What's new

Rafa van der Vaart

eddiebailey

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2004
7,452
6,672
My memory of VDV leaving (through the blurry tears) were purely his decision due to his wife hosting a TV show in Hamburg and them having marital problems. He tried to save his marriage by moving to Hamburg and it was one of the few times people praised Levy for allowing him to leave.

There were even stories of him talking about his love for Hamburg before the season even started so I think it's stretching memories a little to place the blame at AVB's door (he did a lot of things wrong but this wasn't one of them)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2164846/Rafael-van-der-Vaart-I-love-Hamburg.html

VdV may have had reasons to leave, but AVB gave him no reason to stay.
 

Insomnia

Twisted Firestarter
Jan 18, 2006
20,199
55,542
For a player who, just like Klinnsman , was only here briefly in comparison to the Ledley's & Mabbsy's in our history, boy did he get the Love from us. Fucking 24carot legend, love him bundles x
 

faymantaray

Average-Sized Member
Apr 19, 2005
5,577
8,506
I wonder what would have happened regarding the emergence of Bale as truly world class had VDV stayed and continued his good form from the previous two seasons. IIRC it became evident early on that Dempsey and Sigurdsson were not up to that number 10 role and the void ended up being filled by Bale and well.. we all know what happened next.

All ifs and buts but it could have possibly set Bale's departure back a year or two..
 

kungfugrip

Well-Known Member
Apr 8, 2005
1,613
1,523
I wonder what would have happened regarding the emergence of Bale as truly world class had VDV stayed and continued his good form from the previous two seasons. IIRC it became evident early on that Dempsey and Sigurdsson were not up to that number 10 role and the void ended up being filled by Bale and well.. we all know what happened next.

All ifs and buts but it could have possibly set Bale's departure back a year or two..

I think Dempsey did alright during his one season with us. 29 appearances and 7 goals/4 assists.....and cared enough to put a shift in every single time he played.
 

faymantaray

Average-Sized Member
Apr 19, 2005
5,577
8,506
I think Dempsey did alright during his one season with us. 29 appearances and 7 goals.....and cared enough to put a shift in every single time he played.

I liked both him and Sig but in hindsight I don't think either would have kept VDV out of the side.

He should have stayed and fought for his place.. but I guess that's the whole point of the thread.
 

DaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2013
11,816
13,655
God seeing that picture on the HS with him celebrating and Lennon running in just pulls the heart strings so much. I fucking adored that team so damn much. Despite the collapse, there was just something so special about that team.
 

thebenjamin

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2008
12,164
38,545
THE BIG INTERVIEW - RAFA VAN DER VAART
Posted on 18 July 2016 - 17:45

Rafa van der Vaart likes nothing more than to wax lyrical over his 'special days, at Spurs - and that's why a chat about our new Dutch striker Vincent Janssen quickly turned to those glory, glory nights of the Champions League in 2010-11, the best year of his career...


The legendary Dutch striker was very much on the world stage when he joined us from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2010. Six weeks earlier, he'd appeared in the World Cup Final for Holland against Spain in South Africa.

Rafa made an instant impact in N17, scoring on his home debut against Wolves and then in our opening home match of the Champions League against FC Twente.

Throw in another goal as we came from 2-0 down to beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates and the opener in the famous 3-1 win against Inter Milan and Rafa was well on the way to cult status with the Spurs faithful.

He finished his first season with 15 goals in 35 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League - a season he still looks back on as his best - before 11 in 33 in the Premier League in 2011-12, and then he was on his way back to Hamburg, gthe club he starred for in the Bundesliga before joining Real Madrid in 2008.

Before we talk about Vincent, Rafa, tell us about your days at Spurs...
Rafa:
"You know, I was lucky because it was, in my opinion, maybe the best team I played with - Ledley, Luka, Scotty Parker, Adebayor, Defoe, Bale. We had an unbelievable squad and times I will never forget. I miss Tottenham every minute. Tottenham is still in my heart."

Below: Rafa celebrates after scoring the opener against Inter Milan
What about those nights in the Champions League?

Rafa: "I’m 33 now and I’ve still time yet but I always tell everyone about those two years I played at Tottenham. The nights we played in the Champions League, wow, they were something special. It was the way we played. We were in the Champions League for the first time but it wasn’t about waiting or seeing what happened, it was attack, attack, attack. We beat Inter Milan at home, they were the holders, FC Twente, Werder Bremen, we were flying. We beat AC Milan and then of course it was such a pity as we got a red card after 20 minutes in the Bernabeu (quarter-final, first leg) otherwise, perhaps we might have had a chance. We finished fifth in the end in the Premier League as well. For me, that was my best year."

What was it about Spurs that clicked with you?
Rafa: "It was also about the people at the club. It’s already four years since I left but I can talk to people and it’s still the same. When I come back to the Lane, people are still happy to meet me."

How much did you enjoy the derbies against Arsenal?
Rafa: "When I came to Tottenham and the first thing everyone said was ‘we have to win against Arsenal’. Everyone explained the history and I thought ‘okay, we will see’ but when you play and the you win away, 2-0 down to win 3-2, then the 3-3 at home, it was just meant to be that I scored in these games. I loved them, unbelievable. They were great days at Tottenham."

Vincent Janssen is our latest Dutch recruit. As a striker with over 100 caps for Holland, what can you tell us about him?
Rafa: "He came from the second tier in Holland to AZ Alkmaar, played one year in the Eredivisie with AZ and he did really well. He also did well in the national team. In my opinion, Tottenham have signed a great striker. He’s still young and still learning of course but he’s really strong and scored a lot of goals in Holland. I think Tottenham is the right move for him. I think it’s great for Tottenham and great for him."

What are Vincent's strengths?
Rafa: "He’s a real striker, loves to play and work for the team and he doesn’t just score goals, he makes goals as well. If you work hard at Tottenham and in the Premier League, people will love you and if you score goals, you will be a legend. I hope he will do both."

http://m.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/...big-interview-with-rafa-van-der-vaart-180716/
 

npearl4spurs

Believing Member
Sep 9, 2014
4,191
10,973
Below: Rafa celebrates after scoring the opener against Inter Milan
What about those nights in the Champions League?

Rafa: "I’m 33 now and I’ve still time yet but I always tell everyone about those two years I played at Tottenham. The nights we played in the Champions League, wow, they were something special. It was the way we played. We were in the Champions League for the first time but it wasn’t about waiting or seeing what happened, it was attack, attack, attack.

Let's do it again, please! Just go out and attack! Grab the game by the scruff of the neck! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
Four years on and I'm still gutted he left. Many a great player has left for ambition or greed, but his leaving was so out of the blue and unexpected.

Yeah he may have had dodgy hamstrings, but if he didn't we wouldn't have been able to sign a player of his class.

Would love it if players such as him made a half time appearance at the lane rather than the usual
suspects all on the company pay roll rounded up from the players lounge if the happen to be available for the 100th time.
 

dk-yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2011
4,489
8,020
According to Danish media Rafa could be on his way to FC Midtjylland in the Danish league... Sounds a bit far fetched but his girlfriend plays handball in the country so you never know...
 
Top