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Publication on July 20th: Woolwich Arsenal, the club that changed football. The book that re-writes the Arsenal story.
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Untold Media: All the things that Robin Van Persie did not sa
By: Anne
Well readers… I guess that all I can say to open this article is “welcome.” Welcome to a brand new age in the targeting of Arsenal through the media, as we abandon old and archaic notions like “splashing the cash,” and embark upon the bold new tactical age of “forced transfers,” in which individual Arsenal players will apparently be targeted for vicious and deceitful personal attacks.
And I have to say, this attack on Robin van Persie is an outrage. But first, just for anyone who might have been hiding under a rock somewhere and missed it, Robin Van Persie, on 4 July, supposedly published an “announcement” on his “official website,” where he said that he wasn’t going to renew his contract with Arsenal.
In this “announcement,” which was supposedly written as an “update” for Arsenal fans on Robin’s ongoing contract negotiations (because that’s such a normal thing for a player to do, right, to personally update the public on confidential dealings with his Club) Robin also supposedly slagged off Arsenal.
Specifically, Robin supposedly said that he was leaving Arsenal because “my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days,” but that he and Arsene Wenger “disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.”
Now, call me crazy… But doesn’t something about those statements sound almost… familiar? In fact, I could almost swear that I’ve read something in the past where someone was expressing very similar sentiments, except in that case, the author was most definitely not Robin Van Persie. I’ll see if I can remember who it might have been and get back to you.
In the meantime (and I will absolutely stand by this 100% unless somebody proves me wrong), there is absolutely no way in hell that this “Update for the Fans” that appeared on some random website was actually written by Robin Van Persie.
Yes, I can see that the anonymous author who posted it wrote “Robin Van Persie” at the end of the post. And yes, I can also see that it says “Robin Van Persie Official Site” at the top of the page. But here’s the thing. Anyone could do that. And if that’s all that’s required to prove that you’re Robin Van Persie, and to get quoted in the media, why don’t we all start making public statements on behalf of Robin Van Persie?
Go take a look for yourself. There is absolutely nothing on this website that authenticates it as being linked to Arsenal, or to the real Robin Van Persie. And if you think it lacks credibility now, then I really wish you could have seen what it looked like when I first went there (which was just after the first media reports about this “statement” emerged). When I first looked at it, there was absolutely nothing on it at all aside from this one statement. When I clicked on all the other tabs, they were empty.
And ever since then, someone has been gradually updating it to make it look more credible. For example, when I first started writing this article (later that same day), one “earlier post” had been added. And when I check it now, someone has added even more “earlier posts.” But unfortunately, I can’t prove any of that now, which means that you shouldn’t rely on it when forming your opinion. So I’ll just analyze it working with what’s there now (although there might be more by the time you read this).
If this is Robin Van Persie’s “official website,” why hasn’t Robin published any personal statements on it before now? He doesn’t seem to have attempted to use this website to communicate with the public at any point in the past, and wouldn’t that be the whole point of a “personal website?” Aside from this one “update for the fans,” everything else is just a direct link to Arsenal.com. And the site certainly doesn’t go back very far. Did Robin commission it while he was at the Euros?
You can all look at it for yourselves and form your own opinions. But just ask yourself this: What does the primary purpose of this website appear to be? Specifically, does it seem like something that Robin Van Persie developed himself because he wanted to have his own personal medium for communicating with the public? Or does it seem more like the website was put up for the sole purpose of conveying this one “message,” along with just enough other stuff to give it the superficial appearance of credibility? You know my opinion already.
And if you’re not sceptical based on the website alone, why not just take a look at the “statement” itself as it originally appeared? For example, this is how it begins:
“This is an update for the fans about my current situation. I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr. Gazidis and Mr. Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.”
I mean, come on. Does that sound like the kind of thing you would expect to hear from Robin Van Persie or any other Arsenal player? And have you ever heard any statement like that from any football player before about confidential contract negotiations? No you haven’t, and I’ll tell you why not. Because confidentiality agreements are put in writing. If Robin Van Persie has a confidentiality agreement with the Club, Arsene Wenger, and Ivan Gazidis regarding his contract negotiations, it’s in writing, and it contains provisions for repercussions in the event that it is violated.
