Ronaldo given two weeks off!

[Dark Savante]

United patience Rons out

http://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2004400580,00.jpg
PAIN IN THE NECK ... team-mates criticised Ronaldo

By NEIL CUSTIS

CRISTIANO RONALDO has been given an enforced break as his team-mates lose patience with the Portuguese star.

Gary Neville and Alan Smith tore into the Manchester United winger, 19, for his wasteful play in the last two games.

And after Monday’s draw with Fulham, Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson sent Ronaldo home to Madeira for a fortnight’s breather.

Neville gave Ronaldo a roasting for wasting a golden chance against Southampton when he tried a clever chip and missed instead of being more clinical in front of goal.

Ronaldo scores in United’s 3-0 win but refused to celebrate it and also looked unhappy as part of the second string for the meaningless Champions League game in Istanbul against Fenerbahce.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2004580644,00.html

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As far as I am concerned this is a great decision if true. I was going to make a thread about this a few weeks ago but I decided to let the next few weeks pan out. Alas, the Fulham game was the final straw: Ronaldo has looked mentally and physically drained and miserable for some time now.

I'm not sure if anyone remembers this thread: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149434

But I believe the conclusion made there has just reached its natural end.

All we can hope is that he comes back fresh in both body and spirit.

I believe at this time the team will function better without him as the roughest games [physically hard/harsh] are always in December and January and he's finding himself on the wrong end of some serious punishment from everyone (it must seem to him) his own team mates, oppsing defenders and fans at away grounds. Combine this with the way he has been so out of sync with team mates and you have a problem.

I noticed Smith in particular voicing and displaying his anger toward Ronaldo in the Fulham game and I sense it is sentiment being shared by more then just he. Ronaldo senses this and it is affecting his game for the worse as well. He and the team need this little break from each other. Hopefully we get the same form from him when he returns as we did when the same thing was done last year.

[xfactor857]

In the Fulham match Ronaldo tried several fancy give and go's that didn't go well. I think he's trying to do too many tricks again.

[Motterman]

On the other hand, this may just be the winter break that Sir Alex was always going to give him and the rest of this "story" is just press speculation trying to cause trouble... :rolleyes:

[Achtung]

On the other hand, this may just be the winter break that Sir Alex was always going to give him and the rest of this "story" is just press speculation trying to cause trouble... :rolleyes:

Are you accusing the British press of sensationalizing what is essentially a non-story? Come on, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be in the papers if it wasn't true.

[Danks81]

I bet Chelsea buys him when he gets back.

:D

[Achtung]

I bet Chelsea buys him when he gets back.

:D

He'll go nicely with Shevchenko.

[arsenalgirl30016]

In the Fulham match Ronaldo tried several fancy give and go's that didn't go well. I think he's trying to do too many tricks again.

I would not exactly call the give and goes fancy because it was more like he gave and no one went-like no one got the message to go wide for him or something......it was weird to see him trying to pass the ball off rather than take on the defenders with his actual fancy moves.

I have to say though that now when anyone in the prem does a stepover, it is immediately commented on by the announcers-thanks CRon for reintroducing this concept of ball handling skills to the world! ;)

[phishy]

On the other hand, this may just be the winter break that Sir Alex was always going to give him and the rest of this "story" is just press speculation trying to cause trouble... :rolleyes:


you would hope~

his body language is completely different than last year, IMO. could be something to the teammate chemistry thing.

[Riz]

I bet Chelsea buys him when he gets back.

:D

Feh, we don't WANT the little whiner. :p ;)

[haven]

I'm very annoyed with the treatment of Ronaldo by the media and other players.

Neville needs to chill the ******** out. Frankly, if we had a right back of the same quality of our right winger...well, we wouldn't have Gary Neville starting at right back.

Why not blame Keane, who just isn't good enough anymore? Or Rooney, who gets some great goals...but fluffs too many easy ones? Or Giggs, who has 2 bad games for every good one?

Disgusting. Scapegoating the foreigner. He played well against both Southampton and Fulham. And if Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney could be bothered to make runs to the far post, he might have had a couple of assists.

[delmundo]

The lad, remember he is only 19 afterall, is emotionally and physically spent. He is worn out. He looks it, he plays like it, he knows it. He has so much competitive spirit he will try until he drops and there in lies the problem. He needs a rest. He has dropped.

The Brazillian born Portuguese manager used Ronaldo for every international game, meaningless or not. He, more than anyone has put so much pressure on Ronaldo to fill the void left by the retiring big names. United tried to speak with Scolari yet he chose to use use use him.

We pay him, we need him, yet perhaps we have misused him. We could have played him half games, sat him out for a week perhaps. I thought sending him to Turkey was a slap in the face and was surprised to see him there when it was obvious if you were going to leave someone behind it would be him and Heinze. The two guys who need a rest, the two guys who have played competitive games for over a year straight. It showed how frustrated United have become with him.

Bring him back in two weeks after some soul searching on both sides and get ready for the home stretch.

