Put another midfielder in and take Rooney out. 4-3-3. Perfect.Rooney - FalcaoTheoretical formations
Ronaldo ------ Di Maria
Blind - Herrera
Shaw - Hummels - Someone Else - Rafael
De Gea
Cristiano Ronaldo
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
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If Ronaldo came back here next summer i think it's safe to say we won't sign Falcao on a permanent deal.
No way are we going to pay £60m+ for Ronaldo and £44m for Falcao.
Next season though our team could look something like this:-
----Ronaldo(Falcao)----RVP
----------Rooney----
Di Maria-------------Herrera(Mata/Adnan)
----------Strootman
Shaw---Rojo(or Jones)---New CB---Rafael
No way are we going to pay £60m+ for Ronaldo and £44m for Falcao.
Next season though our team could look something like this:-
----Ronaldo(Falcao)----RVP
----------Rooney----
Di Maria-------------Herrera(Mata/Adnan)
----------Strootman
Shaw---Rojo(or Jones)---New CB---Rafael
We don't need a 2 goal head start in every match from now until Christmas... it would bloody help though.
The commentators wouldn't stop slagging him off against Malaga.
To the point where they genuinely stopped talking about the game and just repeated that Messi had been terrible.
To be fair....we probably do.
That's the one game I didn't see. Not surprising that he'd have one off game and be the focus just because of that.
Suárez last season had a ridiculous goals to games ratio last year, one which was significantly better than Falcao's in La Liga, and he's clearly an inferior player to Ronaldo and Messi. And considering how easily Ronaldo and Messi have scored against the top English teams in the CL I find it hard to believe they'd have anything less than a goals-per-game ratio in England. He has 186 goals in 169 league games in La Liga which is "only" 1.1 goals per game, so even if they were to "only" score 1 goal per game the difference is negligible. Using the league they play in as a stick to beat them with is just silly. If you're comparing it to the Serie A in the 80s then sure there's a vast difference, but the top European leagues at this point in time are all absurdly top-heavy, and the only people that think England isn't are those that support a top team in England and are completely insulated and absorbed by the constant marketing of the PL as "the most competitive league in the world". Perhaps it's slightly more competitive than Spain or Germany but it's still an oligopoly.
I wrote that he's past it physically wise which means that he isn't as explosive, powerful and quick as he was 2-3 years ago. He is still a great player, capable of fantastic passes and goals. He's lost some of his explosiveness and power though. It's obvious for all to see. Unless they are blinded by his reputation.
Unlike Messi, Ronaldo is still a beast. And unlike Messi he's relied entirely on his own natural athleticism and incredible professionalism. One could argue that Messi was legally doped for he would have been physically too weak if he hadn't been medically treated as a teenager. Personally, I think that Messi at heas peak was the best footballer ever, i.e. better than Maradona and Pele. But he was helped by medicine big time, unlike the other GOAT players, including C. Ronaldo. Ronaldo may be 2 years older than Messi but he is in his physical prime. Messi is still one of the best players around but he isn't above the rest any more. On the contrary, Ronaldo is superior to him.
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Yeah that's a good post.
But, to be fair, I wasn't using them playing in La Liga "as a stick to beat them with", I think these players are the best players on Earth, I just don't think Ronaldo or Messi would have quite such impressive GTG ratios in the PL. I still think they'd be fantastic players.
It's not even that I view the PL as 'superior', I just feel that the overall speed of the game that every well versed PL side is used to, coupled with the higher physicality would take the sheen off what we see from Ronaldo and Messi in La Liga. Maybe Ronaldo's GTG ratio in his last season with us compared to his first season at Real would prove me wrong, I can't find the info so I'm not sure.
I know that other Utd fans can get very defensive when talking about Ronaldo, as if he's still one of our own - or perhaps more than if he was, I dunno - but my point is really aimed at the notion that he'll be worth 100m+ to us. I just don't agree with this, and I think if he did come "home" people would soon realise that he wouldn't be offering the same GTG with us as with Real.
I could be wrong though, there's only one way we'll ever find out!
