Lets face it, our greatest player since Johan Cruijff. Yes Van Basten might have won something, but Robben proved himself to be better over many more Oranje games, even though he never won any trophies. For my money, Robben is my favourite player. In fact, its a tie between him and Cruijff. Some of the goals he scored for Bayern are just plain sick
had van Basten not suffered the sever ankle injury which pretty much ended his career there would be no contest here. Robben is great but his club success only came with Bayern. van Basten was a force as an 18 year old with Ajax. Just my opinion.
I remember watching him as a 20 year old kid during the Euro 2004. I fell in love with him then and he's been my boy ever since. It's such crap that he didn't win the golden ball this past World Cup. If he wasn't such a polarizing figure for his supposed "diving" it would have been his all the way. The question is, does he have one more World Cup in him?
Hail Arjen! The only true great player of this Oranje generation. Maybe the quality in him that i like most is that he loves the game. And above all else he loves Oranje. That has not always been the case with Oranje Players.
Disagree on the no contest here, we wont know what vBasten wouldve done, even if he were healthy his entire career. If you look at pure overall numbers, Robben leaves vBasten far behind. Especially at Oranje. Also, speedy players are much more fun to watch
But van Basten's volley goal in the 1988 Euro will never be surpassed. Still the only NT to win a championship.
van Basten's career was essentially over at the age of 29. He scored almost a goal a game for Ajax during his time there and 90 in 147 appearances at Milan which was arguably the best club in Europe at that time (three Serie A championships and 2 European Cups). Robben and van Basten are two totally different players and I don't think one can pick a "best" between the two. What we should all be able to agree upon is that Cruyff is the greatest of all time.
I am not all for putting Robben over another legend like van Basten or even Sneijder (NT wise) for that matter. Just a legend in his own right and a player I enjoy every game he plays:
I second everything the thread starter says. Greatest since Cryuff and I have got a feeling if he will be supported by half a decent team like Van basten was, Robben will win a trophy with the NT. I expect the Depay's and Strooman's to get better. Did amazing at PSV. Went to Chelsea at a very young age where people failed and took EPL by storm. Was a phenom in the EPL. Moved to La Liga and was amazing at Real for anytime I saw. Injuries were his biggest opponent continually dragging him down. As his injuries have got better, he is getting better and maturing. He does have another WC in him I think. He is incredibly fast, great nose for goal, incredibly gifted technically and has developed wonderful vision over the years.nI think he can easily develop himself into a 9 or 10 as he looses his speed. I envison a Totti like career for him. I expect him to be a great player even at 34 in the next WC playing as a ST then. However Euro 16 is a great chance for him as he will most probably be at his peak then as well. He is an incredibly magical and big-game player. In the last few years I have seen him play very few bad games. He drags 2-3 Defenders and terrorizes defenses even when he can't score or assist. I always felt the 2010 Oranje NT was one of the weakest ever and doubt if it will go past the group. The current state in Euro Qualifiers bear testament to it. He dragged a highly mediocre bunch to 3rd place and and we only lost to PK's. With Bayern @ 2009-10 and the NT in 2014 WC, he has dragged teams with a range of mediocre players to 2nd/3rd place finishes. I will miss the day he retires. You know with him there is magic waiting to happen. And on topic I liked him since his PSV days. I also thought he was phenomenal in Euro 2004, even in the Group Stages of WC 2006, played 1-2 games in Euro 2008 and I remember the Franc game. WC 2010 he tried his best with a hole in his knee. He has had a range of fantastic tournaments for the NT and is generally amazing. From 2004 to 2014, a decade long journey and he has continued to be awesome. I am waiting for the day he becomes Captain of the NT. He also works great in Wingers Pairs. Robben & Depay - He could be a great example and co-player for Depay as well. I hope he will get a Euro/WC he and his country so desperately crave.
The Sneijder of 2010 is up there also, but he dropped off in quality in a big way after that which is really disappointing because I think a 2010 Sneijder and a 2014 Robben would have brought us two consecutive World Cups if they had both been playing at that level in both tournaments. Ah well.