worried about Ronaldo.

[Dark Savante]

If the kid tears England apart and say, scores the winner, his life will be hell in the EPL next season. :(

Concerned.

[United Forever]

If the kid tears England apart and say, scores the winner, his life will be hell in the EPL next season. :(

Concerned.


Yeah it is a sad thing but i think he will be able to handle it. Because he WILL tear england apart and is VERY level headed for his age. The way English fans freak over rooney, c.ronaldo was english he would have his own tv station by now :D

[haven]

Yeah it is a sad thing but i think he will be able to handle it. Because he WILL tear england apart and is VERY level headed for his age. The way English fans freak over rooney, c.ronaldo was english he would have his own tv station by now :D

I would have said yes until this tournament. I do not believe Rooney is Ronaldo's equal, but Rooney has been absolutely sensational this tournament. To be fair to Ronaldo, it looks like he's finally in the starting rotation for Portugal.

Usually, I tend to overrate prospects. I may have underrated Rooney, if we're seeing what he'd do on a good team, now.

[Dark Savante]

If Portugal go to form then Ronaldo will have a phenomenal game and then his striker will fluff all his good work. That'd be the best outcome for the sake of his well being next season.

[triplelake]

Hmm... Ronaldo vs A. Cole..... we all know what happened last time :) It should be a no brainer for Scolari to start Ronaldo on the right.

Also, Figo vs G.Neville.... I sure hope G. Neville will do better than what he did 2 years ago at Madrid.

P.S. I am neither a England or Portugal fan. I just hope all Man Utd players play well in this match.

[bigtoga]

Hmm... Ronaldo vs A. Cole..... we all know what happened last time :) It should be a no brainer for Scolari to start Ronaldo on the right..Scolari's such an egotistical jerk that he'll probably play Ronaldo on the left jst to prove a point. Against Spain, Ronaldo was "having a birthday " (as the announcers said) against Raul Bravo but what does Phil do? He keeps switching Ronaldo to the left side.

Hmmmm - a coach with massive egos playing players out of position. What an ass. I hate coaches like that! ;)

[yossarian]

If the kid tears England apart and say, scores the winner, his life will be hell in the EPL next season. :(

Concerned.

Do you mean because of the fans at away matches or that opposing English players will make his life hell? Does anyone recall whether Hamann caught a lot of flak after scoring the final goal at Wembley. I realize it wasn't nearly of the magnitude of Ronaldo potentially knocking England out of this tournament but it was still an important goal and put England in an immediate hole for WC qualifying. Honestly, I cannot remember whether Hamann became particularly marked after that but would welcome anyone telling me different.

Or did 5 to 1 in Munich wipe away any ill well toward Dietmar? ;)

[Motterman]

Hmmmm - a coach with massive egos playing players out of position. What an ass. I hate coaches like that! ;)

Yeah, what was Wenger thinking when he switched Henry from a winger to a forward anyways? :cool:

[Dark Savante]

Do you mean because of the fans at away matches or that opposing English players will make his life hell? Does anyone recall whether Hamann caught a lot of flak after scoring the final goal at Wembley. I realize it wasn't nearly of the magnitude of Ronaldo potentially knocking England out of this tournament but it was still an important goal and put England in an immediate hole for WC qualifying. Honestly, I cannot remember whether Hamann became particularly marked after that but would welcome anyone telling me different.

Or did 5 to 1 in Munich wipe away any ill well toward Dietmar? ;)
Ya, in regard to away fans, lol, plus the fact he is Man U. Could do a lot of damage to him psychologically.

Hamann never got any grief, if it had of been a knock out goal in a Major he would have for sure.

[yossarian]

Ya, in regard to away fans, lol, plus the fact he is Man U. Could do a lot of damage to him psychologically.

Hamann never got any grief, if it had of been a knock out goal in a Major he would have for sure.

Away fans pretty much hate Ronaldo anyway because: 1. He's a Manc. 2. He's good.
But you're right, the "noise" would probably be ratcheted up several levels if he were to do something Maradona-esque (interpret that any way you like) to knock England out. I would think Hamann would've gotten some grief if for no other reason than ze German scored ze last goal at Vembley.

[VaVaVoom]

Hmm... Ronaldo vs A. Cole..... we all know what happened last time :) It should be a no brainer for Scolari to start Ronaldo on the right.


Hmmm, what did happen?

0-0 (Clichy played in both the games in March/April).

In any event, the match up with Ronaldo on either side is an interesting one. Neville should know him well, and Cole's best defensive attributes are against dribbling wingers where his speed is accentuated and his aerial deficiencies minimized. However, whoever plays on the right for Portugal may have some joy if Cole is left totally exposed by Scholes.

