FAO Rival Fans and Others: Ronaldo

KingEric7

Greetings, Dippers, Renties, Gooners, etc...

Upon banging my head amongst a brick wall in the United forum, and contemplating whether more well-reasoned arguments are actually put forward in the general, I've decided to seek the opinion of you lot in regards to the Ronaldo situation.

Personally, as a few others have also stated, the attitude of Ronaldo over the summer has been nothing short of disgusting yet in spite of this, the reception he received at Old Trafford the other day was deemed to be acceptable. Do you find this to be the case, or do you also appreciate how fickle this makes us look as a collection of supporters?

Whilst basking in the glory of the Arsenal fans' apparent volatility and discarding of laurels regarding Adebayor's summer, I'm actually ashamed that Ronaldo is getting applauded as if he were some returning, benevolent and loyal hero when you consider that the majority of these fans literally stay quiet throughout each and every game. He is basically being applauded for his lack of loyalty.

Now, I can appreciate that Ronaldo has been exceptional (no more than Rio) for us over the last 2 and a half years or so, and that the seasons in question MAY have turned out quite differently were he to never have existed, yet I feel that after such an episode, he must regain such a following. Instead, 90% of the fans that were at the Villareal game (even the ones in the Stretty!) have made it clear that he pretty much is the club. I'm not one for booing, nor am I one for abusing the player in any way from the stands, yet is it ludicrous to suggest that the reactions towards Ronaldo could've been a bit more restrained?

Thoughts?

didsbury1982

United fan but I just wanted to say to the above question, definitely not! I don't understand why the guy deserved a heroes welcome.

Redlambs

I've absolutely no reason to believe it would be any different if Ronaldo played for any other team.

After the start we made, there were always going to be people who changed tune and cried out for him. The same can be said for any other fanbase.

duffer

No more or less fickle than any other set of football fans, as expected.

KingEric7

Which is quite sad really, isn't it?

Redlambs

Yes, but it's also very predictable.

KingEric7

Perhaps, but the strength of it all has provided yet another reason for me to become slightly disillusioned with football.

This is somewhat depressing, considering the part it plays in life.

Redlambs

Definitely. I think what helped me though, is that from the start I decided not to care too much about the Ronaldo situation. After all, whatever was going to happen was out of our hands, so I just ignored the Ronaldo thread and didn't read into any articles.

Now he's back and playing, I hope he does well. However, if I go back and sit in the stands this season, I won't be singing for him.

Gio

Given how quiet it was for the rest of the game, compared to the eruption when Ron came on, there seems to be quite a lot of Ronaldo fan-boys in the support.

Pogue Mahone

Maybe I'm just jaded but when we've got so many reasons to be hacked off with football, the whole Ronaldo return thing is just more off the same, so I barely noticed. Water off a duck's back.

Assuming duck's don't like water.

Or something.

antihenry

100 % correct.

Ronaldo is a world class star who hasn't even reached his prime yet. Losing him will affect any team even as strong as MU. Let's be honest, he was the biggest reason United won the two league titles and the CL over the last two seasons.

Fans may say things in the heat of the moment and his actions this past summer may even force quite a few United fans to never feel the same way about him again but after everything is said and done you want the world's best player on your side and deep inside most caftards hope he'll stay at MU as long as possible.


Ronaldo'll never be a United legend in a sense that Scholes, Giggs or Neville will be when they finish playing. But he may yet turn out to be the most talented footballer to ever wear MU shirt and people often tend to forgive those kind of players almost anything because of their brilliance on the pitch, however unfair and illogical it may seem.

Feedingseagulls

Oh my word - he wanted to leave - didn't - insisted it was our decision whether to accept a bid or not.


So, so, terrible wasn't it!

Shock, horror! - incarcerate him immediately.

samabachan

I never had anything against Ronaldo, for a variety of reasons. I'm happy he is here for another year at least, so I cheer him when he plays because he is a very good player. It is not my fault if other people who slated him over the summer cheer him because he is still here.

However, pretty much all of these arguments have been covered in minute detail in the Ronaldo thread, and this is treading a very fine line as to whether it is repeating that whole thread.

KingEric7

Any team would be affected if it lost its best player. You will feel the effects of Essien, for example, albeit on a small scale considering the 832 class midfielders ready to step in.

I would disagree here in regards to the bolded bit, and say that Rio Ferdinand is the best player we have, and has been for ages. I would say that also applies to our national team.

I would say that there is no point in keeping a player against his own will, yet the way Ronaldo is so egotistically driven and therefore professional, I wouldn't be surprised if he went on and replicated his form. However, on a purely vengeful level, i would prefer it if players such as this were not plying their trade here. In a few years, we will probably see the same from a few more players.

Nope, he won't. Don't know about the most talented either, but definitely one of the most effective and talented.
You are right, though. Ability > Attitude, seemingly...

