Cristiano Ronaldo image 7

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal flag

2021-22 Performances


View full 2021-22 profile

5.8 Season Average Rating
Appearances
38
Goals
24
Assists
3
Yellow cards
9
Status
Not open for further replies.
Ronaldo at his best/ peak (arguably 22-33) took the performances down of his more central team mates Rooney and Benzema. That was ultimately perfectly fine during these players best years. That was when Ronaldo was a left winger with pace and dribbling ability (and much much more); with him being the best in the world aswell.

Now at the age of 37 - he plays centrally as a pure striker. If he reduced the performance of his more central team mates during his peak when playing as a winger - you cannot see how Ronaldo at the age of 37 would reduce the performance of players around him when he himself is the most targeted player playing centrally and furthest up?

And I'm not going to complain about Ronaldo's performances vs Arsenal & Chelsea. But again I do not think he plays like this when he is starting 2 or 3 matches a row in a week.

One of my biggest problems is not that Ronaldo is here - it's that Ronaldo starts every game and was not rotated during the season because he turned out grumpy the first moment he was rested.

When he plays once a week he looks a completely different player with energy, attacking movement and work ethic - better than most the players. But many people saw that his performances were not as good when he was playing more often during a week.

Anyway man. I love Ronaldo but ultimately this is just two different ways we watch football and the tactics or players involved. You don't think this is a problem whilst I do - we are not going to convince each other because its just different for the both of us. His goal scoring will continue, whilst the rest of the team purely focuses on just getting the best out of him and struggling to get the best of anyone else.

Wait you think this team is tailored to get the best out of Ronaldo?

What part of our game plan is focus on Ronaldo? We barely create any chances for him.
 
Ronaldo scored 3 headed goals this season at United. He scored more headers for Portugal in the international breaks this season. Embarrassing for our wide players.
 
Ronaldo scored 3 headed goals this season at United. He scored more headers for Portugal in the international breaks this season. Embarrassing for our wide players.

I've tried understanding what could be done better in that regard, because yeah, crosses mostly are pretty bad at United right now - after a whole season, I have a mild degree of confidence there's an issue to where most United players feel they should be crossing right into Ronaldo's head - not the best way to take advantage of his pre-heading attributes.

Basically, you have a set of good headers of the ball that gain position for a header on pure strength. I'm talking street style shoving pushing, pulling, fighting their way in those 2 seconds between the ball coming out from the side to hitting someone's head. With these players, one probably should hit the ball right on to where he already is. Ronaldo's not too bad at this, but -

Ronaldo's way to gain advantage is much more weighted into anticipation, acceleration, pacing into open space, setting himself free from the defender, body feinting, changing of direction, not so much a body to body fight for positional advantage - so crosses should be more into open space inside the box. Yes, you'll get more crosses closer to the keeper which may sometimes be within range of said keeper, and you'll get some where the ball deviates backwards a bit, but the chance he'll get a connection are much higher and from then on I don't think anyone needs a reminder on how he heads the football, even in dire circumstances.

It would help as well if more than one player covered the same areas inside the box, there should always be 2 heads to cross into, which many times doesn't happen. Then there's also the analysis of when should the team actually cross to him to maximize what I just said above, and when not to cross to him because the end result will most likely be negative, but I don't wanna make the post too long.
 
Last edited:
His relationship with perez had a meltdown, I'll doubt he would go back even if they miss out on all of their targets .
 
I've tried understanding what could be done better in that regard, because yeah, crosses mostly are pretty bad at United right now - after a whole season, I have a mild degree of confidence there's an issue to where most United players feel they should be crossing right into Ronaldo's head - not the best way to take advantage of his pre-heading attributes.

