "actually VDV, you know I said you had to fight for your place, well now I've seen Sigurdsson I've decided you can coast it based on your past glories" ?
If he left because AVB said he's got to fight for his place then he could of gone to a club better than one languishing at the foot of the bundesliga surely. He chose Hamburg for a specific reason. His wife and kids are there.
cjsimba
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- Dec 5, 2006
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I think it was probably a combination of the two. Although we have no way of knowing for sure, this is my take on how events unfolded....His wife was in his ear to leave for her career's sake but Rafa was loving being the main man in a team he loved. Then AVB came in and said his new regime involved a bit more rotation/ he needed to fight for his place etc. which Rafa accepted and was fine with (as all professional footballers should be). But then when the offer from Hamburg came in, it became slightly easier for him (given AVB's newer - and perfectly acceptable - policy) to make the tough decision that had been nagging him for months - to do what was best for his family and move.
beats1
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- Feb 22, 2010
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I think he did leave to be his wife who are still together, but i did find it strange at the time that Siggy was picked over VDV in preseason and then when he left we didnt pick siggy but prefered dempsey and strangely there wasnt the same amount of rotation
I think VDV saw a new manager coming one who didnt pick him for preseason and he probably thought this is fine but possibly may fall be a problem further along the season and thought fuck this shit, I rather be at home with family
I do think if AVB really wanted him stay he would, VDV reminds me of a puppy he wants loads love and attention
RichSpur58
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And we got Dempsey and Siggy instead.
Spurger King
can't smile without glue
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I don't think we replaced him in January. Holtby looks like he'll be a great player for us, but he's not a VDV replacement for me.
Oddly enough I think we may have accidentally replaced VDV (at least temporarily) when we signed Dempsey.
Now put the pitch-forks down and hear me out. When we signed Dempsey he was a player with a fantastic record playing at LM for Fulham. Obviously Bale was our automatic LM so any other position for Dempsey was in his less played positions.
I'm not saying that Dempsey hasn't been disappointing, and I'm certainly not saying he's a VDV replacement, however with Bale essentially taking the VDV role I'd say that, based on the performances over the last few seasons, Dempsey is actually one of the best performing players in that position.
Bring on the negs you mother puss buckets.
Misfit
President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
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It was hardly a shock when he did leave though was it? The rumours built and built with every week that passed. That he left isn't an issue. Until we had Holtby, the drop off at AM was ridiculously sharp though (not to say Holtby is at the same level as VDV is now but he's got definite quality). Bale has also seemingly got a bad case of CAMivitus now as well.
Otherwise, the rest is noise. So I will leave this thread now. No, don't try and stop me. I've made my mind up. (in honour of VDV himself)
Otherwise, the rest is noise. So I will leave this thread now. No, don't try and stop me. I've made my mind up. (in honour of VDV himself)
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
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I think it was primarily personal reasons that he went, although wasn't it a lucrative move for him going back there? Iirc they had one of their backers stumping up the cash for the deal. I'm sure that played a part too.
I don't agree for the reasons I stated in my post above (and I think I gave a bit of context as to why, and whilst subjective is factual). It's a bit too simplistic to defend AVB outright by saying VDV took the easy option and refused to fight for his place. I genuinely believe AVB prob treated him slightly less well than Sig (his new signing) and as I mentioend this was evident through pre season and against Newcastle. However VDV being the sensitive soul he is probably couldn't handle the fact he wasn't held in as much esteem as he had previously. It was certainly a quick fall from grace.
Perhaps he could have worked his way back into the side (well he would have) but as I mentioned before, and you alluded to, everything fell into place and a move away suited all parties based on the circumstances (apart from us the fans).
There's really no reason to point the finger, under different circumstances and a different manager I think he would have stayed. But alas it wasn't to be.
Misfit
President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
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Lovely post, as per. Just typed a clumsy and ham-fisted version of that myself. Except all the Dempsey stuff and whatnot. Otherwise, stop plagiarising me you lazy bastage! You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
RichSpur58
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I think we got rid at the right time. 10m was great money for a player that can play half a agame.
Bus-Conductor
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Do you not think maybe he wasn't being picked because he'd intimated he wanted to go if a deal could be done ? There was rock solid ITK about him going long before he did.
No, AVB has a system that doesn't have much time for luxury players. I think he assumed VDV didn't work hard enough (there's probably an argument for and against this - although I think VDV worked real hard). I've repeated this time and time again but the biggest factor I've noticed under AVB is our resilience. This has been built from nowhere and is down to the formation and the types of players that fit that formation.
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