[Mobile]

Neville needs to chill the ******** out. Frankly, if we had a right back of the same quality of our right winger...well, we wouldn't have Gary Neville starting at right back.


Gary Neville is one of the most reliable and effective right-backs in world football. Look at his career - he's won it all at domestic level and has over 70 England caps.

If he wants to have a moan at some diving little stepover fairy then he's more than entitled to do so.

[haven]

Gary Neville is one of the most reliable and effective right-backs in world football. Look at his career - he's won it all at domestic level and has over 70 England caps.

If he wants to have a moan at some diving little stepover fairy then he's more than entitled to do so.

I started a "Gary Neville Tribute Thread" this summer when I thought he was being overlooked on this board. If Gary Neville had Ronaldo's raw talent, he'd have made himself into a true star.

But a B+ hardworker just shouldn't alienate and humiliate an A-talent who happens to be 19 on international television. It's counterproductive and unfair. If he has a problem with Ronaldo wasting chances, he needs to address that in a way that's not going to embarrass a teenager.

[Mobile]

I started a "Gary Neville Tribute Thread" this summer when I thought he was being overlooked on this board. If Gary Neville had Ronaldo's raw talent, he'd have made himself into a true star.

Ah, I must have missed that one.

But a B+ hardworker just shouldn't alienate and humiliate an A-talent who happens to be 19 on international television. It's counterproductive and unfair. If he has a problem with Ronaldo wasting chances, he needs to address that in a way that's not going to embarrass a teenager.

Fair enough, although Roy Keane's been doing it for years and people seem to respect him as a great leader.

But I see your point.

[J Mac]

Ronaldo is a showboat and dosent play fundamentally like he should.
He needs to take time to work it out but i dislike how his teammates are treating him, its uncalled for especially since hes only 19.

[gazza]

CRon doesn't need two weeks off what he needs is someone to coach him up some. He has loads of raw talent. If he would stay on his feet he would give most defenders fits. His timing on deliveries is awkward and his teammates are getting frustrated. Alan Smith was obviously upset with terrible decisions inside the 6 yard box in the last match. With some age, experience and coaching he'll be a great winger.

[50 Euro]

I'm very annoyed with the treatment of Ronaldo by the media and other players.

Neville needs to chill the ******** out. Frankly, if we had a right back of the same quality of our right winger...well, we wouldn't have Gary Neville starting at right back.

Why not blame Keane, who just isn't good enough anymore? Or Rooney, who gets some great goals...but fluffs too many easy ones? Or Giggs, who has 2 bad games for every good one?

Disgusting. Scapegoating the foreigner. He played well against both Southampton and Fulham. And if Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney could be bothered to make runs to the far post, he might have had a couple of assists.
Without bringing other players into the discussion it's obvious that Ronaldo can use a break, especially in light of the sheer amount of matches he's played in the last 12 months. I've more of a problem with his mentality of late than his play. He's not doing himself (or the club) any favors by looking like he's been severely wronged every time a decision doesn't go his way. The media and opposing fans are always gonna be harsh, and it can't be remedied overnight but a start would be for him to stay on his feet through a few tackles and not glare up at the ref waiting for a free to be awarded so often. Granted he gets some stick because of the "diving" stereotype about those from the Iberian Peninsula, but look at the grief Ruud, Pires, Becks, GNeville (the Neville Diaires) and numerous others are given. Much of it's harsh and unjustified, but the player wouldn't get as much abuse if they didn't provide some amount of ammunition. Take Giggsy for example. He might get some abuse here and there, but for the most part he's widely respected and admired because he doesn't go to ground easily yet is a player (or was, for those who think he's past it :rolleyes: ) with great skill and ability. Ronaldo could learn a lot from other players at the club, Fergie and CarlosQ, and hopefully this break will be just what the doctor ordered. I certainly hope to see a side in five years time with a core of Rooney, Smith, Rio, Ronaldo, and yes, Fletcher :) .

[Soccerholic]

Fair enough, although Roy Keane's been doing it for years and people seem to respect him as a great leader.


Yes, but Keano's one of the greatest players ever to wear a United jersey. Plus he can beat the crap out of anyone who crosses him. ;)

[johno]

I hope its not true that there is some spat between him and other players. No one cusses at Rooney when he shoots from ludicrous distances and we payed 30 bloody million for him. Ronaldo is still developing and is bloody tired having played more competitive football than anyone in the team. Also, this season he has done much better than last season in terms of giving the ball away trying to dribble everyone and also just passing the ball early and looking to find open players. He has played both wings competently, more so than Giggs and creates as many chances for others as any player on our team. What disgusts me is that everyone was all lovey dovey the last few months of last season when he carried the team offensively/creatively but now they want to complain? You cannot get a very creative sparkplug player without some risks, thats how it is.

[jammybastard]

Yes, but Keano's one of the greatest players ever to wear a United jersey. Plus he can beat the crap out of anyone who crosses him. ;)

Lol! You forget he has bum knees and needs a hip replacement so
Ronaldo could at least out run him if it came to handbags.