Stay Put, Ronaldo

Jarmon · 17th April 2008, 11:43

Comment: Stay put, Ronaldo

17/ 4/2008

YOU might possibly have seen the name Cristiano Ronaldo in your newspaper recently - but for the life of me I can't think why.

According to the papers he's going to Real Madrid or Barcelona or possibly Rochdale at the end of the season.

He's been offered £60 a week to stay at Old Trafford.

Don't believe a word of it. That's just reporters with an over-active imagination not bothering to let the facts interfere with the story - and I should know.

I'll tell you without fear of contradiction what will happen when the transfer window opens in May.

United will receive some mouth-watering offers from the giants of Spain and Italy for their Portuguese superstar.

Sir Taggart will remain uninterested unless the bids become impossible to refuse.

£100m, he might muse, for just one world-class player. I could get three world class performers with that amount to play with.

But the key to whether Ronaldo remains at Old Trafford lies with Ronaldo himself.

He will be flattered to be linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona but I hope he won't be swayed by those advances.

He may not think so now but a life experience has taught me that the grass is always greener in your own back garden.

If you want to know how I discovered this basic fact of life then I ask you to find the link between these three names - Thierry Henry, Roger Hunt and Paul Hince.

As the oldest I'll start with myself. The only time I looked a half-decent professional footballer was in my spell at Maine Road.

The offer came to join Charlton Athletic and I took it. Biggest mistake of my life.

The manager and the fans at Charlton hated me from the start - but not as much as I hated them.

I still had the talent I displayed at City but not the comfort or the delight in playing for fans who appreciated me. At Charlton I realised what the racing fraternity meant about horses for courses.

The name Roger Hunt will only be recognised by readers of a certain vintage.

But back in the mid-60s and early 70s Roger was one of the most prolific strikers in English football.

He played an important role in England's World Cup triumph over Germany in 1966 and continued to score goals for fun with Liverpool.

But early in the 70s the whole of soccer was stunned by the news that Hunt had left Anfield and joined Bolton.

He was still only 28 and still at the peak of his career.

Why he moved to Bolton is a mystery which no-one ever discovered to their satisfaction.

What was obvious was that he'd been scoring 30 goals or more a season for Liverpool, he would double that tally for the Wanderers.

Wrong. The horses for courses theory was proved again. At Burnden Park, Hunt looked as though he had never kicked a ball in his life. I don't think he lasted for even one season before retiring and drifting into oblivion.

Now let's look at Henry. I'm not such a blinkered City fan that I can't accept that the silky Frenchman was the most complete striker in the Premiership for many years.

But, like me many years ago and Hunt more recently, Henry decided that the grass was greener on the other side of the hill and switched to Barcelona.

I keep track of European sport on one of my radio channels and I can tell you that Henry has been one enormous flop at Barcelona this season. One more example - if one more is needed - that horses for courses was at work again.

I hope Ronaldo reads this and thinks about those three examples before deciding where his future lies.

Ability is a difficult talent to explain. It's a combination with many components. Skill, obviously stamina, taste and desire.

But somewhere in there you've got to factor in contentment and Ronaldo is quite clearly content at Old Trafford.

For all his huge talent, he might not find that contentment at any other club on the planet - and that will affect his game sure as eggs are eggs.

So don't destroy something good Cristiano when the wooers come knocking on your door this summer. Simply don't answer it.

Stay where you are and I'll guarantee you will fulfil all your dreams.

I found this one a pretty good read.
Scoure: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ay_put_ronaldo

Van Piorsing · 17th April 2008, 11:51

Clever article.

But he already decided. He's staying.

17th April 2008, 11:43	#1 (permalink)
Jarmon Reserve Team Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: On Chuck Norris lap Posts: 811	Stay Put, Ronaldo Comment: Stay put, Ronaldo 17/ 4/2008 YOU might possibly have seen the name Cristiano Ronaldo in your newspaper recently - but for the life of me I can't think why. According to the papers he's going to Real Madrid or Barcelona or possibly Rochdale at the end of the season. He's been offered £60 a week to stay at Old Trafford. Don't believe a word of it. That's just reporters with an over-active imagination not bothering to let the facts interfere with the story - and I should know. I'll tell you without fear of contradiction what will happen when the transfer window opens in May. United will receive some mouth-watering offers from the giants of Spain and Italy for their Portuguese superstar. Sir Taggart will remain uninterested unless the bids become impossible to refuse. £100m, he might muse, for just one world-class player. I could get three world class performers with that amount to play with. But the key to whether Ronaldo remains at Old Trafford lies with Ronaldo himself. He will be flattered to be linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona but I hope he won't be swayed by those advances. He may not think so now but a life experience has taught me that the grass is always greener in your own back garden. If you want to know how I discovered this basic fact of life then I ask you to find the link between these three names - Thierry Henry, Roger Hunt and Paul Hince. As the oldest I'll start with myself. The only time I looked a half-decent professional footballer was in my spell at Maine Road. The offer came to join Charlton Athletic and I took it. Biggest mistake of my life. The manager and the fans at Charlton hated me from the start - but not as much as I hated them. I still had the talent I displayed at City but not the comfort or the delight in playing for fans who appreciated me. At Charlton I realised what the racing fraternity meant about horses for courses. The name Roger Hunt will only be recognised by readers of a certain vintage. But back in the mid-60s and early 70s Roger was one of the most prolific strikers in English football. He played an important role in England's World Cup triumph over Germany in 1966 and continued to score goals for fun with Liverpool. But early in the 70s the whole of soccer was stunned by the news that Hunt had left Anfield and joined Bolton. He was still only 28 and still at the peak of his career. Why he moved to Bolton is a mystery which no-one ever discovered to their satisfaction. What was obvious was that he'd been scoring 30 goals or more a season for Liverpool, he would double that tally for the Wanderers. Wrong. The horses for courses theory was proved again. At Burnden Park, Hunt looked as though he had never kicked a ball in his life. I don't think he lasted for even one season before retiring and drifting into oblivion. Now let's look at Henry. I'm not such a blinkered City fan that I can't accept that the silky Frenchman was the most complete striker in the Premiership for many years. But, like me many years ago and Hunt more recently, Henry decided that the grass was greener on the other side of the hill and switched to Barcelona. I keep track of European sport on one of my radio channels and I can tell you that Henry has been one enormous flop at Barcelona this season. One more example - if one more is needed - that horses for courses was at work again. I hope Ronaldo reads this and thinks about those three examples before deciding where his future lies. Ability is a difficult talent to explain. It's a combination with many components. Skill, obviously stamina, taste and desire. But somewhere in there you've got to factor in contentment and Ronaldo is quite clearly content at Old Trafford. For all his huge talent, he might not find that contentment at any other club on the planet - and that will affect his game sure as eggs are eggs. So don't destroy something good Cristiano when the wooers come knocking on your door this summer. Simply don't answer it. Stay where you are and I'll guarantee you will fulfil all your dreams. I found this one a pretty good read. Scoure: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ay_put_ronaldo

17th April 2008, 11:51	#2 (permalink)
Van Piorsing Lost his light sabre Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Polska Posts: 10,035	Clever article. But he already decided. He's staying.