Ronaldo: I Can Learn From Ferguson Criticism

It was the kick up the backside he needed.Things can only get better now.10-12 games away from a memorable season.Here’s hoping.

Good point Giles.

im not convinced i wanna see track on back on a wet windy day when things are goin against the team … thats the measure of a player..

fair point, scott, but i would argue that sites like this influence other fans in the terraces opinion, which in turn influences their level of support or criticism on match day. And i promise u the players will notice

Scott, I’m a supporter and I see my role, small though it is of course, is to help the team, players and manager to win things. It’s irrelevant if Ronaldo or the other players read what you or other bloggers say,because it’s been widely reported across the media that United fans have been disillusioned with Ronaldo and that’s at least partly based on journalists reading what you and others have been saying. I don’t dispute your right to say what you like, football’s all about opinion, and I enjoy a good argument between people who know what they are talking about. But to me it’s far more important to get the best out of the players than to be proved right or wrong.I don’t accept that it’s only the manager’s job to help morale. If you want United to win things, it’s your responsibility too. I happen to think the attacks on Ronaldo have been counter-productive, part of the problem, not the solution, although I certainly don’t deny there has been a problem. The Porto game was not the only time he’s played well, incidentally, and it remains the case that he’s top scorer and consistently the player most likely to win matches for United. Last night Fergie clarified that he was talking about Ronaldo’s attitude to refs, which has certainly been a large part of problem. Coming back to what I said about John O’Shea, it’s obvious that Fergie felt he had to talk up his contribution to the team precisely because of destructive comments in sites like this. Lots of players are very computer literate, and not stupid, so it’s human nature to want to know what fans are saying about them. I bet lots of players do read your blog, and quite right too, it’s the best United one around. I enjoy what you write, but I don’t always agree, and I have other priorities. If you look back at the panicky, over-emotional reaction to the recent blip, here and elsewhere, you can see how a kind of negative feeding frenzy happened, filtering back through the media generally and affecting the mood on the terraces, which has amplified the anxiety levels all round. You could also see how Liverpool were picking up on United supporters’ fear-levels, giving them new hope and energy. They sensed United had wobbled, and that was at least partly because of the torrent of criticism being poured onto United players’ heads, much of it unfair and very destructive. I think we as supporters have to be a lot more canny about how to use these sites, not just to sound off, but to think carefully about the impact of words, think strategically. I’ve been trying to counteract the mood of negativity and to re-think how supporters can influence events from afar. I know I’m only one voice among many so I have very little chance to influence how this season pans out, but , as I say, my only motive for contributing here is to see United win things.

Dear Cristiano Ronaldo,

This is my pre-emptive farewell letter. Football is my vice a place I escape to in order to hide from the realities of a harsh world. It is a place which defies logic and rationale goes out of the window. Only passion burns and loyalty breathes. This passion I reserve for Manchester united and my loyalty remains in good and bad times.

Last summer Ronaldo, you robbed me of my joy of winning the league and champions league. No sooner had the celebrations died down in Moscow, before I could even rub it in the face of my rivals, you destroyed it with your antics. Fine, you remained, but i no longer supported you with my heart, i support you in my mind somthing am not supposed to bring along win I support my club. You are a player and thats it. I understand that you are a professional and have goals and aspirations,I please ask that you abruplty leave and not torture me and others alike like you did last summer.
I have marveled at your ability and stood in awe at your technique but I ask kindly, that you leave.I would rather have two darren Fletcher’s, 5 wayne rooneys, 6 carlos tevez and a 4 Ji sung parks, who proudly kiss the badge when they play than a fleet of Ronaldo’s.
Thank you for everything, but united has won trophies before you and will win after you, we’ve had the best players and more will come after you. You wil remain a memory in my head and not in my heart. Its logical to keep you but my heart should not skip each time your name and madrid are mentioned in the same sentence.

