Ronaldo for Bench?

Hound Dog

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My counter-point to anyone pointing towards his decisive CL goals is that there is a huge question mark over whether United would have needed those goals to progress if he was never signed. And please, do not compare PSG and Leipzig to Villareal, Atalanta and Young Boys. United had no business struggling in that group whatsoever. Football under Ole was never great, but the fact of the matter is that things took a sharp turn for the worse once Ronaldo signed. Given the way he plays and that he needs the whole team to adjust to his presence, I cannot see that as a coincidence.

I am also surprised to see so many people pointing out towards him being in the GOAT-tier, proven winner, etc. The man is 37! If form is temporary and class permanent, United should just re-sign Beckham, Keane, Giggs, Robson and Cantona. Hell, why not even Charlton.
 

Chesterlestreet

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My counter-point to anyone pointing towards his decisive CL goals is that there is a huge question mark over whether United would have needed those goals to progress if he was never signed.
Of course there is - we all know this (but some pretend they don't).

But as it stands, he did score those goals - and deserves due credit for it.

His numbers in the league, however, aren't anywhere near good enough for him to escape very close scrutiny given his role in the team.
 

SirAF

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Hehe, that settles it. The most objective member on here has spoken.

(Just kidding - but on a serious note, you have to have some concerns over Ronnie, surely?)
The guy asked a question and I answered it!

I have no concerns over Ronaldo at all, it’s the rest of the team that needs sorting out. Either way, he’s not going to be at the club for a long time for obvious reasons - so the naysayers will get it their way in a year or two.
 

Chesterlestreet

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Either way, he’s not going to be at the club for a long time for obvious reasons - so the naysayers will get it their way in a year or two.
For what it's worth, I really hope it doesn't turn out that way.

As in - the naysayers truly getting their way in the sense that Ronaldo will leave after having done nothing/been a part of nothing.

I have major concerns, unlike you - but I hope we can get into some kind of shape that will allow us to use him intelligently and effectively as part of an actual top team before he leaves.

For me, though, that can't involve him starting every game as our most important attacking player.
 

Sayros

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I think there a few elements missing from our squad. There is raw talent in some areas but mentality is lacking. One, that winning mentality and two, calmness in high pressure situations. Ronaldo brings both of those elements to a squad sorely lacking in real personalities. Bruno whinges that’s all he does these days. He’s also taken off his game way too easily if calls don’t go his way. Ronaldo could be having a terrible game but then is capable of a moment of brilliance. As I’ve said, Cavani and Bruno are the only other two with that type of drive to pull off a moment of brilliance when you least expect it. Bruno has been on a horrid run but he will eventually rediscover his form. I just think that many in our squad hide in big moments or go missing. Who would you trust in this squad to take a big free kick or penalty: Ronaldo or Rashford/Greenwood/Sancho. It’s a pretty easy answer.

Even when our squad was going through a transition in the early 2000s with two bright 18 year old talents in Rooney and Ronaldo, they had established United greats in Keane, Scholes, Giggs and Neville to turn too in tough situations. Ronaldo has credited them for getting him thru the tough early days. Sadly we don’t have that type of group now due to being mediocre the last decade. Ronaldo is the only one who could speak to true United standards. So yes you can be shortsighted and bench him or you utilize his experience and winning mentality to help build up our younger players who are crying out for a leader. IMO Ronaldo is worth every single penny.
I would trust the three other names over CR7 for a free-kick if I'm honest, but I agree with penalties.

It's hard to have a definitive answer whether he's value for the money. Of course you can look at jersey sales, social media presence, etc as positive factors and they have an impact on the bottom line, maybe they even more than make up for his wages, that's very possible. That's off-the-field impact. On the field, you can also argue he brings his value as he's scored some important goals and I agree he's the one most likely to come up with something even if he has a terrible game for the most part.

I do have doubts as to whether he will really be a positive influence. He is a winner, and he's in a team that's mostly mediocre in its mentality or drive to win, we have to remember most of those players have never won anything of major significance, they don't know what it's like to win. But there are certain players, like Cavani, who can influence by simply showing up, working hard, being a lending hand to those who ask for it, and that can be a positive. I don't think CR7 lands in that category. I think he's a little more of a bully, and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way, but he's going to point the finger and demand accountability and with certain players that can work very well, but I simply don't think that's most of that United squad. I think if anything, he will build the team against him little by little, and I wonder if his latest interview is only going to speed up that process.

