[kouroux]

I disagree. He's feeling the pressure of being a step behind and that's affecting his confidence. If he played in an easier league he would still bag.

He would but not by much as the decline would still be there and evident. Whether it's the PL or not, father time is undefeated. Messi knows something about it

 

[Ali Dia]

he was motm after lingard for me.

I don’t know if you’re just being hilarious as always with this one. Pogba, Sancho Bruno were all far better. Fred and Elanga did a lot in a short space of time. Lingard was fine, ropey on their second goal I think , Ronaldo was ok. Im not saying it was even a bad game from Ronaldo, I just think we need to be a lot smarter when putting these building blocks in place and 500k a week for someone who plays ok and isn’t in their prime is just another mistake.

 

[Fredo]

Felt he was okay today, didn't score but was involved in the third goal which won us the game, I hope he can get that connection with Sancho

 

[parkthebuslads]

If we played him more sparingly he would likely be of far more use when he did play.

 

[PlayerOne]

First time where you can say he really physically struggled. The pace of the game and weather didn't help, but he was lost out there. Should have come off at HT and get him rested by the CL game. You just know he's going to come alive for that.

I do think it's better for him and us if he moves on in the summer.

 

[Ayoba]

We have to move him on in the summer, he is detrimental to our attack and fluidity of play. Much like we moved on ruud.

 

[edcunited1878]

We became better after he was subbed. He isn't a forward that can hold the ball. He just isn't that type of the player.

The game became much more open, if that was possible, because of direct contribution to the winning goal!!

He dragged the CB out, controlled the ball and quickly passed to Fred who ran off Ronaldo's run, and while Fred and Sancho teamed up, Ronaldo again made the run into the box dragging defenders towards him allowing Sancho to slip Fred in with his goal.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Nice touch in the buildup to Fred's but otherwise quiet.

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

He was brought in to put the ball in the goal, as supposedly he was still really good at that despite the rest of his game dropping off quite badly.

Unfortunately, the one thing he's meant to be good at is the thing he's worst at nowadays, and so not only are we having to carry him physically, he offers nothing in return.

Sums him at the moment. If he can't do the one thing he was meant to still be good at, what exact does he offer?

Abysmal today.

 

[The Firestarter]

he was motm after lingard for me.

ace

 

[Irwin99]

Agreed. Cringeworthy criticism on Pavolivian cue today because Ronaldo didn’t score a goal.

I totally get criticism that he should be doing better, particularly with the chances he's getting but i'm not buying that he offers absolutely nothing.

I will say I don't think he should be starting two games in a week though.

For the people defending him :

Do you honestly think there aren’t other improving players who we could get who do the exact same job on 1/4 of the cash and have a long term future at the club. He’s a poacher who comes back a few times a game when he doesn’t see enough of the ball standing up top half pressing.

We should be building and moving forwards. Not backwards and sideways

I think there's some fair points there, however, he's here now, as far as I can see his attitude is fine, i can not fault his work rate or desire despite what some people argue. I don't think he should be playing two games in a week but my point is that I don't think he's finished and for me he's our first choice striker until the season ends.

On another point, Like Giggs I can see him playing at a high level until he's 39/40. Unlike Giggs though I wonder if his ego will let managers have an easy ride in deciding what games he should play.

 

[Utd heap]

Shite again. Not had a good game for months.

Mobile striker and we would have been 4 up before they scored.

 

[#07]

I think people are being OTT with the criticism of Ronaldo. He should have scored from Pogba's cross in the first half. Besides that he was fine. Now, if you're going around calling yourself the world's greatest there's an argument you should be more than fine. However, I felt he made the right movements and just needed to hold his runs once or twice. He'll be back on the scoresheet soon enough.

 

[Gehrman]

I totally get criticism that he should be doing better, particularly with the chances he's getting but i'm not buying that he offers absolutely nothing.

I will say I don't think he should be starting two games in a week though.




I think there's some fair points there, however, he's here now, as far as I can see his attitude is fine, i can not fault his work rate or desire despite what some people argue. I don't think he should be playing two games in a week but my point is that I don't think he's finished and for me he's our first choice striker until the season ends.

On another point, Like Giggs I can see him playing at a high level until he's 39/40. Unlike Giggs though I wonder if his ego will let managers have an easy ride in deciding what games he should play.

I think his previous hissy fit with being subbed means that his elite attitude is questionable.

 

[shamans]

For the people defending him :

Do you honestly think there aren’t other improving players who we could get who do the exact same job on 1/4 of the cash and have a long term future at the club. He’s a poacher who comes back a few times a game when he doesn’t see enough of the ball standing up top half pressing.

We should be building and moving forwards. Not backwards and sideways

I've criticized him a lot, even last game when he scored but people are now just joining the bandwagon calling him finished every game.

