Following the Aston Villa game, I came under quite a bit of criticism for daring to have a word about Cristiano Ronaldo’s attitude.
Aston Villa scored their second goal directly from Ronaldo losing the ball and failing to try and win it back. The same happened two days later against Porto. Too often this season Ronaldo’s been sat on his arse complaining when he hasn’t been given a free-kick whilst the game goes on around him. Whether he has been fouled or not doesn’t change the fact he should be getting on with the match regardless. Yes, it must be frustrating, but he’s not the only player in the Premiership who is targeted for fouls. He’s not even the most fouled player in the Premiership, yet he is the only player I’ve seen in this league who sits around thumping the ground every week when they’ve not been awarded a free-kick.
I was beginning to think that our manager had no problem with this attitude, which has got increasingly worse as the season has gone on. Having built a reputation as a manager who doesn’t take any shit, it was worrying to think that Ferguson would let Ronaldo get away with not pulling his weight, seemingly because he’s The Best Player In The World (TM) and Fergie wants to keep him sweet so he won’t try and leave again this summer.
There is no need to worry though. Ferguson dropped Ronaldo to the bench for our match yesterday and has revealed that no player is exempt from being put straight when they step out of line.
“I don’t accept that from anyone,” Ferguson said. “I speak to Cristiano about it. He’s not immune from that. He always feels he’s not getting the proper protection from referees and I think that in a few cases it is right. But there are also a lot cases where it’s not right. It’s hard when a player who wants to entertain all the time doesn’t get everything his own way. But you can’t get everything your own way – that’s just the way football is. Cristiano understands that now and there’s not a problem. It’s just a frustration because he feels he doesn’t get the decision. He gets upset about it. I think he obviously knows he’s letting himself down more than anything and he has held his hands up. I have had to remind him about certain things, but I’m not getting into what’s been said.”
When Ronaldo came on the pitch against Sunderland, he resembled the player we idolised last season. He wasn’t busting a gut to win the ball back like Rooney, but I don’t expect him to do that. I don’t expect Ronaldo to run himself ragged to win back the ball, but I do expect him to try. He was only on the field for twenty minutes yesterday but tracked back several times, running after Sunderland’s winger and putting in challenges. It was brilliant to see.
I’m not sure why it’s taken Ferguson to long to have this chat, but that’s by the by now. We’re teetering at the top at the moment and a rejuvenated and focussed Ronaldo could make the difference between us losing out on the title and adding a couple more trophies to our collection this season.
More of the same please Ronnie!
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FINALLY! I was getting worried that Sir was letting him get away with it. Was pleased with what I saw from Ronaldo yesterday. 5% more effort from everyone else and we might go the whole way! Get in!
he should have a word with neville for diving yesterday too
Hmm no wonder there was a different attitude to Ronnie’s play when he came on… Lets see what Wednesday brings…
I still think you were harsh after the Villa game, he lost the ball and we were immediately under attack at speed, even if he ran back it would’ve been a waste of energy, energy he needs to be the attacker he is.
Mic – 1. I’m only as harsh as the manager 2. Nani was further forward than Ronaldo when the ball was lost but managed to get back in time. He wasn’t tall enough though.
SO NO COMMENT ON HOW HE IS UNABLE TO GET PAST THE FIRST OPPONENT IN FRONT OF HIM?GETS TACKLED BY THE VERY FIRST PLAYER……
gautam i think that can be sorted out.He just needs to get back on form and his tricks will work again.But he should be more committed and he doesn’t need to be on form to do that.If Sunderland was any indication,SAF’s man management might have done the trick again.
Pleased to hear that Fergie’s had a word with him at last. He has cost us 3 goals through his sulking. We need him at the top of his game for the remainder of the season. We have got this far, let’s not blow it now.
lets hope he carries on and improves his game over 90 minutes, yesterday was definitely a step(over) in the right direction…
Finnaly!!! But for me it seems that it a sign of Ronaldo’s way out of Old Trafford. And he is headinfg to Real this summer.
Because it first time ever, when Sir Alex start to put criticism on Ronaldo.
