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Sad Day When Agreeing With Arsenal Muppet…But That Is What Ronaldo Has Driven Us To

Ian Wright, who accurately described himself as a “jester” recently, has put me in quite a predicament with comments he made this week. The “loveable” cockney geezer first entered our lives back in 1990, coming on against us in the FA Cup final and turning the game around, forcing it in to a replay.

Since then, he joined our title rivals Arsenal and was their highest ever scorer until VaVaVoom tipped him at the top of the goalscoring table.

As a football player I’ve never like him, whilst acknolwedging his fine ability. But as a pundit, I’ve never rated him. His outrageous claims in support of Steven Gerrard diving just about finished off any chance I had for respecting the man.

With his overexcitable personality, studs first challenges, and crap footballer midget son, Ian Wright is one of those Marmite type people. You either love him or hate him. I hate him.

Which is why it pains me to agree entirely with what he has to say about Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wright spoke at length about our winger, calling him an embarrassment, claiming he was letting down the fans and manager, and that he is wrong to be in such a rush to leave.

As a player, there’s no doubt what you’re capable of. As a man, you’re not showing any class whatsoever. You’re also failing to show any respect to either Alex Ferguson or the Manchester United fans. To be honest, I’m embarrassed for you. You’re now 23 and you should not be acting quite so immature.

You’ve been at Old Trafford for five years but it’s only the last two seasons you’ve set the place on fire. Previous to that, Fergie stuck with you. Despite your diving and despite the fact you would always try to take on a defender rather than pass to a team-mate. When you acted a right winker at the World Cup two years ago, your club manager once again showed extreme loyalty to you, along with United’s fans. They could have turned on you after your behaviour during the England match in Germany but they didn’t.

You’ve now become one hell of a player – the best on this planet. I’d pay just to see you warm-up, let alone play a game. But with the drop of a hat, it seems you’re ready to join Real Madrid. What’s the rush? You’re still so young, for heaven’s sake. Surely you should give United another two years’ service before thinking about heading off to the Bernabeu. I understand if it’s your dream to play for Real but you owe it to United to be patient — and that’s why you should stay. Doesn’t the affection of United’s fans and your team-mates mean anything to you? I’m sure you’ve got advisors whispering in your ear but surely you have realised they could only be in it for the money, rather than your personal welfare. While Real may be tempting you with £300,000 a week after tax, how much money do you actually want? If you stay in Manchester, you could be banking £7.5million a year. It shouldn’t be about money at all, in any case. At the end of the season, I’d have loved it if you had said ‘I’m not interested in joining Real — I’m happy at United.’ But you didn’t. You gave a smile and said you’d let us know ‘in two or three weeks.’ You may have thought you were being funny but no one was laughing.

Even if you do surprise us and decide to stay at United, I’m not convinced your heart will be in the job. Not after your recent behaviour. In 12 months’ time, we’ll end up with another similar will-he-leave-or-will-he-stay pantomime. Arsenal had this with Patrick Vieira and it didn’t do anyone any good. Having a player in this situation is a bit like having a girlfriend who is unhappy. There comes a time when you just have to split.

Of course, I know you’re not the only one to blame in this. It seems Real have again shown they have a disregard for other clubs and the rules of football. But they’ll continue to act like this, as long as they’re allowed to get away with it. It’s a sorry reminder that football can be a real cesspit. I’d love it if you could show some guts and prove us wrong by staying with United. Sadly, I don’t think you will.

Scarily, Ian Wright gets it just about spot on. Of course, the incidents of the World Cup were no bother to most United fans, but if we look at what a player we have turned him in to, it’s scandalous for him to piss about with us over his future.

For the benefit of his career, staying at United would be far more suitable. Real Madrid is a club you join when you’ve done your developing, when you’re ready to earn the big bucks and lap up the praise over the great player you have become. But does Ronaldo honestly believe he’ll get to continue improving at the rate he has with us at Real Madrid? Does he reckon he will get the same service on the field there? Surely his ego is big enough to believe the fans will love him as much as we once did, but he will be left disappointed. Like Beckham and Ruud before him, it will be Ronaldo who can’t stop talking about United after he leaves, when he realises that the way after Manchester United, more often than not, is down. Then he will wish he had taken a bit more time to listen to the words of experience from Beckham.

Now, there is no element of surprise in this trafer saga, (one of the many we’ve been involved in recently, from Mikel and Heinze, then Tevez to Hargreaves) as we’ve always known Ronaldo wasn’t a red for life. We can look at players like Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic, and see them spending a good chunk of their career, if not all their football years, at the least the peak ones, playing for our club. We knew this was never going to be the case with Ronaldo, but I just don’t think any of us anticipated the move to happen so soon.

He is the best player in the World and he got to that point because of us. He owes us more than one year of playing whilst holding this status.

However, now, for a lot of United fans, his future with our club is unattainable, best player in the World or not.




 

84 Comments

  1. Anyone but united..... says:

    Ronaldo is leaving for a bigger club. Thats it, simple. No need for any more comments. Thank-you!

  2. Jules says:

    Absolute legend!

  3. JohnP says:

    I’m an Arsenal fan, but I agree with everything you say about CR – not about IW, of course!

  4. Jules says:

    I’m Arsenal through and through and would like to see the back of Ronaldo for obvious reasons, but even I find a rather bitter taste left by the way he is acting. You should remember that we know how you feel and have had this for years now. FIFA will not want to punish the biggest club in the world, and as such Real will be left to their own devices…a sad state of affairs! Like you, it is a sad day when I feel sympathy for you Mancs, but hey that’s football…and it doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.

