Do you believe Ronaldo is finished as a top level player?

Well...

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MrMarcello said:
How was Zlatan doing it for Milan in his late 30s/early 40s? Was he a part-time player these days? Super-sub role?
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Part time motivation role. Also was always a striker and knew how to play with his back to goal. Ronaldo was never actually good as a striker, he was an inside forward from the wing. At his best he struggled a bit through the middle.
 
I dont think he's finished per se.

What's the definition of finished anyway?

But sure he's not the GOAT that's guaranteed a 25+ goals even playing under handicap.

He's now in mortal category, old and ageing. I have no doubt given the correct attitude, in the correct team he can still do a Larson or a Zlatan no problem. One doesnt ended up washed out in a season.

But yes... He's falled of the cliff. He's now just a functional good CF with a baggage.
 
There's a startling lack of understanding here around how losing a child would affect a human being. I'm amazed he's even playing football at all.
 
Was trying right left and center to make the 700 goal statistics. All of us would be fuming if we drew the game and the man was taking shots after shots to make it about him again while other players are in better positions to score. Thats CR7 for you these days.
 
Bleed Red said:
There's a startling lack of understanding here around how losing a child would affect a human being. I'm amazed he's even playing football at all.
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What do you want us to do then? Cheer him on no matter how shit he plays because we assume he's playing through a severe depression?

If he came out and confirmed that he does suffer from severe depression, do you think we would laugh about it and mock him mercilessly?
 
Ockham said:
He scored 42 goals in 46 starts as a midfielder. He scored 8 of United 20 goals in CL, 3 out of Uniteds 7 in the KO stages and the only goal in the final. And yeah. He won Ballon d'or with 446 votes with Rooney on 13th place with 11 votes and Giggs and Scholes got no votes.
I absolutely hate Ronaldos persona but this thread is getting more ridiculous for every minute.
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Was never a midfielder in the 42 goal season. That season was when Ronaldo the forward was born, the Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

The last season he played on the wings consistently and consistently well was 06/07. After that, he actually struggled whenever he played as a classic winger unless the opposing fullback was slow.
 
Overwhelmingly. He’s old as feck, so who can blame him?

We watched Giggs and Scholes get the piss taken of out of them when it was obvious they were finished and here we are again.

Get rid.
 
He is hampering what ETH is trying to do with the squad. Last few games he has been quite selfish, probably because he wants to make the most of his start and show that he can score goals but instances where a pass could be made, his first intention is to look for an opportunity to shoot and by that time the passing chance is gone. Rashford, Martial, Antony and Sancho should be considered our main starters vying for that 3 spot up top with Garnacho and Elanga being rotated as subs.
 
People here who think its becos of age obviously have not played football. Age reduces speed and strength but not your technique, positioning and other attributes.

The problem with Ronaldo is a mixture of poor decision making (he seems to be desperate trying to score), his body balance affected by the intense fitness training to make sure he can press and lack of consistent playing time.

The bigger problem happens to be the outcome from the intense fitness training. You can see that Ronaldo is not able to control his touch very well which can result from muscle fatigue. I have never seen a 37 yr old press all game long and still play their position, so if Ronaldo somehow overcomes this, he will be the first to do this.
 
MrMarcello said:
How was Zlatan doing it for Milan in his late 30s/early 40s? Was he a part-time player these days? Super-sub role?
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I would say a key issue there is that Zlatan is a beast and much more physical. He could place himself up at the box with his back towards the goal and the other guys could play off him as he always could hold off the defenders.
 
suheilsworld said:
He is hampering what ETH is trying to do with the squad. Last few games he has been quite selfish, probably because he wants to make the most of his start and show that he can score goals but instances where a pass could be made, his first intention is to look for an opportunity to shoot and by that time the passing chance is gone. Rashford, Martial, Antony and Sancho should be considered our main starters vying for that 3 spot up top with Garnacho and Elanga being rotated as subs.
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He is a CF. CFs need to be selfish in the final third which is normal. Problem is that he is unable to control his technique.
 
Surprise, surprise: the Omonia result was Ronaldo's form - I wonder how some haven't managed to blame McT, Rooney and carrick as well.

He didn't have a great game but he made runs others didn't (look at our equaliser), he created chances for others and had he been on a run of scoring would have got a couple last night. Of course, he's nowhere near what he used to be and of course he isn't Zlatan (in build or being an out-an-out No.9) but he was a long way from our poorest player
 
Hopefully we only have 3 months left before he's gone for good. Can't stand the man and the fact he's now utterly useless makes it painful to watch a match with him leading the line
 
If his name wasn't Ronaldo and was a new signing (say Nunez) he'd have been labelled a massive flop and laughed at up and down the country.

what's happened to his finishing ability? people said he wasn't getting chances, but he should have scored at least 3 last night.

