Cristiano Ronaldo - Man Utd Player

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dinostar77 said:
Damning article on Utd signing Ronaldo.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ust-what-is-that-manchester-united-see-in-him

"....Three years ago, Juventus paid £100m for a 33-year-old and gave him a basic salary of £26.6m a year, a deal that must rank as one of the worst in history. Ronaldo was signed to take Juventus, who had lost in two Champions League finals in the previous four seasons, to European glory. Instead they lost in the quarter-final to Ajax, then in the last 16 to Lyon, then in the last 16 to Porto.

Juve had won seven scudetti in a row before Ronaldo arrived. They won it again in their first two seasons with him, but finished fourth last year. He scored 81 league goals in three seasons, but Ronaldo made Juventus a worse football team.

Not only has his relative immobility, his reluctance to contribute to the press – he was in the bottom 2% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of pressures per 90 minutes last season – held Juve back tactically, but the money spent on him has weakened the rest of the squad. There is a reason Juve were so willing to offload him now...."

Basically Jonathan Wilson questioning why we suddenly had money available for Ronaldo transfer and wages but not the CM that the team needs to knit the defense and attack.
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Same journalist, two months ago - https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-not-have-the-look-of-a-man-whose-race-is-run
 
stevoc said:
He didn't do enough pressures or something. Some made up stat bullshit.
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It's a legit question. If tactically you are set up to win the ball in the opponents half, you need the forwards to press. Admittedly that's not really how we play, but arguably we should.
 
nickm said:
Easy. Louis Sahas pace and movement made us a better football team than RVN even though Ruud was a much better goalscorer.
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They wouldn't have been better off without Ronaldo no matter how they spin it is the whole point. Strange choice for a scapegoat to say the least.
 
nickm said:
Easy. Louis Sahas pace and movement made us a better football team than RVN even though Ruud was a much better goalscorer.
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Ronaldo and Rooney also matured into better players at the same time. Saha wasn’t enough.
 
nickm said:
It's a legit question. If tactically you are set up to win the ball in the opponents half, you need the forwards to press.
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But you know what you’re getting with him. He didn’t just start doing it when he joined. He has always been like that.
 
Once the excitement wears off, it'll be interesting to see the response to this historic signing. No doubt he will provide the odd goal here and there, but link up play, pressing at the back etc will all suffer greatly.
 
chiz2kul said:
Once the excitement wears off, it'll be interesting to see the response to this historic signing. No doubt he will provide the odd goal here and there, but link up play, pressing at the back etc will all suffer greatly.
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The only thing that will suffer greatly are opposition defenses.
 
chiz2kul said:
Once the excitement wears off, it'll be interesting to see the response to this historic signing. No doubt he will provide the odd goal here and there, but link up play, pressing at the back etc will all suffer greatly.
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This is the opinion of someone who sees that he is 36, reads the criticism about him “becoming a poacher” and connects the dots.

He is one of the best players in the history of the game, not just a goalscorer. If anything, the lineup play will significantly improve with him in the side!

He is an extremely gifted footballer technically and it will show. We will be a better team with him in it.
 
chiz2kul said:
Once the excitement wears off, it'll be interesting to see the response to this historic signing. No doubt he will provide the odd goal here and there, but link up play, pressing at the back etc will all suffer greatly.
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I'm not sure this is the forum for you pal.
 
Maluco said:
This is the opinion of someone who sees that he is 36, reads the criticism about him “becoming a poacher” and connects the dots.

He is one of the best players in the history of the game, not just a goalscorer. If anything, the lineup play will significantly improve with him in the side!

He is an extremely gifted footballer technically and it will show. We will be a better team with him in it.
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235 posts in 9 years.
Probably a decent bet that he doesn't follow footy that closely.
 