  5. Bob says:

    Typical Man U fan spout crap about how you are the best club in the world and no one should ever leave you..Ronaldo owes you nothing, any debts have been paid off by winning the champions leage and Premiership, you couldn’t haver done it without him and you know it….Wrighty going in studs first you could be talking about Paul Scholes…

  6. AvP says:

    See just like us gooners have always said, he is a cunt.

    seriously tho, it reminds me of the Henry, PV4 stories of the past,

    shame for you guys to loose him, he should stay at least for another 2 years to better himself.

    i hope he leaves tho

  7. Gunner Stu says:

    It’s not nice is it. We’ve had to go through this shit for the last 5 years. First it was Vieira then Henry being tapped up and nothing is said. As soon as it happend to Man United then everyone starts complaining including the tabloids.
    He’s gone get over it like we had to.

  8. Mark C says:

    If Ronaldo leaves I doubt if he will score 40 goals for Madrid, and if they will win the double.

  9. Jeoff says:

    He owes you nothing, don’t be so self-righteous.

  10. Matt says:

    I dislike Ian wright, but he does sum it up well doesn’t he!! If he stays hopefully he will make a statement explaining why! United should force this “tapping up” issue and Arsenal among others should support them. It’s about time Fifia and Uefa put a stop to this seedy, illegal poaching once and for all, otherwise it will yet again prove that they are in the pay of these football “Mafia” types!!

    But hey in the end United are bigger than any one player and we shall prove it when Ronaldo goes, even if it is not this year!

  11. beanie says:

    this is football, you can say what you think is right or wrong but at the end of the day this boy has been brought up with spanish football. He wouldnt see man u as the biggest or best in the world, he loves real madrid. i dont think its about money its about legend and being a legend with man u is obviously not that important to him. Look im an arsenal fan and i could go on about flamini and wyh would he want to join ac milan, no champions leage football ect but the point is he loves that team. Ronoldo owes man u nothing. he alone helped you win the prem. I guess your all upset and why not, where are you going to fing all those goals from an ageing sqad of ex quallity players and some up and coming average young ones, and who knows but my guess is that some of those will now move on. thats life.

  12. TopGunPires says:

    As a gooner, firstly i’d state that i both love and hate Ian Wright. A genius of a striker but a tw*t of a man. Something that you are probably not aware of is that Wrighty himself once had a right good sulk when he fell out with Bruce Rioch and demanded a move to Benfica which was denied, he was never really the same afterwards.

    On the Ronaldo subject, Gooners have seen this all before, Vieira used to have it every Summer. Strangely the first time we agreed to let him go he turned Madrid down and then got pushed out the back door to Juve a season later.

    Real Madrid and Barca are both morally corrupt when it comes to signing big players from big clubs. Unfortunately (yes i want Ronaldo to stay!) i think he’ll be off to Madrid after the Euros but it’ll be his loss as much as it will be yours.

  13. alan c says:

    look this is a bit of a joke did utd not do the same to fulham whit saha transfer (and got their comupence) and i can remember evra going on strike and saying he would “walk his dog” rather than train with monaco until he got his transfer to utd!!! so WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND FERGIE

  14. Moray says:

    It would be a huge blow for Man U to lose Ronaldo as Tevez and Rooney for me do not score enough. As an Arsenal supporter however, I hope that now Man U players are being tapped up by continental clubs, something will be done about it. (though I don’t hold much hope of FIFA doing anything that doesn’t involve free holidays, dinners and visits to brothels)

  15. alan c says:

    and by the way ronaldo will stay and a deal will be done that he can leave next season his brother said during the week that he would “play with madrid in the next 2 years”

  16. Scott the Red says:

    Moray – you are aware Tevez was the 9th highest scorer in the league last season and Rooney was the 11th?

    When you compare that with Arsenal, who had just one striker within that top 11 and Chelsea had zero, your argument sounds pretty weak to me.

  17. Grovesy says:

    I’m a Gooner, and can I just say: Welcome to OUR WORLD! Your best player being linked with another club (usually the sc*mbags Madrid), eg. Vieira, Henry, Cesc etc for us in the past. For selfish Arsenal related reasons part of me hopes he goes of course, as he practically won the title last season single handedly. But if he does go the way it looks like he will I do – feel for you (that hurt me more than you know to admit!!). He owes you more than that.

  18. Scott the Red says:

    To all the Arsenal fans welcoming us to “their World”, do remember that Real Madrid spoke about Beckham on a daily basis 5 years ago.

    I don’t remember any club making comments on either Vieira or Henry on a DAILY basis. The tabloids might have been talking daily, but not the actual club.

    Just click on C Ronaldo on SkySports and there’s a comment from a Real representative almost every day for the past three weeks.

  19. Moray says:

    Scott the Red – I’m surprised you’re happy with 9th and 11th top scorers from your lead strikers (especially when their joint goals haul in the Prem is only 2 more than Adebayor’s). I’m not saying their bad players, I’m just making the point that you’re reliant on Ronaldo’s goals unless you bring in someone new which will mean changing how the team plays.

  20. 99 Goal Johnny says:

    I remember sitting in the Clock End not that long ago and hearing the Man United fans chant ‘You’ve only got Henry’.

    How times change………. look up the phrase ‘One-man-team’ now…………….

