Portugal Discussion | Roberto Martinez resigns

[TheMagicFoolBus]

Yawn.
The so called corpse has been their too scorer in competitive matches over that last 3 years of international games.

Idiotic excuses. I bet you are a Messi fanboi.

I 'go on" Because it isn't. They do not need the striker in build up of moves. No one ever has as long as the sport has existed. They do not need him in defensive phases either. How this idiotic myth that you need 11 men to defem
nds persist is beyond the pale. Argentina literally won a world cup defending with 10. And are possibly set for a another semi final with the exact same set up.


[QUOTE="TheMagicFoolBus, post: 34439387, member: 106296]
When was the last time you critiqued the midfield of a team for not being creative enough after a red card? It's completely disingenuous to blame the midfield when they are effectively playing down a man.[/
Quote] More fallcious BS

[QUOTE="TheMagicFoolBus, post: 34439387, member: 106296
Also huge congratulations to Ronaldo for scoring against the likes of Armenia and Hungary. ......

He's their top scorer because he takes penalties and plays every match against minnows. This isn't the point you think it is; his continued involvement in the seleção at this point is an abomination. His record in knockout games proves this - he's a flat track bully who doesn't show up against top opposition.

The point remains (despite your weird insecurities about this, you should get that checked out) that other national teams that defend with 10 vs 11 win in other phases. Messi is the best playmaker in the history of the sport. Mbappe is one of the most lethal players in transition in the world. Haaland exerts his physicality on opposing CBs and wears them down over the course of a match. What does 41 year old Ronaldo bring to the table at this point? He isn't even an above-average finisher anymore.

Also, it's absolutely hilarious to count penalties in the shootout vs Germany and Spain as some sort of point in his favour - when the argument from everyone who gives a damn and has a clue about the Portuguese NT is that he should be coming off the bench for the last 15-20 minutes of matches.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

He's their top scorer because he takes penalties and plays every match against minnows.
This isn't the point you think it is; his continued involvement in the seleção at this point is an abomination.

In the recent nation's league competition for example he scored in 90 minutes against Spain and Germany and neither goal was a penalty. This 'he scores only vs minnows' is just typical fanboish puerile over blown bs. Just like the 'he lives offside" narrative. For a guy who "lives offside" he was flagged just 6 times in 5 games world cup games

His record in knockout games proves this - he's a flat track bully who doesn't show up against top opposition.

Rather Portugal's record in knock out games shows THEY have a problem. It was the same even in his actual prime as a player. Folks bending over backwards desperate to pretend it' just down to his age never stops being hilarious.

The point remains (despite your weird insecurities about this, you should get that checked out) that other national teams that defend with 10 vs 11 win in other phases.

Insecurity over what exactly? Its an objective fact a team doesn't need 11 men in build up. Neither does it need 11 to defend. Argentina are proof postive it STILL works done correctly at the highest level. 2 world cups runninng! The only folks I see with "insecurity" here are the likes of you defending this 'we need 11" myth.

Messi is the best playmaker in the history of the sport.

He is also the greatest false 9 ever in the sport too. It is literally irrelevant. Argentina no longer platform him
as their playmaker in chief nor their false 9 because he is past 35. Thet instead platform him to be the finisher of their moves and match winner. He hasn't' been required in any way defensively since he hit 35 for them and since the start of the last world cup they stopped leaving all the play making to him because they aren't objective morons neither.

Mbappe is one of the most lethal players in transition in the world. Haaland exerts his physicality on
opposing CBs and wears them down over the course of a match.

There are few things more disingenous than attempting to compare mid 20 year old players to a 40 year old. That says it all really....

What does 41 year old Ronaldo bring to the table at this point? He isn't even an above-average finisher anymore.

He remains a natural goal scorer who will score when platformed properly. Period! If as a manager you don't have the smarts to platform a slow poacher. Just don't start him instead of embarrassing yourself. Instead of blaming him.

What I often find quite hilarious is how his detractors constantly pretend that Portugal have been "constantly playing this champaygne football" that CR7 "slows down", every time a result goes against them. Or that they create bucket loads against low blocks and its just CR7's alleged age caused ineptitude that doesn't put those bucket load of XG chances away. Or his " constantly being caught offside. Yet the reality is opposite.