In other words, you can’t just decide one day to violate a confidentiality agreement because you think it’s “fair” for the entire world to know what’s really going on. Of course, some (read: many) in the media have suggested that Robin’s real motive in making this “statement” might have been because he was attempting to “force a transfer” away from Arsenal this Summer, as opposed to leaving on a free transfer next Summer. However, before we get to that subject, let’s take a quick look at one more aspect of “Robin’s” “statement”:
“As soon as Mr. Gazidis is back from his 2-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments.”
“Ok…How nice of “Robin” to offer to keep the entire world updated on, not just this one little tidbit, but on all of his confidential negotiations with the Club. I’m sure that Mr. Gazidis won’t have any problem with that at all once he’s back from America… Will we be hearing from “Robin” again, I wonder? But getting back to the subject of forced transfers. I find the following quote relevant:
“In propaganda truth pays… It is a complete delusion to think of the brilliant propagandist as being a professional liar. The brilliant propagandist is the man who tells the truth, or that selection of the truth which is requisite for his purpose, and tells it in such a way that the recipient does not think he is receiving any propaganda… The art of propaganda is not telling lies, but rather selecting the truth you require.”
Applying this principle to the current circumstances, I have come to the opinion that it is completely and 100% true that the motive for publishing this “statement” was to force Arsenal to transfer Robin Van Persie during the current window, as opposed to allowing him to leave on a free transfer next Summer. And how would this work? By making Arsenal fans so angry at Robin that we would reject him as Captain. This would prevent him from having any value to Arsenal as a player for another year, so they would be left with no alternative but to go ahead and sell him. And this seems to me to be the only logical motive that anyone could have for making a public statement such as this one.
However (and here’s where the “deceptive” aspect of the propaganda comes in), it does not seem to be the logical method for Robin Van Persie himself to pursue if he was the one who was attempting to force the transfer. Rather, Robin has a multitude of other options that he could use to exercise leverage over the Club to force a transfer, and which wouldn’t require him to damage his public image. Also, I would imagine that any confidentiality agreements associated with contract negotiations would include provisions to severely punish any attempt to influence negotiations by leaking details to the public.
Rather, I would say that the most logical explanation for something like this being “published” would be if someone else was attempting to “force a transfer” of Robin Van Persie away from Arsenal. Because absolutely everything about this “message to the fans” suggests to me that it is intended to make Arsenal fans as angry at Robin Van Persie as possible. And for someone who doesn’t have any internal influence over the contract negotiations, and is attempting to influence the negotiations from outside, causing the fans to reject Robin Van Persie as an Arsenal player and captain would seem to be the only means available to exert enough pressure externally on the Club to cause this to happen.
So, I believe that the most logical explanation for what’s going on here is that someone outside the Club is attempting to force Arsenal to transfer Robin Van Persie one year ahead of time. Another reason I think this is because Robin himself wouldn’t have much of a motive to go to the trouble of forcing a transfer when he only has one year left anyway. But to certain outside parties, it would make a big difference.
Why, you ask? Well, let’s just say that, to us, Robin Van Persie is a football player and the captain of Arsenal. But to others, Robin Van Persie is nothing more than a non-cash asset that needs to be liquidated into cash, and it is of the utmost importance that this “liquidation” occur before the “asset” loses its monetary value. The idea, of course, would be for whatever cash was moved into Arsenal as a result of the “liquidation” to be moved right back out again, and “reinvested” into the hands of the party who forced the “liquidation” in the first place (in other words, asset-stripping).
In this sense, the “forced transfer” agenda is identical to the old “splashing the cash” agenda that we’re already familiar with, and which we’ve already rejected. Repackaging the old agenda would be a means of making a fresh attempt to sell us the same idea. Personally, I believe that this is exactly what’s occurring, and if I’m right, I don’t need to prove it to you now, because we’re going to be seeing a lot more of this tactic in the future. Along with a lot more “statements” of this nature that are reported as coming from Arsenal players.
