“It’s like Manchester United, you can’t keep living off past glories” – Darts analysts see Michael van Gerwen struggling with himself

For years, Michael van Gerwen was the benchmark in the darts world. The Dutchman won virtually everything there was to win and was seen as the player who always delivered on the biggest stages. But in recent years, that automatic dominance has faded. Although Van Gerwen still shows he can perform at the highest level, his form seems more erratic than ever.

Whenever doubts arise about his level, the three-time world champion finds a way to respond. With a strong run or a standout tournament, he proves he can still belong to the absolute elite. Yet, according to experts, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain those performances consistently.

On Sky Sports' Love the Darts podcast, analyst Laura Turner sees an important contrast with the greatest player in history. “You can compare, can't you, though, to other players as well,” she says. “Like we've seen the kind of year-by-year demise of, say, Peter Wright, who didn't qualify, but you've got Michael Smith that hasn't qualified [for the World Matchplay]."

“We were asking those kind of questions before and we continue to ask them about Michael [van Gerwen]," continues Turner, who admits it is exceptionally difficult to maintain the same hunger and intensity for years. At the World Matchplay, where Van Gerwen lost in the second round to compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode, she also did not see the best version of Van Gerwen, who, in her view, visibly struggled to reach his peak level. "He's still winning, but it's just, I think the question comes in sometimes in these major tournaments.”

Darts commentator Chris Murphy also notes that the Dutchman has become less predictable. Where Van Gerwen once hit his top level almost weekly, strong and weak displays now alternate. “He's become, I think, the most unpredictable player in the sport,” says Murphy. “I think that is a massive concern for him, because I don't think he knows what to expect when he gets on the oche. Your used to expect winning, aren’t you? He was demolishing his opponents and now he just doesn't know."

That inconsistency makes it hard to label Van Gerwen as the favorite for major titles. While players like Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have delivered more consistently in recent years, Van Gerwen more often has to settle for the role of chaser.

Darts analyst Michael Bridge draws a striking comparison with Manchester United. “Do you look at Michael and sometimes it's a bit like Manchester United?” he questions. “They're not the Manchester United of the Fergie era, but if you've got them, you always feel that kind of glamour element. He's always, I'll say time and time again on this podcast, if you've got a ticket to Michael van Gerwen, you're in for a good night.”

Few experts, however, are writing the Dutchman off for good. His experience, scoring power, and winning mentality still make him dangerous on the biggest stages. Precisely because he has so often proved he can bounce back after a difficult spell, Van Gerwen remains a player who must be taken into account.

The question is no longer whether Van Gerwen can still play a top match. He still has that quality. The real challenge lies in rediscovering the consistent form with which he dominated darts for years. As long as that is missing, doubts will persist, even if he still silences them convincingly from time to time.