Just discussing his performances and not who we could rather have he was absolutely fine today imo. Yes he wasn't or hasn't been Ronaldo of the old but I still think this performance was an improvement over Martial playing upfront.

He was part of the buildup. Good linkup play today and had defenders on their toes. Contributed for the goal as well.

People acting like he was slipping around like Falcao. Or that it was "painful". It's like you don't see strikers for other teams and how many chances they miss. Not talking about the Ronaldo deal as a whole and its implications but today's performance was a 7/10 regular premier league striker performance.

 

[shamans]

I think his previous hissy fit with being subbed means that his elite attitude is questionable.

Is Bruno's questionable as well then since he has done the same?

 

[Andre Kagawa]

Completely finished.

 

[Van Piorsing]

Surely he won't accept role of a sub, so move could be on the cards.

 

[Gehrman]

Is Bruno's questionable as well then since he has done the same?

He doesnt lecture about his elite mentality.

 

[KingCavani]

He was fine.

 

[shamans]

He doesnt lecture about his elite mentality.

Really? Bruno has been the "mentality" leader of the squad last few years. It's almost as if players with high drive get annoyed when they don't play.

 

[edcunited1878]

Did Ronaldo not score last PL match against Brighton?

 

[UpWithRivers]

He was fine.

I think thats the problem

 

[bakalhau]

Looking forward to Wednesday. Having followed him all his career, I don't think he's happy with how he has been doing in front of the goal, and he's not the kind of guy to chicken out on a major game for CL. He's gonna look to Wednesday as a way to kick out the ghosts and show the world he's not done. He's gonna leave his blood on the pitch, track back like a madman towards the end of the game, and do everything in his power to contribute and help the team.

 

[Ayoba]

He was fine.

He wasn't...offered absolutely nothing upfront.

 

[soapythecat]

Average performance once again for the second highest paid player in the world (possibly). His contribution v wages is the biggest joke this club are currently telling.

 

[berbatrick]

Not talking about the Ronaldo deal as a whole and its implications but today's performance was a 7/10 regular premier league striker performance.

Wow.

 

[The Irish Connection]

Decent again today I thought. A bit unlucky that Pogbas cross was just behind him and had to dig it out. Otherwise made some good darting runs as usual, should have had an assist and played a part in the winning goal.

 

[BerryBerryShrew]

First time where you can say he really physically struggled. The pace of the game and weather didn't help, but he was lost out there. Should have come off at HT and get him rested by the CL game. You just know he's going to come alive for that.

I do think it's better for him and us if he moves on in the summer.

Looking forward to Wednesday. Having followed him all his career, I don't think he's happy with how he has been doing in front of the goal, and he's not the kind of guy to chicken out on a major game for CL. He's gonna look to Wednesday as a way to kick out the ghosts and show the world he's not done. He's gonna leave his blood on the pitch, track back like a madman towards the end of the game, and do everything in his power to contribute and help the team.

If he does come alive for the CL game then that would be an indictment of his attitude to be honest. You can't have a guy half assing it in the PL just to keep himself match fit to turn it on when he wants to extend his CL goalscoring record.

 

[The Corinthian]

Really poor all round. Should be used as a super sub but just isn’t good enough to be starting week in week out.

 

[SER19]

Was dreadful today. Could reliably put away that first half chance on a bad day in years gone by, without that ruthlessness it's hard to see what he brings lately

I still think he could be v effective used sparingly and for CL.

 

[arnie_ni]

I thought he did ok today. Link-up play much improved from some of his earlier very poor performances.

His link up play has been very good the past few games I feel, if he can just start converting chances I think we'll bag top 4 comfortably

 

[FrankDrebin]

Has he played on any of the wings since he's returned ?

 

[M Bison]

He’s struggling massively in my view. Did you ever start playing 7 a side with a younger group of lads and just couldn’t keep up? Feels like that.

What I wouldn’t do for a young, hungry and aggressive Rooney playing at no 9, we’d be a different prospect altogether.

 

[Jim Beam]

Everyone has a feeling he will produce against Atletico, but with that game in mind I think he should have given a rest. He clearly struggles at this point of the season and see no point in playing him every time.

Has he played on any of the wings since he's returned ?

Nah, and imo he can't play there at all anymore. Some kind of formation where he plays off the main striker who has the ability to hold onto the ball would be ideal, but we don't have that kind of player here.

 

[Lay]

He will score against Atletico

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

He could have score at least a brace today

Really hope that he'll get his juju back against Atletico

 

[Real Name]

He was OK, some of you lot just go with the same, posts prepared beforehand, after every game.

 

[Jim Beam]

I miss Sonya.

 

[KennyBurner]

What left is there to say? The guy is a liability. We need to play Rashford as striker till the end of the season. Ronaldo was never a central striker to begin with.