I didn't think Ronaldo was that poor last night, when he got the ball he ran it at the defenders, he beat his man, he put some good balls into the box, he played that great pass to Nani from the byline for the shot, but I only saw the second half.
Luis Nani | 2011/12 Performances
- Thread starter Kelvin
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Maybe.
Don't know why they don't play him down the middle, you're always going to be on the periphery to some extent on the wing.
It's all about tactics, is it not? For the first 30 minutes at least, Portugal was set up with Ronaldo hovering near the half way line, looking for an early ball from Portugal defense as soon as the Germans lost the ball. It seemed a clear tactic from Portugal to exploit Ronaldo's pace and test the German defence's pace. It's difficult to play a good role in build up when your team is setup like that, surely that must have been the coaches' call. I personally thought Ronaldo did reasonably well.
Coming to Nani, I can't believe how he was the flop of the match. He provided a threat down the right whenever he got the ball, he held the ball well, and brought his right back into play most of the times. Played the easy ball most of the time and genuinely posed a lot of problems to Lahm, arguably the best fullback in the world.
However good Ronaldo and Nani is, we have to see that Germans are a very good team, and their team had much more attacking threat, and strength in numbers in midfield and were set up well. That's my take on it anyway.
No, apparently Ronaldo was their best player.
The website is pro Real Madrid what do you expect. Also the writers talk the biggest load of nonsense.
Ronaldo was poor by his own standards especially with his shooting. Had a couple of oppertunities that he dreamed of and he didnt strike the ball like we know he can. He did make a few openings for others though
Portugal have two problems that are keeping them from success.
1. They don't have an adequate striker who can complement Ronaldo and Nani's efforts.
2. They don't play as a collective. Nani and Ronaldo don't seem to communicate much. Its as if they're both trying to show off their individual skills without much effort to play together. Over all, the Portuguese side just don't play like a team, which in the absence of a good striker (Pauletta, when he was still playing, for instance), they're likely to force too much into Ronaldo and Nani's lap.
1. They don't have an adequate striker who can complement Ronaldo and Nani's efforts.
2. They don't play as a collective. Nani and Ronaldo don't seem to communicate much. Its as if they're both trying to show off their individual skills without much effort to play together. Over all, the Portuguese side just don't play like a team, which in the absence of a good striker (Pauletta, when he was still playing, for instance), they're likely to force too much into Ronaldo and Nani's lap.
Everytime I watch Ronaldo at the start I think, 'I miss that mofo.' Then he doesn't track back and I get pissed off having flashbacks of the 3-2 against Villa.
My opinion as well. He also almost created a good chance first half by forcing the right back into the box and putting in a good left footed cross. Whenever I have watched Ronaldo for Portugal(admittedly last time was under Queiroz) he has been hitting hopeful long rangers whenever he was within 40 yards of the goal, whereas he did not do that last night. Whenever he had the ball he looked a threat. That save Neuer made was one of Portugal's few efforts on goal all match.
I thought they looked so much better going for it, great interplay and movement at the end there.
I prefer to remember the numerous matches he won for us practically single handedly.
Even in the Villa match he scored first, then made it 2-2 with a long range shot, setting up the stage for Macheda...
Nani was fecking fantastic today. Could easily have had five assists. Should at the very least had three. Great to see.
Agreed, His crossing was very consistent today. Nearly every cross was threatening.
Best player on the pitch. Consistantly Portugals biggest attacking threat. The man they turn to while Ronaldo is having off days. Creator.
:smugface:
He was brilliant. Their best player today.
tbh they've both been pretty trash.
:trollface:
:trollface:
His delivery with his right foot is excellent - that's why his best position is on the right. Him and Valencia are going to have to compete for that position when they're both fit.
Great game for Nani, a pity the decision making and finishing of his team mates is awful. Many times Nani was free and Meireles shoots from 30+ yards, then Postiga and Ronaldo waste easy chances. Could have had 4 assists today
He's just as effective on the left.
