Garnacho/Rashford / Elanga should have been the front three to start.
Starting Ronaldo was always going to be like being a goal down to begin the match.
Starting Ronaldo was always going to be like being a goal down to begin the match.
7
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 16
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
I agree and disagree, I do think ETH is indulging Ronaldo more now then he did before, however, I do think he thought the team setup was good enough to win due to our performances against West Ham and in the Europa games but he has had a knack so far of underestimating epl away games against mid table opposition. I don't think Ronaldo will be in our starting 11 when our injuries are back. But I do think tonight will be the last straw for ETH when it comes to Ronaldo, especially in the prem. I'd be worried if he's starting next game for us with Martial being sharper, so I'll give him the benefit of doubt today. However, there have been signs in the level of our performances since the Spurs game so this result has been coming and it's also coincidently at the same time a certain number 7 was re introduced to the starting 11.
And about the Martial substitution we were chasing the game and he thought bringing on another attacking player would help so I wouldn't read too much into that as the situation at that time needed as many attacking players as possible to somehow, maybe get a result.
The problem for me is simple. When Ronaldo does inevitably get dropped again (I reckon it will be next epl game against Fulham) what is his reaction going to be and what will be the reaction of the club and media. At the end of the day the club and ETH can't let Ronaldo keep taking the piss out of us and they're going to have to find a way to get him out in Jan even if it means coming to a mutual agreement.
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Martial has been back in training for two weeks I think. Generally a player who is back from an injury would come on as a sub, play a few minutes to see if everything alright. So far he looks alright I think so unless he got injured again he's fit to start the next PL match. I don't care about the League Cup so Ronaldo can start that I have no problem.
But even if Martial not fit enough or got injured again tbh I'd start Rashford as our #9. It's essential for ETH football to be able to high press effectively. High pressing requires the #9 to press the CBs. Ronaldo simply doesn't know how to, or has the legs, or hard working enough for that. Rashford is no pressing machine but he's still miles better than Ronaldo in this. And tbf Ronaldo as our #9 is as useless offensively as Elanga as our RW. But that lad Elanga run and presses quite a lot.
Imo this is also a big reason why we've never been able to dominate the game with Ronaldo playing unless it's a minor side like Omonia or Sheriff. Since he doesn't press effectively it destroys our pressing system which has been a major part in our previous good performances.
Reading the last couple of pages, I've learned that squad selection has nothing to do with picking the best available options, but actually just forms part of a much more important dick measuring contest.
It's interesting. Maybe Ten Hag will have the canteen ladies serve him his grub first with Ronaldo watching tomorrow to re-establish dominance after today's shameful display of, er, picking him.
It's interesting. Maybe Ten Hag will have the canteen ladies serve him his grub first with Ronaldo watching tomorrow to re-establish dominance after today's shameful display of, er, picking him.
WTF?
Also “allowed Ronaldo exercise dominance over him”. What are we talking here? Chinese burns? Purple nurple? Vulcan mind meld?
I don't know if you're deliberately being obtuse playing dumb or just genuinely naïve. This about ronaldo getting his own way, showing the manager that once again you do not dare drop him unless you want trouble.
He did the same to Ralf rangnick, last season at brentford when subbed for maguire, he screamed at Ralf ''why me? why not sub off one of the youngsters'' and afterwards Ralf had to explain himself in the press conference for over 5 minutes explaining why he decided to drop him. After he started ronaldo most games. Ralf after losing his job later admitted Ronaldo did not suit the style he intended to adopt, as rr said ronaldo was not a pressing monster.
So once again it's a player power struggle, where player power wins. Pogba did with it Mourino, Ronaldo did it with Ole, Ralf and now ETH. and all the previous managers who allowed player power to fester ended up losing their jobs.
Thankfully we have a window of opportunity in Janaury to get rid of this virus, whether ETH will make sure he leaves or yields into the pressure of keeping him is another question. Since we have people who believe ETH selected him because he still feels he's our best option, when the most likely event is that he caved into Ronaldo's power and influence within the club
I don’t think his use of players out of their usual positions have been paying off. I’m one of those that will rather see a limited individual in their right position than chance it with a top player in an unnatural position.