Thankyou and God Speed

MY BLOOD IS RED, MY HEART IS UNITED, MY SOUL IS OLD TRAFFORD. ONE LOVE,ONE LIFE, ONE UNITED

Well done Ronaldo for listening to the boss. It’s what we have to do in our jobs, your no different! But anyhow, why would you NOT listen to Fergie, or to us, the fans? Do you think for one moment we don’t want the same goals as you? We want you to be the best you can possibly be. We want the team to be the best it can possibly be. We want to win every trophy there is. We want you, and this current crop of players to go down in history, not just United’s history, or English history, but world history as one of the greatest ever players in one of the greatest ever teams i.e. Gullit, Van Basten in Milan ‘88-94, Cruyff in Ajax mid 70’s. When people look back at past football in 30, 50, or 100 years we want them to talk about the great United team of (say) ‘07-’13, and Ronaldo, and Rooney as 2 of the greatest players the worlds seen, alongside Best, Pele, and Maradona. We just want the best from you, and for you. So when you get criticism, it’s for your own good.

yep i mean you genre kelly, the name says it all, such a cunt

Regarding the ‘Dear John’ letter above, I rather have 2 Rio, 2 Vidic , 2 Rafael & 2 Evra and the rest remain the same.

really giles or anyone else

what the fuck is wrong with john oshea

he’s there at the top since 01
he’s the only ever united player to play ever position
and there is not too mnyy players who could do that

@gotta hate tiny tears
If thats the criteria, then how many United players score a free kick like THAT one against Portsmouth, score like he did day before.
You are being sort of ‘anyone but Ronaldo’ here.

The issue is not that, the issue is that he hurt us and now every little negative thing he does seems something more than that to us.

Had he not done what he did in the summer, his criticism this season would have been a tad bit lighter.

Firestarter ?? i wasnt talkin about anyone but oshea

i speak very highly of ronaldo when i talk about him, because when he plays for the team he is one of the best

i dont wanna lose ronaldo

So Giles, instead of writing things how I see them, I should just write positively about every aspect of the club?

“It was a fantastic idea for Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Wayne Rooney with Richard Eckersley when we were in desperate need of a goal. The result was United going on to concede three, but who cares, the manager is wonderful and every player in our squad is always fantastic!”

“Ronaldo did happen to spend half of the game sat on his arse today, but never mind! He scored a really great goal two weeks ago and we love him!”

“So, Vidic got himself sent off again for drop kicking an opponent off the ball, meaning he will be missing for the FA Cup final, but never mind. It was funny to see the violence and I’m sure we’ll be just fine without him!”

Christ, this is a football blog for opinions. I’m not going to curb my opinion for fear that United players read it or that United fans may be influenced by it. I haven’t sung any of Ronaldo’s songs this season – that hasn’t stopped other people in Old Trafford doing it.

If I think he’s being a lazy arse, I’ll say it and do so guilt-free. If I think he’s had a wonderful game, I’ll say it, without believing I can be thanked personally for boosting his morale.

Giles – Do you really think Ferguson is going to say publically what he said to Ronaldo? It clearly wasn’t just about the refs, in the first interview that Ferguson gave on the matter he clearly alluded to the fact that it was all aspects, Ferguson couldn’t give a toss if Ronaldo has a go at the ref 5 times in a match but hardly ever loses the ball and tracks back etc…That was clearly the problem, his overall attitude, it’s just simpler for Ferguson to publically mask it by discussing Ronaldo’s ‘victim’ status, rather than his poor effort…

Also, I couldn’t give a toss if the United players read this blog, they would soon stop reading it if it didn’t actually reflect people’s opinions, and it was just propaganda…Propaganda doesn’t make for very interesting reading for anybody…Scott’s quite rational, he often says O’ Shea is a good squad player but I’m sure the player himself is aware he is not the best, sad fact but true…My heartbeat gets a couple of beats faster when O’ Shea gets the ball, but invariably he does well and he played well on Wednesday, it’s up to him to prove people wrong, no-one is ‘destroying’ him with comments on ROM. You’re a bit of a narcissist mate to think you are affecting the title race in any way with your opinions, and Scott has the ability to tailor the attitudes of the United players on a match day…It has a microscopic impact, it’s a blog for people to offer their opinions etc and other people to read, or journalists to copy and paste from…I want United to win things, but not at the expense of my independent thoughts, that’s more important than United, as I’m sure it is for a lot of other people on here. When you are at the game, support the players as much as possible, on a blog do what you want – there are enough poeple writing on here to weed out any distorted views. Oh and anxiety is human nature so unless you are considering starting up a new species, give it a break, it’s what makes football brilliant, this title race would have been immensely boring without a bit of anxiety, now when we win the title, it will feel ten times better.

