The comprehensive Ronaldo thread

Desert Eagle said:
I doubt those three records last a decade. Kinda diminishes him as a player to reduce him to just those three records. He should do what's best for his family which might very well be a move back to Portugal though I think America suits him better.
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Lasting a decade isn't really bad actually. He could live through his 40s having claimed himself as the player with most big records in football, that would also help promote his brand and solidify his status as one of GOATs too - People would say Messi has most Ballon D'ors, Pele has most WC, Maradona has most memorable performance, while Ronaldo has most goals etc.

However if Messi breaks all his big records in say 2 years time (its still possible), what legacy would he hold, except being regarded as 2nd best player behind Messi over past 2 decades? I think in his mind, those records are everything to him now.
 
the best thing he could do for his legacy at this point is just stop acting that a massive twat
 
KeanoMagicHat said:
Ronaldo has lost the spark though even up front, he’s missed loads of chances this year. But it’s not even an ability thing, it’s a personality thing. He’s ruined the interest of a lot of teams with his actions off the pitch in the past few months. Teams would be wary of him ruining the team dynamic with his whinging if he’s not indulged, tantrums if he’s dropped or subbed, undermining the manager if he doesn’t play. Given he’d be going to a smaller team too, he’d expect special treatment, which might not go down well if he’s finished as a player on the pitch.
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Actually I agree with you. But I still think some of those bigger clubs at smaller league would fancy to take him, for multiple reasons, such as publicity, sponsorships, aerial threats, experience, finishing against no defence etc. Its true he is bad at WC, but I thought he still did a decent job on Portugal's last match vs Morocco.

And even though he no longer has the spark to do it at top level, I reckon he could still do a decent job at less demanding levels, and some clubs might be fancy to take him at lower wage.
 
RedRonaldo said:
I always thought he should go to Saudi Arabia for more money and easy life, until recently, I have changed my stance on that.

For money part, he already had more than enough in his bank to live a very rich life, reportedly 500m savings there, plus every year he is expected to make 40-50m from his endorsement alone, which means he can live like a king for rest of his life, money isn’t a problem.

While earning 200m a year (100m after tax?) from Saudi Arabia is cool, it almost adds nothing much to his life.

Instead, with his life long rival beating him in Ballon D’ors and WC, he should rather try his best to save his big records there - career goal, CL goal, international goal. Those records will be his legacy and sets him above everyone else in terms of the greatest goalscorer in football, and they are priceless to him.

If I were him I’d try to move to Sporting maybe. Don’t think there would be any major CL clubs willing to take him now anyway.
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I think this is a fair assessment, all things considered. He isn’t going to lose sleep over a few millions but he definitely wouldn’t want to be in Messi’s shadow as far as individual records are considered. Things might change if Messi can win the World Cup though. Ronaldo is never going to win the World Cup and that reality might sink in and he might chase after the money, or even offer to play for largely reduced wages for a club like Sporting (assuming they want him).


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Apologies, I quoted the wrong post. Corrected it now.
 
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He should offer to pay to play for Sporting. I think they may then take him.
 
Back in May 2017 I had a dream that Man Utd beat West Ham 4-0 on the opening day of the next season. Not only was West Ham announced as the opening fixture, United actually beat them exactly 4-0. If only I'd bet on both those outcomes (having west ham as the first fixture and then beating them 4-0).

Since then, I've taken my football dreams more seriously.

Last night I dreamt that Man Utd re-sign C. Ronaldo on a free in January to finish the season together. Make of that what you will
 
I've seen even people who don't like Ronaldo and agree he's finished still claim he's good in the air.

What's the proof of that though?

When was the last time he scored a header?
 
People saying if he loses records to Messi what happens to his ‘legacy’ and it’s like wtf his legacy can be that he contributed to his teams winning a load of important trophies. People are batshit crazy thinking that top goal scorer in the CL is somehow as or more important than his teams’ accomplishments.
 
Djemba-Djemba said:
I've seen even people who don't like Ronaldo and agree he's finished still claim he's good in the air.

What's the proof of that though?

When was the last time he scored a header?
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Aerial ability is about timing more than anything. And, especially for an attacker/goal scorer, it's also about actual heading skill/technique.