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In his last season with us he missed the pre-season and the first couple of months after ankle surgery. When he came back he was still pretty underpowered, he didn't really get going until January. So he "only" got 26 in 53. The year before though he scored 42 goals in 49 (31 in 34 in the league) games as opposed to his first season in Spain where he got 33 in 35 (26 in 29) - scarcely any difference really.
Ronaldo 17 goals record:
Group Stages:
first game Real madrid won 6-1 against galatasaray Ronaldo scored three goals the 3-0, 4-0 and 6-1
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011769/index.html
second game against Kobenhavn Ronaldo scored the two first goals of a 4-0 game
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011778/index.html
third game against juventus, Real Madrid at home won 2-1 both goals were scored by ronaldo -second one was a Pk-
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011793/index.html
fourth game against juventus away. they tied 2-2 ronaldo scored the first goal of the game
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011817/index.html
fifth game, against galatasaray at home, ronaldo didnt play
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011825/index.html
sixth game against Kobenhavn Real MAdrid won the away game 2-0 ronaldo scored the second goal and missed a penalty
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011850/index.html
knockout phase
first game of the eight finals against shalke ronaldo scored the 3rd and sixth goal in a 6-1 victory (the shalke goal was in the minute 93)
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000480/match=2011862/index.html
second game of the eight finals ronaldo scored the 1st and 2nd goal in the 3-1 victory over shalke
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000480/match=2011868/index.html
first game of the quarter finals, Ronaldo scored the 3rd goal of a 3-0 victory over Dortmund
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000481/match=2011872/index.html
second game of the quarter finals, Ronaldo didnt play against dortmund, and they lost 2-0
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000481/match=2011878/index.html
first game of the semifinals against Bayern munich, Real Madrid won 1-0 Ronaldo didnt score
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000482/match=2011880/index.html
second game of the semifinals against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid won 4-0 Ronaldo scored the 3rd and fourth goal
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000482/match=2011881/index.html
final game against Atletico de Madrid, Ronaldo scored the 4th goal over a penalty kick at the 120 minute
And i'm sorry if any of you don't like it, but this is a forum where "messi has yet to make it in a cold monday night against stoke" was repeated endlesly, so this post, compared to that stupid sentence, is pure gold
cheers
Group Stages:
first game Real madrid won 6-1 against galatasaray Ronaldo scored three goals the 3-0, 4-0 and 6-1
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011769/index.html
second game against Kobenhavn Ronaldo scored the two first goals of a 4-0 game
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011778/index.html
third game against juventus, Real Madrid at home won 2-1 both goals were scored by ronaldo -second one was a Pk-
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011793/index.html
fourth game against juventus away. they tied 2-2 ronaldo scored the first goal of the game
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011817/index.html
fifth game, against galatasaray at home, ronaldo didnt play
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011825/index.html
sixth game against Kobenhavn Real MAdrid won the away game 2-0 ronaldo scored the second goal and missed a penalty
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000479/match=2011850/index.html
knockout phase
first game of the eight finals against shalke ronaldo scored the 3rd and sixth goal in a 6-1 victory (the shalke goal was in the minute 93)
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000480/match=2011862/index.html
second game of the eight finals ronaldo scored the 1st and 2nd goal in the 3-1 victory over shalke
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000480/match=2011868/index.html
first game of the quarter finals, Ronaldo scored the 3rd goal of a 3-0 victory over Dortmund
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000481/match=2011872/index.html
second game of the quarter finals, Ronaldo didnt play against dortmund, and they lost 2-0
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000481/match=2011878/index.html
first game of the semifinals against Bayern munich, Real Madrid won 1-0 Ronaldo didnt score
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000482/match=2011880/index.html
second game of the semifinals against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid won 4-0 Ronaldo scored the 3rd and fourth goal
http://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000482/match=2011881/index.html
final game against Atletico de Madrid, Ronaldo scored the 4th goal over a penalty kick at the 120 minute
And i'm sorry if any of you don't like it, but this is a forum where "messi has yet to make it in a cold monday night against stoke" was repeated endlesly, so this post, compared to that stupid sentence, is pure gold
cheers
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Yeah, he's clearly shit then. Got it.
not al all, he is one of the greatest players ever, he is playing better than messi now and he will probably win as many golden balls as messi
those facts doesnt change the fact that Real Madrid would have won the 10th CL without most of his goals
They probably wouldn't have won it without Ronaldo on the pitch though.
we are talking about goals
dont come here mixing apples with oranges!
long time no see mate
Basically he's a flat track bully.
