No
No
True. I’m thinking Premier League debut though. Ruud’s was also pretty good.
Ronaldo's debut vs. Bolton (Aug 16, 2003)
- Thread starter Hoof the ball
- Start date
I was there at the game. Remember it like yesterday. After we scored the 4th me and my mates were singing "who the feck is David Beckham" (calm down fellas , it was just banter)
Then after the game, after a few beers, I remember standing at the bar and telling people in the pub, "this Kid Ronaldo is going to be the best player in the world".
True story. Just wish I had but some Money on it at the time. But I was Probably suffering from a hangover the next day.
Then after the game, after a few beers, I remember standing at the bar and telling people in the pub, "this Kid Ronaldo is going to be the best player in the world".
True story. Just wish I had but some Money on it at the time. But I was Probably suffering from a hangover the next day.
I remember listening to this game on Key 103 FM on my home HiFi with Mickey Thomas as the co-commentator, and not being able to wait for MOTD that evening.
I normally watch the highlights of his debut every year or so. It, along with the 7-1 against Roma, were probably the most 'fun' moments I've ever had watching football. Two moments where I just sat there throughout the entire thing with a huge smile on my face, enjoying the absolute brilliance on display and imagining an incredible future.
I remember there was an Arsenal fan on the forum who were pissed after his debut, saying that they may as well give us the league already because we'd just signed somebody who looked like he was going to be the best player in the world. Can't remember who it was and it took a couple of years to get there, but he certainly called it.
I remember there was an Arsenal fan on the forum who were pissed after his debut, saying that they may as well give us the league already because we'd just signed somebody who looked like he was going to be the best player in the world. Can't remember who it was and it took a couple of years to get there, but he certainly called it.
Had to recheck what website I was in when I read that match day thread. Couldn’t believe a match day Caf thread could be so bereft of negativity.
Ha. I probably predicted Kleberson to be great.
Still the best debut for any Man Utd player ever in my mind, yes even better than Rooney's
Ironically they won the league that yearI normally watch the highlights of his debut every year or so. It, along with the 7-1 against Roma, were probably the most 'fun' moments I've ever had watching football. Two moments where I just sat there throughout the entire thing with a huge smile on my face, enjoying the absolute brilliance on display and imagining an incredible future.
I remember there was an Arsenal fan on the forum who were pissed after his debut, saying that they may as well give us the league already because we'd just signed somebody who looked like he was going to be the best player in the world. Can't remember who it was and it took a couple of years to get there, but he certainly called it.
Never again 
Only 7 pages in match day thread???
And no one said Ole out?!
And this
And no one said Ole out?!
And this
The fecking PPV feed is fecked up...
Ah, it's back, better stay that way.
Was it £15 ?
I remember watching Gillette Soccer Saturday (no rivers back in them days!) and George Best was raving about Ronaldo and was excited to watch Match of the Day that night.
Ronaldo was excellent I remember against Arsenal a few weeks later, probably one of the only times he got the better of Ashley Cole. He was fairly hit and miss the first few seasons but it really started coming together in 2005/06 and then he exploded into life in 2006/07 and the rest is history.
Ronaldo was excellent I remember against Arsenal a few weeks later, probably one of the only times he got the better of Ashley Cole. He was fairly hit and miss the first few seasons but it really started coming together in 2005/06 and then he exploded into life in 2006/07 and the rest is history.
Jim Pakistan? Someone remind me what that was about?
From memory somebody put an article about Djemba Djemba through the babelfish website to translate it to English, and it translated his name to Jim Pakistan. So everybody on the forum started calling him that for a while.
Somebody did say:
"Gotta say that although ya can't knock 4-0 I just don't like Ole playing on the right! Never have."
Close enough for me.
Yeah I never understood the confusion about his patchy form between the ages of 17-20. I just remember thinking the guy was one of the most talented players I had ever seen and he loved football and was very dedicated. No surprise he became the best in the world. His talent alone was on another level to almost everyone in the Premier from the moment he stepped on the pitch against Bolton. Inconsistency from a young player is about the least baffling thing in football.
Watched this in a pub on a lads holiday. Brilliant debut, all the pissed up Utd contingent were bullish about him!
First player my Dad ever said did you see Ronaldo’s debut to me, remember it like yesterday he had a big smile on his face. Never seen him like that before.