This article will continue shortly with extracts from the media’s response.
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The Robin van Persie story…
- The Flamini Fallacy: Why selling Robin is good business for Arsenal
- What now
- Gone in 60 seconds
- A poem
- Prevention and curing
- Who is playing which game?
- Robin Van Persie – he signs where he wants (unfortunately for us).
@Joe (at 2.50pm)
Joe says:
“So if it would be in RVP’s best interest to leave on a free, why force through a transfer?…
…The only other reason why Robin would prefer to leave now vs. next summer is if he thinks his value is at its peak now.”
Big Al says:
The obvious reason is: He possibly/probably has five years (only) of his career left (at top EPL level). Losing one year out of that figure is 20%, and reduces him to four years only. He wants to go this summer; we should allow him to go this summer (providing the price is right).
If you’re unhappy in a job, Joe, and want to move on (for whatever reason), would you want to delay for one more year?
The AFCSF told me that Usmanvo paid RVP to announce the statement and Piers Morgan to rage on twitter.
Does this clear everything?
Good read! But i dont know if i missed it but I followed a link from RVPs official twitter to the site to view the “statement”
Guys, lets forget about this RvP issue. Whatever the motive; whoever is behind it; that’s all irrelevant now. What’s done, is done. Let’s settle down and not fuel this saga any further.
If truly this statement was not made by RVP then I expect that he should have known about it and disowned it. Secondly, why should Arsenal officially respond to a statement without confirming that it is from RVP? It is my opinion that he either wrote it o approves of it.
Call me thick but who benefits
Sweetheart that is the most deluded article i have ever read, talk about DENIAL. Do you honestly think if Van persie hadnt made that statement that him or the club would not have rectified it. he is not on holiday on mars!!!
He drove to the end of season meeting full of his own self importance and went in telling wenger who he should buy and got firmly put in his place “you are no the manager you dont buy or pick the team” he drove back with his over inflated ego in bits. he lacks humility as most self centered millionaires do, and made his statement believing the fans would back him and turn on the club. come to think of it he is almost as deluded as you.
you can see who owns the rvp site here
http://www.whois.net/whois/robinvanpersie.com
Domain name: robinvanpersie.com
Registrant Contact:
Sports Entertainment Group International B.V.
Romeo Towikromo ()
Some entry level techy-ism here, those in the know hit up the Wayback machine for a bit of site history.
Since 2003, RVP.com (can’t be arsed to type it properly but we are talking about the same site) has been crawled 9 times with most of the activity taking place seven years ago.
For comparison, our old buddy Senor Fabregas’ site has been crawled 23 times over the same period, not regularly but on a fairly consistent basis.
Archive.org is a fairly good guide to how often websites are updated, I would suggest that our Dutch friend has not been doing anything with “his” personal website for a very long time (last crawl was 2005, when you could buy Robinvanpersie.com for £350 if you were interested).
I am not trying to lend credence to Anne’s theories, merely pointing out that if RvP hadn’t linked to it from his twitter feed (which so far as I can tell is real, given his followers and posting of personal pics) then alarm bells would start ringing given the above information.
You do know that RVP linked the article to his official twitter page right? Its not some elaborate hacking scheme that everyone bought!
Ok, thanks to everyone who took the opportunity to respond. I don’t have a chance of getting caught up on this thread at this point.
However, what I do here is media. I analyze the media campaign that is targeting Arsenal, and my red flags about this statements are primarily derived from that. I can see immediately that all the usual suspects are, from the moment this statement was released, attempting to stoke fan anger at Robin, and are trying to force him out of the Club.
That, in my mind, makes the statement extremely suspect. Whatever other factors might exist with regard to its validity. There is SOMETHING extremely shady about this.
@Woolwich:
That’s some interesting information about the website itself. Thanks for providing it.
Just looking at the website itself, it seems very strange, in terms of the information that was chosen to be included on it. Doesn’t strike me as what you would expect from a celebrity’s “personal website.”
As I said, it’s shady. Something here is shady. In my opinion.