You’re going to have to be less vague. What “trouble” is the manager so terrified of here? The same manager who recently kicked Ronaldo out of the matchday squad and fined him two weeks wages. What has changed since then? Why is ETH suddenly bending over backwards for him? Please be specific.
Of course, he was getting dropped for the next immediate game but not many expected him to come back and start that quickly again. He played every minute in the last 4 games, he's almost 38 ffs and there's no active player who played more football than him. This is bad management and not helping the team.
You are underestimating Ronaldo's influence. Being a football manager is a job like every other.
Ronaldo has huge influence in our team. Varane and Casemiro played with him for years. Bruno and Dalot are his teammates from NT. Young players see God in him. Some players are his close friends i guess. He is mr popular and for a new manager it is hard to go against him. Plus all that pressure from media and probably Glazers who see Ronaldo as a brand.
Eth is only a human and he decided to go an easy route here.
Want a bet that if lets say Martial or Fred did what Ronaldo did this year, they wouldn't be near the squad? This is not conspiracy theory, this is just tricky situation where our manager found himself in shitty situation.
Do people genuinely believe Ronaldo's episode hasn't affected the way Ten Hag approaches him? Are we going to sit here and pretend that Ten Hag's handling of Ronaldo hasn't changed since the incident?
Dude who was getting dropped and subbed out for putting in mediocre performances suddenly start and finish all games despite still putting in mediocre performances?
Are we seriously that naive?
Dude who was getting dropped and subbed out for putting in mediocre performances suddenly start and finish all games despite still putting in mediocre performances?
Are we seriously that naive?
TBF with Martial and his recent injuries, I'd understand extra care. I agree anyway, and it's clear Ten Hag does as well. But nobody is gonna put Garnacho and Elanga as the 2 wingers in a tough away game. It wouldn't have made any sense to leave him out today. We need Antony and Sancho back if we want Rashford as the 9, or Martial and Antony or Sancho back to put Rashford left and not have Ronaldo up top. Sancho's form has been horrendous as well, and is now ill and hasn't been training, so it wouldn't exactly be a surprise to see Ronaldo play these last 2 games before the world Cup. He's the 5th choice attacker, and the 5th choice where 3 always start, he'll tend to get gametime. Especially if others are injured.
I hate to say I told you so. But I told you so. He just destroys Any semblance of attacking structure when he's on the pitch so many balls just get hopelessly thrown towards him and so many attacks are wasted to try and get To Ronaldo in.
He should never of come back into the team after his strop against spurs. I do not care how many injuries we have, he just can not play again.
He should never of come back into the team after his strop against spurs. I do not care how many injuries we have, he just can not play again.
If we drop points and ronaldo is not playing due to ETH ruling with an iron fist and firmly establishing that there are long term consequences to unprofessional acts undermining the manager in public, you can bet Sky, Ex United players and ronaldo's social media followers would be on Ten Hag's neck and ETH did not want to take that risk.
Dropping ronaldo for game and fining him 2 weeks wages which is nothing to what ronaldo earns in a day on Instagram, is not any real punishment or determent especially then not having same player not have to work for htheir place back and rewarding them with captaincy.
I know it's harming us right now, but it's also a really sad watch to see him struggling so much, he is still a decent player at times, but far more a liability nowadays.
Media crap aside, I'm not sure he is seeing it the way most other people are right now, and still thinks he's not the problem. Personally I hope he calls it a day after the WC.
Media crap aside, I'm not sure he is seeing it the way most other people are right now, and still thinks he's not the problem. Personally I hope he calls it a day after the WC.
I've seen this argument in one of your previous posts but tbh I have no idea why. Could you explain why please? Why Rashford can play as a #9 only if we have Antony and Sancho?
The difference is negligible. I don't think you could say with any certainty dropping Ronaldo and playing Elanga would make much difference.