Simular things (on my memory) happened couple times in the past, it was Becks after F.A. Cup defeat, Keano after his interview to MUTV, and Ruud (left on a bench during League Cup final)…. and you now what was the end of all this…..
I don’t think so that it will make sense to Ronaldo (he is to outside of the team now, he is just playing for himselfe and his own benefits and glory), but SAF is right Ronaldo is not playing as he sopposed to, he was absolutely usless against Porto for example….
I think he must start second leg on a bench. And for sure I hope that Kiko Macheda will be in the starting line-up….
Gautam, our game has slowed down considerably this season ( Berbatov?) and if u hadn’t noticed, Ronaldo doesn’t have the skill ala Robinho/RONALDINHO and as such beats his man when he’s running at speed. So unless we start playing at a higher tempo..
The Count – Egg-cellent pun for Easter sunday, I like it…!!
I’ve made my feelings clear before, as long as he is scoring and creating goals I will be happy, but no doubt it was good to see him putting a better shift in when he came on against Sunderland.
With regards to him being “dropped,” let’s not fall for that media spun tale too much. He has looked absolutely knackered of late and I think him being on the bench is far more to do with Wednesday in mind.
However, it is good to see Fergie taking no shit, no player is bigger than the club, and maybe bringing Ronnie down to earth a bit we will see him put in a performance like he did at Inter Milan at the San Siro.
With Rooney’s recent performances, as well as the hopeful return of Rio, my confidence is up, and I think with a bit of luck (remember it is a crucial ingredient to win the champs league, always has been) we will run out winners in a tight game.
Fergie had to sort him out.was getting beyond the limits.
agree but i doubt he was dropped cause of that. more with porto in mind
Also, with regard to the most fouled, it’s slightly different with someone like Kevin Davies who backs in and wins fouls through aerial battles time and time again.
Probably not as frustrating as the knee high or ridiculously cynical challenges (such as purposely blocking him off when he’s beaten the man) that Ronaldo has to put up with.
Unfortunately that’s the price to pay for being as good as he is, the game against Villareal earlier in the season should show him it won’t be any different anywhere in the world…
and so say all of us! great to see him tracking back yesterday and lets hope he’s taken on board saf’s bollocking! come on ronnie, more of the same please!
Don’t think he was “dropped” yesterday. Think he was rested but was told to put more effort in. I think ronny will work harder for the rest of the season.
nobody is bigger than the club i was beginning to think that didn’t apply to ronaldo this should have happened in november about time
I was beginning to think CR7 wanted my job… coz i spend 8 hours a day on my arse… and was thinking he was preparing to apply for my job… thank fuck my jobs safe.. lol..
On a more serious note… the criticism after Villa was fair and was worthy of the criticism..
Fuckin winds me up when he is there whining n whinging while every fucker else is busing a gut to get the ball back…
I hope SAF’s words are taken notice by CR7, and if he doesnt then ta ta…
And yes, he did look better when he came on as a sub yesterday..
Time for CR7 to roll up his sleeves rather than people wiping his arse for him all the time..
Wanna be a United legend…?????????? Prove it… show us how much..
About god damn time!
If he (Fergie), could stop with favourising players, this would have been done for many months ago…
Ronaldo out- Torres in. We need a new goalscorer!
PS: do any of you know how many games he`s started, and how many goals he have scored?
Think it is 11 goals in the premiership in 18 games, but I don`t think he has started all of them. Does anybody know?
Timothy you are asking about Torres?Don’t have the stats sorry.It won’t happen though.The lad has too much Liverpool in him.About Ronaldo,i also think that it bothers him that someone else grabs the headlines now so he wants to stand out again.
Well done Fergie. Nobody is bigger than the club.
I too came under criticism for saying Ronnie was spending more time on his bum than beating the man and either crossing or scoring.
He is one of the best in the world but to maintain that standard he will need to apply himself season after season and also if he is being found out vary his play.
Back to Anfield Timothy you muppet.
Think that’s the second time you have taken the Scouser’s side in 2 days.
I wouldn’t take that half girl-half boy, arse licking, Fernando “Carragher’s Post Box” Torres if he was on free now. He turned us down numerous times. Fuck him, let him look back on his empty trophy cabinet at the end of his career along with Gerrard and that other thieving bastard Carragher.