Basically, you have a set of good headers of the ball that gain position for a header on pure strength. I'm talking street style shoving pushing, pulling, fighting their way in those 2 seconds between the ball coming out from the side to hitting someone's head. With these players, one probably should hit the ball right on to where he already is. Ronaldo's not too bad at this, but -

Ronaldo's way to gain advantage is much more weighted into anticipation, acceleration, pacing into open space, setting himself free from the defender, body feinting, changing of direction, not so much a body to body fight for positional advantage - so crosses should be more into open space inside the box. Yes, you'll get more crosses closer to the keeper which may sometimes be within range of said keeper, and you'll get some where the ball deviates backwards a bit, but the chance he'll get a connection are much higher and from then on I don't think anyone needs a reminder on how he heads the football, even in dire circumstances.

It would help as well if more than one player covered the same areas inside the box, there should always be 2 heads to cross into, which many times doesn't happen. Then there's also the analysis of when should the team actually cross to him to maximize what I just said above, and when not to cross to him because the end result will most likely be negative, but I don't wanna make the post too long.

Playing him as a lone striker is kind of dumb isn't it? Looking back he always had a striker drawing defenders attention so he could sneak into spaces.
 
Oh no, not again... Guys, it's the same story but reversed. Media had to create stories about him returning to Utd, now they have been creating the same stories
Playing him as a lone striker is kind of dumb isn't it? Looking back he always had a striker drawing defenders attention so he could sneak into spaces.

Yeah, exactly... That also usually helped a lot. It's not the best way to use him yeah, that's for sure. Shame we basically got like what, 2 games of him starting with Cavani this season, one of those games actually they both did pretty well together.
 
Him reaching 100 PL goals which means he'll have his own Sky Sports 100PL goal montage show is genuinely the highlight of the season.
 
Hands up I was dead wrong about Ronaldo.

The problem always was Rashford and Greenwood not being creative or hardworking enough to feed the goat and not the other way around. To be fair to me at least I knew as a front 3 it was going to flop miserably and I still have doubts about his chemistry with Bruno. I’d be selling Rashford and Greenwood and getting players who can actually complement Ronaldo and our new striker next season. As I said last year. 2 x Dan James either side of a fit Cavani and we’d have won more games. Our wingers work rate is absolutely appalling. Playing the game at a walking pace. Losing the ball every time you get it. Always looking for the shot or the dribble into a crowd, all while seemingly learning nothing from game to game.

Yeah the combination is terrible and always would be. Even against Chelsea we had Rashford, Ronaldo and Bruno. These type of player I feel you can play either one or at most two. Unfortunately Rashford I don't think will ever be at that level we desire so definitely not him.

I don't think it's even about Ronaldo. We need to get better balance upfront.

I think we've seen this season Ronaldo is best when he gets some rest. Next season he will be 38, which is really getting up there in age so one wonders how long he will last but the best course of action would be to get another striker.

We have one more striker and we can rotate. Someone who can even play on the wing sometimes preferably.
 
No chance he will stay in here next season unless if Ten Hag tells him that we are going to challenge the league title. Ronaldo wants to win the league or champions league, he’s not going to stick around to fight for top 4 or top 6. The rumour could be true since I can’t see any other clubs outside PL other than Madrid that will take him.
 


Can you imagine if he returned to Madrid :wenger:
 
Not sure exactly what his relationship is like with Perez but if Madrid want him back then I would expect him to jump at the opportunity for the following reasons.

He still owns property in Madrid and is frequently over there with his wife.

We are terrible at the moment. Whereas Madrid are doing well and are probably the 3rd best team in the world.

He may get another dig at a CL and have a fairytale return to his beloved Madrid.

The only thing keeping him with us if Madrid are interested is the wages we pay.
 
Coming back to United was romantic enough, can't see Perez getting him back (he keft just four years ago) especially that Madrid do not actually need him.

They'll go all in for Mbappe, because Perez knows this is the 'galactico' to get right now.
 
So is tonight low-key his last ever Utd appearance at OT? Do I move hell and earth to get a ticket just to be there?
 