You don't lose those overnight.

Of course it's also about athleticism and speed.

But if you were (and he definitely was) extremely good in the air, you won't turn to shite in that department even when your overall game deteriorates badly.

(That's my theory anyway.)
 
Chesterlestreet said:
Aerial ability is about timing more than anything. And, especially for an attacker/goal scorer, it's also about actual heading skill/technique.

You don't lose those overnight.

Of course it's also about athleticism and speed.

But if you were (and he definitely was) extremely good in the air, you won't turn to shite in that department even when your overall game deteriorates badly.

(That's my theory anyway.)
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Isn't timing the thing that deserts players the most as they age though? Ronaldo may not have electric pace now but I'd wager that he is still quicker now than Kane ever was. The reason why he has gone to pot is that he needs more time on the ball than he needed 5 years ago. Speed of though and reflexes have become noticeably slower. He can still leap like a salmon but heading the ball well requires the reflexes and timing that get dulled by age.
 
BerryBerryShrew said:
Isn't timing the thing that deserts players the most as they age though? Ronaldo may not have electric pace now but I'd wager that he is still quicker now than Kane ever was. The reason why he has gone to pot is that he needs more time on the ball than he needed 5 years ago. Speed of though and reflexes have become noticeably slower. He can still leap like a salmon but heading the ball well requires the reflexes and timing that get dulled by age.
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I'd also add that Ronaldo doesn't seem to attack crosses in the box as he used to before. It was evident in our game against Newcastle that he no longer has the speed of movement to get away from markers in the box, when Rashford came on the difference was obvious, this is also considering Rashford has never been good in the air or a decisive aerial threat.
It's also one of the reasons why he's always offside, he seems to need that extra space that he didn't need 3-4 years ago.
 
BerryBerryShrew said:
He can still leap like a salmon but heading the ball well requires the reflexes and timing that get dulled by age.
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Maybe you're right.

I don't know, to be honest.

When I play football myself these days, I find that I (obviously) am not fast enough to keep up. The main problem is that things just happen too fast.

But, say, on corners I don't feel that uncomfortable: I can read that situation, I can position myself (and make adjustments based on my lack of speed, etc.). And then, ideally, I can still beat a player who's young enough to be my son in the air. Because he just isn't that good - he mistimes his leap, he fails to read exactly where and when I will be, etc. And my actual heading technique is okay, I know how to head a ball.

Open play - sure, that's different. But an actual aerial specialist, focusing (as an impact player) just on getting into the box and beating a defender, waiting for a good cross...

Again, I dunno - perhaps I'm just talking bollocks.
 
Any links to a club yet? Surely sometime soon we will hear rumours
 
Lay said:
Any links to a club yet? Surely sometime soon we will hear rumours
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Last I heard, the Saudis seemed to be interested. Not surprising, really. Their interest and investments in golf made links inevitable.
 
Djemba-Djemba said:
I've seen even people who don't like Ronaldo and agree he's finished still claim he's good in the air.

What's the proof of that though?

When was the last time he scored a header?
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I don't think ive posted it here but that would definitely be something I've said in casual conversation during the World Cup (that he still has value coming on as a sub to break down a defence with a header from a set piece etc) but now that you mention it... I can't remember a recent example either?
 
Djemba-Djemba said:
I've seen even people who don't like Ronaldo and agree he's finished still claim he's good in the air.

What's the proof of that though?

When was the last time he scored a header?
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We somehow had the last group of people in the football world to even realise this. People were still saying we should center around feeding him chances. Absolute numpty take because that was already what we were doing whenever he played this season. The sentiments thing has to stop. We finally got rid of Ole just to replace him with another delusion. I don't know if it's just us but our club legends also seem extra thick on this front.
 
RacingClub said:
I don't think ive posted it here but that would definitely be something I've said in casual conversation during the World Cup (that he still has value coming on as a sub to break down a defence with a header from a set piece etc) but now that you mention it... I can't remember a recent example either?
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As far as I can remember his last headed goal was against Norwich in April.

He's played about 30 games since and not scored one.