Should we trade in Rio for Terry as well whilst we’re at it?
Muppet….!
paper talk rubbish,the only people interested in talkin to ronaldo is ze real madrids but fergie shall tell them to fuck right off, oravwa
well said North Stand Tier 2, lol
torres choose to play for ze non football playing team and partner ze bitch gerrard,leave him there ,he will always have ze stupid ginger hair covered by ze blonde die
Arsene I thought you were French, not one of “ze German’s.” Haha!
actually i am from ze strasbourg region,i am practically ze german lol,pity to be of ze french
sacre bleu,what is tim oh my fuck sake howard doing
Maybe Ronaldo will get more freekicks now, since Sir Alex brings this up in public?
No wonder Ronaldo looks fired up recently. More of the same!
Hmm torres to utd, NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN not even worth talking about
Torres is good, but like Costa said, he’s never coming. Even Sir Alex said if it would happen, it would have happened years ago.
Torres to Utd maybe Rooney to liverpool in a swap Ha
Torres is a great player don’t get me wrong, but he’s a Scouser now, which makes him a bell end.
Err dont we have a lad called macheda?
Yeah, Finally…
Torres = Transvestite.
it wrong. Fergie is not the type to let the public know what’s been said in private.why he told such thing.if i were ronaldo i would be very sad.
Well said North Stand, are you really a United fan Timothy? I would not have that lady boy at United if he was offered tomorrow on a free. Give me Rooney anyday.
It was good to see Ronnie tracking back yesterday and he looks as though he is enjoying it more now. Celebrating goals, hugging players (Macheda), tracking back, What next?
Ps Timothy – Why concern yourself with stats of the dippers? Fuck em, the horrible cunts.
Pretty embarrassing basing yet another Ronaldo-bashing article around newspaper reports that quite ridiculously claimed Ronaldo was dropped yesterday. I suppose VDS and Evra were dropped as well…
NickOG – I’m basing this article on the comments made by Ferguson. Try reading it eh brainbox.
he was only rested. but of course that’s good news that might help us win the titles.
At the end of the day your right in what ur saying Scott.. and with regards to the article… which Fergies criticises CR7… i hope that every words quoted by SAF is correct and true…
Its about time that CR7 got an ear bashing…he has deflected his own form in the last couple of months, by blaming refs, and players out to get him etc etc…
Yes sometimes he does get it rough… but ffs he is 6’2 and built… look at little Lionel Messi, he gets launched sommat silly, but always plays his football… and this is a lead that Christiano needs to take.. follow that type of philosophy… “Kick me, and i will get up and embarrass ya”…
Fergie will have been trying all sorts of techniques with Ronaldo, publically and privately. That’s been very clear over recent weeks. Why else have him sitting there at the Porto press conference, knowing it would invite questions about Real? He’s tried saying he’ll definitely score 20 goals , he’s tried saying he’s a good lad, he’s tried saying Ronaldo appreciates people at United being honest with him, and now he’s trying the open criticism. It seemed to work when he came on as sub against Sunderland, although the rest was probably more useful.I don’t believe he was ‘dropped’ but he was certainly being saved for Porto. Ronaldo’s problems are complex, and are certainly more about his relative drop in form than about wanting to be at Real, which is not an issue for now, even in his mind, whatever happens in the summer. To get to Real he’s still got to perform now. Real won’t want a has-been. Ronaldo is trying to convince everyone and maybe himself that his fall from the peaks of last year is about the cynical tackling and fouling (God knows that’s real enough) and not down to some weakness in himself.As some have pointed out he’s less able to go past defenders now than he used to be, which is a confidence issue. All the whingeing and appealing with arms in supplication is about masking his insecurity as he just can’t reproduce his best form. It’s almost like ‘second season syndrome’. I know this isn’t his second season (doh) but it is the season after one of the most astonishing personal achievements in United history, and it’s hard to follow that. He was injured and missed pre-season, he was certainly distracted by all the Real Madrid nonsense, he has had his head turned by being World Player of the Year, and has got into his own little bubble. I hope Fergie’s latest tactic to deal with him works because we certainly need a fired -up Ronaldo at the top of his game in the next 6 weeks or so. I also think his team-mates have a big role in getting him back on track. And so have the fans. The chanting of his name at Sunderland seemed to inspire him, confirming to me at least that the best way with Ronaldo is to get behind him, show him he’s loved. That works better than the constant vilification. (Same with John O’Shea, not that the problems are quite the same ! Good to see there is growing awareness of what a hard shift John is putting in this season, in more different positions than any other player.) It’s worth remembering that Ronaldo got 2 cracking goals against Villa, even if he did contribute to conceding one.