  21. Scott the Red says:

    Yeh we’re a one man team! You should have seen all the defensive work Ronaldo did this season to ensure we had the best defence in the league.

    And when Ronaldo scored all those penalties for us in the shoot out against Chelsea, we were really thankful.

  22. 99 Goal Johnny says:

    Truth hurts…

  23. Arsenal says:

    one word for all of U Aron Ramsay

  24. AL says:

    It would be a shame for English Football if he was to go to Madrid as we pay top money to see the best talent football has to offer and Ronaldo is class. As a gooner I applaud United for there stance against Madrid. I hope red nose makes him stay and suffer the full wrath of the fans for his behaviour. Ian Wright is spot on he should stay another season at least and help try to defend your title and european cup.

  25. TopGunPires says:

    Scott the Red, Samuel Eto’o was in the papers for 2 years tapping up Henry, this isn’t some kind of competition, Arsenal fans are just saying we know what its like. And i also point out that Fergie wanted rid of Beckham anyway.

  26. Big Mick says:

    Dont worry fellas, Evra has just signed for 4 years. Things are back on track!

  27. Browny says:

    As an Arsenal fan I can honestly say that you could sell him and be stronger next season. I feel we can maybe catch you up next season with your current squad. The reason for this is that you are starting to build your team so around Ronaldo that any injury to him will upset your fluidity and ability to adapt. Wayne Rooney seems to have changed his whole game to accomodate Ronaldo and allow him the glory of getting into the box. If you for instance were to bleed Madrid and say we want Robinho, Ramos and £25m and use that to get David Villa to play alongside Rooney and Tevez then I would be more scared of your team than as it currently is. He is a great player, no doubt. I think we Arsenal fans know how hard it is to look at it objectively when your biggest player and fans favourite could leave, but I actually think if you get the right players plus cash back for him and get a top in the box striker you will be stronger.

  28. Reddddddd says:

    Well, what can I say. Just becasue you gooners are used to any player with a hint of class leaving you for a big club you expect us United fans to send CR off with a smile and a goody bag.

    You know? I actually felt for you when Viera/Henry was messing you around. However, your undoubted glee at seeing CR wanting to leave changes all that.

    Your not going to win anything within the next 20 years. You have got no money to invest in a decent squad, Fabregas will leave sooner rather than later and Wenger will stay a couple more years.

    Spurs will be the big north london club within the next thre seasons

  29. Goonerian says:

    lets get it right, if you were in ronaldo’s position you would also leave to join a bigger club, van nistelrooy did as did beckham and heinze. i can’t see united being the same force without ronaldo tbh, they simply won the league because of our dip in form. UP THE ARSENAL

  30. noel reynolds says:

    utd are being a bit high and mighty about this. you tapped up hargreaves and ferguson phoned up stam to try and get him to sign but you have conveniently forgotten about that.

  31. phill says:

    God you lot are so petty, ‘I hate your team… he should go…. he shouldn’t….. my teams better than yours’ moan, moan, moan, moan, moan. I’m a united fan and I don’t hate any team, I appreciate good football which is why I also admire Arsenal, Wenger and the players he brought through. Re Wrighty, a great platyer with his heart on his sleave, if only the currect England crop could have half of his national pride. It’s only a game for gawdsake. Admittedly one that sucks pennies from our pockets whether from increased ticket prices, sky or sultana subscriptions. Obviously I’d like to see CR7 stay, I think he does owe Ferguson and Utd at least a couple more years. Once we’ve retained the league, CL, FA cup and Charity shield for at least 2 years on the trot (3 for the league and CL) then he can leave and attempt to reproduce the same at Real.

  32. Damion says:

    Ronaldo does not owe Man U anything. Do you honestly believe if he hadn’t gone to Old Trafford, he’d be a worse player? Players like Ronaldo will always be great because they have the determination to succeed, to be the best, so to say he owes Man U after winning you two Premier Leagues and a Champions League is wrong.
    I don’t care what anyone says, Man U are NOT a bigger team than Real Madrid around the globe, look at the stats: Man U 17 titles, 3 Champions League; Real 31 titles, 9 Champions League. It’s his boyhood dream, so why should he stay? The one and only reason Man U and their fans don’t want him to go is because, you guys might go into free-fall. Take away Ronaldo’s 42 goals last season and where would you be? Ronnie do what feels right in your heart, this is your career and you don’t want to regret anything when you retire. Real Madrid are on the up again, all they need now is a talisman; it was Hierro, then Raul, then Figo, then Zidane and now it’s the turn of the Portugese Ronaldo.

  33. another gooner says:

    Wrighty is a poor pundit but he’s got it spot on like u say

    Anyway you should change this site name to the Republic of Gooners looks like your being taken over (again) – we wont saddle you with £100m’s worth of debt though

  34. Russ says:

    Hmmmm living in Madrid or Northern England? Tough choice!

  35. Steve says:

    Generally, No Ronaldo, No Manu, look at most of the games you lost points this season, Ronaldo wasn’t there – ONE MAN TEAM.