It'd the same with the " see. He was dropped and they hit Switzerland for 6" narrative. .The moment you point out normal service was resumed vs Morocco with the player who replaced him starting instead, it's supposedly because 'you hate the player". Rather than because their theory is just wrong and the problem runs deeper than who starts up front for them.

Also, it's absolutely hilarious to count penalties in the shootout vs Germany and Spain as some sort of point in his favour - .....

A typical Messi fanboi response. Relying on myths and projection. I never mentioned shoot outs once. You have 3 times.

In there recejnt Euro Nations league He scored the winner in the 68th minute vs Germany in the semi. The equalizer in the 61st minute vs Spain. Neither was a shoot out goal.


Portugal are consistently their own worst enemy 2 world cups running. So was Roberto Martinez. Period.

I don't care the team. I don't care the type of player. If you are going to set up a side with a 35 year old plus attacking player. But don't have the good sense to:
I. set up the team to do the physical running off the ball for him
II. to move the ball quick in order to create room for him to operate,
III the good sense to have runners getting beyond him.

IV. Then above all choose to have him lead your attacking line.

I won't be blaming the player when things go against you. I will strictly be blaming you for objective stupidity.

 

[sheva1992]

It's frightening that anyone still defends Ronaldo. I don't even know how he's still a starter. What happened with the Portugal national team at this World Cup was almost criminal, an absolute disgrace, and Martínez is a cancer - a coward who had already done the same thing with Belgium in 2022. There are untouchable players. Ronaldo only scored from the penalty spot in 2022, didn't score at Euro 2024, and has only scored from a penalty against Croatia now. The goals against Uzbekistan don't even count.

He doesn't press, he doesn't run. It's frightening that a team of this quality is going through this in 2026. It's a disgrace.

Ramos has four more goals between 2022-2026 without scoring a penalty.

I don't understand Cristiano either. He's already 41 years old; it's normal for players to stop wanting to play for the national team or simply retire from it. The oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup was Milla at 42. What more does he want? Even goalkeepers have stepped away—Buffon at 39, Neuer at 40. Casillas retired even earlier, and Courtois has already said he won't return. Most of them leave between the ages of 35 and 37. I genuinely don't understand it. Ronaldo should have retired from international football in 2022, and what happened when they suspended the three-match ban from his red card against Ireland was scandalous. The whole situation has been a cancer.

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

It's frightening that anyone still defends Ronaldo. I don't even know how he's still a starter. What happened with the Portugal national team at this World Cup was almost criminal, an absolute disgrace, and Martínez is a cancer - a coward who had already done the same thing with Belgium in 2022. There are untouchable players. Ronaldo only scored from the penalty spot in 2022, didn't score at Euro 2024, and has only scored from a penalty against Croatia now. The goals against Uzbekistan don't even count.

He doesn't press, he doesn't run. It's frightening that a team of this quality is going through this in 2026. It's a disgrace.

Ramos has four more goals between 2022-2026 without scoring a penalty.

I don't understand Cristiano either. He's already 41 years old; it's normal for players to stop wanting to play for the national team or simply retire from it. The oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup was Milla at 42. What more does he want? Even goalkeepers have stepped away—Buffon at 39, Neuer at 40. Casillas retired even earlier, and Courtois has already said he won't return. Most of them leave between the ages of 35 and 37. I genuinely don't understand it. Ronaldo should have retired from international football in 2022, and what happened when they suspended the three-match ban from his red card against Ireland was scandalous. The whole situation has been a cancer.

Yeah its been a disastrous last 3 tournaments for him, especially when coupled with the fact that the other guy lead his country to the "dream" trophy that Ronaldo salivated at the prospect of winning in his Piers Morgan interview.

The red card suspension being cancelled was a farce but its funny to watch him go out on a whimper. His world cup career is now over with him only having a solitary penalty for a single goal contribution in 6 tournaments. Not amazing stuff.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

In the recent nation's league competition for example he scored in 90 minutes against Spain and Germany and neither goal was a penalty. This 'he scores only vs minnows' is just typical fanboish puerile over blown bs. Just like the 'he lives offside" narrative. For a guy who "lives offside" he was flagged just 6 times in 5 games world cup games

Rather Portugal's record in knock out games shows THEY have a problem. It was the same even in his actual prime as a player. Folks bending over backwards desperate to pretend it' just down to his age never stops being hilarious.