Ali Dia said:
This is what I said when we signed him. Do we really need another low pressing low energy finisher who left us as he hit his prime? Juve were happy to get rid of him. I think he’d have done a lot better in the city team where he could stand around the box and finish stuff but he’s definitely needed in the buildup here… himself and Bruno don’t play well together for Portugal most of the times I’ve seen them either. I think he’ll get goals but I’m not sure he’s what we needed and I don’t think he’ll take us to the next level. He also gives the younger lads another season off having full responsibility. The narrative will be all about Ronaldo winning or failing either way but Ideally you’d like them to be growing and taking more responsibility asap.

Said it day he signed but shut up quickly because feck city but yeah…I’m not so sure…
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That's because Portugal's coach is too negative and incapable of getting the best out of any attacker.
 
dinostar77 said:
Damning article on Utd signing Ronaldo.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ust-what-is-that-manchester-united-see-in-him

"....Three years ago, Juventus paid £100m for a 33-year-old and gave him a basic salary of £26.6m a year, a deal that must rank as one of the worst in history. Ronaldo was signed to take Juventus, who had lost in two Champions League finals in the previous four seasons, to European glory. Instead they lost in the quarter-final to Ajax, then in the last 16 to Lyon, then in the last 16 to Porto.

Juve had won seven scudetti in a row before Ronaldo arrived. They won it again in their first two seasons with him, but finished fourth last year. He scored 81 league goals in three seasons, but Ronaldo made Juventus a worse football team.

Not only has his relative immobility, his reluctance to contribute to the press – he was in the bottom 2% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of pressures per 90 minutes last season – held Juve back tactically, but the money spent on him has weakened the rest of the squad. There is a reason Juve were so willing to offload him now...."

Basically Jonathan Wilson questioning why we suddenly had money available for Ronaldo transfer and wages but not the CM that the team needs to knit the defense and attack.
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It’s a bit over the top considering Juve’s squad was never anything special and was aging as well. Surely the Ramsey deal was a much worse investment. And they had no real competition until Conte arrived at Inter. A little context goes a long way.

That said, he has a point about our midfield. But that has been a point since the Fergie days. Not exactly news is it.
 
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chiz2kul said:
Once the excitement wears off, it'll be interesting to see the response to this historic signing. No doubt he will provide the odd goal here and there, but link up play, pressing at the back etc will all suffer greatly.
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If we were some crazy gegenpressing side I'd agree. But tbh we can't press to save our lives. It's not like Rashford/Martial are prime Pedro and David Villa pressing machines.
 
chiz2kul said:
Once the excitement wears off, it'll be interesting to see the response to this historic signing. No doubt he will provide the odd goal here and there, but link up play, pressing at the back etc will all suffer greatly.
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Stay of SportsBible comments section please.
 
Wilson hates United. They regularly take the piss out of him for it on Football Weekly when he's on.

Someone mentioned it already, but it genuinely seems to be a dislike for Solksjaer. When he gets it right in a big game, Wilson goes out of his way to downplay it.
 
Maluco said:
Or possibly spends his time posting on certain opposition forums!
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I thought we'd at least get to 10 or so mins into Ronaldo's first game without a goal before the moans piped up!
 
I must be a rare breed as a United fan who thinks signing Ronaldo is a backward step for the club on the pitch. He is just so static these days and just relies on others to do the hard graft and expects the ball to land the ball on his feet or head to score. If things don't go his way he will moan and wave his hands about affecting the team chemistry.

I suspect he could really struggle with the physical and fast-paced aspect of the Premiership. If it turns out he can't hack it in the Premiership will Ole have the guts to drop him or sub him off during a game?

PS: I'm not just going off tonight's game. You won't find a post of mine being in favour or excited by his signing.
 
Lads!

He scored 29 goals in the league last season!

5 more than the striker who Chelsea paid over 100 million for… in fewer appearances… for a team that finished lower in the table! He was also playing for one of the worst Juve managers in recent history

It’s absolute nonsense that he isn’t a good player anymore. He is still quick over short distances, has class movement and has linked up so well with so many types of players over his career.
 
Sultan said:
I must be a rare breed as a United fan who thinks signing Ronaldo is a backward step for the club on the pitch. He is just so static these days and just relies on others to do the hard graft and expects the ball to land the ball on his feet or head to score. If things don't go his way he will moan and wave his hands about affecting the team chemistry.