  36. dan says:

    i decent article but it didnt need 4 paragraphs of personally attacking ian wright. Also, stop being so full of yourselves, man utd didnt make ronaldo into anything. he made himself into the best player in the world. if he goes man utd will only be half as affective as they were this season

  37. diGriz says:

    Yes I’m an Arsenal fan, but you have head the nial on the head here. As much as I would love to see Ronaldo in an Arsenal shirt, it typifies the state of the game when a young talented player is openly being courted by a club that is willing to pay an enormous fee to secure his services!
    Unfortunatley I’m reminded of Viera, Henry, Anelka and Cashley Arsecole all openly courted by clubs before eventually moving and how it distabalises the team.
    I hope someone takes a stand with this and Man U actually persue Madrid through the courts!
    Sadly it does leave a bad taste in the mouth regarding the players loyalty, but unfortunately in this day and age, loyalty is something in decline, especially among the foreign players. The price of success I guess?

  38. Victor Solomon says:

    Arsenal fan here in reality check. Ian wright is a sentimental idiot who doesn’t have a clue about the footballing world or wants to curry favour with man utd fans and i fear he has. The question is what was he’s agenda behind writing this columm ? I would have respected wrighty if he’d written a more realistic columm by writing that tapping up players is not a new phenemenon in football neither is players wanting to leave before their contract expires. Man utd have tapped up players, hargreves, van nis teroy, carrick, jaap stam to mention a few but when the table’s turned they go bleating to the press. What does Man Utd think Fifa are gonna do ?, slap real with a transfer ban or a paltry slap on the wrist pls dont hold your breath. Man utd, Real and ronaldo all have a part to play in this soap opera. We at the arsenal experience it all the time we just move best advice would be to just move on.

  39. goonerboy says:

    I am not a United lover but I do believe United and Arsenal have common interests here.It is Ronaldo this year, last year it was Henry next it will be Fabregas and Tevez.It is not possible to prevent players from being destabilised by the Spanish or Italian media- corruption in football is only just beneath the surface. in both countries. United and Arsenal must simply refuse to sell until they want their players to go.

  40. Paul says:

    Being an arsenal fan we know all about this, Vieira, Henry and Cesc in recent seasons, but united are not completely innocent themselves. Didnt they pursue hargreaves in much the same manner. Fair enough it wasnt every day comments, but they was said on a regular basis for over a season. United will need to adopt a new style if they lose Ronaldo but no-one should be holding the club hostage and with the debts at OT a huge offer may be too god to turn down.
    Personally i hope Fergie stick to his guns and makes him train with the reserves and sit on the sides

  41. romfordPele says:

    Really doubt Tevez will stay at OT for too long. He’ll end up in Spain too.

  42. luke says:

    anyone but united…since when have Real become a bigger club than united?! sod off and save your shit comments for shit forums about shit teams..like liverpool

  43. Steeley says:

    I think I speak for all United fans when I say to all the Arsenal fans interloping on this (fantastic) blog – please can you fuck off elsewhere / get back to molesting your siblings / get back to wondering where your next trophy is going to come from.

    As for Ronnie – I agree with the vast majority of serious reds: You can f*ck off too if you think you’re bigger than the club. Go and enjoy second rate football in a second rate league and take your swollen fricken ego with you…

  44. Scott the Red says:

    Steve – hate to burst your bubble, but you are wrong. If you’d been paying attention, Rooney is the player who those stats refer to, not Ronaldo. Rooney was never on the field at the end of a losing game last season.

    In contrast, Ronaldo played against West Ham when we lost, City when we lost etc.

    One man team? I feel like you’re trying to even the score after one too many United fans told you that you were a one man team when you had Henry. Sadly for you, that isn’t the case for United though.

  45. Damion says:

    Luke: HOW IN THE HELL IS MAN UNITED A BIGGER CLUB THAN REAL MADRID??!!
    You go to any major league and the majority of players, coaches will choose Real. Every year Real make more money than Man U…how in the hell can you say Man U are a bigger club. Don’t be so fcuking biased mate!!!!!!!
    The History, the players, the success…don’t talk shit man! You are looking at current form and that’s the bullshit way. A bigger club means the history that has made that club bigger than others. Before Fergie came, your team had only won 7 titles and hadn’t won one for over 20 years! You are more famous for the Busby Babe’s, unfortunately passing away, more than anything.
    Please, right now, tell me how Man U are a bigger team than Real. Please, I really wanna know!

  46. Scott the Red says:

    Damion – at least have the common sense to back up your claims with fact rather than speculation before you post on here.

    Real don’t make more money than United.

    United are more famous for the Busby Babes passing away? Not the three European Cups they’ve won? Not for the likes of Best, Charlton and Law? Not for the 10 titles in 16 years Fergie has won? Not for the 17 titles they have overall? Not for the exciting, attacking football we have always played?

    Lol I believe you’ve been speaking to too many Liverpool fans, my friend.