For some reason a lot of people don't seem to realise that his heading ability has gone as well. I was probably guilty of it too before I noticed it recently.
 
Djemba-Djemba said:
As far as I can remember his last headed goal was against Norwich in April.

He's played about 30 games since and not scored one.
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Hmmm…..

He’s started what? 23 games for United & Portugal? Not sure that’s enough to say his heading ability is gone.

Giroud hasn’t scored a header in Serie A in 14 games this season so I’m not sure even really good headers of the ball score them that often.

Ronaldo’s heading is probably fine, but his movement in getting a yard is what has killed him all season and the WC.
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Hmmm…..

He’s started what? 23 games for United & Portugal? Not sure that’s enough to say his heading ability is gone.

Giroud hasn’t scored a header in Serie A in 14 games this season so I’m not sure even really good headers of the ball score them that often.

Ronaldo’s heading is probably fine, but his movement in getting a yard is what has killed him all season and the WC.
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No but he did score one on Saturday.

I'm just saying people seem to be in agreement he's finished on the ground but you still get a lot who claim he's still got it in the air but there's not much evidence of that. He's missed some very good chances with his head all season, including the world cup.

Sure, if he's totally unmarked in a great position with loads of time to see the ball coming in he could still probably be decent in the air, but thats unlikely to happen anymore.

And he was maybe the best header of a ball I've ever seen, so it's a more noticeable decline.
 
Jim Beam said:
Will probably stay there and keep training pretending he never left. Full kit come game time and in the bus!

A bit of a long shot, but it might work.
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working to keep his form? What form?
Im sick of the circus around him.
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Hmmm…..

He’s started what? 23 games for United & Portugal? Not sure that’s enough to say his heading ability is gone.

Giroud hasn’t scored a header in Serie A in 14 games this season so I’m not sure even really good headers of the ball score them that often.

Ronaldo’s heading is probably fine, but his movement in getting a yard is what has killed him all season and the WC.
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That movement is as important in getting on the end of a cross with his head as it is with his feet. I’m sure he’s still capable of winning lots of headers but his habit this season of constantly ending up not quite getting his head to decent crosses into the box is only going to get worse.
 
Will he be the first man to clone himself? What will he do when he is 70 and is wrinkly and flabby everywhere?
 
Pogue Mahone said:
That movement is as important in getting on the end of a cross with his head as it is with his feet. I’m sure he’s still capable of winning lots of headers but his habit this season of constantly ending up not quite getting his head to decent crosses into the box is only going to get worse.
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I honestly don't think that players decline that quickly abilities. It makes much more sense that such stuff is fitness reliant and the issue with footballers past a certain age is that they need longer recovery phases keeping them from performing week in week out.
 
Zehner said:
I honestly don't think that players decline that quickly abilities. It makes much more sense that such stuff is fitness reliant and the issue with footballers past a certain age is that they need longer recovery phases keeping them from performing week in week out.
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Maybe. My own theory about these sudden declines is that they’ve been actually in decline for a few years beforehand but have found ways to compensate. But they eventually reach a tipping point where the whole house of cards comes down within a single season.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Maybe. My own theory about these sudden declines is that they’ve been actually in decline for a few years beforehand but have found ways to compensate. But they eventually reach a tipping point where the whole house of cards comes down within a single season.
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The dark side of modern chemistry...

Seriously, though, I tend to agree.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Maybe. My own theory about these sudden declines is that they’ve been actually in decline for a few years beforehand but have found ways to compensate. But they eventually reach a tipping point where the whole house of cards comes down within a single season.
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Let's not forget either that both Ole and Ralf more or less catered to him/allowed him to play a game that suited him.

(Even under those circumstances he was pretty shite in spells.)

When ETH came along, he was badly exposed in several ways and it became very apparent that he had no chance of doing what was required of him.

In a hypothetical scenario where ETH arrives along with Ronaldo, I don't see him (Ronaldo) faring much better.

EDIT: I mean in a hypothetical scenario where ETH and Ronaldo both arrive before the 2021-22 season.
 
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He should just join the Saudi league and try to hit 1000 career goals, even Ighalo almost scores a goal a game there
 
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