Duh.. He announced the statement via his twitter, of course it’s real.. And if, an extremely unlikely situation, someone hacked his twitter AND his website he would’ve told that to the media and Arsenal FC. He has a phone and reads newspapers lol
As for whether or not Robin could immediately refute it, or whether someone could actually hack his twitter…. Well, that would just depend on the nature of the adversary.
And particularly whether or not that adversary might have past historical experience with spinning “the big lie” to a point where it achieves maximum credibility…
Overall, I’m not claiming to have the answers here. I’m just saying that, somehow, this doesn’t add up.
And I’m very interested to see whether this turns into a pattern that will continue to repeat itself with regard to other Arsenal players.
Anne, an interesting article and thought provoking. I agree that there was something very strange about the RVP statement.
There are a lot of unknowns about this statement and the fact that it was followed by the aggressive (and probably pre-prepared) letter from Usmanov raises further suspicion.
Today we have another strange story, I believe originally sourced from Sky that RVP is having second thoughts – did he really really publish his first thought? NB are there any former Arsenal directors/board members who have connections with Sky?
@bjtgooner:
Thanks for backing me up on this. There does seem to be not only the Usmanov letter, but also a coordinated media attack ON ROBIN VAN PERSIE that sprung up simultaneously with the publishing of this statement. That’s what I’ll look at briefly in part 2 tomorrow.
I don’t know who might have connections with Sky in particular, but I think they have proven quite conclusively now that they are no friend of Arsenal’s.
But why all this need for a coordinated media campaign to stoke maximum fan anger at RVP, and to cause fans to demand that RVP be punished?
All of this “RVP should spend a year in the reserves” crap seems to be an attack on RVP himself. Why would he do that to himself?
And along those lines, what is this shit?
http://goonersaur.com/2012/07/van-persie-encourages-youth-talent-to-leave-arsenal/
I’m just not buying all this. It’s too much of an attack on RVP.
Anne – again I agree, the media attack on RVP after the publishing of his statement surprised a lot of contributors to UA, what was expected was a massive attack on AW and the sustainable model. For the media to miss a chance of attacking AW was very strange – and surprisingly co-ordinated!
@bjtgooner:
Yes, yes, YES!!! Glad someone else spotted this
Looks to be some sort of shift in tactics to me.
Actually, the attack on RVP started during the Euros itself. From the first game in fact. I thought there were others who were far more deserving of criticism than Robin, but he became the worst player of the tournament according to many newspapers.
The attack on RVP did surprise me then, because the entire year we were being told how awesome he is, and how Arsenal are doomed without him.
There is something very strange here, but I still don’t know if there is anything beyond what we see. Robin could well have had his head turned by money. He could have been willing to go to any lengths to get his move. Or his agent could have slipped in some language designed to cause friction between RVP and fans, without Robin being aware of the implications until it was too late. This is one of those things that will always remain a mystery I think. Regardless of whether he stays or goes. I wouldn’t welcome Robin back without some sort of an apology though. And not the kind Rooney offered.
@Shard:
That’s actually a good point. I disagree that this particular RVP attack began earlier than the publication of this one statement. There has definitely been an associated talking points campaign incorporating all the usual suspects, which launched on 4 July with the publication of the statement.
However, you’re right that there does seem to have been some degree of gearing up for this beginning with the Euros. I believe, if I recall correctly, that we both had some raised eyebrows over the following from Talksport:
“The case against RVP
…Looking to matters off the pitch, one possible reason for Van Persie’s lack of sharpness could be the distraction of his ongoing contract saga at Arsenal, and dropping him to the bench could serve as a reminder of where his priorities should lie.”
So, “a reminder of where his priorities should lie.” Sounds like something of a threat, doesn’t it?
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/120613/klaas-jan-huntelaar-v-robin-van-persie-who-should-play-holland-against-g-174323
Personally, I don’t consider this statement to have enough credibility to demand an apology of RVP in response. If Arsenal still wants RVP as captain this season, I will trust Arsenal. I’m looking to the Club for my cues as to how to respond to this.
