Robinhio

Colly

Yeah, I have that feeling about Robinho too. I think he's a talented lad but he'd be ccut in half by some prem defenders

Brwned

People said the same about Ronaldo at first, it's easily sorted. Former players have said that La Liga is actually more physical than the English league. I don't believe that, but I do think people hype up the physicality of the Premier League far too much. It's faster pace and requires better fitness levels but strength isn't a necessity when you first come.

Red Pavan

Yes, i can remember Fabregas playing against the Portsmouth Midfield Four; Papa Bouba Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar. They don't come any bigger and stronger than them and he was in full control of that game and was showing who was the little boss.

Brwned

Exactly. Although different types(and levels) of players, it still shows that strength isn't as important as made out to be. It's more to do with attitude. Morientes is built yet couldn't cope with the physicality, Torres isn't as strong yet can take a hit so much better.

Name Changed

That is true. Fabregas however is an exceptional player with exceptional attitute. Would Robinho have that kind of attitude?

Brwned

On the pitch, yes. His attitude is right and he has the ability, however I just feel he will forever be an inconsistent player.

Name Changed

I would share the same doubts. His inconsistentcy is a problem and one of the reasons he isn't always one of the first names on the teamsheet at Madrid. Although last season was his best so he is improving.

Brwned

Last season he was unreal for a few months, but then disappeared back into the shadows behind Higuaín in the pecking order at the end of the season. We can't afford to have players go missing for so long, especially ones who are meant to replace Ronaldo.

Great player on his day, but not one of the top, top players that people though he would be.

Name Changed

If we do have to replace Ronaldo, then it will have to be with a very consistent player. Obviously there is no other winger who will bang in even 30+ goals a season. So we need a player who will be consistent and add quality to the team week in week out. Ronaldo's general play wasn't as consistent as it is made out but his goals were. Big time. If we do lose Ronaldo but bring in an extremely good consistent replacement then it will not weaken the team too much. The answer to that is not Robinho. But he would be a good squad player, but I'd regard him as very similar to Nani at the moment, brilliant one minute, awful the next.

Brwned

I agree on the Nani-Robinho comparison, and the comment about Ronaldo's overall play.

The fact is though, there are very few wingers of real quality out there, Silva and Robinho are probably the two most promising ons, and Arshavin has put himself up there as a very good winger, but other than that there aren't many. And I don't really want any of them.

David Silva is quality. Creative, great dribbler, very good crosser and has a great shot. But he tends to cut in too much, I'm not sure he would work well in our team.

Robinho is a brilliant dribbler with great pace and inventiveness, but he does disappear from games entirely and he was put behind Higuaín in the Real Madrid pecking order because of lack of form.

Arshavin can do the job on the wing but it definitely hinders his overall play, and he seems set on moving to Spain.

Name Changed

So, if Ronaldo does leave, is the answer to our problems? With Silva, Arshavin & Robinho out and Messi unrealistic, who is there?

Brwned

That's the question I've been asking myself a few times. I'm still of the belief we've got another two years until that question will be answered, but that's probably just blind faith on my part.

Possibly a formation change, or hopefully SAF pulls some kid out of nowhere and turns him into a world star just before he leaves.

Ekeke

The truth is, if we want a player in a certain style, we need to get him at an early age and develop him the way we want him, like we did with Ronaldo. And that takes time and most probably a player who isnt of the highest profile like Robinho and Silva. But rather more like Alexis Sanchez who we were linked with. Someone who already has shown he has similar traits to our current number 7, but has years and years before he could ever be such a good player. If SAF went for such a player as his replacement, I'd trust him and be patient... Though I know not everyone would. At the end of the day, its what we did when our last number 7 went walk abouts.

VoetbalWizard

sure it would be great but he won't go for 15 and his wages will be stupidly high.

Name Changed

Signing someone and developing them into a future Ronaldo player is a good idea. Saying that we have left wingers coming through that we have big hopes for like Robert Brady and Joshua King.
But that is a long term measure and it would be that unless we sign somebody we would be weaker next season (if Ronaldo leaves).

Ekeke

True. Actually, I think Nani could develop into Ronaldo's role somewhat. Not exactly like for like, but we could play him on the right the same way we have Ronaldo, and ask him to get forward and score as much as possible - because he's capable of scoring a lot more than the 3 goals he got this season, and starting more games would be a decent way to help improve it.

Of course, then we'd still need to sign another winger.

Name Changed

Yea, we still would..

REd FUn DevIl

Obviously this was the first season for Nani and remember Ronaldo didnt score all the goals in the first 3 season and then explode in his fourth and fifth campaign. It takes time to adapt and reach your best.

Nani to me looks as good as Ronaldo but also needs time. If Ronaldo ends leaving we will need a replacement but im pretty sure that it wont be this season with less than a month to start the new season. If he leaves will be the next one and we will have the time to plan on who we can bring to fill that role in our squad.

Name Changed

I agree to an extent. I don't think Nani has all the potential that Ronaldo had.
Nani was 20 when he signed, Ronaldo was 17. That's 3 Ronaldo has up on Nani. Also between the ages of 17-22 is probably when most of the player development takes place. I agree that Nani can become a really good player, but I honestly don't think he will ever come close to Ronaldo's ability. Ronaldo, footballing wise, is extremely professional and spends massive amounts of time training and practising his skills. Ronaldo wants to improve at everything he does on the pitch all the time. Nani doesn't seem to have that same aptitude. Ronaldo is just on another level.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Exactly and if men like Defoe , Fabregas and SWP can all survive n England. No one in his right minds can honestly claim some one with the talents of Robinho would flop. Or be "the next Bellion"

reddevilcanada

he'd be great, but we've already got two excellent second strikers in Rooney and Tevez

Name Changed

Surely no other player could be that bad?

reddevilcanada

I like the idea of making a cheeky bid for Ronaldinho if Ronaldo leaves...I think he's gonna get back to his best and at his best he was better than Ronaldo, Messi or Kaka have ever been thus far imo although these three have got time on their hands to reach the level Goofy did in his first three years with barca...

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

His best position is actually wide left

Brwned

That's all well and good saying that, but would be very difficult to put into practice. The reason we could buy Ronaldo was because we had Giggs and we knew he could play at a consistent level, with Fletcher and Solsjkaer as Ronnie's back up. In the same way that we have Nani, who can be replaced by Giggs or Park whenever he loses a bit of form. We can't buy another young winger, because then we would have two inconsistent wingers when alot of our play is based around wingers.

We need someone experienced to play on one wing, and Nani on the other.

Brwned

Obviously.

But have you seen him playing wide left? He cuts in so much that he ends up playing as a second striker. Don't get me wrong he is devastating when he sticks to the wing but he doesn't often. He wants to go to Barcelona too.

Mojo_pin