Amazing debut - he had all the makings of a star
As a sidenote, I forgot how absolutely awful Forlan was - great player but some of his touches and poor footballing sense brought back repressed memories
As a sidenote, I forgot how absolutely awful Forlan was - great player but some of his touches and poor footballing sense brought back repressed memories
I wouldn't go that far.
My favourite United game, for the first time, and only time to date, in my life I walked away from OT feeling I’d just seen the future best player in the world. A gorgeous August afternoon too.
Yep, hat trick is special....but in terms of talent, what I had witnessed there with Ronaldo was on a complete different level to Rooney. To this day I still think had Rooney not been English there would never have been a debate around who was more talented at any stage of their careers.
Shit hair. Needs to bulk up. Sack frogie sell goggs.
My god he was electric for us, I mean electric.
Most exciting player I’ve ever seen in United Red (in my lifetime anyway.)
Most exciting player I’ve ever seen in United Red (in my lifetime anyway.)
Total bollox.
What a joy to see a highlights reel without utterly shite music playing over the top. Great find.
Electric. What an exciting day.
Right
The first thing I noticed was the energy in OT. Not just the stark, obvious contrast compared to now, but how it's been in recent years.
The second thing I noticed was how good it was to trust so many of the players on the pitch for us, and feel an affinity with them because you knew they'd give their all.
Third thing was how much better we were as a unit. The speed of play, the overlaps, the lack of hesitation. Everyone's running full pelt before you even see them enter the screen. There's 3 players in a close vicinity absolutely pegging it, with no intention to slow it down.
The second thing I noticed was how good it was to trust so many of the players on the pitch for us, and feel an affinity with them because you knew they'd give their all.
Third thing was how much better we were as a unit. The speed of play, the overlaps, the lack of hesitation. Everyone's running full pelt before you even see them enter the screen. There's 3 players in a close vicinity absolutely pegging it, with no intention to slow it down.
I remember being impressed but also thinking he was a flash bastard
In the pub that night my mate called him the next Giggs and I said he was talking bollocks
In the pub that night my mate called him the next Giggs and I said he was talking bollocks
I always wondered how amazing it would have been had we had Beckham playing with Ronaldo and Rooney. Beckham providing the balls for their runs would have been deadly.
To be quite honest I remember not being overly impressed with Ronaldo's debut. He was flash I thought but would he last?
Rooney definitely made a more impressive debut.
Rooney definitely made a more impressive debut.
He created a sort of excitement from the moment he stepped on the pitch. What a debut that was. If not for some wayward finishing by Ruud (surprisingly), he could have had a couple more assists.
I think most people are more impressed with Ronaldo's debut over Rooney's is because most of us had no idea about Ronaldo but Rooney was already a known entity so expectations were already high.
I think most people are more impressed with Ronaldo's debut over Rooney's is because most of us had no idea about Ronaldo but Rooney was already a known entity so expectations were already high.
Yup Beckham was a consistent clear cut chance machine.
I was at that game and from the first moment he got the ball, the whole crowd knew that a superstar was born! People were on their feet every time the ball got passed to him. Was so excited travelling home! Mind you I was also buzzing about how well Djemba Djemba did!
I think this is more about you than Ronaldo.
Got me in a binge of watching us back then - loved Rooney debut too - god how we have fallen from those days.
What a debut, 6 minutes of footage and all was class
Our current player would hardly fill 3 minutes let alone 6
Our current player would hardly fill 3 minutes let alone 6
next time I see him I’ll ask how he remembers that day
Anyone else used to post on Soccerpulse back in the day? Used to be a classic thread there “Would you accept a £25m bid for Ronaldo?”, this was around 05-06.
Anecdote for the Messi fans on here:
His cult had begun around this time too and I founded the Cristiano Ronaldo Appreciation Party. I managed to get a bunch die hard Ronaldo fans to have as their post signature a big bright graphic of Ronaldo with C.R.A.P in massive letters across it.
Anecdote for the Messi fans on here:
His cult had begun around this time too and I founded the Cristiano Ronaldo Appreciation Party. I managed to get a bunch die hard Ronaldo fans to have as their post signature a big bright graphic of Ronaldo with C.R.A.P in massive letters across it.
The giddy excitement of seeing this, as well as Rooney at his first European Championship knowing he was ours, really miss those days.
The only thing that has come close ever since was Martial's debut.
The only thing that has come close ever since was Martial's debut.
Januzajs was exciting at Sunderland