Ok, all he had to do was deny any connection to the statement, which he hasn’t done. The fact that he has not denied it is enough to authenticate it. The only reason for this not happenning would be that Robin himself has taken to spending his vacations in the wilderness alone with no connection to the outside world and doesn’t know that he is at the centre of the biggest football news story of the summer. Stop clutching at straws.
Alot of agencies use these tactics, A good trick is to find out those who don’t. soccerbase, groupe usm, Soccer and more ltd, don’t resort to this kind of campaign (as far as i can tell).
However sem group, sports entertainment, key sports and Gestifute do. Im still waiting for someone to prove that Dein is behind this latest statement.
What needs to be highlighted is the fact that we all have free will and can choose to put a stop to this sort of carry on. Has Mr v.Persie done this yet?
One thing for sure is that Sports entertainment will not have put this statement out, without his knowledge or signature. Unless we hear in the next couple of weeks that he has sacked his agent. They would have covered their arses with documentation that states he was aware of such tactics.
Well, the thing is that he posted on twitter(as many said) and that made his “updated for fans” valid, and he knew who and what will be written.If someone twitted from his account without his knowing thats a crime that wont be without reaction in the first moment RVP spotted it, and there would have been reaction from Arsenal who RVP should have alerted. So no the message was posted with knowing from RVP, what rvp may have been manipulated is the reason, outcome and the reaction of the message. What i see valid in your post is the media full assault on RVP. There are such funny moments when you see Daily-mail and other newspaper write positive stories about Wenger and negative about RVP to crate polarity and all indicating that we need to sell ASAP. I dont bite that, i hope that we keep him even if its his last year here. The guy is one rare player and even half year with us will help us hit higher level then last year. What i find tricky is that Bouchra stopped twitting to for some time.
Right there on the
Terms of use
Welcome to robinvanpersie.com (the “WEBSITE”). This is the official web page of Robin van Persie, which is owned by Team van Persie, represented by Sports Entertainment Group International B.V, registered at the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam under number: 34139303, address Tesselschadestraat 4 – 12, 1054 ET Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Spelt out – IT IS RVP’s Official site!
RvP probably didn’t write it himself. I personally think his agents did in a attempt to secure a move out of the club, whilst not having angry fans at the same time, while putting the blame on the club itself. However, RvP posted the link on his twitter account, which in itself is enough proof of how he agreed for the article to be published on his fansite.
He has yet in one week made a statement denying any of it. If it was a fake/hacked post, I would certainly be quick to deny I had anything to do with it.
As of the skysports article saying RvP has made a turnaround and might sign a new contract, has been removed from their site.
Adam,
As you well know, because it is secret, no one can Prove anything right now. In the current climate, all we are able to do is infer as best we can. But, in the current climate, you (several times) demand Proof that “Dein” was “behind” that statement; and without such Proof you tacitly insist that “Dein” is NOT. And, for the record, have now several times leaped to the defense of Sports Entertainment, whom you see to regard, and whom we’ve learned today is the documented owner of the website where the statement appeared. Now this raises a few questions for me:
First, which Dein do YOU mean? David the elder, Darren the Lesser? or both?
Second, what exactly is it about Sports Entertainment that makes you so Certain they (either as a whole, OR any person or faction therein) would Never (“for sure” is your credo) put out a statement like that without RvP’s permission? Is Sports Entertainment a monolith that acts in total lockstep? Are there uber agents on its staff who are given neither latitude nor leeway to practice their arts and crafts, for which the company derives a fiscal benefit if stuff goes well enough? Please help clarify how this company actually works and how you and everyone else can know it. It would add to the collective understanding if you do know.
Third, are you dead Certain that “Dein” – whichever one you mean – is NOT a major player (even THE major player) in advocating or helping to strategize/orchestrate RvP’s decision whether to leave or stay at AFC? Now, if you are Certain that “Dein” is not involved (greatly or marginally) in either the RvP statement or the overall RvP exit strategy, then on what grounds are you certain? Alternatively, you might just Suspect that either “Dein” is not involved (greatly or marginally). Again, on what grounds do you suspect that either “Dein” is not?