Basically, that's a very stupid thing to say.
In that case basically every team is shit then.
The entire world is flat in the eyes of Ronaldo, in that case.
This
I find him boring to watch. Goal machine.
In 2006/07 he was a really exciting player.
In 2006/07 he was a really exciting player.
I was surprised to read how many of the goals were basically meaningless, but considering they edged out a fine Dortmund side after Mkhitaryan missed several excellent chances, you'd have to say Ronaldo scoring the 3rd goal in the first leg was massive. Without it - and possibly due to him missing the 2nd leg - they could very easily have gone out in that tie.
Not boring to watch, but it does seem more of a job for him nowadays. In 2006/07 he was an entertainer.
Basically cut out the fancy stuff and concentrated more on end product (that has increased). Take your pick lads.
100% agree his mere presence on the pitch frees up space for other players as teams put 1-2 players on Ronnie at all times. Great player please bring him home!
In 2006/07 he was like Di Maria now but with more strength and power and more goals, which shows how good he was.
Yep but in 2013-14 he had improved again showing how much better he was than Di Maria (who is now the best player in this league)
There is nothing 'surprising about it. No body can score so many 'decisive' goals.
To stop this tediousness for once, I went through previous record holder's 14 goals in 2011/12 -
-3rd, 4th in 5-0 win
-1st(pen),2nd,4th goal in 4 -0 win
-2nd (penalty) in 2-3 win
-3rd in 3-1 win
-1,2,3,6,7 in 7-1 win
-1,2, (both pens ) in 3-1 win
So going by 'logic' of some posters on here, that's about 6 'meaningful' goals out of 14 which contained 4 penalties, another stat some people like to disparage.
Slightly off topic, but similar to Marcos' post.
I had this 'important goals' thread in the newbs where I used to assign values to the goals scored. 3 goals for a goal scored to draw a game level or go ahead, 2 points to put your team two up or reduce deficit to 1 and 1 point for every other goal. I did it for PL and Europe.
I can't obviously access the thread in the newbs any more and I can't seem to find the end of season table for 12/13 on my laptop, this one is obviously a bit off as RVP got more than 23 goals.
Here is the most updated one from my laptop which is obviously a bit off as RVP :
Europe one including Messi and Ronaldo from the same time:
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Imagine a better looking two-footed Di Maria who can score goals and has a greater array of tricks, outstanding in the air.. brilliant set-piece taker.. that is what we're dealing with when we are talking about Ronaldo. Other day I was going through games he played in from 04-07.. and his talent was unbelievable, one of the most exciting and gifted players to ever grace the football pitch. People criticise his decision-making back then, but it was solid.. he kept possession very well and was a solid passer (never a number 10 style passer - doesn't have that style of game), compared to say a young Giggsy who lost the ball quite often. Ronaldo's one touch play was excellent, his touch immaculate... he only struggled in the final third when it came to shot execution, would blaze wildly over the bar quite often and ball hog quite a fair bit.. but he was a game changer, he was a driving force.. got the ball from deep and within seconds opponents were on the back foot.
He looks better than ever at the start of this season, his dribbling seems to still be going strong - we should appreciate him while we can, none of the new talents coming through at the moment touch him at all.. I mean Gotze for example, nowhere near as exciting as a young Ronaldo, guys like Hazard? no way, Ronaldo was a lot more explosive.. and had that potential where he looked like once everything came together he would tear teams apart single-handedly.
My only criticism of Ronaldo is that in the biggest of games, his dribbling has let him down... whereas as a youngster, he still dribbled well and looked dangerous against organised defences, as he matured it has become easier to mark him out of a game.. and it is his goal-scoring and especially his heading ability which comes to the fore in high pressure games. That is fine but if he could put in all-round performances and be a maestro in such games, it would enhance his reputation that much further.. as a youngster, you felt like he'd be capable of scoring a Maradona v England goal.. that is how good he was at running at players, but he's never managed to score that type of goal or control big international encounters/european cup games in that manner.