  47. Dori says:

    Why are we arguing about one man team proclaims.
    The obvious bad guys are Real Madrid, who have got no class when it comes to signing players. They have got an army of staff, journalists, agents etc. who help them bend the rules so that they get what they want. And their methods is the cancer that is killing the morale at clubs like Man Utd & Arsenal who create their own revenue and play by the rules when in comes to signing players. (Although Jaap Stam claimed Fergie bent the rules a bit when he snapped him up from PSV, but that’s in the past)
    Man Utd and Arsenal have the same interest here. But the problem is the European and world governing body. UEFA is run by Platini who hugely favours the spoilt and illegal manners of the “romantic” big Italian and Spanish clubs, while we all know what an absolute twat Blatter is.
    Platini is doing a lot of good things. But he always favours the South European clubs over the English and German for example.
    The FA’s way of handling stadium security and match day organising has been the best thing that has happened to footbal in the past 20 years. They had a problem and they tackled it. The English clubs were banned in Europe for 5 years because of an accident while UEFA chose to look the other way in several other instances through the years where English fans have been treated worse than prisoners in Guantanomo Bay.
    I strongly believe nothing will ever happen to change these things, the Italian and Spanish clubs behaviour and stadium violence in Southern Europe, unless THE FA goes on a mission and brings in FA’s from other countries, such as Germany, Scandinavia, Holland and so on, and try to force changes through. That is the only way things are going to be changes, because the current governing body of both UEFA and FIFA has it’s own agenda which heavily favours the Spanish and Italians.
    On the Ronaldo stuff, tough luck Mancs. He’s the best in the world and you are getting a taste of what we Arsenal fans have had to endure every summer since 2000. First Overmars and Petit left, then Vieira to Real daily rumours for 5 years, then Henry, now Fabregas, Hleb & Adebayor. It’s tough trying go do things by the book when other clubs are allowed to bend the rules as they please.
    Best of luck though with Ronaldo, hope he stays for the good of the English game.

  48. Damion says:

    First of all, I won’t go into the money making side because unless I’m wrong, you are in more debt than Real so whatever, you are richer. And you obviously know the true nature of both clubs bank accounts so I won’t go there.

    Secondly, when I said what I said about the Busby Babes, I was talking in terms of your history and Real’s. The whole point of my argument was Real has a better history and are a bigger club because of it so you want to name achievements, lets.

    Man U Real
    3 CLs, 9 CLs
    17 Titles, 31 titles
    Di Stefano, Puskas, Sanchez, Laudrup, Mijatović

    Last of all, I don’t like Liverpool fans so get it right. Yes, I’m a Gooner and have the upmost respect for Ferguson and Man U’s achievements but to say, your club is bigger than Real’s is to be deluded!

  49. Scott the Red says:

    Comments like “you are more famous for the Busby Babes passing away than anything else” is the kindof thing I’ve only heard Liverpool fans say, that is why I mentioned it.

    If size of a club is mainly based on history, you’ll be happy to admit the likes of Forest and Villa are bigger clubs than Arsenal?

  50. Damion says:

    In terms of their CL wins then yes but not in terms of their titles won and their longevity at the top of their respective leagues

  51. 99 Goal Johnny says:

    IfIf we’re basing it solely on Champions League wins… then I suppose Forest & Villa are ‘bigger’ than Arsenal. Likewise Liverpool are bigger than Man Yoo then.

    You choose…

  52. Matthew Wade says:

    Arsenal Fan….want Ronaldo to leave, but can understand exactly how you guys will feel if he does. As with the likes of Anelka, Overmars etc, the risk with foreign players is that english teams are seldom the team tehy most want to play for in the world. Man U and Arsenal my be better teams to play for (and I’ll concede Man U currently give more chance of trophies), but they don’t inspire the same sense of worldwide awa as Real Madrid, Barca, Milan….

    At least if he does leave, you will get so much money for him the squad shouldn’t significantly weaken. From a spectacle point of view it would be sad to see him go, but if he doesn’t play for my lot, i’d prefer him in spain. Having said that, he might yet stay…

  53. Damion says:

    I did not base it solely on CL wins, ‘Scott the Red’ did. He mentioned Forest & Villa, obviously because they have won the CL and we haven’t. But if that’s the case then it proves my argument about who’s the better and bigger club between Man U and Real…Real’s 9 CL wins to Man U’s 3, based on that Ronaldo IS going to a bigger club.
    I love Man U fans, my whole argument was who are the bigger club, Man U or Real and it got turned into something else as usual. You start bringing up Arsenal’s achievements, which has nothing to do with the debate. Read my posts and you will see what I was debating!!!

  54. Matthew Wade says:

    Scott the Red…1 European Cup does not a bigger club make. Or are you aplying for the position of liverpools shadow?

    Utd and Liverpool are Englands biggest clubs, and probably Arsenal next. consistant success over extended periods of time. Chelsea are medium sized club with big money, and Villa are no bigger than Everton, City, Spuds or Newcastle. Forest are smallish club that ahd 4 or 5 great years…

  55. Scott the Red says:

    So how do you define a big club? If it’s not down to how many European Cups a club have won (ie. Forest 2 – Arsenal 0. Real 9 – United 3).

    The talk of debt has nothing to do with the size of the club, because it wasn’t going in to debt that made us a success. If anything, being a success took us in to debt, attracting the Glazers to buy us.

    For four years running United have been named the richest football club. That is in terms of how much money the club is worth.

    For me, the biggest club has to have a combination of both a great past and a great present.

    United are financially the biggest club in the World, which suggests we have a farther reaching fanbase within the World, bringing in more money. We’re also back to back Champions of the best league in Europe (read:the World) as well as European Champions.

    For me, that makes us the biggest club in the World. If you go by different criteria, that is fine. We can both argue our point, disagree with the other whole heartedly, but essentially, it’s just an opinion isn’t it.

  56. Just1n says:

    that’s 2 words. retard

  57. Paul N says:

    What is it with this big club small club crap? this is why football will never change because everyone wants to play for only a few teams, thats rubbish. Its funny beacuse i dont remember anyone wanting to go to Chelsea before the Russian dude, now they have all this money, they are a big club also. It seems anyone can become a big club, just get someone to throw money at the team.

    As far as Ronaldo, he signed a contract, Dream team my backside! If I was a Manager a player could cry blood, he would not leave until I was good and ready, if this does not happen the game of football will turn to crap.