Like anyone, we can sit back and wait to see what happens and what suspicions turn out which way. But along this murky path, in the absence of perfect knowledge, and as more important things spin our world, we try to raise or to squash different inferences. But insofar we two hypothesize and infer on opposite sides of who’s hand is or may be at work in RvP’s current situation, I’d like to know your answers to these 3 sets of questions.
fedda,
) Sky Sports has first posted, then removed the story about RvP now STAYING at AFC. It’s something to remember for that hoped-for, if unlikely time when it all the pieces fit together and it all makes sense. 
It is surely interesting as you point out that the fair and balanced (
Anne,
Imo, you’re surely right to note that something smells rotten about the current media blitzkrieg (aka coverage). (And now pitting AW the Good vs RvP the bad, as their latest gambit.) Clearly, they continually con much of the public and you’ve been the sharpest at exposing it hereabouts. I think, however, that the headline to this part one of your article has over-promised, and the con job is yet to be proven. For the moment (and it may change as this nasty game continues to unfold by the minute), I think you were ill-served with an overblown headline, and while it grabs attention, it has raised more expectation of proof than is currently in hand. That said, I greatly look forward to your part two media (un)coverage; and equally to Tony’s piece on the Guardian. Eyes wide open.
p.s. Also curious as fedda points out that Sly Sports first runs, then pulls the story on RvP’s now STAYING at AFC. Seems well worth keeping in play.
Yes, that sky story is all over the net, what in the hell is going on there? Maybe a time for open minds and reserved judgement
Anne thanks for that site, i could not believe it not until i saw that heading{ 11 useless guys and one stupid manager}.
And you expect to take anything good from Krishit apart from when you want to die of a heart attack.
Keep us posted.
By the way V-P is still on holidays let wait and hear from the man himself. Remember the whore-lists against Ferbregas it took him a while but he responded.
Van-P would do the same give him time. We have a lot of preseason matches you will see for yourself.
One thing I don’t get about this thing is that not too long ago, RvP’s family members were all quoted saying that in their opinion, he should stay. Even his wife has said how happy and settled his family are on her Twitter account, as well as how much Arsenal have stuck by him in darker times, so I don’t quite understand where these quotes are coming from. Even the player himself has spoken of how important his family are, so why the sudden change of heart?
I agree that something doesn’t quite add up about all this. If it was someone acting on RvP’s behalf, perhaps it was more of an attempt to get as big an offer from the club rather than securing a move away.
One thing I will say is that when a player has done something similar in the past (namely Adebayor), a section of the fans will start booing them, and I really hope that isn’t the case should Robin stay.
@southern gooner.
Maybe that’s why he want to leave?
Think about it, his mummy says to stay, he doesn’t want to anymore..
Think about boys in general – we never like to do what our mummy says and often do the opposite.
(tongue firmly in cheek for the above of course).
As for booing him should he stay. I’m an ST holder. Would never boo a guy while they wearing the red and white, but I sure as hell won’t be cheering his name. I did the same with Adebayor.
@GoonerPete
Eh, we never do what Dad said to us, we always do what mom tell us
But yeah, never boo Arsenal player thats disgraceful.
@omglol
In England, we never do as mummy says.
We are mummys boys, but TELL us to do something and we won’t do it
@Bob, You have jumped to a conclusion about me or my opinions and it’s unfounded. If either Dein is invovled it would not surprise me. However while this site is trying to highlight refs in the epl, I don’t like to see theories with no validation what so ever thrown out there. If Sports entertainment did not have RVPs authorisation then he could surely sue them. All you have to do Bob is research these agencies, See if you can find out who they have as clients and try to remember if their last transfer was predicted by any media sources. Then you will have an answer as to which agencies like to use the media as a tool.
If you want to throw theories out there Bob, I’d love this all to be an Arsenal sting operation to highlight the behaviour of those behind it.
@GoonerPete
But he is Dutch
Talk about deluded wenger and van persie fans, he said these things get used to the facts, and if he didnt he would have refuted it, simple. I am an arsenal fc fan dont care about individuals.