Cristiano Ronaldo - United's Greatest Ever? - Writers Forum

Sam Winchester · 05-25-2008, 01:16 PM

Anyone who watches football will agree that Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now. There's not even an argument against it. 42 goals in a season for a winger? That's sick. If you disagree with that, you're just a jealous scouser, gooner, or a Chelski fan.

However, is he Manchester United's best ever player? There are some great names to match him against - Law, Best, Charlton, Whiteside, Robson, Cantona, Keane, Giggs, Beckham and van Nistelrooy. Has he surpassed them all?

Writ-with-Hand · 05-25-2008, 07:32 PM

I don't really watch soccer so I have no idea. I respect the sport though and it takes some skill to handle a ball with your feet.

Not to derail the thread, but does United have a football gang too? I think they call them "firms" in Britain. Crazy ass British people - or maybe it's the whole U.K. that is nuts.

Shawn · 05-25-2008, 07:44 PM

He's certainly number 1 on the "who I would like to get in bed" list.

Zensati · 05-25-2008, 10:23 PM

I dont doubt that Ronaldo Is the best in the world at this time. But I think Its too early to say he Is the best ever. I think It is amazing what Giggsy has acheived with the club, And If Ronaldo can end up matching Giggsys acheivements then we can talk about who Is the greatest ever.

Sam Winchester · 05-26-2008, 03:13 AM

Even Giggsy said that on his best day he wouldn't even come close to Ronaldo for pace, footwork, and ability to score. Of course, those aren't the only criteria to look at. Look at Giggsy's haul, for crying out loud! 10 Premier League titles, 4 F.A. Cup winner's medals, 2 Champions' League winner's medals, and a UEFA cup winner's medal. I think I might have missed something in there too!

If we base it on medals won, Zensati, then Giggsy is the best player ever in the Premier League, which is not the case. Don't get me wrong - I think Giggs is a fantastic player, and a great servant to Man United, but, in my opinion, there's only one other time United have had a player like Ronaldo, and his name was George Best.

Sam.

Sam Winchester · 05-26-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writ-with-Hand

I don't really watch soccer so I have no idea. I respect the sport though and it takes some skill to handle a ball with your feet.

Not to derail the thread, but does United have a football gang too? I think they call them "firms" in Britain. Crazy ass British people - or maybe it's the whole U.K. that is nuts.

British people, much like Americans, are very passionate about their sport. For the most part, there's rarely ever any violence at Premier League matches. It usually only happens to Manchester United when they meet Liverpool, and for that reason the game is always kicked off early so that the supporters haven't got time to get drunk beforehand. That usually quells it.

Yes there are gangs, but not "gangs" in the normal sense of the word. They're just a group of die-hard supporters.

Sam.

SoNickSays... · 05-26-2008, 03:36 AM

I still remember the days when Ronaldo was like Saha (if you remember him). He was doing a few skills, playing the odd game.. but then it stopped. It was like he just stopped playing.

Anyway, back on topic. I think there are a few Man United players better than Christiano Ronaldo. George Best (DEFINITELY), Bobby Charlton (still a legend today), Eric Cantona (in league with Ronaldo, methinks) Dennis Law (remember his nickname: The King), and please don't say you've forgotten Peter Schemeical. Probably one of the world's greatest goalies ever! Beckham (same as Ronaldo, I think) and Van Nistelrooy.

Definitely not the greatest, but I'd put him in line with Eric Cantona, Van Nistelrooy (very alike, if you look at their records) and David Beckham.

Nick

Sam Winchester · 05-26-2008, 03:58 AM

Beckham the same as Ronaldo! WTF! Beckham wouldn't lace Ronaldo's boots, Nick. And I loved David Beckham. I thought he was phenomenal for United, but you cannot compare him to Ronny. Beckham scored 61 goals in his time at Old Trafford. Ronaldo has scored more than that in the last two years.

Yes, Schmeichel is probably the best goalkeeper ever in the world, but I was focusing mainly on outfield players. But you're right - he deserves to be mentioned as one of the United greats.

Ronaldo, though, is something else. My dad was a massive United fan during the time of Best, Law and Charlton (he doesn't watch football anymore because he thinks the players are getting paid too much; lets not start a debate about that!) and I've seen his videos of Best in the European cup final, as well as a few league games. Best was unbelievable. The things he could do with a football were unbelievable. But in those days the defenders, though good, (Moore, anyone?) weren't as good as the defenders today, or so I believe. Best scored 32 goals in a season. Ronaldo blitzed that by notching 42 this season. There isn't a striker that has scored as many goals this season. Maybe Afonso Alves. That's about it.

I still don't think he's United's best ever, but there's only one man who he has to beat now, and if he wins another European cup with United, there will be no dispute.

Sam.

SoNickSays... · 05-26-2008, 04:33 AM

Ronaldo probably is better than Beckham, actually... I don't watch football now as much as I did when Beckham was playing (not because Beckham isn't playing anymore, but I just don't have much time.)

