The last few games the kid has looked weary like, he's playing on automatic and it is starting to look like his year of constant playing is starting to catch up with him. I've been advocating the playing of the same (best) xi over and over until they are familar enough to work as a unit. I'm beginning to have my doubts that this can work with a burnt out player being used in such an important 'go to' role in the team. Fergie said he'll give him a rest for 2 or 3 weeks over Christmas..I think he needs it ASAP. Question is who can be played out right to give Ronnie the rest he so clearly needs? Do we go for youth? Play Klebs or Smith there? Fletcher/Miller/PNeville (all no's imo) If we want to streak after Christmas/New Year action is going to have to be taken pretty soon to have all the players fresh in time. So what players &/or system would you employ to give Ronaldo his rest?
ill put money on SAF putting in smith for ronaldo...i thnk hes put smith in the midfield a couple times.
I would like to see Smith out on the right wing. It will give him his chance to push up into the box and give us a fourth goal scoring option out of midfield.
Switch to a 4-3-2-1, put Ruud up top, Rooney/Smith/Giggs behind him, and play a flat 3 in midfield, with Keane as the anchor. Around him you can put Kleberson, Fletcher, etc. It does more to solve your width problems since the midfielders in a flat 3 won't have to play as much on the wings, assuming Neville and Heinze are willing to bomb down the flanks.
I think Ronaldo is merely discovering that the Premiership game is a far faster, physical game than he's been used to and that it makes far greater demands on a player's fitness and condition. Although physically mature for his age it may well be a couple more years before he reaches full maturity and resting him regularly is probably a good thing until then, particularly considering the treatment he gets from opposition defenders.
surely he is leading the league in goals scored ya? all i ever hear about is how great this kid is... has he even scored one yet?? i thought this kid was going to tear up the EPL.. maybe its just too early to tell.. he's still young~
Ronaldo seems to have the greatest talent for nailing the post, which he has done a lot in the games I have seen. But yes he has no goals. To me he has to bring all his talent together, using his speed, footwork, desicion making, etc...together better and make better use of the ball. One problem with giving CRon time to rest, as was SAF original plan, is that we really lack depth on the wings. Miller, Fletcher, and others have not forced their way into the lineup. So CRon has to start with Giggs, who just has not been himself in a year and a half. Now with Scholes misfiring theres even more presure. He needs rest, but likely won't get much.
It's odd how he scores for Portugal but hits the post for us. Still, if you're looking for a problem, it's Ronaldo. I don't think he looks tired so much as part of the overall lack of fluidity in the team. He seems very isolated on the right, completely out of touch with the strikers and ball-winners.
Until he gets some rest there is no way his play is going to improve. I am not saying I think it is bad right now but I would agree that his energy level seems to be down. He definitely is tired. As for the lack of goal scoring I don't really worrry about it, they will come. I would like to see some more golas from the midfield but I can say the same about our forwards.
Cant rely on a 19 year old to do it all. Hes hit the bar and post loads, its the old guard who are to blame. Dont think hes tired imo.
I don't know if he's too tired but he hasn't had that much luck in shootin. The ball goes wide or the keeper makes a save, just in a slump in the EPL he still sets up a lot of offence though.