This time last year, Cristiano Ronaldo was out of the United team because of the red card he picked up against Portsmouth. He missed matches against City, Spurs and Sunderland, in which United picked up six points. By the end of September, Ronaldo had played in five league games, scoring just one goal.
Much has been made of Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury this season and the effect it will have on our team. In our opening two games, where we’ve had one average performance, one good performance, we have been without several players, not just Ronaldo. Still, we’ve picked up four points from a possible six, which certainly beats the two points from a possible nine at the start of last season.
“I am feeling fine,” said Ronaldo. “I am feeling really good and my recovery is going well. I am more than happy with my progress and I hope to be back playing for United by the end of September – that is my target and it is a realistic one. It has been frustrating to miss the start of the Premier League season, but I am pleased with my rehabilitation and, hopefully, I’ll be ready soon.”
If Ronaldo’s prediction is right, that means he will have only missed four league games this season, returning against Bolton. Obviously we’d like him around for the Liverpool and Chelsea matches, but a home game against Bolton, who are certainly relegation fodder this year, will be a good introduction for him.
It is going to take him time to get his fitness back as well, but essentially, we’re in a very promising position where Ronaldo is concerned. We’re already doing better than we were this time last season and Ronaldo is looking to only miss one more game than he missed at the beginning of last season.
Also, we have to consider that Ronaldo is incredibly fed up with not being able to play football, so should come back hungrier and better motivated than ever.
Now we just need to ensure we collect as many points from our next two games so we’re in the best situation possible when Ronaldo returns. I’d happily take four points from them, but even that might be rather optimistic.
At least this shuts up the ABUs who were getting giddy about Ronaldo’s absence!
I think that there’s more-than-an-outside-chance that he will be back to play L’pool and the RentBoyz in mid-September. He’s already jogging and I can’t believe that he would need more than two weeks to get himself into a facsimile of “game shape”. Clearly, the team is better with him on the field.
Looking forward to seeing him back. He will give us some real bite. He needs to give Hargreaves some get well soon lessons.
Just loosely on the Ronaldo subject…how ironic to see Real Madrid attacking the Chelsea’s conduct in the Robinho affair. How ironic. F*** you, Calderon. What goes around, comes around
oops, THE chealsea!!, ha ha. got mixed up between calling em the rent boys and chelsea lol
we need him back desperately, we’ve played OK without him, but i think we are showing a clear lack of pace and penetration going forward. Tevez is playing really deep and rooney looking isolated without the pace of Ronaldo to support.
Too early in the season to risk him against the scousers and the rent boys in sept. bearing in mind we should have berbatov for those games, we should be good enough to get some points there. I think we can beat the scousers, we’ve had them for the last few years, and chelsea showed today against spurs that you can get results at stamford bridge.
my prediction is no ronaldo for either of those games, and a win and a draw.
Still not heard Viva Ronaldo being sang…..it’s gonna take a while….i don’t think he’ll get booed, but i don’t think he’ll be overly cheered…what you reckon Scott??
I’d be more than happy to take draws at Anfield and Stamford Bridge in his absence.
The other day I commented on an article saying I’d rather Nani got more games under his belt than Rooney or Tevez play out wide if there was a new arrival in our attacking department…
However, with the likelihood that Berba will be our player by Monday night, I’d like to see him and Rooney play up front with Tevez out wide, coming in to attack as a 3.
His contribution so far has been amazing and he can carry us through Anfield and the tougher task of going to Stamford Bridge.
Ronaldo United is coming back? Cool, that means when he does come back and we are already over our little and fairly characteristic poor spell at the start of the season, neutrals will point to Ronaldo’s return as the onl factor is us winning games. It is very very funny!