Thank you Mr. Oakley! Spot on..
Cant believe that Scott you actually believe that Ronaldo was dropped against Sunderland. Yes the manager had a heard with him and about that certain aspect of his game but no where did he mention “tracking back” or ‘putting in tackles’; you have extracted the meaning that you found convenient. What Alex Ferguson said (and implied) was that Ronaldo get on with the game and just that. It was about him of raising his hands in the air and taking forever to get back into it. Words have an exact meaning my friend and Ronaldo not working hard or tracking back just wasn’t what he meant.
Its been an eternity since you spoke anything positive about him and even this article is more about what he’d been doing wrong rather than what he’s done right. You talk of Ronaldo’s work rate then talk about it on the ball rather than off it. How conveniently you forget his sprints down the flanks or the speed with which he plays every time on the ball. He’s always at full sprint with the ball, the urgency and the effort again seems to have gone unnoticed..and purposely it seems. You’re quite a stats man then how about Ronaldo having started every premiership and every champions league game since his return from injury. Even ‘three lung’ Park has exhausted his natural stamina when he hasn’t played nearly as much or at that pace so when you still see Ronaldo running the way he does from the 1st minute to the 90th (and the 120th in one case) it is commendable to say the least. Wont talk about the goals or assists or trophies he’s got but Scott that he is the best player in the team is undeniable even without the sarcastic (TM)…now i know you’ll have your say in this so Rooney and him it is..but Rooney is the son of god who can do no wrong so its Ronaldo’s case that has to be taken up.
Seriously stop berating him he doesn’t deserve that. I know it all stems from what transpired in the summer and i too(like so many of us) will probably never feel the same for him but it doesn’t have to be one extreme for the other. He is a Manchester United player..the most important one over the past 2-3 years so instead of being so uptight when it comes to him just remember him for what he’s previously done. Its your blog(i remember you vociferously claiming it onetime) and besides you are anyway entitled to your view but as a serious supporter of this club its about time you understand that he deserves a little more appreciation.
Hasan – so Fergie had no problem with how Ronaldo was not tracking back and I conveniently made it up? I suppose I made up Ronaldo chasing down every ball when it was near him too for the first time this season?
I think you should also remember what Ronaldo has previously done. He dreams of being elsewhere. Don’t kid yourself he’s here for any other reason that he was told he had to be. If Fergie had said he could go, he would be a Real Madrid player now, and you wouldn’t be kissing his arse.
@Hasan great points man and let’s not forget of where the hell was Rooney for Villa game. Oh, he was banned for being stupid. In any way I am not going to bash Rooney to help Ronaldo, but what I would say is that after this miserable season the only other player that has a better positive/negative ratio then Ronaldo is Vidic. Everyone else should be open for criticism before Ronaldo.
@Scott the red I am happy that you got a little feedback on your anti Ronaldo post. Your problem is not that you are wrong, but it’s that you close your eyes on pathetic displays from all other players and concentrate only on negative from Ronaldo. We all know that he wants to go to Madrid and when he does we will all hate him, but for now he is our player so we should support him. Also stop complaining about what he said and did in summer, I mean now it’s not the time.
