[Redlyn]

What is great is the Erik doesn't need to massage any egos. It's his way or the highway.

Every missed chance or misplaced pass is so frustrating to Ronaldo. It shows he's not in a great place mentally right now.

 

[Strelok]

This. He’ll start regularly soon enough.

Yeah in the Europa League.

 

[Irwin99]

Looked good and pressed well when he came on. Obviously desperate for a goal. No problem at all with his frustration at not scoring.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

Four straight wins with various players scoring without him starting, all the talk that Rashford shouldn’t play instead of him and Rashford scores two goals.

First thing Rashford says is different this year is togetherness. Of course this is all coincidental.

 

[SirAF]

I'm thankful enough he's kept himself going at high quality until 37 (last season). This season I'll have to rationally review when it's over. Anything from here on is a bonus for me. I thought in all my positiveness he'd be done at 34 max, but he's put up a valiant fight against time for sure. Don't disagree about him moving on next season, hopefully having contributed positively to United for one final time.

Absolutely. Next season it might be time for a last dance at Sporting. I’ll take only one goal at the WC to keep the streak going

 

[MadDogg]

Rashford is playing a key part in the team. Yes he's not a target man and can hardly hold the ball with his back against the net but he's making the runs.

Worked against Liverpool and worked again today. Ronaldo looks physically shot and slow as feck we saw it on his run against Southampton. There's no way he can make that runs.

Ronaldo obviously isn't as fast as he used to be, but I don't get this 'physically shot' comment that I've seen a lot of people make. He's still got decent speed, he's still climbing above defenders to win headers, his off-the-ball movement means he's already found himself in wonderful goal-scoring positions multiple times in his last few sub appearances only for the final pass to not quite be right. He's not the physical beast he used to be, but I'd say he's still above average in most physical aspects.

Obviously he shouldn't be starting every match anymore (even last season his form fell apart during that period where we had two games a week), but as long as we manage his minutes I expect he'll be an important player for us. Start some, come off the bench some, completely rested some.

 

[BorisManUtd]

He had no preseason and it's only start of September, I'm sure he'll get better and will be useful for the team.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Done alright and he was rightly annoyed by a couple of poor passes.

If he can continue to show this effort then I have no complaints because he's ours for the next 12 months like it or not.

 

[Escobar]

He had no preseason and it's only start of September, I'm sure he'll get better and will be useful for the team.

Not that he could have had one

 

[MrEleson]

Every missed chance or misplaced pass is so frustrating to Ronaldo. It shows he's not in a great place mentally right now.

Tbf some of those were easy passes. That Fred ball to him when he would’ve basically been one-on-one if he got it right was shocking. Any goalscorer would be annoyed there.

Overall, he doesn’t seem to be kicking up a fuss about his current role which is converse to what most predicted.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Not that he could have had one

I know, but it is in the past now. I think he can have important role for us still.

 

[The United]

Tbf some of those were easy passes. That Fred ball to him when he would’ve basically been one-on-one if he got it right was shocking. Any goalscorer would be annoyed there.

Overall, he doesn’t seem to be kicking up a fuss about his current role which is converse to what most predicted.

Even Fred apologized for it.

But Ronaldo laughed it off after that though. I don't see the issue with strikers being frustrated with chances because everyone should be as goals win games. I don't think he was particularly angry at the players for those two chances, just at circumstances, perhaps.

 

[antsmithmk]

Can't fault his attitude today. He was desperate to score and he ran his nuts off.

 

[DutchCruijff]

Brilliant desire. He needs to start as CF from now. Give him the Europa match on Thursday to build up match sharpness.

Rashford/Sancho for LW.

Ronaldo for CF - with Martial eased in.

Antony for RW.

 

[Devil81]

He will get his game time over the season but the reality is he doesn't make our strongest eleven anymore.

I just hope he's happy fronting our challenge for the Europa league, League cup and FA Cup teams.

 

[Bwuk]

Teams panic when they see him. He was very good I thought.

 

[Poborsky's hair]

Tbf some of those were easy passes. That Fred ball to him when he would’ve basically been one-on-one if he got it right was shocking. Any goalscorer would be annoyed there.

Overall, he doesn’t seem to be kicking up a fuss about his current role which is converse to what most predicted.

It wasn't that easy pass as it seemed, Fred could have done better yeah but still had to bend the pass around the player and not ping it into GK area. Only the last game Ronaldo had much easier pass to square for tap in which was really annoying feck up. Players just don't get things right at times.

I think as limited as Ronaldo is right now, that he will come in handy eventually if he's willing to accept a new role in the squad and fights for the team like he showed the last two games in his cameos.

 

[Tom Cato]

I was encouraged with him today. Looked genuinely pleased when Antony scored, came on, looked desperate for a goal. I don't see a guy that's going to be as difficult to manage as everyone made out. It was always going to be the case that once the window shuts he has to accept the reality, and he'll always want to score, so it's not really this huge problem for the manager.

I loved that Ronaldo smile there after Antony scored. Feels good to see.

Curious if, or at all, Casemiro joining has any impact on Ronaldos desire to hang around, they have won titles together after all. Of course its the same with Varane

 

[Rossa]

I don’t get the slow arguments building up. The run against Southampton was him actualky outpacing the defender only for a long touch going a little wide, and he had to adjust. The same defender made life harrd for Elanga, who is blistering.
Not as fast as he used to, but still amongst the fastest forwards in the league I reckon.

