[The Plump Poet]

The tap in was good positioning, and that is a skill in and of itself, so he deserves credit for that, albeit a small amount.

The assist was hugely fortuitous, it was a literal poor touch that McTominay just happened to be there for. He missed an enormous chance and his overall play was meh.

 

[mu4c_20le]

I’m literally dying here laughing at everyone saying the team would be better without him. People have such short memories.. the team was playing like complete crap the last 10 or so games of last season.

Football einsteins will always be around. Jose wasn't always wrong.

 

[Red4Ever]

Did good

far from the biggest problem & always trying to make something happen

 

[Swiss_Red89]

Wanted him to he rested but here to say Siiiiuuuuuuu. Love Ronnie. Every Goal is like flashback to 2007/2008.

 

[Rossa]

The tap in was good positioning, and that is a skill in and of itself, so he deserves credit for that, albeit a small amount.

The assist was hugely fortuitous, it was a literal poor touch that McTominay just happened to be there for. He missed an enormous chance and his overall play was meh.

But that enormous chance was his making with a brilliant rund and two great touches to set it up - let’s not forget that.

 

[Rossa]

He’s still one of the quickest in the team, isnt he? He’s noticably leas agile though. To me, he looks to be getting into his form. Would be great if he can do his super-Ronnie spring sessions for us.

 

[Alemar]

G+A today, very respectable.

 

[SAFMUTD]

Missed a sitter and a couple other chances that for a player of his level should have ended up on goals.

Not his greatest game, but still managed a goal and a, lucky, assist.

 

[Josh 76]

This is no dig at Ronaldo, but have Utd played well at all since he joined ? I can’t really remember a game.

 

[Devil may care]

Much improved over the toy chucking farce against Newcastle, attitude towards Greenwood and Sancho was better and he played a good team game, definitely prefers the freedom to float when he's paired with Cavani.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

This is no dig at Ronaldo, but have Utd played well at all since he joined ? I can’t really remember a game.

No.

 

[Red the Bear]

The penaldo and tapinoldo meme have genuinely ruined his reputation, he still offers a lot

His first touch was very concerning though almost lukakuesq at times

Overall decent game

 

[carlbcfc]

His presence creates space for everyone else. Him & Cavani are killer in the box.

 

[Zlaatan]

I know expectations of our players have fallen out the window over the last few years but if this is our top earner and supposed best player having an ok/good game against relegation fodder like Burnley then I guess my expectations are about 38 levels above a lot of you guys. I thought he was average at best tonight.

The weird thing is that his first touch is long gone and whenever he gets some time on the ball he almost always passes backwards so for some reason he looks a lot better and creates more when he plays one touch football. I'd even wager he's more lethal in the box when he has to finish with one touch as well, at least it seems to be that way lately.

 

[troylocker]

His bodylanguage was better. Missed goal with all his finished except the rebound he scored on. The assist was a bad first touch. Shows he still has a good nose for where to be on his goal and his header to Cavani in the 2nd half was fantastic. Still needs to work a lot harder when we’re not in possession.

 

[Adam-Utd]

he really should stop dropping deep and trying to link play.

Just stay up top, look for forward runs and be in the right position.

His poor passing and touches are becoming quite annoying.

 

[Siezard]

It's amazing how one man turned his team's fortune around by qualifying for Champ league knock out stages, doing well in Fa cup and league matches. Guess United will win something in a year or two soon.

 

[The Corinthian]

Should have had a hat trick tonight truth be told.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Will never understand how he went from being really dangerous from free kicks to being completely rubbish at them overnight.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Well this would be the end of 2021, while 14 goals 3 assists in 20 games for a disjointed team this season isn’t really bad at all. Hopefully we would improve as a team in 2nd half of season, still a long way to go but we will be fine.

 

[BlueHaze]

Will never understand how he went from being really dangerous from free kicks to being completely rubbish at them overnight.

His knees. Not easy using the technique he did when you have fecked your knees up.

 

[AndySmith1990]

Will never understand how he went from being really dangerous from free kicks to being completely rubbish at them overnight.

He was never great at them to begin with. He'd score 1 in 100 and everyone would forget about the 99 misses because it's Ronaldo.

 

[chiz2kul]

He was never great at them to begin with. He'd score 1 in 100 and everyone would forget about the 99 misses because it's Ronaldo.

exactly

 

[Red the Bear]

He was never great at them to begin with. He'd score 1 in 100 and everyone would forget about the 99 misses because it's Ronaldo.

His numbers were pretty good in fact better than messi early on though Leo surpassed him later on

 

[Frank Grimes]

He was never great at them to begin with. He'd score 1 in 100 and everyone would forget about the 99 misses because it's Ronaldo.

He had a much better strike rate than 1%.

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/cri...ord-penalty-record/1mxtkj4yvogun158pu2cpmpuz9

 

[VivaObertan]

His knees. Not easy using the technique he did when you have fecked your knees up.

