Can Ronaldo consistently beat his man?

FranklyVulgar

Ibra has an erratic streak no doubt. His touch is sometimes poor which is surprising for a man with such tallent.

I'm not sure Ronaldos physique is an inhibitor. Look at Kaka, he is very simelarly built, being fairly tall with great pace. He manages to beat alot of players as United know too well.

x42bn6

And he doesn't keep the ball close to himself, like Messi. He does play in some respects like Ronaldo as he's got pace too.

FranklyVulgar

He uses his physique well. He is great at holding it up due to his strengh and size and he will let the ball go too far in front but when it comes to a one on one i would take Zlatan over Ronaldo. But obviously Messi over anyone.

Mainoldo

But he doesn't dribble.. He got great skill and quick feet! I don't think you know what dribbling is to be honest!! But seen as you like to watch youtube clips take a look at Messi and Giggs comps and compare it to Ibra's AJAX GOAL.

ch7

I think Ronaldo and Kaka are at their best when the game is stretched, they are able to use their stride length and almost glide past defenders on the counter attack. In tight spaces against a well organised side they don't rely on their dribbling as much IMO.

Mainoldo

WASTE!!

FranklyVulgar

Dribbling is running with the ball. I am fully aware of that...

Ibra dribbled around alot of players. Ibra goes wide, he beats men, he skins them. that is dribbling i don't really get where the confusion is coming from here!

jojojo

Ron had to change to become the player we wanted and he did. Couple that with the usual things that players do as they grow up and learn to play the percentages and he's not quite the same anymore. And probably not the same as he would be if he hadn't played for United.

These days he really only holds the ball to give the team time to regain their positions (a classic Giggs' role) but otherwise he's going somewhere, or he's trying to pull players out of position and open up a gap and that mostly relies on his speed and the sudden changes of direction. A 2007 model Ronnie was more fun than the streamlined, high efficiency 2008 version but he´s changed every year and I'm looking forward to the 2009 variant.

From March 2007 - Meulensteen on Ronaldo and how United have encouraged him to develop.

Top attacking players at the highest level possess an element of unpredictability. That’s what I’ve talked to Cristiano about. If he gets the ball and always starts to run with it then the defender gets wise to it. It’s the same if he always passes it. So it’s about getting the right package and having the ability to use all his skills for the right reasons, to pass, shoot or dribble.

He's made tremendous strides forward. He knows now that every time he steps on a pitch he’s going to make an impact. Because of what he’s created already, defenders stand off him. That means he’s already created the time and space to run.

It’s his attitude that I like about him. He has got the mentality that he can always add to his game. He never gets complacent. He wants to quicken his footwork. Skills development is about having a tool. Wherever the defender is, on your right side or left side, coming from the front or behind, you need to have certain things to choose from to create a better situation. He’s a quick boy, a very intelligent learner. He’s always trying new things.

He's also learning the power of standing still, which is very underrated. At the top level, defenders don’t dive in. If they do, then one pass and you’re gone. It’s very functional, because you’re standing still and then it’s explosive when you move.

FranklyVulgar

Absolutely, because in full flight these two are almost untouchable.

Kaka against United, or Kaka agaisnt Brazil. Messi tried to catch him and couldn't and Kaka had the ball!

Wee guys just look faster because their legs go like the clappers

kouroux

corrected

FranklyVulgar

for brazil AGAINST Argentina i ment

Mainoldo

Knock it in a nut. Robben is a better dribbler than Zlatan.

Spoonatov

let me guess, a milllion posts by Frankly Vulgar?

Thought so.

FranklyVulgar

Not on his recent performances. At his best i would agree but Robben on his day is a better dribbler than Ronaldo too.

FranklyVulgar

All well informed and of a extreamly high quality of course

ByronSteve

I completely agree with you Scholesgoals, his physique now means he is not as agile as he was a couple of years ago. Messi and Raphael are smaller and more agile players.Their centre of mass is a lot lower to the ground and that is why, Ronaldo ends up on the deck a lot. We now have a very good tall, powerful player with a dynamite shot with both feet, a good header of the ball and a very fast player with the ball at his feet. A pity about his personality but you have to take the rough with the smooth. I am glad he plays for us because once he is fully fit, I think he is going to light up the Premiership again.

Instant Karma

Ronaldo is a bit too quick and bit too tall to be a great dribbler. Normally someone who is lighter and has a lower centre of gravity can change directions faster at top speed. Messi is a fantastic dribbler while Ronnie relies more on tricks and/or pace to get past defenders.

rotherham_red

He isnt very good at dribbling, he never was - people who argue otherwise are obviously mistaking dribbling with tricks...
thats why it would be professional suicide for him to move from united right now, cos no other team is set up exclusively for him, other than united.

Psmith

Are you genuinely saying Ronaldo isn't good at dribbling?

Dribbling is running with the ball. He's not the best but he's definitely up there.

IhabX7

That was actually very impressive, to beat your marker with your first touch at a soaking wet pitch is brilliant.

sonymobby

Yep, hates Ronaldo this United fan. Btw your avatar is really good. You shouldn't change it to any of those other commies.

RedDevilCanuck

Ok Messi is a better dribbler but can Messi match Ronny's pace with the ball? HELL NO. Ronaldo is faster and stronger than Messi and can physically dominate any game. Who cares if Ronaldo isnt as "exciting" as he was three years ago. Frankly Ronaldo was pretty shit when he was younger and would leave people yelling at the TV many times again. Give me 42 fuckin goals and a double over stupid stepovers any day of the week.

Alex

One thing that Messi has as an advantage over Ronaldo is that if you seriously cant make any contact with him or it is a foul, it's the complete opposite with Ronaldo

FranklyVulgar

not sure what you mean, maybe you mean "if you make any contact with him it's a foul" about Messi or Ronaldo?

I guess you must mean Ronaldo...

kouroux

Do you mean that in the spanish league you're not allowed as much physical as in the PL (which is partially true) or Messi is physically weak ?
Messi is really physical player but his physic doesn't make you think so, wherever he plays he gets clattered and fouled badly and a lot of times he manages to hold the challenge impressively.

FranklyVulgar

Exactly, Messi rides tackles and basically you have to kick him in the air or do something quite dirty for him to go down or play for the foul. He actually has a willingness to stay on his feet... Against espanyol last week he went on a run in which he was tackled about 4 or 5 times, everyone was a foul but he kept going until a guy basically took his legs clean away.

Ronaldo for all his strengh and size goes down like Chris Eagles on a breezy summers day.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

The bottom line
declares the chief

FranklyVulgar

I'll be flabbergasted and happily declare myself a fool of the highest order if Ronaldo has a better season than Messi.


Barring injuries of course