Hitting the post from 5 yards, smashing the cutback over the bar? If he isn't going to score goals then whats the point of him playing. It's definitely not for his work rate or link up play.
 
OpenIntrovert said:
He is a CF. CFs need to be selfish in the final third which is normal. Problem is that he is unable to control his technique.
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CF also need to do that. If he is unable to do this, he should at least become the provider which he rarely does. Passing to a fellow player in the final third is his last option and by that time, it is too late
 
Adam-Utd said:
If his name wasn't Ronaldo and was a new signing (say Nunez) he'd have been labelled a massive flop and laughed at up and down the country.

what's happened to his finishing ability? people said he wasn't getting chances, but he should have scored at least 3 last night.

Hitting the post from 5 yards, smashing the cutback over the bar? If he isn't going to score goals then whats the point of him playing. It's definitely not for his work rate or link up play.
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really? because it was his run that created the space for Rashford's first and his ball on a plate for rashford's second. but, yes, he should have scored at least one himself
 
Ockham said:
He scored 42 goals in 46 starts as a midfielder. He scored 8 of United 20 goals in CL, 3 out of Uniteds 7 in the KO stages and the only goal in the final. And yeah. He won Ballon d'or with 446 votes with Rooney on 13th place with 11 votes and Giggs and Scholes got no votes.
I absolutely hate Ronaldos persona but this thread is getting more ridiculous for every minute.
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I think most people agree with you that he was comfotably our best player and talisman that season, but you need to get the facts straight. He played 49 games that season and he played every single game in a front 3, never as a midfielder. It was a worthy Ballon d'or though.

This thread is about him now though, in 2022. Well.... It doesn't matter if you've scored 699 goals in the past if you're a net negative to your team's output on the pitch now. Which he without a shadow of a doubt is (and was last season as well)
 
Strikers can have days like yesterday where nothing goes in so I would not take yesterday as an example of him being finished as a player as he kept on getting into goalscoring positions, the ball just wouldn't go in the net for him.

However, overwhelming evidence based on the season so far is against him - he too has proven to be a flop at 20 odd million in transfer fee and same or more in wages.
 
mitchmouse said:
really? because it was his run that created the space for Rashford's first and his ball on a plate for rashford's second. but, yes, he should have scored at least one himself
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Are we really looking to praise basic forward runs now? yes they did manage to create space. I don't think anybody is criticising his work rate, he's clearly trying.

The simple fact is though for somebody pulling stroppy faces sitting on the bench, and demanding that he play - his output simply isn't enough.
 
Thought he did okay overall, his end product was just almost non-existant.

The worry is though he should be more than okay against a team like that.

His time here has been a disaster but I think our problems would exist with or without Ronaldo. The euphoria of the Newcastle game and those Champions League goals last year are probably worth it.
 
He came and signed a contract for 2 years on massive wages. This summer he threw his dummy out the pram and wanted a move. He missed pre season training trying to get a move, but expected to be paid massive wages by the buying club and no one was prepared to pay it. Utd rightly or wrongly then said he had to stay.
This is Ronaldo 2021/2 nowhere near the player we sold, because he wanted to leave.
He showed no loyalty when he came this time, because he was hoping to sign for City, then we offered him more money.
People need to forget yesteryear. Ronaldo was one of our best players ever then and realise this older version doesnt suit TH plans now. The furore from him not playing against City, was the only reason he wasnt at least subbed yesterday, imo.
 
Never thought I would see a Cristiano Ronaldo struggling with confidence, but it has happened. I'm one of those people who have never forgiven him for leaving us for Real Madrid, but it's not nice seeing him struggle like that. I simply hope we can find a good solution for him in January.
 
IMakeThingsUp said:
I would say a key issue there is that Zlatan is a beast and much more physical. He could place himself up at the box with his back towards the goal and the other guys could play off him as he always could hold off the defenders.
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Yeah Zlatan in his last few years just walked around, but he’s 6 foot 5 and a beast so he can shield the ball from any defender and lay it off in a clever way. Ronaldo doesn’t have those attributes, different kind of player.
 
bosnian_red said:
Part time motivation role. Also was always a striker and knew how to play with his back to goal. Ronaldo was never actually good as a striker, he was an inside forward from the wing. At his best he struggled a bit through the middle.
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He was also a great role model and professional who carried a cantona like aura about him, maybe it was coincidence but the minute he left united things unravelled under mourinho and we never had any unrest in the dressing room with him in it, the same can not be said about ronaldo who has thrown the young players under the bus to protect his stature in the game, caused drama around the club, acted undignified and unprofessional and constantly throwing strops on the pitch towards other players and our managers, it's all about him.
 