What's up with his knees?

 

[RedRonaldo]

He was never great at them to begin with. He'd score 1 in 100 and everyone would forget about the 99 misses because it's Ronaldo.

Apparently 1 in 100 is massive exaggeration. His numbers are good in the past, but it’s just that he always tried from impossible angle or distance, it gives the impression that he has been abit wasteful.

 

[RedRonaldo]

What's up with his knees?

From my understanding he has suffered from knee injury/condition called “tendinosis” in 2014, which is reported to have some long lasting effect. It’s later speculated that this is why he has forced to change his play style accordingly around that time too, to become more of a poacher instead of an all action attacker. Coincidently his freekick also got worsen from that point as he may have to adjust his technique for his knee.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27825525

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...against-usa-could-end-his-career-9548564.html

https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/ot...y-may-have-worsened-over-the-years/ar-AALN5TO

 

[MrEleson]

From my understanding he has suffered from knee injury/condition called “tendinosis” in 2014, which is reported to have some long lasting effect. It’s later speculated that this is why he has forced to change his play style accordingly around that time too, to become more of a poacher instead of an all action attacker. Coincidently his freekick also got worsen from that point as he may have to adjust his technique for his knee.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27825525

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...against-usa-could-end-his-career-9548564.html

https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/ot...y-may-have-worsened-over-the-years/ar-AALN5TO

Coincidentally and bizarrely enough, I remember back in 2009 Mark Hughes warning Ronaldo about the effects his unorthodox FK technique could have on his knees.

He even predicted the age it would start having its effect which is almost exactly around the time Ronaldo did start having those worrying knee issues:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sk...all/news/5308626/ron-warned-of-free-kick-harm

 

[tenpoless]

he really should stop dropping deep and trying to link play.

Just stay up top, look for forward runs and be in the right position.

His poor passing and touches are becoming quite annoying.

So he is now criticized for doing something that he was criticized for not doing.

 

[WR10]

He looks like a retired footballer kicking about at a fundraiser at times doesn’t he

Bless his soul. Fortunate to be alive watching him

 

[amolbhatia50k]

A goal and an assist. Terrible. He also made several great runs, one of which he should have scored. He linked up well and offered and outlet. However, his technique was off today. Certainly not a bad game, but not a great one either.

That wasn't an assist worth even mentioning. It was an awful touch that another player scored a lovely goal from.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

So he is now criticized for doing something that he was criticized for not doing.

Different people hold different views on what he should be doing. Shocking stuff.

 

[432JuanMata]

Hasn’t been as good as one would of hoped but we probably be out of the CL if not for his 6 goals in 5 games(all decisive).

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

This is no dig at Ronaldo, but have Utd played well at all since he joined ? I can’t really remember a game.

Only the Spurs game, but that shouldn't even count.

We didn't play well to end last season either though. Our issues aren't solely down to Ronaldo.

He has his issues though and I don't think we'll ever be a pressing side with him in the team. His attacking output(while still good/great) isn't worth the knock-on effect of him not being able to press.

It was always a nostalgia signing, but we'd probably be out of the CL group stages without his goals and his performances.

 

[Yagami]

For all the talk about his lucky assist, and it was luck, he almost had a nice one had Cavani buried that chance. The linesman raised his flag but I think it would've ended up being given after a VAR check.

 

[Rilz]

Surprised at some of the comments on here, he was absolute gash. Couldn’t trap a ball all night long, wild shots at times - you could see the frustration in his face at his own performance

we will truly improve as a team once we realise he is well past his best, I fear though that he’s too big to be dropped

 

[Nicolarra90]

I know expectations of our players have fallen out the window over the last few years but if this is our top earner and supposed best player having an ok/good game against relegation fodder like Burnley then I guess my expectations are about 38 levels above a lot of you guys. I thought he was average at best tonight.

The weird thing is that his first touch is long gone and whenever he gets some time on the ball he almost always passes backwards so for some reason he looks a lot better and creates more when he plays one touch football. I'd even wager he's more lethal in the box when he has to finish with one touch as well, at least it seems to be that way lately.

I guess... Welcome to football?

 

[kouroux]

Maybe due to the pace of the Serie A, he didn't feel like an old man playing but with us, it is too blatant. I mean of course it is considering his age

 

[bringbackbebe]

His presence creates space for everyone else. Him & Cavani are killer in the box.

Exactly my thought. When defenders see him with the ball, they try to close him out. He looks far more lethal facing goal from deep. If he can manage a forward pass or a through ball in this time, it's going to create chances for us. Works very well with Cavani who adds balance to the team - not so with Rashford, whose ability Ronaldo doesn't trust or Rashford's perennially offside to be passed on to. We are a better team with Cavani/Ronaldo playing together with pacy wide players like Sancho/Greenwood.