Spot on Scott…the only reason CR7 stayed last year is that SAF told him he wasn’t fucking going and that was that…. still a sulky fucker though aint he… and i agree if his perrormances don’t improve no fucker will want him
scott you are 100% right
it is about time
and when ronaldo came on
he attacked when united attacked
and defended when united defended
i dont understand how people,like me, where saying ronaldo needs to start playing wit the same balls and put in the effort of rooney
and then when he does and scott points it out people still wanna fuckin moan
Agree with all that Scottie – apart from one thing. He IS the most fouled player in the Prem. The point is, he isn’t being given the fouls which is why the stats don’t show him as the most fouled player. That’s the whole point of his grievance – and round and round we go – chicken and egg.
Whether Fergie dropped or rested Ronaldo, only he knows. But I’m bloody glad he’s pulled him up for his lack of effort. It’s gotten to the stage in recent weeks of being embarrasing. And he must know how frustrating it looks to fans, christ I’d play for United for fuck all, and bust a gut doing so, so how are we gonna feel about a guy picking up over 5 mill a year who can’t even be arsed to run towards his own goal? Much improved when he came on though, thats all we want Ronaldo. If your tricks, dribbles, and shots aren’t coming off then ok, your not in good form, we can deal with that. It’ll return, no worries. But if your not trying? Sorry mate, thats when you start getting grief, especially if your not in great attacking form either. The least you can do, if things aren’t happening at the business end of the pitch for you, is to put in a shift and help out the defence.
Oh and Fergie, have a word with Nev about that dive ( not the first time he’s done it either, remember against Shitty ), I never want to see that, and from our captain, again. We’re not fucking Liverpool we don’t condone it
well there are a few points Hasan got it right.. I dont think it’s a good idea to jump into conclusion on whatever the words SAF had with Ronaldo. SAF just had a chat with him about his antics which is damaging the team and the results, but SAF did not mention what exactly that was. I dont think it’s fair to single out Ronaldo for the goals we conceded. Well, the defenders made much more mistakes, such as heading the ball to our opponents’ strikers when there is a lot more safer options. Those stupid mistakes kept us pegged down in front of our box much of the time recently. The others in the midfield lost possession too much in the build-ups with schoolboy passes. The details are often forgotten while the big ones from the bigger stars are always highlighted. It is all only natural.
I also think Ronaldo didnt start against Sunderland purely to reserve him this big Wendesday. Nothing else. If it was about the attitude, then the chat was enough.
I am just glad SAF finally had a word with Ronaldo about his attitude on the pitch, to which i am disgusted actually.
Whatever it is, let’s just sing for the boys all the way till the end. Come on guys!
awrsome article.
I am glad Fergie finally had the talk with him.I don’t know where Ronaldo’d mind is in regards to his future, but i do believe that deep down he is finding it hard that he can’t replicate last year’s form and goals.But he has to understand one thing.For me,he was just as good in the 06-07 season when he had 20(!) assists as he was last year.He won’t always be the center of attention but that can also be good.It will give him a better chance of going about his work quietly.And as much as the tabloids will love it to happen,there is no chance in hell he was dropped or will be dropped on Wednesday.He was given an overdue rest because ever since he came back in September he has’t missed one Premier League game.It was nice to see him like this against Sunderland.And as Scott says,more of the same.Porto will be a hostile environment for him due to his Sporting connection.Let’s hope that that will spur him on even more.
Red Rupert – and you don’t think Ronaldo is given free-kicks for any occasions when he HASN’T been fouled? Referees only miss when Ronaldo is fouled and they never him give a free-kick he kicks up a fuss despite the ball being won cleanly? Hmmm.
Ronaldo wasn’t dropped. He was rested with Porto in mind. But I do agree he has looked very petulant at times this season and it hasn’t helped his form or United’s. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens with Ronaldo over the next year or so. I hope he commits to a new future and returns to the type of form that made him the worlds best because awards aside, he isn’t the player he was last year. I’d wager he’s not even top 5 at the moment.
Glad that Fergie is on his case though. He’s the type of player that need a proper bollockin ever now and then to get his feet back on the ground.
Yes Scott had Sir Alex not been so adamant he would be at Real Madrid and I wouldn’t as much care if he were dead or alive….but..he did not go and yes I do believe he will not either. That only time will tell and for what you and i suppose might happen in the future lets not spoil the present.
