Ronaldo wasn’t the problem….

He definitely was a problem
 
Ronaldo was insubordinate and more importantly was no longer at the requisite level for PL level. He had to go, blud.

Exactly that. And I was once a big fan of his. But the way he behaved was just not acceptable.
 
High standards that he himself never really met. No wonder his team mates got pissed
 
He's right, you know. Some people just have the high standards and vision to see things where others cannot.

By these same high standards and vision he can also see the extremely high quality of the Saudi League, while others are content to mock from their keyboards and wallow in their mediocrity. Standards. Some people have them, some people don't.
 
Ronaldo chose to join a side filled with players that were either mediocre (Lingard, McTominay, Fred, Maguire, Elanga, etc.) or on their very last legs (Mata, Matic, Cavani). What exactly did he expect?
 
Maybe Phelan's angling for a job in Saudi.
 
The guy went and vented to Piers Morgan. Piers fecking Morgan?!?!

It was unforgivable.
 
Our standards aren't actually flying without him

Our players have been known to stick the knife and twist it deep when their comfort zone is intruded.

Jose, Ole, Rangnick, Ronaldo, has all felt the stab in the back.

And yes, Ronaldo could be a prick at times. But he wasn't wrong when he said our standards are shit. We barely even run these days
 
Everyone knew, incl ETH, that there was an issue with dressing room standards

What we all, inlc ETH, hoped was that the highly experienced and iconic player in our squad would dedicate himself to improving those standards and leaving a legacy for future squads to benefit from. A situation he himself massively benefitted from as a wildly inconsistent teenager here.

Instead he refused to work with the manager right from the off, refused to accept his limitations and set about causing rifts in said dressing room in order to force his exit. He then disrespected the entire club even further with his piers Morgan dalliance

He's a knob
 
Maybe Phelan's angling for a job in Saudi.
Reckon there’s something in this to be honest. He’s seen worse managers than him go there and probably earn in a few months what’s he’s earned in his career. Butter up Ronaldo, get a year deal there, it’s shorts weather all year with Phelan.
 
He was a really big problem. Yes, he brought the high standards but did more talking than showing. Refusing to go on the field as a sub is probably the most unprofessional thing you could ever do. That is literally your entire job scope.
 
Ronaldo was one of many problems last season and him leaving presented another problem in that we were skint to get a decent replacement, meaning we had to get Wout.

He needed to go even before he talked to Morgan. Him and his following of zealous weirdos who worship everything he does can enjoy Saudi.
 
Fecking prick. He could have tried to improve the standards by being a great leader and show the kids how an immaculate professional with 18 years experience does it.
Throwing out the toys and acting like an extremely spoilt brat as soon as someone wasn´t ready to choke on his narcissistic dick is just not the way to do it.
 
Ronaldo standards were too high so he left to go to *checks notes* the Saudi league for loads of money.

Hm.
 
Ronaldo was insubordinate and more importantly was no longer at the requisite level for PL level. He had to go, blud.

I personally feel that this isn´t true. Clearly he had limitations - but the season prior he scored 24 goals with very little rotation in amongst our worst ever PL team. He came back and threw the toys out the pram, was in horrible, patchy form - but he would have improved and been a huge improvement on Weghorst had he stuck around.
 
Ronaldo was insubordinate and more importantly was no longer at the requisite level for PL level. He had to go, blud.
It was more of a baity thread title than my actual feelings on the matter. In all honesty, looking back, Ronaldo coming back messed us up & I wish he never came back.

Who knows, Ole may have stayed on longer if he didn’t. Ole had us starting to play the way he wanted and we were doing alright, then Ronaldo came back and Ole had to change the team and tactics to suit him.

His return was a poisoned chalice.
 
The man couldn't play for Portugal and suddenly they appeared unshackled in attack
 
Oh Ronaldo, Ronaldo! How can you demand those 'high standards' of everyone else when you yourself can't even meet them?

Delusional at its' finest
 
I can see where he was coming from but he wasn't good enough for us and it was obviously better for him to leave because his ego was becoming too much for his wailing talent (which he should have done in the summer).
 
Two things can simultaneously true.

CR7 returned expecting better - not just in terms of improved infrastructure, but the overall management of the club which he last experienced under Fergie. So can't fault him there.

On the other hand, the CR7 we got wasn't the same one that departed a dozen years prior. The 2021 version returned as one of the greatest players ever having won virtually everything during which clubs were built around him to accomodate getting the best out of him, which included managers building their projects around this (a hobbling CR7 virtually co-managing Portugal from the sidelines in 16 springs to mind...).

Also, his criticism of one of the world's biggest clubs in the world's most popular league apparently weren't applied to the minnowish Saudi league that no one cares about, but who happend to pay him hundreds of millions for a two year pre-retirement gig.

Therefore, there's plenty of blame to go around, which means CR7 has to be willing to accept at least partial responsibility.
 
First season Ronaldo was okay but he was declining rapidly.
It was the right decision by ETH to get rid.
And yes Phelan is probably angling for a Saudi job.
 
A lot of what he said in the interview was completely correct, but he was finished at the top level.
 
I suppose that's why you were so successful at Norwich, Hull and Central Coast Mariners, Mike. Your standards were just too high.
 
Ronaldo had high standards, but also a hypocrite, because when ETH demanded high standards of him, not just standing up top and flapping his arms he got pissy.
 


High ranking member of coaching staff says new player coming in had higher standards than what the coaching staff had. That's more of an indictment on phelan and his crew than anyone else.

The funny thing is, as soon as standards and decipline and rules are enforced Ronaldo runs off to Peirs Morgan to cry
 
Ronaldo was insubordinate and more importantly was no longer at the requisite level for PL level. He had to go, blud.
He was for sure, but the point about standards falling are nail on the head. Everything was far too relaxed under Ole.