Good points Jake, and don’t worry, I don’t think my views make a jot of difference, at least on their own. But I do think collectively these sites do have an impact and you could see there was a period when United fans really did lose their nerve getting things completely out of proportion. And that mood spread to the team. I was at the Fulham defeat and it was so clear to see, with lesser players looking scared to get the ball, at least until Rooney came on and so nearly turned it round. That’s when the fight-back began.It’s not any single one of us that makes an impact, but together we do. That’s why it’s important what people say at this critical stage in the season. I’m not asking for propaganda or trying to shut anyone up, just telling it as I see it, just like everyone else.

Fair reply, except I’m not saying you shouldn’t criticise, something I have taken care repeatedly to say. I criticise United myself, so why would I try to stop anyone else, especially as it would make no difference? Nor am I trying to get you to make out how everything is perfect, equally pointless.In previous contributions I have tried to analyse what’s been going wrong with Ronaldo, which acknowledges there is a problem. I don’t quite agree with you about the issue, but that’s neither here nor there, as I wasn’t trying to shut you up. Actually my main target was other contributors, not you.I don’t believe any of our individual comments makes much difference, but sites like yours set the tone and create a mood not only among immediate readers but beyond in a ripple effect, sometimes because the wider media pick up on things (not always attributed) and eventually have an effect on the players. I thought there was something very alarming about how quickly some United supporters panicked after Liverpool, which was gleefully picked up by our opponents. Others have clearly agreed with me that there was too much negativity, not from you specifically, but generally, and I think others who have been attending matches are conscious that this is a real factor. Today I was talking to one of the people I play football with, a QPR fan, who’s absolutely not ABU, and he spontaneously asked , ‘What’s wrong with the Old Trafford crowd? They never seem to get behind the team like Man City did last night? They only sing when you’re winning!’ He noticed the amazing difference to the crowd after Macheda scored.His explanation was that United fans are spoiled by success, that we expect to win everything and sit back waiting for it to happen. To rub it in he went on to say, ‘Bet you wish you’d got the Anfield crowd behind you!’ There’s very little I can do as an individual except use words to try to make a difference. I’m sorry if that seems to be demanding party-line propaganda and a silencing of dissent, as I’m honestly not up for that. All teams are only as strong as their weakest link which is maybe why I get protective of some of the ’squad’ players, who need all the support we can give them when they are knackered or having to play out of position and in unfamiliar line-ups. If you look at the successful seasons and the un-successful ones you can clearly see that at some point there’s a wobble. It’s how the players handle that that counts, and the fans have a big part to play in that. In as far as your blog is one of the few ways to get through to other supporters I think my plea to think carefully about what is said is not unreasonable. But please let’s not fall out over this.

Giles – Kinda related to your post but are you not in your sixties? (seem to remember you saying you were or late fifties). Still playing football, you must keep yourself extremely fit. Respect.

Yes, I’m 63 and still playing, except I’ve just had to have 2 eye operations with a third to come which has kept me out recently. I can’t quite ‘roll back the years’ like Giggsy, but I can still Bend it Like Beckham – on a good day anyway…Actually I play right back and my pals call me Gary Nev on a good day, and Phil Nev on a not such a good day. On atmosphere, my QPR pal was only talking about City last night, not generally. I think it’s brilliant that United fans were singing even after the 1-4, but it’s also true that thousands had left, some of whom have since apologised on this very site. I can’t understand people who leave early. I’ve never done that, ever. Carrick, Rooney and and other players have been asking for more support, saying how important it is, so those of you able to go to OT, let it rip! I’ll be at Wembley, so I’ll do my best there.

I agree with all the sentiments expressed but while not wanting to be too soft on Ronaldo I do think we have to cut him some slack in view of all that has “come at him” over the last 12 months. (That needs explaining!!)
I honestly can’t remember any footballer never mind one is his early 20’s who’s had so much personal success and world attention in a single season. Forty two goals, the double, PFA player of the year for the second time, world player of the year, capatain of Portugal, etc etc. The truth is there would have to be something odd about Ronaldo if it didn’t go to his head!

I believe his problem this season is that he’s tried too hard to live up to his image of what the best player in the world should play like. Without making this post any longer … it’s not what he thinks it is and my hope and belive is that with SAF’s help he’s slowly starting to understand that.

If Ronaldo can now go on to finish this season in the form that he hit last year, I think it will prove to be a huge turning point for him and his career at United. Fergie will be vindicated for sticking with him, Ronaldo will know he’s truly being “looked after” and he might just realize his potential to be the all time best.

The alternative (and I’m hoping Ronaldo and his advisors see this) is that he goes to the circus in Madrid and his form and career evaporate as he again tries again to live up to a mistaken image.