We played a team that finished 7th last season in Cyprus, spent most of the game with the ball in their half and you have people saying that the best paid player in our team played pretty well because he, our CF, made a run for one of the goals, fluffed a shot that happened to land at Rashford's feet and that he would've scored a couple of goals if he was in form.

The bar is so low for him that he could lie down and roll across it.
 
Zlaatan said:
We played a team that finished 7th last season in Cyprus, spent most of the game with the ball in their half and you have people saying that the best paid player in our team played pretty well because he, our CF, made a run for one of the goals, fluffed a shot that happened to land at Rashford's feet and that he would've scored a couple of goals if he was in form.

The bar is so low for him that he could lie down and roll across it.
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He’d probably still hit it.
 
He looks and plays so desperate. The swagger has gone.
 
Adam-Utd said:
Are we really looking to praise basic forward runs now? yes they did manage to create space. I don't think anybody is criticising his work rate, he's clearly trying.

The simple fact is though for somebody pulling stroppy faces sitting on the bench, and demanding that he play - his output simply isn't enough.
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well, there was very little other movement up front - particularly in the first half - and not for the first time. But I agree he didn't have a great game but I don't agree with those saying the whole team was more interesting in getting him that 700th goal than in winning the game
 
NoLogo said:
Never thought I would see a Cristiano Ronaldo struggling with confidence, but it has happened. I'm one of those people who have never forgiven him for leaving us for Real Madrid, but it's not nice seeing him struggle like that. I simply hope we can find a good solution for him in January.
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I think this is most where I disagree with people on this subject: I don't tend to carry a grudge for people who want to leave the club. after all, if no one wanted to leave their club, we would never get to sign anyone! For some players, United isn't what it is to us: Ronaldo never made a secret of wanting to play for Real. being from Portugal, maybe they were the club he supported as a kid.

it's sad when a player I like leaves, but it is also sad when we get rid of certain players. But, as mad as it might seem to us, to many players it is just a job - albeit a very well paid one. I was never even mad at Heinze when those "stories" arose linking him to Liverpool.
 
He's obviously declining and not good enough for the top level anymore but he's also clearly very short of confidence right now which makes him look worse. Only he knows how much the off-field stuff in the last 6 months or so has affected him as well but it would be no surprise if that's something that continues to have an impact.

A couple of goals from open-play and I think he'll begin to look better but we still need to find a way of moving him on in January.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Because he’s 39 fecking years old.

Why do people need to be reminded of this? There’s no mystery here. He’s over the hill. It happens. Usually much earlier than this. The only mystery is why so many fans seem surprised that a 39 year old is playing like a 39 year old.
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Well yeah, but you would think his finishing ability would be the last thing to decline. He's still able to get into dangerous positions, but his finishing is just so poor. He seems to overthink everything right now.
 
demetre said:
Well yeah, but you would think his finishing ability would be the last thing to decline. He's still able to get into dangerous positions, but his finishing is just so poor. He seems to overthink everything right now.
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Was he ever a really world class finisher though? I don’t remember him as someone who was super composed in front of goal, capable of loads of different types of finish. It was more that he could smash the ball extremely hard and accurately with either foot (as well as a monster in the air, obviously). Take away that athleticism and his finishing will fade at the same rate as his other abilities.
 
mitchmouse said:
I think this is most where I disagree with people on this subject: I don't tend to carry a grudge for people who want to leave the club. after all, if no one wanted to leave their club, we would never get to sign anyone! For some players, United isn't what it is to us: Ronaldo never made a secret of wanting to play for Real. being from Portugal, maybe they were the club he supported as a kid.

it's sad when a player I like leaves, but it is also sad when we get rid of certain players. But, as mad as it might seem to us, to many players it is just a job - albeit a very well paid one. I was never even mad at Heinze when those "stories" arose linking him to Liverpool.
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I get that players have a different perspective about playing for clubs, after all it's first and foremost their job and their career. On the other hand, players also can't expect fans to still like them after they have left, you chose a different club? Alright, but now you are dead to me, feck off.
 
demetre said:
Well yeah, but you would think his finishing ability would be the last thing to decline. He's still able to get into dangerous positions, but his finishing is just so poor. He seems to overthink everything right now.
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Finishing actually demands a lot from a player physically, especially in the modern game, where you often only have split seconds to get a shot off. Having the instinct to be in the right position probably never quite goes away, but putting the ball away can clearly suffer if your physical ability suffers.
 
He's ok if you want to play Zlatanball with a high technique low mobility egomaniac up front. But that doesn't work in the EPL where the standards are very high. If ETH wants to play high press then even a 5 years younger Ronaldo would not really fit in.
 
I think most clubs in Europe aren’t crazy enough to take him. He doesn’t improve any teams who will most likely qualify for the next round of the UCL.
 
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