    I hear some people say he owes Man U nothing, yes he does, to fulfill his contract (An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law).

    I ask you who think he should just leave, what if he decides to want to play for Barca the next season, AC the next, juve next and so on and so on, would that be ok? according to you it should be as he owes no team anything. This may be extreme but it should be looked at as ok if you have the mindset of players not honoring their contract.

    I am an Arsenal fan and Man U have aslo been guilty of this (Hargreaves, Tevez), however it still does not make it right!!!

    God Bless!!

  58. Gary says:

    Anyone but United, explain how Real are a bigger club then United? If there so big how comes the Bernabeu is half empty nearly all the time the play there? Also Real may have 9 European cups but they won the first 4 or 5 when no sod entered the bloody competition. Anyone but United, that name says it all, that name in it its self shows your extremely jelous of United for the fact they are the most recognised club in the world.

  59. Anant says:

    im glad to see that most arsenal fans talk a whole lot more sense than scousers .
    they’ve always been the more level headed fans amongst the ‘big 4′ supporters .
    and when it comes down to ‘which is the biggest club in the world arguement”…theres a few points to consider –
    a) mancunians always regard united as THE biggest club in the world . for every single reason that scott has stated . why should we even contemplate thinking otherwise ?

    b) SADLY the rest of the footballing world bows down before madrid . ask any other football fan and they would tell you that madrid is the biggest .

    c) HOWEVER ask a layman , someone who knows nought about football to name just1 football club . pat comes the reply – MANCHESTER UNITED!!!

    make up your minds………

    p.s. – i think ours would become a far more likeable club with the exit of that madeira prick . most neutrals hate us just because of his antics on and off the pitch

  60. Live-FootballOnTV says:

    Let him go, I would rather should one who knows what to wear the famous red 7 shirt means. Cantona is a utd legend, ronaldo is a winker

  61. Aaron says:

    Im An Arsenal Fan And I Think If Ronaldo Goes it Will Be A Big Loss To The Premire League And Id ate To See It Happen

  62. Gary says:

    Anant who are these people that bow down to Madrid and say there the biggest club in the world? I gaurantee you Anant that United are the biggest draw in world football. United tickets are worth more on the market then any other club because of the demand to see us, everyone wants a peice of United. The Bernabeu is half empty unless there playing in a massive match, so how are they the biggest club in the world? When we played Real in 2003 the Madrid fans couldnt even sell out there away allocation! Biggest club in the world? I dont think so pal

  63. raisnhell says:

    Anant: I dont care if anyone likes us or hates us. We are who we are, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo.

    Other than that, good points mate.

  64. zoran says:

    maybe the Gods knew why he did not let him come to Arsenal because we would b feeling the knife in our backs.

  65. nagraj says:

    some of the gooners on this site have been verry commendable…as a fan of the EPL, we, ve been dominating europe for the last 2-3 years, it was only a matter of time b4 the continental t*ats came and queered the pitch…
    All the 4 EPL teams will be weaker this year, except the dippers, but theyre s*ite anyway…scolari wont have a clue about engerlund, and the spine of their team is leaving.
    Arsenal’s players are leaving left and right, would’nt be surprised if adebayor left next. You simply have to pa players more wages. How is it this complaint is not heard at man utd and their wage bill is onyl slightly higher than arsenal? theyre paying captain cry baby 100k a week and not giving adebaor parity…But they surely did deserve at least a trophy this year…shows that you need to take the FA cup more seriously…
    Personally, I dont feel anything about ronaldo leaving. The portugal games should have convinced just about everybody that he is indeed the best player in the world, and the better he plays the higher his value goes…if we bleed that fascist club dry in return, we ll be ok.
    Its always better to have a more balanced team and we could spend the money on better players in a few positions, that is in case those glazer t*ats give fergie that money…

  66. jock says:

    agree with Anant on June 12, 2008 21:22
    think ours would become a far more likeable club with the exit of that madeira prick . most neutrals hate us just because of his antics on and off the pitch
    But could he please take Eboue with him
    And if Adebayor(the hapless massai warrior) wants £4m a year take that muppet too

  67. Albert says:

    It’s fucking horrible. I’m Arsenal but my heart went out to you lot when I heard of Real’s interest, it’s a relentless pursuit conducted in the most unethical of ways. He’ll go, they all do I’m afraid to say.

  68. g says:

    ” His outrageous claims in support of Steven Gerrard diving just about finished off any chance I had for respecting the man.” soo i take it you’ve never seen gerrard play then.

  69. Tony H says:

    I’m also a Gooner but I have to say, as much as I’d like to see the back of him because with you guys you are a far better team (I know you pretty damn good anyway -before you start!), the ways thos Real Madrid c**ts have turned his head is uforgiveable. Good on you lot for reporting him to FIFA but I doubt they will do very much. That to$$er of a president of theirs is an arrogant son of a b1tch and I would love to see them slapped down. Ronaldo has had his head turned and its understandable, its happened to our players enpough. Yes he should stay loyal but the problem is the like of Real, AC, Inter, Barceloan etc. think they can tap up who they like and its dead wrong. If yoiu stop them then you stop this head turning. Agents are also $cumbags who only think about their commision evrytime their player moves…

    I think he’s gonna go and the Premier League will be the worse for it but FIFA must take action against those w***ers in Madrid. Until that happens this will happen time and time again as foreigners will be seduced by the supposed ‘glamour of the big Spanish and Italian sides… plus, to be honest Madrid and Barca are somewhat warmer places to live than Mancunia or London!!