 

[bakalhau]

Curious if, or at all, Casemiro joining has any impact on Ronaldos desire to hang around, they have won titles together after all.

Definitely had some impact.

Hopefully with the level of knowledge and chemistry they both have with each other we can see some more of this during the current season (Casemiro knowing Ronaldo's on his back and letting the ball through his legs):



And more of this:

 

[MrEleson]

I don’t get the slow arguments building up. The run against Southampton was him actualky outpacing the defender only for a long touch going a little wide, and he had to adjust.

Not to mention he had just picked up a knock that he was limping from just before that sprint. He really isn’t as slow as people are trying to make out.

 

[bakalhau]

Not to mention he had just picked up a knock that he was limping from just before that sprint. He really isn’t as slow as people are trying to make out.

He just seems slow specially because a lot of people remember the pace he had before... He's still fast today, he was just ridiculous on his first stint at United.

Edit: and being fast is more than just top speed

 

[MrEleson]

He just seems slow specially because a lot of people remember the pace he had before... He's still fast today, he was just ridiculous on his first stint at United.

Edit: and being fast is more than just top speed

Yeah and I completely agree. Just saying I wouldn’t class him as categorically ‘slow.’

 

[Raoul]

Teams panic when they see him. He was very good I thought.

Noticed this as well. Simply being in the game has a destabilizing effect on opponents, which even if he’s not involved in scoring, provides them with sufficient anxiety that opens up chances for others.

 

[bakalhau]

Yeah and I completely agree. Just saying I wouldn’t class him as categorically ‘slow.’

Oh, yeah, yeah I was definitely agreeing with you as well, sorry if it didn't come across that way. In my view he's still fast. Just fast. That means not top 5% in relation to PL, but still above average I'd say from what I can see around in the league. A huge part of still being fast (in my opinion) at 37 is the surreal footwork he has (again, being fast is not just pure top speed as I mentioned above).

Edit: don't look at a youtube compilation of his runs from his first United years though or you'll shed a couple tears

2nd edit because why not: I'm positively surprised at the reaction here's getting here today from most of the people

 

[redcucumber]

It was stupid of him to go MIA in the summer and miss preseason. You can tell he's not completely there, but his desire absolutely is. I was dead set on wanting him out this summer, but it would have been amazing if that chance at the end from Bruno's blocked pass had got through to him and he had finished it off. His hunger is infectious. If he's happy to be managed by ten Hag in this way in a much more rotational manner then that's great. What a weapon to have from the bench.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

He looked fairly energetic.

There were a couple easy passes to him to potentially score and they were all wayward/late.

 

[Red Royal]

He is desperate for a goal... hope the team pass to him only if it is not the best option not cos it is CR7

 

[Mickeza]

I thought he worked hard. And he stayed relatively high up the pitch. Also seemed delighted for Antony and gave him a massive smile when replacing him. Good signs.

 

[Andycoleno9]

He looks slow as feck. He didn't look like this last year

 

[laughtersassassin]

Didn't think he did much but then watched this video and he actually did well to be honest.

With Martial out he has to be the starting striker for me as Rashford can only play when there is space in behind



Ignore the dramatic music.

 

[predator]

He looked desperate to score. I liked what I saw today from him. He's just focusing on tithe football.

 

[bakalhau]

Didn't think he did much but then watched this video and he actually did well to be honest.

With Martial out he has to be the starting striker for me as Rashford can only play when there is space in behind



Ignore the dramatic music.

Quite interesting, I missed that detail on the 2nd goal, his press was effective. He also starts the play for the 3rd goal (albeit, after he attempts a pass the other way and fails).

 

[Jim Beam]

Ah, we are in a silent domination phase

 

[simonhch]

He looks really old and slow this season. Like a dinosaur coming off the bench. His aerial ability will be useful in some games, but his disappearance in pre-season is costing him right now.

The good news is that ETH has put him in his place. He’s a bench warmer who has to work for the team and work hard to get back in to the team. The way it should be. Every time he’s come on, he’s looked really poor, a few nice moments aside. There was a moment today from the left, when he had just acres of space and time, and put in a cross not seen since the height of Bebe. I think this is the season where Father Time really makes his presence felt. He’s been on the decline for a while, but the drop off this year is massive.

All that said, I am slightly enthused by what appears to be a huge improvement in attitude. Even if it’s fake, it still helps the atmosphere around the club. Long may it continue.

 

[Adisa]

He was desperate to score. I liked that.

 

[TheReligion]

Didn't think he did much but then watched this video and he actually did well to be honest.

With Martial out he has to be the starting striker for me as Rashford can only play when there is space in behind



Ignore the dramatic music.

Good compilation of his involvements and I too thought he did well. Also offered a threat in the air and more physically.

 

[SportingCP96]

Once he gets match fit he will naturally take that starting Position, He’s looked alright but clearly rusty. Once he gets back to last seasons form it will be fun to see.

 

[RussellWilson]

Think he has one last streak of goals in him. Will depend how on side Ten Hagg can get him.

 

[Adam-Utd]

His speed isn't the issue, it's what he's doing on the ball that's the biggest problem.

Wtf is with these back heels and chest flicks? he caused more problems to our own team than Arsenal.

His legs just don't really look under him right now but I assume that's more down to lack of match fitness.

Ironically he could really do with playing in the.... Europa league this Thursday