At this point I'll say it will be quite arrogant of ETH to get rid of Ronaldo now, its not like there's any center forward who can guarantee his goal return, and its not like ETH full vision can be achieved within a single transfer window/preseason. He is definitely going to have to accommodate certain players who he doesn't see starting two or three years from now so why not a goal machine like Ronaldo.
Why would it be arrogant of ETH to get rid of Ronaldo if he doesn't fit into the system and/or football philosophy he wants to implement here?
It's not possible to play ETH football with Ronaldo up top, not even something close to it. He is going to want a hardworking teamplayer.
 
Playing an attacking set up like the one ETH would like to implement would see most teams set up like Newcastle did on Ronaldo's debut, how he wouldn't be relevant in that set up baffles me.
Against sides who would be brave enough to come out and play even better.
He has 8 goals against the top 5 this season. No one else in the league has more than 5.
We should be more worried about Maguire against counter attacks and bringing in a DM who can distribute the ball and also cover ground easily.
He has 0 goals against the top 3..........
 
Him reaching 100 PL goals which means he'll have his own Sky Sports 100PL goal montage show is genuinely the highlight of the season.
It was on after the Chelsea game, they missed out some of his best goals, should’ve just shown them all :devil:
 
Why would it be arrogant of ETH to get rid of Ronaldo if he doesn't fit into the system and/or football philosophy he wants to implement here?
It's not possible to play ETH football with Ronaldo up top, not even something close to it. He is going to want a hardworking teamplayer.
Why can’t he play under ETH. If the team retains more of the ball and creates better opportunities Ronaldo will thrive just as he would have done at City.
 
Don't let facts get in the way of a good argument

Hilarious considering he scored against Chelsea just days ago! I think some people get so wrapped up in a narrative they wish to create that reality and mitigating factors, such as Ronaldo not even playing in matches against the top 2, doesn't enter into their thinking.
 
Top 3 includes Chelsea, are you forgetting the match just the other day?

To add to that, he missed 2/4 games against the top 2.
Yes! I am forgetting that one. My bad.

7 goals against Tottenham and Arsenal was fabulous, but it's a strech to include the goals against Spurs and Arsenal to prove how good he's been againt top oppo's. He has been almost invisible in the matches he's played against the top 3 and in the Athletico matches, except for the Chelsea match where he was involved in most of the little we did. We started this season thinking we would be closing the gap to the top further after all. In stead we are looking at the lowest point tally we've had in the entire PL history. Let's see if we can beat the 90/91 seasons 59 points from before the PL was founded.
 
Why would it be arrogant of ETH to get rid of Ronaldo if he doesn't fit into the system and/or football philosophy he wants to implement here?
It's not possible to play ETH football with Ronaldo up top, not even something close to it. He is going to want a hardworking teamplayer.
Its arrogant because he is still the best goal scorer in the league, no problem getting another forward in but at least have Ronaldo for a year before moving on, we won't become a well oiled team within next season, so he'll need all the help he can get.
Ronaldo work rate is of an issue than Rashford who would be staying by the way.
 
Its arrogant because he is still the best goal scorer in the league, no problem getting another forward in but at least have Ronaldo for a year before moving on, we won't become a well oiled team within next season, so he'll need all the help he can get.
Ronaldo work rate is of an issue than Rashford who would be staying by the way.
I'll stand by whatever Ten Hag decided but if he isn't a good fit there's no good reason to keep a player for an extra year. It's not the kind of football where the striker can have a different set of tactics from every one else.

The real problem is Rashford has no business succeeding him but that's why we're reportedly looking for a striker and that's why it might be best to part ways with CR. No worthwhile striker is signing to play the odd cup game. Ronaldo will still expect to play once a week. Stylistically I also don't think ETH actually plays with his type, Ajax seem to have their striker spending a lot of time in front of the CBs with their back to goal, with a lot of gravitating towards the ball rather than running in behind. If ETH has no plans for him we are risking a potentially tense situation in next year's lockerroom.
 
I thought his offside hoal against pool was onside , but yeah we pretty much shat the bed against the top 2 this year.
His record against the other 3 is still impressive.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.