Insecurity over what exactly? Its an objective fact a team doesn't need 11 men in build up. Neither does it need 11 to defend. Argentina are proof postive it STILL works done correctly at the highest level. 2 world cups runninng! The only folks I see with "insecurity" here are the likes of you defending this 'we need 11" myth.

He is also the greatest false 9 ever in the sport too. It is literally irrelevant. Argentina no longer platform him
as their playmaker in chief nor their false 9 because he is past 35. Thet instead platform him to be the finisher of their moves and match winner. He hasn't' been required in any way defensively since he hit 35 for them and since the start of the last world cup they stopped leaving all the play making to him because they aren't objective morons neither.


There are few things more disingenous than attempting to compare mid 20 year old players to a 40 year old. That says it all really....

He remains a natural goal scorer who will score when platformed properly. Period! If as a manager you don't have the smarts to platform a slow poacher. Just don't start him instead of embarrassing yourself. Instead of blaming him.

What I often find quite hilarious is how his detractors constantly pretend that Portugal have been "constantly playing this champaygne football" that CR7 "slows down", every time a result goes against them. Or that they create bucket loads against low blocks and its just CR7's alleged age caused ineptitude that doesn't put those bucket load of XG chances away. Or his " constantly being caught offside. Yet the reality is opposite.

It'd the same with the " see. He was dropped and they hit Switzerland for 6" narrative. .The moment you point out normal service was resumed vs Morocco with the player who replaced him starting instead, it's supposedly because 'you hate the player". Rather than because their theory is just wrong and the problem runs deeper than who starts up front for them.

A typical Messi fanboi response. Relying on myths and projection. I never mentioned shoot outs once. You have 3 times.

In there recejnt Euro Nations league He scored the winner in the 68th minute vs Germany in the semi. The equalizer in the 61st minute vs Spain. Neither was a shoot out goal.


Portugal are consistently their own worst enemy 2 world cups running. So was Roberto Martinez. Period.

I don't care the team. I don't care the type of player. If you are going to set up a side with a 35 year old plus attacking player. But don't have the good sense to:
I. set up the team to do the physical running off the ball for him
II. to move the ball quick in order to create room for him to operate,
III the good sense to have runners getting beyond him.

IV. Then above all choose to have him lead your attacking line.

I won't be blaming the player when things go against you. I will strictly be blaming you for objective stupidity.

Citing the bullshit Nations League competition as some sort of point in your favour says it all really. These are propped-up friendly matches that only graspers care about.

The point that you continue to overlook is that Messi is obviously still a net positive contributor. He's still a far better passer and finisher than Ronaldo and therefore is actually threatening - so even though his team is defending with 10 against 11, he's worth having in the team. Ronaldo hasn't been an actual top level attacking threat since he left Real Madrid 8 years ago. Again, obviously (I would hope) we can agree that Mbappe is a far better player right now than Ronaldo - the comparison is to illuminate that yes, playing 10v11 in phases is a viable strategy. The problem remains that Ronaldo doesn't contribute anything in any other phase to give Portugal an advantage - and certainly not enough of one to make up for his shortcomings elsewhere (as Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland have shown in this tournament).

Martinez is obviously a fecking idiot. But the point remains that Ronaldo and his cronies at the FPF influenced his team selection because Ronaldo is an narcissistic maniac who has spent his entire career putting his own personal accolades over the team's success. He's also responsible for the toxic culture that has permeated the team for years because he continues to shirk responsibility for his shortcomings.

But hey what do I know, apparently I'm a "Messi fanboi" despite being a Chelsea supporter married to a Portuguese who has lived here for years. Anyone with half a brain can see that getting rid of Ronaldo is the only way forward for the Portuguese NT. Will that fix every issue? No of course not - but he's the necrotic limb that has to be amputated before the sepsis can be treated. The 100% mandatory first step that should have happened long before things got to this point.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Yeah its been a disastrous last 3 tournaments for him, especially when coupled with the fact that the other guy lead his country to the "dream" trophy that Ronaldo salivated at the prospect of winning in his Piers Morgan gs.

Good for Messi. It worked out for him.

The red card suspension being cancelled was a farce but its funny to watch him go out on a whimper. His world cup career is now over with him only having a solitary penalty for a single goal contribution in 6 tournaments. Not amazing stuff.