  70. kohtao says:

    Ronaldo for you. Flamini, Hleb, Abebayor for us.,

    OK, maybe they are not in the same class, but its a right pain in the arse (yeah yeah).

    so…do ferguson / wenger take a stand and refuse to sell. not sure the clubs can afford to, but in the long term it might even out the balance. at the moment, all the power is with the players (and their agents). something needs to be done to address this.

    shooting all agents would be a start. the whispering inthe ears doensnt help. Adebayor, for example, is all down to his agent.

    but I hope ferguson / the glazers have the balls and money to refuse to let him leave. say no. say you can play if you give it your all, if not you are in the reserves. Id completely respect you for that, and would love us to do the same with ade, if he does try to go.

    but I doubt this will happen. the stakes are too high. and the outlook to short term.

    they’re all wankers. oh well, eh.

  71. Donjohnni says:

    As an Arsenal fan I can sincerely say Ian Wright is the dumbest football fan on the planet. He’s got charm, but is as thick as two planks. What an idiot!

    Talking about loyalty and money, and LOOK WHAT HIS SON DID! Where was the advice there? He could have flourished at Arsenal, or maybe even Man U.

    And yeah, Ronaldo is being a bit of a twat, but I believe anyone would if the figure of £300,000 is true. He is an alpha male and will definitely want that kind of money and star status.

  72. Gun_1 says:

    As an Arsenal fan, i want him to leave. If I were a Utd fan i would still want him to leave. As a football fan i don’t.

    He is nothing short of disgrace and has treated Utd like sh1t.

    Furthermore, Rooney will benefit from his departure because he has become one of the most promising taents in the world into an expensive utility man.

  73. Scott the Red says:

    Kobras – yes of course I’ve seen Gerrard play. And when he dived, Ian Wright defended him, saying it was OK to dive because other players would do it to England.

  74. dt says:

    I’m a Gooner, but I don’t deny your right to say you’re a better team than us or Liverpool, becauseyou have just won some pretty major trophies. Fair play, hats off etc. But that sort of success doesn’t last forever and soon enough (with or without Ronaldo) you’ll hit a dry spell and win nothing while Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool do. Be realistic and stop being such fanboys. Anyway, look at the facts, Ronaldo’s dream is to play for Madrid and they’re willing to pay him more money. Would you pass up a pay rise? Of course you wouldn’t. Football is a business now and as much as we’d like to believe that it’s still about the love of your club and the game itself, it isn’t. It’s about the amount of 0′s on your payslip. Personally, I think Ronaldo is a tosser for his willingness to dive (I believe about 2 minutes into Portugal v Turkey) even though SAF claims he’s changed, his incident with Rooney in the World Cup and now the way he’s handling this whoe Real saga. However, when he’s on his feet and actually playing football he’s a joy to watch. It’s because of this that he’s in demand so don’t be so incredulous that Madrid are making the eyes at him. You’ll do alright without him I’m sure and if you don’t win anything it’ll more likely be due to another team being better, than you being worse for not having the Plastic Portuguese one. Anyway, Chelsea are gonna win everything now they’ve got Scolari right?!

  75. Taron says:

    hey scott what are all this cuntish gooners doing on our blog. One would think that after a humiliating season like they had we wouldn’t hear from them in some time. And what happened to their short memories?Weren’t they the ones who were saying that Ronaldo is diver and not a good player, now ithey say that he is the best player and we are screwed if he leaves.
    To every gooner, please don’t worry about us, we will pull through, I am sure about that. And to every idiot, who claims that he goes to a bigger club, I will say “Yeh, bigger then you club”.
    I think he will stay or rather SAF will make him to stay, but I hope that fans at OT will give him hell for the next season.

  76. KingOfZamunda says:

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I don’t think he’ll be leaving this summer.
    HAVING SAID THAT, I WOULD RATHER HE FCUK OFF OUT OF UNITED ASAP.
    And you feckless idiots sitting around here talking about not owing United anything?!!? About it being a business and crap?? Footballers perform best when they’re happy, the club, their team-mates, not least of all the management ensure that. They do so by guiding him, patting him on the back when things aren’t going so well (Cris Ron’s first season and the winkergate episode being the cases in point) and investing personal emotion into it all- if he was treated like a twat throughout how in the hell would he have gone on to play the way he did??
    He was born with a prodigious talent, rough around the edges, Sporting Lisbon saw glimpses of it and United helped him develop it, helped him become the player he is. Beyond that, having a water-tight defence backing him up gave him the freedom to play the way he did. Changing the tactics to suit his style of play helped to play the way he did. Who the fcuk are you idiots kidding when you say he made himself????? SHEESH- and this inferiorirty/superiority complex doesn’t come into it either, the facts state United are the biggest club in the world right here right now. Madrid, a bit like Liverpool, enjoyed European domination in a bygone era. The Madrid teams of post Zidane and Makelele have been shite, they won La Liga this season because Villareal’s inexperience told in the end, and Barcelona’s ineptitude- look into their season and realise they were handed their title on a plate, don’t take my word for it. And as for them wanting Cris Ron- they can have him, lord knows they need him, whereas United will go on without. It’s up to United to extract as much money out of this situation as possible, and if that means benching the winker than by all means, we’ll see how up to a season’s worth of no football does his form. Sheesh. He’s going to be a cash cow for us or a fcuking moaning bench warming bitch, either way it’s all good.