These are not players that strike me as being incredibly self-critical for the most part, they will look at CR7's word, see what he does on the pitch (very little outside of goals), and consider him as much of the problem as anyone else, I doubt his message will really get through to even 1/4 of the team, and if it doesn't then I think his value within the team is only diminishing. You hope bringing a legend like that back is what's going to help with the mentality, but it's clear from his interview that it's not looking like the message is getting through, and at that point I fear it can only become a malaise rather than a driving force. It speaks more about the team as a whole than CR7 to be fair, it shows you really need a reset on this team and get rid of a lot of players, being careful who you bring in. The next couple of months are going to be crucial to see exactly where United is going to be. It's almost a decade since the last PL win, and this club is in serious danger of having a major drought some fans thought were reserved only for other teams.
 

Giggsy13

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I would trust the three other names over CR7 for a free-kick if I'm honest, but I agree with penalties.

It's hard to have a definitive answer whether he's value for the money. Of course you can look at jersey sales, social media presence, etc as positive factors and they have an impact on the bottom line, maybe they even more than make up for his wages, that's very possible. That's off-the-field impact. On the field, you can also argue he brings his value as he's scored some important goals and I agree he's the one most likely to come up with something even if he has a terrible game for the most part.

I do have doubts as to whether he will really be a positive influence. He is a winner, and he's in a team that's mostly mediocre in its mentality or drive to win, we have to remember most of those players have never won anything of major significance, they don't know what it's like to win. But there are certain players, like Cavani, who can influence by simply showing up, working hard, being a lending hand to those who ask for it, and that can be a positive. I don't think CR7 lands in that category. I think he's a little more of a bully, and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way, but he's going to point the finger and demand accountability and with certain players that can work very well, but I simply don't think that's most of that United squad. I think if anything, he will build the team against him little by little, and I wonder if his latest interview is only going to speed up that process.

These are not players that strike me as being incredibly self-critical for the most part, they will look at CR7's word, see what he does on the pitch (very little outside of goals), and consider him as much of the problem as anyone else, I doubt his message will really get through to even 1/4 of the team, and if it doesn't then I think his value within the team is only diminishing. You hope bringing a legend like that back is what's going to help with the mentality, but it's clear from his interview that it's not looking like the message is getting through, and at that point I fear it can only become a malaise rather than a driving force. It speaks more about the team as a whole than CR7 to be fair, it shows you really need a reset on this team and get rid of a lot of players, being careful who you bring in. The next couple of months are going to be crucial to see exactly where United is going to be. It's almost a decade since the last PL win, and this club is in serious danger of having a major drought some fans thought were reserved only for other teams.
Great points. I agree that there is probably a disconnect with Ronaldo and the younger players, which is why he turned to the media in the first place to openly criticize their approach. The goods news is that rangnick will hopefully turn the club upside down and hopefully will expose the frauds and passengers at the club.
 

KennyBurner

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100% he is 36 and no longer the same best player in the world. We also need others to start scoring. Rashford and greenwoods performance have deteriorated with the inclusion of Ronaldo.
 

Greck

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My counter-point to anyone pointing towards his decisive CL goals is that there is a huge question mark over whether United would have needed those goals to progress if he was never signed. And please, do not compare PSG and Leipzig to Villareal, Atalanta and Young Boys. United had no business struggling in that group whatsoever. Football under Ole was never great, but the fact of the matter is that things took a sharp turn for the worse once Ronaldo signed. Given the way he plays and that he needs the whole team to adjust to his presence, I cannot see that as a coincidence.

I am also surprised to see so many people pointing out towards him being in the GOAT-tier, proven winner, etc. The man is 37! If form is temporary and class permanent, United should just re-sign Beckham, Keane, Giggs, Robson and Cantona. Hell, why not even Charlton.
We weren't that much better without him last year so I'll give him credit for taking us out of the group stage. That's where the credit ends though. If it's true we are trying to accommodate his inability to press then he needs to be not just benched but catapulted out of the club. Not only is it a must in modern football we'll becomes like PSG where every top manager has to dumb down his approach to accommodate some overrated slacker. So much for holding the club to high standards, you can just forget about Ten Haag or playing good football if the front pivot of our attack turns out to be high maintenance.

Whether that part is true or not it's a bit shocking how many don't question whether what's good for Ronaldo is even best for the club. Striker with minimal contribution to linkup moves in 2022? 2 players in midfield because we have to play 2 strikers to accommodate him? Good luck winning with that. Since 3 men midfields became the norm many of the world's best midfielders needed more than one midfielder partner for the defensive side. We're waiting for a rarity of a midfielder if we want to control games playing only 2 in the middle.

We spent so long talking about preferential standards to accommodate Ole just to turn around and give it to Ronaldo. Yet another ex-player comes back to haunt us.
 
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NewYorkRed

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Absolutely not. If we benched him in the CL..would we still be in the CL? This is just so dumb. The whole team stinks right now, stop trying to make him a f*cking scapegoat.