Of course it has to be funny to a Messi fan boi because you lot literally hate the fella. Always have! You have never respected him at any point in his career. So it's not like you'd magically turn a new leaf now and feel sympathy

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Citing the bullshit Nations League competition as some sort of point in your favour says it all really. These are propped-up friendly matches that only graspers care about.

As usual. When caught in lying bullshit a Messi fanboi MUST reach for a caveat. All of sudden nations league 'is bullshit" after your shoot out claims were proven to be nothing but lies...THAT is what says it all. You are nothing but deliberately disgenous when it comes to the player you visciously hate. Merely for being a rival of your idol.

The point that you continue to overlook is that Messi is obviously still a net positive contributor.... .

In your dreams! Unlike you inane lot, I simply do not judge a 35 year old plus on his abilities at 25!

I don't care Messi can't beat anyone for pace any more. I don't care he can't beat 4-5 with ease any more with dribbling. I don't care games no longer run through him. I don't care he can't press. I don't care he can't defend. I don't care he walks an loiters om the final 3rd. I only care that he is platformed to still do what he is good at. Namely spatial awareness, picking out a pass and finishing. When I see him now I expect to see Ozil at walking pace & natural strikers instinct. Not 2016 Messi.

I'd have to be a dumb ass to imagine "Messi is not 25 any more" counts as a valid critique to him as he is now.


Like wise with a CR7. At 35+ I don't expect him to beat anyone for pace. I don't expect him to defend. I don't expect him to press. I don't expect him to dribble any body. I dont expect him to over powrr anyone. I expect him to loiter in and around the 18 like a poacher entirely reliant on team mates for supply. Able to control the ball and lay it off when passes to him. Able to still shoot with power, head and be in the right place and time to tap a ball home when it drops free in the box. When I watch him expect Pippo Inzaghi aged 33. Not CR7 of 2014. Thus "he isn't 25 any more" isn't a valid critique either. It's stupidity.

Ronaldo hasn't been an actual top level attacking threat since he left Real Madrid 8 years ago.

More goofy fan boi shit. 8 years ago is 2018. A season he had a hatrick against Aletico Madrid in the knock out rounds of the UCL. Scored all 5 of Juve's UCL knock out goals. Even in league football he had 21 in 31 Serie A games . But supposedly "that wasn't top level". Your irrational hate for the guy truly makes y'all delusional....

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Look forward to people whinging about him for another year or 2.

Indeed. Telling us how it's his fault managers still pick him

 

[sheva1992]

Ronaldo stopped being the Ronaldo we were used to in 2018/19. That doesn't mean he stopped being decisive, but he was no longer the same player. He wasn't dominating a league like he did at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2015. He still showed up in big moments, but he was no longer the monster he once was.

Little by little, you could still see glimpses of the old Ronaldo, but he was clearly declining. The death of the artist came when he returned to Manchester United. You could still tell there was a bit of the old Ronaldo left, but it just wasn't enough anymore.

I think people here are forgetting his age. He left Real Madrid already at 33, which is when many players have already started to decline. I think people got the idea that because he took such good care of himself, he'd stay at the very top until he was 40, but that turned out to be an illusion.

He left United at 36/37. By then, he shouldn't even have been part of the national team anymore, but instead we're watching him refuse to accept that it's over, while the Portuguese federation doesn't want to let him go because they make so much money from him. Add a spineless manager into the mix, and this is the result.

There's a huge financial interest in keeping him in the national team. If his name wasn't Ronaldo, he wouldn't even be getting called up anymore.

It's unbelievable that people are still defending Ronaldo, and some don't seem to realise how old he actually is. These comparisons with Messi don't make any sense. Messi still justifies being a starter because he's still performing at a high level, unlike Cristiano.

Honestly, what's happening with Ronaldo right now is madness.

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

There's a huge financial interest in keeping him in the national team. If his name wasn't Ronaldo, he wouldn't even be getting called up anymore.

It's unbelievable that people are still defending Ronaldo, and some don't seem to realise how old he actually is. These comparisons with Messi don't make any sense. Messi still justifies being a starter because he's still performing at a high level, unlike Cristiano.

Honestly, what's happening with Ronaldo right now is madness.

Exactly. 10 goal contributions in a single world cup campaign at the age of 39 isn't what anyone could have expected. Ronaldo isn't playing anything resembling a high level right now, and that's the difference.