  77. Moneyman says:

    Just set a price of 150million pounds, or ask for Welsley Sneidjer and Sergio Ramos with an additional 100million pounds. That will be more beneficial to us then having to see this fucker play for us half heartedly.

  78. When the birds follow the trawler................ says:

    In todays newspaper we read Ferguson is about to make a £25m bid for under contract Berbatov. Has your manager told Spurs. If not what is the difference with what Real Madrid are doing. A case of Pot calling Kettle Black or staightforward hypocrisy. Also to the editor nice to see you practice censorship when the truth conflicts with your one eyed manc loving contributors views.

  79. Damian says:

    He,s good but not close to best in World the real talent is Rooney & Teves the 2 best no,. 10s in the World this from an Arsenal fan through & through

  80. Scott the Red says:

    When the birds [sic:seagulls] follow the trawler: You want to show us the quotes from Fergie saying he wants to sign Berbatov? Or are you honestly trying to compare hacks writing about our potential targets with Real Madrid representatives talking about Ronaldo to the press every day?

  81. dt says:

    “KingOfZamunda” – best blog commenting alias EVER. However, you have to realise that football is a business. Why would Glazer get involved otherwise?

    Taron: What? Humiliating season?! We drew a few games that cost us the title – and that was with a side that people had dismissed as crap before the season even started. We messed up, and fair play that you lot came through and won, but I think you’ll find that the gooners commenting on here are a lot less biased than your so called fans. We’re only here because Scott keeps posting articles mentioning Arsenal that show up on newsnow. Why should we lie down and take your shit if your lot are too igorant to accept that Utd are just a bunch of people who play football – just like any other team? It’s only a game FFS. But if you want to play dirty how’s about recognising that the “Republik of Mancunia” is actually the county of Surrey? Put that in thy pipe and smoke it.

  82. Scott the Red says:

    DT – you speak like a man of intelligence, but then lose all respect in the last sentence. Surrey? Look pal, United have glory fans for a reason. If southerners prefer to support United over teams down south… then it says a lot more about your teams.

    Manchester United draw in fans from all over the place. It’s bloody ignorant to think that and I’ve always wondered why the same argument does apply to every other city with two clubs. Should all proper scousers support Everton over Liverpool? Should all proper Brummies support Birmingham City over Villa? Should all proper Londoners support West Ham over Arsenal?

    So piss off with your comments about Surrey. It’s like stepping in to a time warp. 1994 was about the last time moronic comments like that were original and brought about a smile. Get a new gag.

  83. Stretford-end says:

    I agree with you regarding Wright as a pundit – I think he is awful and I do not understand why the BBC continue to employ him. His ‘fan approach’ to tap into the majority of BBC viewers clearly doesn’t work as most fans that I speak to (from all clubs) do not like his style – I don’t personally think his playing career needs to come into this debate (although for the record I felt he was a fine striker).

    Ronaldo is the best player in the world. To get to that level you need a certain amount of arrogance and you need your ego to be stroked. It’s evident that Ronaldo likes a piece of that from time to time and I personally do not believe he cares for who he plays for – just as long he is adored by his public. Unfortunately, like at most clubs, this doesn’t wash with United fans that want to see loyalty and commitment from their players. I do think Ronaldo will stay as Fergie will not allow him to leave whilst he is still wanted and under contract – but it leaves a bitter tastes in the mouth on Ronaldo’s part.

    With regards to ‘the bigger club’ – every fan will always overate their side, no matter what has happened and currently as United are the European Champions AND the winners of their domestic league, it would be safe to say United are the bigger club. Do you need to look at history? Of course, but the format of the European Cup has changed immensely since Madrid won 5 European cups on the trot (against the mighty Stade de Reims – twice! – and in 59 Eintracht Frankfurt). Madrid are a fine football establishment, with great history and tradition but remember how they obtained the services of Di Stefano in the first place (General Franco cancelled the players registration to Barcelona so that he could sign for Madrid). Madrid also had to sell off their training ground to the government some years back (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/1355780.stm)

    Anyhow – end of the day Ronaldo is a great footballer but I think he needs to start thinking about his club rather than himself – which is something that he brought into his game (greater team ethic than being so individualistic. Wright’s original piece was poorly written and his ‘fan style’ is quite basic reading – however, after all that, Ronaldo should be showing more loyalty to United.

  84. Ubibi Godwin Jr says:

    Its a shame that ronaldo can do this to club that took him from nothing to something,I have noticed for a while that he has become so arrogant and proud,he thinks he is funny trying to bite the finger that fed him but its just sheer stupidity,it would break my heart no doubt to see him leave because he is the best around,but he has to show respect to SAF and we the fans,let him go next season and lets see what will become of him,I pray he doesnt end up like is ruud vanisteroy,heinze and most especially is former number 7 Beckham.I think ronald’s problem is that he never thought he was going to achieve such level in life,because life was so hard for him during is childhood,I see him as an opportunist blessed with God’s natural talent and now carried away by the spotting light that he never dreamt would beam on him,due to poverty,but he should be thankful,grateful nand humble to the club that brought him to limelight,he should see SAF as a father that would not tell him lies.One thing we all and the ronaldos of this world should know is that,when sucess comes our way,we walk in humilty…United for life,we will make it without him,one man is not bigger than the team and we the fans,I dont hate him and I wish him well,I hope my sons play like him,because I love him,but they should not get is kind of stupid and ungrateful character.I wish him all the best.

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