Ceks

Sometimes I guess you've just got to look at the bigger picture and do what's best for the club. Jeering Ronaldo from the stands will do nothing for player, or team morale. I'm sure SAF has a watchful eye on Ronaldo, but he also recognises his immense talents, and has probably left character concerns at the back door for the greater good of the club. One motive being for the future and stability of the club, and second; to stand strong against the advances made by Real.

Most are in agreement that Ronaldo acted out-of-line. But players these days live completely different lives to what footballers used to. A dream world if you like. Can you actually imagine what it would be like to earn £120,000 a week? It's the same answer to 99 out of 100 questions in this day and age; money.

I think it's important to sit back from the situation and realise that the game has changed. The influx of foreign players has brought both pros and cons. It will always be atypical finding fidelity in foreign footballers at your club. I would just be thankful that you support such a big club, because you’re unlikely to ever face an Englishman turning his back on your club in pursuit of greater heights, and you're more likely to hold onto a foreign star than a club like Tottenham.

Fans will always be loyal, players won't.

kouroux

That sums it up perfectly

FranklyVulgar

At the end of the day alot of United fans see nothing but Ronaldo when they look at United these days. I can't imagine the turmoil when he said he wanted to join Madrid and tried (in a rather strange way) to force himself out of the club to follow his dream.

He is however one of the best players around and any team would welcome him so maybe it is relief that he stayed at United.

Personally i think his actions were poor and he lacks character or just isn't the brightest of boys. I would imagine he wouldn't get the same adoration as proper United legends and players who are loyal to the club but he will anyway. That is the way of football fans, i think the die hard United fans will be put off by him but at games these days it has become so corporate, almost like a tourist attraction and there will be a huge portion of fans there to just see Ronaldo.

He is arrogant in a bad way, he doesn't have humour or humility to make his arrogance less insulting.

Still, a great player. Just a bit of a twat.

Dippersripper

I'd like to ask the same question to the older fans. Do you think fans in the 60s/70s would've accepted Ronaldo and given him a similar reception?

Bilbo

Don't share this opinion at all. People who feel this way are hugely oversensitive, and more than a little naive IMHO.

Marching

I can understand Ronaldo wanting to play for RM and no doubt he will at some stage in his career but for now, if I was a MU fan, I would making the most of such a great player being at my club. He should be cheered from the rafters and all this pre season nonsense put behind you and as for questioning his loyalty, he is still wearing the red of MU isn't he.

MU is just part of a career move as far as Ronaldo is concerned just as it is with the vast majority of players...the days when players arrived at a club as kids and stayed until they retired are long gone.

Fans give their unwavering support to a club and then expect the same from players....it just doesn't work like that....for fans it is a way of life - for players it is just a job.

Ceks

Well put.

Lynott

I don't think he did an awful lot wrong. He is bound to want to go to Madrid and probably thought that after winning the double it was a good time.

The fact that he has chosen to honour his contract and not push for a move, or worse sulk and refuse to play as Berbatov did, then he actually deserves some credit.

The slave statements were a bit stupid though.

FranklyVulgar

It was the way he allowed it to drag on, playing cat and mouse. Most would just say, i want to go and do it appropriately or dismiss it and say i'm at United, if they want to sell me they will do so.

He did niether and didn't allow United fans, players or staff members to understand and he allowed Madrid to sensationally flop (screw them) in their attempts to sign him which might damage his "dream".

He's a puffball and a cod.

Derek Brown

Very good post. Well said.

peterstorey

Yeah I'm amazed how much shite we can have chucked at us and still come back for more - but the people in charge know that, what they don't realise is that generation Z won't buy it. On the Ronaldo thing I guess you just have to judge him by his actions on the pitch if he gives his best there then that's probably all you can ask.

Stick

I see a Gerrard shirt burning and now I see cheering for Gerrard. I see Gareth Barry booed and now I see him getting full support from the Villa supporters. No point in lowering the value of one of your assets folks. I refer to players as assets now because that is how the club sees them.

Feedingseagulls

I don't think, in the 70s etc., the mindset of the players generally was that similar to what we have today.

Modern players live in a post-Bosman world of massive salaries, rocketing fame, and media opportunities. Players and their agents have much more power to direct their future. The possibility of 'going on a free' has made it much easier (potentially) for people to move clubs - either at the end ogf their contract or near it.

That's all players by the way - not just Ronaldo.

So I really don't think Ronaldo would have been Ronaldo - nor would the scenario in which he found himself be sufficiently similar to tell us how he would have reacted.


FS - dob 20/10/58

Dumpstar

Honest answer? I think 90% of fans have a secret realisation that Ronaldo may actually be the difference between winning the league/CL and not winning it. Rival fans have always argued this but your early season form without him may just have opened some inner eyes.

The cheers for him (as opposed to silence, not booing) was out of relief that he's still here and you still have a chance at defending your league title.