I think the main difference was he was more involved today. In the previous match he looked dangerous but he just wasnt given the ball down the right anywhere near as often today. And today he did everything he could to get his team mates on the scoresheet. In fact short of kicking the ball in the net for him, I dont know what Nani could possibly have done more to help Ronaldo score today.
Of course as with before the match, all the talk will be about how Portugal dont play to Ronaldo's strengths enough and so on. While Nani once again goes underappreciated because he isnt Ronaldo.
Of course as with before the match, all the talk will be about how Portugal dont play to Ronaldo's strengths enough and so on. While Nani once again goes underappreciated because he isnt Ronaldo.
Best player out there for Portugal tonight. He's got amazing feet hasn't he? Made three or four clear chances only for Ronaldo to develop acute Torresitis and squander the majority. Top performance from a top player.
He's just as good on the left though...
Great passing from Nani and crossing.
Nani better on the right is a myth.
He's equally good on both sides and his form fluctuates from the fullback too.
I'm pretty sure he's going to be Portugals best player this tournament, Ronaldo has been too used to the Madrid style where he's got all the best players around him imo. He should be played as a CF as he does not track back.
He's equally good on both sides and his form fluctuates from the fullback too.
I'm pretty sure he's going to be Portugals best player this tournament, Ronaldo has been too used to the Madrid style where he's got all the best players around him imo. He should be played as a CF as he does not track back.
Just as I predicted whoscored.com have Nani as MOM from the Opta stats.
Nani being better on the right is a myth, last year he played 9 games for us on the left and got 4 goals and 6 assists!
He is simply a superb player who can make another step up in the next two seasons.
Had a good game, I think he delivers crosses more comfortably on the the right as he takes the ball into his stride easier than when on the left.
No he's not, in terms of effectiveness. Why? On the right he always has the first option of delivering with his right and that's when he produces more - that's what carried our attack for most of 2010/2011. On the left he doesn't have that option, his crossing is erratic with his left foot, he has to dribble more and look to shoot, and he ends up being inconsistent and losing form. He may have the odd good game playing on the left, but he really produces consistently when he's on the right. In fact, his periods off-form and of being called inconsistent and frustrating always coincide with him being put on the left to accommodate Valencia... that's not a coincidence.
I posted this two posts up
Nani being better on the right is a myth, last year he played 9 games for us on the left and got 4 goals and 6 assists!
Pretty productive if you ask me.
You're missing the point. On the right he played 3/4 of a season carrying our attack and being voted player of the season for it before he moved to the left and lost form; last season he started on fire on the right hand side, kept Valencia at right back but as soon as he had to play on the left, he played well initially but his delivery inevitably became inconsistent and he lost effectiveness. So the point isn't that he can't play very well on the left, its that he is more effective and consistent on the right over many games whereas on the left he tends to become inconsistent and lose form.
Nani had a really good match today. Not just in attack but also in helping his defender out. I hardly remember any Danish crosses from the left.
I'll stop you there, seeing as he lost form through getting a bad injury from Carragher, it had nothing to do with playing left or right.
The myth is still alive and well, then.
Nah, you've got that completely wrong.
Last season Nani played almost all of his best football on the left (hence the stats above) and only very rarely played well on the right. Complete reversal from what many were saying the previous season.
Except last season in a third of the games that he appeared in he played on the left and played his best football.
Facht.
I thought this debate was put to bed a long time ago.Nani is great whether on the right or left.
Pretty much spot on. With the only missing part being the implied tactical disadvantage for the opposition fullback at having to worry about those crosses. Which opens up the rest of his game. Whereas on the left they can - and do - take much more of a chance with standing off him, leaving him with only one real option, to take them off the dribble. Hence the 'inconsistency'.
Heck, early crosses is what turned ball-dabbling Nani into the Nani of today. Does no one really remember that? How fullbacks would give him miles of space because everyone knew he was just going to try and look for the perfect pass and end up with no options?
Anyhow, superb early crosses with right foot -> defenders could no longer wait for him to dribble himself into a corner -> they close down -> he dribbles past -> oh FFS -> goal/assist.
It's not remotely spot on. It's way, way off.
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