As for being worried about Ronaldo if he toasts England, I wouldn't. Unless he lobs a loogie at someone, there will be plenty of other reasons for opposing supporters to have a go at him.

[johno]

Hmmm, what did happen?

0-0 (Clichy played in both the games in March/April).

In any event, the match up with Ronaldo on either side is an interesting one. Neville should know him well, and Cole's best defensive attributes are against dribbling wingers where his speed is accentuated and his aerial deficiencies minimized. However, whoever plays on the right for Portugal may have some joy if Cole is left totally exposed by Scholes.

As for being worried about Ronaldo if he toasts England, I wouldn't. Unless he lobs a loogie at someone, there will be plenty of other reasons for opposing supporters to have a go at him.

Cole when he tried to defend Ronaldo the first time they met he ended up sprawled on the floor legs in a split after Ronaldo dribbled him... I believe that is what he was refering to... Cole is quick true, but also a little to eager to get into attack or commit to a tackle - that is where Ronaldo will burn him if he faces him.

[Motterman]

I think we'll see Figo on the right and Ronaldo of the left, in which case Gary Neville will have to do the job... I wouldn't relish that assignment personally...

Also, it's another Beckham - Ronaldo matchup for the press to hype up.... :rolleyes:

[VaVaVoom]

Cole when he tried to defend Ronaldo the first time they met he ended up sprawled on the floor legs in a split after Ronaldo dribbled him... I believe that is what he was refering to... Cole is quick true, but also a little to eager to get into attack or commit to a tackle - that is where Ronaldo will burn him if he faces him.

There are no points awarded for style. The score was 0-0. Results. End product. I'm sure these things will come for CR (like in the FA Cup Final -- but then again, that was Millwall), he's too good already to really have any doubts. But, up to this point, the end product is still lacking. Will that change against Cole/Neville? I can't wait to see. Should be a cracking match up on either side.

[van_da_man]

i think think scolari will choose figo on the right...can't wait to see how(if) gary neville deals with ronaldo...he's been admiring him for the whole season...and now he might get a taste!

[Potomac Red Devil]

There are no points awarded for style. The score was 0-0. Results. End product.

Sort of like Arsenal in the Champions League....

[Coach_McGuirk]

Sort of like Arsenal in the Champions League....
...along with ManU and Chelsea, as well.

[johno]

There are no points awarded for style. The score was 0-0. Results. End product. I'm sure these things will come for CR (like in the FA Cup Final -- but then again, that was Millwall), he's too good already to really have any doubts. But, up to this point, the end product is still lacking. Will that change against Cole/Neville? I can't wait to see. Should be a cracking match up on either side.


You know I have just about had it with all the haters and this stupid bloody rant about end product and results... football is played by teams... while 1 player can shine his team does not always win when he does, and what he does is often overlooked - sometimes never seen... Few credited Scholes with ensuring that Ronaldo got involved in ManU's attacking play - but if u think about it and examine the games u realize that Scholes very often passes to Ronaldo - otherwise he just would not be that involved cuz Scholes runs the teams offense, the ball flows through him. Of course this is something that goes unnoticed and even though Scholes may not have scored as much in the past part of that is his distribution... he has taken that more on himself due to the absence of Becks... so you see, its not all about tangible results... If Scholes did not do what he did, he might have scored the same amount of goals he usually does but the team might have suffered... Ronaldo's dribbling might not always produce a cross that produces a goal, but it definitely causes the defenders to double team him most often making space for others to run into... he tires out defenders, and demoralizes them... he draws fouls and stretches the field. So no.. he may not be the worlds greatest scorer or be the best crosser, but he is pretty damn good... and with 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 games... well - u can say 3 games but he really did not play that much yet u still say he has not produced results... while u are criticizing his results what the hell has Pires done? or Viera - up until yesterday, what the hell had Henry done for France the whole bloody year? Its convienient to say somethings sometimes, and for the most part we will tolerate it. However, u cannot say the same thing all the time... its like the one trick pony nonsense... find a new gig...

[DutchFootballRulez]

I'd expect Scolari to put Ronaldo on the left in the first half. Because Neville/Becks won't try to kill the kid. Cole has already said he's going in w/ a Hard one early to try to intimidate him.

Not that Neville and Becks wouldn't want to leave their mark, but I think Cole could be a bit more malicious.

[haven]

There are no points awarded for style. The score was 0-0. Results. End product. I'm sure these things will come for CR (like in the FA Cup Final -- but then again, that was Millwall), he's too good already to really have any doubts. But, up to this point, the end product is still lacking. Will that change against Cole/Neville? I can't wait to see. Should be a cracking match up on either side.

Does anybody else on this planet believe that it's impossible to believe that an attacker dominated a defender in a nil-nil game, especially on the wings?