Cristiano vs Ten Hag

NewGlory

United make me feel dirty. And not in a sexy way.
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Jul 13, 2019
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Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
 
Mike Smalling said:
We never should have taken him back in the first place.
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I couldn't agree more with that. Likely cost Ole his job, since he had no idea how to deal with the resulting squad. But the question is - once we did...
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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Cristiano’s ego was still ever present (and perhaps justifiably so given what he had achieved in his career), but as a football player he was well and truly done at EPL level, especially with how quick the modern game now is.
 
We were right to move him on. His attitude stank the place out. Yes, has an absolutely incredible winning mentality, but very entitled and tbh not the sort of character that I want at the club. Incredible memories from his first spell at the club, of course. But you don't refuse to come off the bench, leave the game early, behave like he did with Maguire and expect that sort of behaviour is going to be a good example for younger players coming through.

He can go and run off to his mate Piers again when things aren't going his way and throw his toys out the pram. He'll moan about the club being rotten and he's not wrong on some of that, but he contributed to that rot as well...

Not your question, of course, but his second spell kind of soured my feelings on his legacy at the club. I just don't see him the same way as I do other legends I grew up watching in the 90s and 00s.

Added to that, agree with those saying he actually was done at the top level, really!
 
DRJosh said:
Cristiano’s ego was still ever present (and perhaps justifiably so given what he had achieved in his career), but as a football player he was well and truly done at EPL level, especially with how quick the modern game now is.
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He was "done" depending on what you wanted him to do. If you wanted him to have pace and energy of a 22-year old, then sure. But that was not the only way to utilize him, and fact remains Cristiano scored 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Manchester United. Even if many of those were penalty shots, still by far best result of any of our strikers...

Are you sure it's all black-and-white, or maybe there is some gray there. Especially since Cristiano's ego was deserved and there were plenty in that squad whose were not (Sancho, Rashy etc etc). Maybe we should have cleared those out, instead of Cristiano...
 
NewGlory said:
He was "done" depending on what you wanted him to do. If you wanted him to have pace and energy of a 22-year old, then sure. But that was not the only way to utilize him, and fact remains Cristiano scored 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Manchester United. Even if many of those were penalty shots, still by far best result of any of our strikers...
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We scored 73 goals in the league the season before he came. Then we became Pass It To Ronaldo FC, which meant Bruno scored less, the wingers scored less, Cavani scored less because he was tossed aside, and we scored 57 goals.

But Ronaldo personally nicked a goal every other game with the whole attack sacrificing itself to cater to him, so this is somehow evidence of him being good for us. :lol:
 
He scored 3 goals for us in the 2022/23 season.

Some of his 'highlight reel' video clips from around that time were more like blooper reels. He was horrendous.

He was absolutely finished at the top level. His ego still thought he could compete, but his body said otherwise.

Let's not forget he was desperately parading himself around to any CL clubs who would take him in the summer following the 2021-22 season, but nobody wanted him.

As others have said - we never should have brought him back to begin with.
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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I don't think that's clear at all.
His performances for us that season simply weren't good enough. And it wasn't just a case of a player being out of form - he wasn't able to keep up with the physical demands of the PL.
 
NewGlory said:
He was "done" depending on what you wanted him to do. If you wanted him to have pace and energy of a 22-year old, then sure. But that was not the only way to utilize him, and fact remains Cristiano scored 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Manchester United. Even if many of those were penalty shots, still by far best result of any of our strikers...

Are you sure it's all black-and-white, or maybe there is some gray there. Especially since Cristiano's ego was deserved and there were plenty in that squad whose were not (Sancho, Rashy etc etc). Maybe we should have cleared those out, instead of Cristiano...
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The best way to utilise him was a squad option, but that's where his ego was the problem. He needed to be a starter, but his body wouldn't allow for that.
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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Awful thread. Move on.
 
We would have been better keeping Ronaldo than Ten Hag, purely because how it was under Erik.
 
No, I'm happy ETH handled it the way he did. The same way Amorim handled the "bomb squad". I'm sorry for the buzzwords but that was the real culture change. Toxic players were running the dressing room. From Pogba, to Ronaldo, to guys like Garnacho leaking stuff all over the place and acting like a spoilt brat.

Now we got a 80m striker sitting on the bench week after week who keeps his head down and works hard even though he probably feels he should start. Players who don't whine when they're benched or subbed. Proper professionals. If we caved to the ego's of Ronaldo and the others instead of supported Erik/Ruben, we wouldn't be where we are today. We already let Mourinho down (I truly feel that way still), so sacking them for the demands of a PLAYER would be ludicrous.
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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Build a team around cristiano? Never should have signed him (again) in the first place.

He could have been a invaluable squad option and mentor to some of the youngsters but his ego would never, ever have allowed that.
 
Ish said:
Build a team around cristiano? Never should have signed him (again) in the first place.

He could have been a invaluable squad option and mentor to some of the youngsters but his ego would never, ever have allowed that.
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Agreed. The only way it'd be worth building a team around him was if he re-joined us at 26 years old - not 36.
 