What I do watch, however, I concentrate on the good oldies, like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. I don't concentrate very much on Ronaldo, but I will in the future.

You must remember, that although the best footballers may be based mainly on goals, it is not just goals. You must also take like-ability and general skill into consideration. George Best (although he may not have scored as many goals as Ronaldo) he was just generally better (in my view).

I'll remember to look out for him in the next few games

Nick

Sam Winchester · 05-26-2008, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNickSays...

Ronaldo probably is better than Beckham, actually... I don't watch football now as much as I did when Beckham was playing (not because Beckham isn't playing anymore, but I just don't have much time.)

What I do watch, however, I concentrate on the good oldies, like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. I don't concentrate very much on Ronaldo, but I will in the future.

You must remember, that although the best footballers may be based mainly on goals, it is not just goals. You must also take like-ability and general skill into consideration. George Best (although he may not have scored as many goals as Ronaldo) he was just generally better (in my view).

I'll remember to look out for him in the next few games

Nick

Ronaldo's skill level is second to none. He's untouchable on his bad days, unplayable on his good. He absolutely made Michael Essien look like an amateur in the Champions League final the other night. Plus, he can shoot with both feet, is brilliant in the air, can score free-kicks (I've never seen anyone strike a free-kick like him) and takes penalties (yes, he missed the other night, but every player misses sometime). The latter two George Best never did. He wasn't a great free or penalty kick taker. As for the likeability factor, who cares? Cruyff was an arrogant, conceited man. But he knew he was good. So too was Maradona. All the greats have that cockiness. It's what separates them from their peers. Nobody likes Ronaldo because they think he's a cheat. Most English people blame him for England going out of the World Cup. Bollocks! England would never have won even had they beaten Portugal. Most of it is jealously. Let's face it: without Ronaldo, United wouldn't be the team they are. They wouldn't have won the Premier League, nor the Champions League. He is the best player in the world, and the rest of the Premier League teams know it.

Sam.

Olly Buckle · 05-26-2008, 05:20 AM

What is it with Man U? My mate went on holiday to Malta, he says there are two towns on the island, well a big village and a little village really, and they have a Man U supporters club each!
By the way, which three English league clubs have a hidden swear word in their name?
Arsenal, Scunthorpe and Manchester F*****g United.

SoNickSays... · 05-26-2008, 05:26 AM

Ah, not a Manchester United fan, eh?

Liverpool?
How do you stop a Liverpool fan from drowning? Take your foot off their head.

Wigan?
How many Wigan fans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Both of them.

Anyways, good joke

Nick

Sam Winchester · 05-26-2008, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

What is it with Man U? My mate went on holiday to Malta, he says there are two towns on the island, well a big village and a little village really, and they have a Man U supporters club each!
By the way, which three English league clubs have a hidden swear word in their name?
Arsenal, Scunthorpe and Manchester F*****g United.

That'd be the jealously I'm talking about, Nick. The reason why, Olly, is because Man United are the biggest club in the world.

Did you hear? There's a new free-phone number for Newcastle fans to call in with regards to their team's bad performances. The number is: 1800-10-10-10. That number again: One eight-hundred, won-nothing, won-nothing, won-nothing!

Sam.

Tom · 05-26-2008, 06:01 AM

I think this is all based on opinion and why you think makes a player 'great'.

I think in todays football society, there are many different things to take into account.

SKILL: Now, i'm not talking about tricks and talking about the all around skill of kicking a football. I agree that Ronaldo is probably the greatest in the world at the moment as he can pull off and score some amazing goals. If we're talking about SKILL, then yes, I think Ronaldo is one of the greatest, however, skills nowadays is different from skills back then. George Best had to cope with being able to carry on running whilst 10 players hacked aggressively at his legs. Now, that, that takes skill.

ATTITUDE: Unfortunately, I do not think Ronaldo is the greatest ever when it comes to Attitude. I think, if he stayed on his feet a bit more often he would get alot more penalties, free-kicks and all around decisions going his way as many Referee's see him as a diver. He's is very optimistic however and believes in nothing but winning, which is a good attitude to have towards the game. Not the greatest, but good all the same. I think the greatest in attitude would have to be Giggs, (in my time anyway) as I've watched him all my life and see him as the sort of player who respects football for the game, enjoys it and has stuck with United since the beginning.

All together, it's difficult to say, but he's definitly ONE of the greatest.

Tom.

Neo · 05-26-2008, 08:00 AM

Ronaldo is the best player in the UK, if not the world.

I live in the north, full of Newcastle fans. Now, the thing about geordies is, they are ignorant blind sheep who baa to their team like they're the best team in the universe. Problem?
Newcastle United is utter, dire, shit. The fans worship the team like God, regardless of the monumental losing streak under Keegan after sacking the perfectly good Sam Allerdyce. Man U rules, but unlike Geordies, I am not blindly pro-Man U, I am pragmatic and objective. For example, in the Champions League final last week, we sucked balls but won at the last second by utter fluke - hopefully next season we can win outright.