The way people here are talking you'd think we had a genuine alternative available.
When we get a few back you'll see, Ronaldo will be benched.
Why did he get to take the free kick...... we all know what happens when he takes free kicks (and so does he). How long do we have to indulge him??
And certainly no DVB
The logic behind it is you have a player that's been good and looking dangerous up front (Rashford) and a useless player on the right (Elanga). Instead of having a useless player on the right (Rashford) and a useless player up front (Ronaldo).
Also, at least Elanga will press.....
Love Island and Jersey Shore is his level.
I get the logic but Rashford has been useless up front plenty of times as well.
There isn't a proper alternative right now. Just like there wasn't all last season.
Let's hope Martial can get on the pitch for the next two games.
How on earth did he go with the easy route? He already made him into a bit part player or injury cover. He is currently covering for injuries. That's all it is.
Pretty much this. 1 out of 2 sides being useless is better than both sides useless.
I think even his more feverish fans are finally cottoning onto how he completely changes how a team has to play in order to accommodate him. Honestly, this isn’t hyperbole, pick any starting PL striker and I think they offer more than him.
It’s sad to see the ego and self confidence which made him the player he is, is swallowing him to the point he doesn’t even realise that the end is nigh as the case is with top athletes in different sports. The fool needs to wake up and embrace the reality. He is like a washed up celebrity who was gobsmacking beautiful in her prime but now an ugly old fart and can’t accept that time is gone.
He's still a killer on Fifa and FM.
All it takes is opening your eyes and seeing the options available and who is unavailable. That's literally all it takes. He treated him as 5th choice attacker. He still treats him as 5th choice attacker. Nothing has changed other than 3 of the first 4 are outDo people genuinely believe Ronaldo's episode hasn't affected the way Ten Hag approaches him? Are we going to sit here and pretend that Ten Hag's handling of Ronaldo hasn't changed since the incident?
Dude who was getting dropped and subbed out for putting in mediocre performances suddenly start and finish all games despite still putting in mediocre performances?
Are we seriously that naive?
Ronaldo currently is like a magic spell in an rpg that only hits/does anything 1 out of 8 times but when it does it hits for 80% of the opponents hp but also means your turn always is last. Elanga is a magic spell that hits every time first time but only does 25% damage.
even @Rajma didn't think it would be this bad
You think ETH decided to deliberately play a weakened line-up in a must win game because he’s worried about what CR7 stans post on Twitter? Or that Roy Keane might say horrible things about him on MNF?
Seems unlikely to me tbh.
Because otherwise we have no wingers? Our (realistic) order of attackers is something like:
- Rashford - LW/ST
- Martial - ST
- Antony - RW
- Sancho - LW/RW
- Ronaldo - ST
- Garnacho - LW
- Elanga - LW/RW
It's simply finding the mix that works from the options we have. We have 3 wingers, one who is our 2nd choice striker.
Last 4 games since he's returned from his suspension, he's treated him as 1st choice striker in spite of who's been available and not been available.
You seem quite determined to keep your eyes closed to the misgivings ETH has given many folk cause for concern
This is all so obvious. Why does it need to be spelled out?! It feels like everyone has lost their minds.
The one and only unknown is whether Martial was ready to start. But with his history of immediately breaking down when he returns from injury you can see why he wasn’t risked.
Actually I think the most likely event is that he felt Ronaldo was the best option given the injury situation.
very unlikely. Some posters just enjoy indulging weird, paranoid fantasies.
I just hope Ten Hag has given him a run of games to prove himself and fingers crossed that shitty experiment is over.
Good that we only have one league game to go before the break, unfortunately he will probably still be a permanent fixture in our first team after we return but at least with Antony and Bruno back we might be more of a threat.
Where is the part to explain why Rashford can only play as a #9 only if we have both Antony and Sancho?
And imo anyone in their right mind would play both Garnacho and Elanga and bench Ronaldo. He's simply useless both defensively and offensively these days.
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