For the £60m+ that would be needed to ''bring him'' home I would rather we spent that on players who play in positions that will actually complete us as a team, say a WC CM and CB. With the likes of Lingard, Perreira, Thorpe, James and McNAIR being given their chances by LVG I think we are more in need of defensive and midfield upgrades than another marquee forward or a group of overpriced squad players. A thirty year old Ronaldo, no matter how great he is, does not represent the greatest piece of business we could think of.
Yes. He was class when running at players. He was basically a different player back then. He's basically a striker now.
Ronaldo 06/07 wasn't never like Di Maria. What a ridiculous comparison.
That's suggests you don't know what kind of player di Maria is. He's a lot more of a midfielder than you think he is. Ronaldo has never and will never work as hard as Di Maria. You will never see Ronaldo chase and Harry the way di Maria did in midfield for madrid last season. Even 06/07 Ronaldo didn't track back and work hard off the ball like that let alone todAys Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is obviously a better player but that summary is completely off the mark.
What's an interesting topic of discussion for me is how good a dribbler Ronaldo used to be. He burnt so many defenders back then but he was at times so easily frustrated and contained by the better teams in that aspect. I mean, Cole basically had him in his pocket everytime after the first time they played each other. The likes of di Mara and Iniesta seem to consistently show their dribbling quality even in tight games. I think it's possible that Ronaldo's dribbling ability wants nearly as good as we all used to think. Against smaller teams it looked great and his trickery threw those defenders off but genuine dribbling and deft change of direction, maybe he wasn't an elite dribbler.
Basically, he's a modern day Gary Linekar.
If you look at where Ronaldo used to conduct his dribbles from you'd be amazed how deep he'd start off.. he didn't just hang forward waiting for the ball to come to him. Not track back? he used to work his bollocks off in his younger years. It was 07 onwards where his ego grew and he became concerned about his attacking game and didn't want to track back as much. Of course I know Di Maria is more of a midfielder, but in a pure winger sense only one winner..
Iniesta has better close control, but he also has that thing which he picks and chooses his dribbles more carefully, therefore it is harder to pick up when he is going to go past you and that makes it hard to defend against him. Di Maria has more agility than Ronaldo and has a very unique dribbling technique, he's more natural at jinking in and out of tight spots.. so I agree he is a better dribbler especially against top defenders.. but remember Cole had to be at the very best of his game to stop Ronaldo.. any lapse in concentration, Ronaldo would have caused trouble.. I don't think either of the two players you've mentioned have been subjected to the same level of marking. Ronaldinho on the other hand.. Ronaldo struggles to match up to someone of his ilk in terms of ball mastery on the wing.. perfect mixture of close control, pace, tricks, strength, agility.. Fenomeno too.. its in comparison to these players where Ronaldo even at his peak dribbling ability.. kind of struggles.
None of the players I mention do that. Iniesta is a midfield playmaker and Di Maria does a greater deal of his good work in the buildup than Ronaldo did. I'm sorry but Ronaldo simply doesn't have a case for "being the guy who conducts from deep" more than these other players. Quite the opposite.
Good thing I wasn't comparing them as wingers. I was saying that Ronaldo didn't chase and harry the way Di Maria does. He never did and doesnt now either. He worked harder as a kid but he was still very individualistic and it was nowhere comparable to what Di Maria showed last year, for example. It's not his nature to be chasing and being a pain for attackers. Which is not a criticism because hes always been so good going forward. I was just highlighting how you saying Ronaldo was "basically Di Maria with...." made zero sense.
Which is basically my point. All those things you talk about, they're just what a better dribbler does. His intelligence and close control in tight spaces is just different. Ronaldo has other benefits but in hindsight, like I said, maybe he wasn't the top dribbler we thought he was.
His role is to constantly run at players though, or rather it was. Players like that have to constantly run at players and stretch the game for their team.. they can't afford to make pretty dribbles here and there, they have to keep going at their opponents time and time again.. it is harder to look as elegant.
My reference to Di Maria was purely in terms of the excitement factor he has brought back and his ability to add drive to our game.. i.e. the ability to run at players from deep positions and turn defence into attack, Ronaldo used to do that. I didn't mean he shares all of Di Maria's attributes i.e. passing and general midfield play.
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