I suspect he could really struggle with the physical and fast-paced aspect of the Premiership. If it turns out he can't hack it in the Premiership will Ole have the guts to drop him or sub him off during a game?

PS: I'm not just going off tonight's game. You won't find a post of mine being in favour or excited by his signing.
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I sort of agree with you. However I'd pose a question for you. Would he be an upgrade over Martial in the lineup? Because in the squad Ronaldo's just taking the starting number 9 spot from Martial. And I think you're also watching this game with a bit of a tint. He's been running plenty and getting involved both in build up and in pressing. Portugal just aren't a big pressing team and their play is highly structured and they don't really like quick vertical passes and flicks like we do. All they do when they get to the final third is start spamming crosses or hope that Ronaldo beats 2 and sticks one in the top bin.
 
Sultan said:
I must be a rare breed as a United fan who thinks signing Ronaldo is a backward step for the club on the pitch. He is just so static these days and just relies on others to do the hard graft and expects the ball to land the ball on his feet or head to score. If things don't go his way he will moan and wave his hands about affecting the team chemistry.

I suspect he could really struggle with the physical and fast-paced aspect of the Premiership. If it turns out he can't hack it in the Premiership will Ole have the guts to drop him or sub him off during a game?

PS: I'm not just going off tonight's game. You won't find a post of mine being in favour or excited by his signing.
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I have seen quite a few comments to the effect of “Forget about how he fits in, football doesn’t get more romantic than this.” Well for some of us it isn’t so romantic for a player who forced a move at his peak to an inferior team at the time and gave his best years elsewhere. All of this “He’s coming home” stuff is just BS really.

But whatever you think of the signing, a real positive for me is that Ole will have no excuses now.
 
RDCR07 said:
How is it Ronaldo’s fault if Juve spent €100m on fees and €26m on wages. It’s their fault for thinking he is the messiah. And if they needed to rebuild the rest of the squad then it was stupid to spend so much on one player and hope for a miracle. He did his job by scoring. If the rest of the players can’t contribute it’s not his fault.
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It is a Jonathan Wilson article. It needn't make sense.
 
Have to hand it to Ronaldo. He was off the pace and played poor all night, but still came up good at the vital moment.
 
Sultan said:
I must be a rare breed as a United fan who thinks signing Ronaldo is a backward step for the club on the pitch. He is just so static these days and just relies on others to do the hard graft and expects the ball to land the ball on his feet or head to score. If things don't go his way he will moan and wave his hands about affecting the team chemistry.

I suspect he could really struggle with the physical and fast-paced aspect of the Premiership. If it turns out he can't hack it in the Premiership will Ole have the guts to drop him or sub him off during a game?

PS: I'm not just going off tonight's game. You won't find a post of mine being in favour or excited by his signing.
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I agree and I feel the same way. I am happy that we've signed him instead of him going to City but I just don't see how he'll contribute to our overall play, we struggle to create real goal scoring opportunities against low blocs and his link up play will hardly help us break teams down like a Kane or a Benzema would. That being said I do think he'll be a big threat from outside the box in terms of shooting that will make opposition defenders need to close him down which should open up a bit of space for everyone else.

I am hopeful though, that he'll give the whole team a boost mentally and make everyone around him give that extra 10% - 20% and hopefully that can be a big difference for a successful season.
 
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Money Mase said:
I have seen quite a few comments to the effect of “Forget about how he fits in, football doesn’t get more romantic than this.” Well for some of us it isn’t so romantic for a player who forced a move at his peak to an inferior team at the time and gave his best years elsewhere. All of this “He’s coming home” stuff is just BS really.

But whatever you think of the signing, a real positive for me is that Ole will have no excuses now.
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Wait so you think Ronaldo doesn't improve us but also think Ole has no excuse left now? I'm confused do you think he makes us better or not?

Its a little sad that the best thing about one our best players ever coming back is not that he makes us better (which you don't think he does) but that it could be bad for the manager if he doesn't win (despite you thinking that he doesn't make us better).
 
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