Also don’t talk about his dreams you know it as well as I do that even in his first season he dreamt of playing there yet you were happy to see him lap up praise after praise as a United player..you did celebrate his every goal and every goal because of him. His dream to play everywhere goes before his time at this club. Time and again he reiterated that and never did he say he’ll finish his career here and for that he’ll never be remembered the way Scholes, Giggs, Keane or Rooney would..now i don’t think this little honesty from him vindicates him from what he did, specially because it was just after the champions league win. At that point I hated him (and hate being an understatement) but in retrospect it wasn’t actually that bad. There was nothing that he could do to make a platform for a pleasant exit..nothing he could say or do that would cushion the blow and no matter how it came about it would be ugly. And thats how it was..only it was all that without him actually leaving. Suppose that is reason enough to perpetually hate him then by the same yard stick hate Tevez too for he too dreams of playing for Boca in his prime..why the double standards. But it won’t come to that because it doesn’t look like Tevez will be here for long in the first place..however this is another matter so back to the prodigal son. No Scott you did not suppose Ronaldo chasing down every ball when it was near him for the first time this season you only saw it for the first time this season. No i’m not implying he did it all season long, all i’m saying is he did that as many (or as few) times as he’s been doing his entire career. So why the vilification today?!?
Atleast you did agree that all the dirt that you throw his way is because of the events of the past summer. In that case keep it at that. Yes he doesn’t track back as often as he should but thats not the biggest problem there is and thats definately not the reason why the season seems to be falling apart. Dont fault every aspect of his game when clearly there are bigger elephants on the field. Ronaldo isn’t playing as well as he did last season and i don’t know how many expected he would but for sake of the remainder of the season hope he gets close to it because his form doesnt just count it matters. If he does leave in the summer or the next i will throw the logic and all the sense out the window and chew my own words but for now give him his dew.
Hasan – There was nothing that he could do to make a platform for a pleasant exit..nothing he could say or do that would cushion the blow and no matter how it came about it would be ugly.
He could have said nothing. He didn’t have to talk about his dreams and he didn’t have to joke about loving to play in white. He could have said “I am a Manchester United player and I signed a contract with them a year ago.” Why did he repeatedly have to confess it was a “dream” to play for them? Why take the piss out of us fans by joking and laughing about loving to play in white….. the white of the national team that is. He shouldn’t have said a thing until he’d spoken to Ferguson. I’m not saying Ronaldo should dream of playing for United forever, I’m saying he should show us a certain amount of respect, given that the club pays him £125k a week and the fans worshipped him last season. I don’t expect him to stay with us forever, I do expect him not to make us look like complete twats for singing his name every 5 seconds like we did last season, by then announcing to the World he wants to play elsewhere.
I don’t need to talk about this over and over, I’m bored of it, but the reason why I feel the need to is because so many people like to brush it off as though it was nothing. Make excuses for him. He did it, he was a twat to do it, and scoring goals this season doesn’t make him any less of a twat for doing it.
If he plays like he did last season and like he did against Sunderland, putting in that effort, then I won’t forget about him making us look stupid in the summer, but I can move on from it. The fact is he made us look stupid in the summer then came back this season and kicked people and threw tantrums and refused to put in the same amount of effort EVERY OTHER player in our team puts in. That is unacceptable.
Maybe the tide has turned on this one though if what Ferguson has said and the Sunderland performance are anything to go by. I certainly hope so and will give him all the praise and credit he deserves if he does continue to work hard.
“I don’t need to talk about this over and over, I’m bored of it” Come on Scott, you can’t be that bored mate, there is a Ronaldo post every other day! Only messing Scott. You both make some good points. For what it is worth I don’t actually think Ronnie will go anywhere this summer and will still be a United player next season. Looks like he gets on with Kiko pretty well.
hey! any news on rio, brown and rafael’s recovery ahead of porto
It probably doesn’t help Ronaldo to hear Fergie constantly crying about the lack of protection Ronaldo gets from refs – he will only be thinking one way now! Having said that Ronaldo is still just waiting for his “dream” move to Madrid IMO.
I’m just thinking here..Is it possible that ronaldo is not Playing like last season to get more critics behind him… to leave?