Juve also btw are doing so much better now that Ronaldo’s gone. He was def the problem there.

Sometimes a team just stinks. And right now we stink. Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. But at least with Ronaldo we always have a chance.
 

rooney2009

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So Many problems with Ronaldo
He shouldn’t start every game
He should never start with Bruno
Bruno look worse when he plays with Ronaldo and that’s for Portugal as well
He can’t press
We haven’t got good enough players to play with a goal hanger
 

Dirty Schwein

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If he isn't going to bother putting an effort to improve his all around play, then yes. It's getting ridiculous to watch a primidonna act as if he has the privilege of standing around waiting for chances to be created for him, and throwing his arms around every time it doesn't happen.
We're talking about Ronaldo, not Rashford.

Although in seriousness, I agree
 

Ixion

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I would use him more sparingly in the league and start him in the CL
 

Pyroblazer

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Yes. Need to start to drop him and use him here and there instead of playing him every game.
 

LazyGoal

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Good to see a team on the pitch. We are so much better worhout Ronaldo. Pitty we needed a injury to see it.
 

LazyGoal

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Ronaldo is good and the GOAT and all of that, he just doesnt make us better.
 

Wolf1992

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Ronaldo fans praying for Villa to equalize so they can say Man Utd can't win without GOAT

And it happened...OMG...i can't believe this.
 

Jericho

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Would be a great option off the bench now. But we were 2 nil up, we shouldn’t be in this position. the real issue is the defending.
 

SportingCP96

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Unbelievable he’s a liability!!! Once again we concede 2 goals because he does not track his man!! It’s all his fault!

Oh wait….Ronaldo isn’t even playing….weird. This can’t be.

It’s almost like…we’re a bad team regardless…..

Who would have ever imagined this *yawn
 

Mike Smalling

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I wonder what Cavani has done today, that Ronaldo couldn’t have done. Maybe works slightly harder - that’s it.
 

Jericho

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Unbelievable he’s a liability!!! Once again we concede 2 goals because he does not track his man!! It’s all his fault!

Oh wait….Ronaldo isn’t even playing….weird. This can’t be.

It’s almost like…we’re a bad team regardless…..

Who would have ever imagined this *yawn
You ok buddy?
 

TMDaines

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Seen enough of United without Ronaldo this week now. Two bright starts, yet two games we have deserved to lose. Removing Ronaldo solves nothing.

His interview was spot on. This group of players does not have the mentality to even deliver a solid full performance, let alone be consistent game after game.
 

Acheron

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He should play only once a week at most I believe or only when he's fit.
 

SportingCP96

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I wonder what Cavani has done today, that Ronaldo couldn’t have done. Maybe works slightly harder - that’s it.
Don’t say that. Cavani is a world class presser. That’s all you need is a guy who can press.

Carey on.
 

KeanoMagicHat

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Unbelievable he’s a liability!!! Once again we concede 2 goals because he does not track his man!! It’s all his fault!

Oh wait….Ronaldo isn’t even playing….weird. This can’t be.

It’s almost like…we’re a bad team regardless…..

Who would have ever imagined this *yawn
What did you think of Fernandes returning to his last season form without him, instead of his Portugal and United form with him?
 

SportingCP96

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What did you think of Fernandes returning to his last season form without him, instead of his Portugal and United form with him?
Maybe that’s up to the coach to be able to pick the optimal lineup to get the best out of his players. And explain to me how that changed the fact that United lost points again.

Everyone’s point is United concede more because of “pressing” and whatever other BS was said that somehow Ronaldo is at fault for. Yet surprise surprise Ronaldo didn’t play and those same issues persist. They will continue to persist as well until bigger changes are made. The club is run terribly, the squad was structured just as bad and they went from Ole to a guy with a non existent Managerial CV.

Point being once again, Ronaldo is the very last problem that United have and that got proven yet again tonight.
 

TMDaines

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What did you think of Fernandes returning to his last season form without him, instead of his Portugal and United form with him?
Really? Whilst it is somewhat churlish to criticise a player who scored a brace, ultimately the goalkeeper dropping a dolly over the goal line was a big part of that. The second goal was very well taken, but Bruno actually otherwise had quite the quiet game for him. Those were his only two shots in the match and he only create a single chance for a teammate. We’re being a bit results oriented if we think yesterday was a rebirth of Bruno Fernandes.
 

phelans shorts

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Unbelievable he’s a liability!!! Once again we concede 2 goals because he does not track his man!! It’s all his fault!

Oh wait….Ronaldo isn’t even playing….weird. This can’t be.

It’s almost like…we’re a bad team regardless…..

Who would have ever imagined this *yawn
It wouldn’t have been 2-0 in the first place if he had started.