DarkLord1984 said:
Agreed. The only way it'd be worth building a team around him was if he re-joined us at 26 years old - not 36.
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Spot on. There’s a reason he’s in Saudi - no top club would want him (not at his wage and as a first choice CF anyway) and he’d never play for a “lesser club” IMO (I mean, why should he?). He’s also getting paid a kings ransom in Saudi (like literally).
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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I mean the 1st paragraph is blatantly untrue, he was released on a free transfer and the only credible offers he got was from a retirement league, fair play to him earn that money but he was done at that point and he knew it, a few goals against a pile of shit in the World Cup qualifiers doesn't change that
 
He was as close to the top level as a random bench warmer in Conference. He was truly awful in the world cup, and he destroyed the chances of his country. He was also extremely poor in the following Euro. He was done.

However, his critic about lack of investment in facilities etc was correct.
 
For Ronaldo to succeed again at United required two things:
  1. He had to sacrifice his ego to reflect his role as a squad player rather than a guaranteed starter
  2. He had to work hard on the pitch to compensate for his ailing athleticism and ensure he contributed even when not scoring goals.
He refused to do either. His lack of work rate caused major tactical problems and his behaviour was toxic for the team. It was the right decision to get rid, irregardless of who the manager was.
 
He was an egotistical arsehole and he was cooked at the top level.
We did well to get rid!
 
Bondi77 said:
He was an egotistical arsehole and he was cooked at the top level.
We did well to get rid!
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I am confused if you are referring to Cristiano or EtH, or both :)
 
Had a rough night?

Sir Alex seemed happy to see him again and that is the only positive i can think of regarding his return.
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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Yes.
 
Gio said:
For Ronaldo to succeed again at United required two things:
  1. He had to sacrifice his ego to reflect his role as a squad player rather than a guaranteed starter
  2. He had to work hard on the pitch to compensate for his ailing athleticism and ensure he contributed even when not scoring goals.
He refused to do either. His lack of work rate caused major tactical problems and his behaviour was toxic for the team. It was the right decision to get rid, irregardless of who the manager was.
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Is correct.
 
One of Ten Hag’s better decisions. His best trait was that he wasn’t afraid of taking tough calls.

Ronaldo’s return was a big mistake on our and Ole’s part and getting rid was the right thing to do.
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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Obviously. Why would any sane person pick building a huge club around a washed up big name who didn’t fit tactically over two actual trophies?

Ten Hag could and did deal with him. Corrected an expensive mistake. Only issue is that he proved to be one himself.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Obviously. Why would any sane person pick building a huge club around a washed up big name who didn’t fit tactically over two actual trophies?

Ten Hag could and did deal with him. Corrected an expensive mistake. Only issue is that he proved to be one himself.
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Amen!
 
He wasn't the main problem nor was "a striker that will press" the solution. However before he left his finishing form had dropped in 22/23. 21/22 Ronaldo would have continued to work with a well functioning team around him. The problem is we werent a well functioning team around him and then he had his own weak points. With the drop in form of his main quality his finishing, the weak points were more pronounced and things would only get worse over time as he gets older. Also Rashford stepped up in the 22/23 season so we were less reliant on Ronaldo as our main goalscorer and at that poiint we didnt know Rashford would have his own problems and leave as well.
 
NewGlory said:
Looking back, it is clear that Cristiano was far from done, at the top level, when he left United. He left basically because he clashed with EtH.

In retrospect, would we have been better off keeping Cristiano and bringing a manager who could deal with him + build a team around him, or giving a chance to Erik? Were the FA Cup and League Cup, EtH got us, better deals?
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Seriously?

Firstly, Ronaldo had his agent flying all over Europe that preseason, doing everything he could to find a club to buy him. Ronaldo was so desperate to leave that he then fired that agent (who he had had his entire career) when he couldn't find a club who wanted him. The disrespect that he was showing the club was obvious. This was all before Ronaldo had even met ETH.

Secondly, the only thing that was clear was that Ronaldo was done at the top level (especially in the physicality of the PL). He was utterly atrocious that season. His touch was completely gone, defenders were basically taking the piss out of him with how easily they were taking the ball from him, his already low workrate was basically in the negatives. Huge portions of the fanbase were criticising ETH and the club for not dropping him earlier than he did, saying that it showed cowardice from the management and looked like Ronaldo was bigger than the club (people tend to forget he still started 11 of the 18 games he was available for). For all the criticism that Wout got, his performances that season were comfortably better than Ronaldo's. Which really says it all.

It wasn't even just that season. There was a period of a couple months the previous season where he struggled massively, and although he got back in his groove towards the end of that season it turned out to be a sign of things to come.

The fact that he couldn't find a single decent European club to sign him before that season started, and worse that he then couldn't find a single decent European club to sign him on a free when we terminated the contract, shows that every other club also thought he was finished.

I criticise ETH for a lot of things. The Ronaldo situation certainly isn't one of them.
 
We would have been better off if Ronaldo never returned and ETH never arrived to the club
 
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