On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[matthew123]

Ronaldo was very influential for United - and they will be transformed without him for better or worse. I don't think anyone is going to miss him departing these shores. United usually spend about ?50m each summer so that on top of the Ronaldo money makes a bumper ?130m transfer budget.

[lard]

Keef Wrote:

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> It does worry me, with doubts over Liverpool's

> spending power, and with Man U now seemingly able

> to buy whoever they want.

>

That's just it though, imagine you are them...who would you buy?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

matthew123 Wrote:

Ronaldo was very influential for United I don't think anyone is going to miss him departing these shores.

We'll miss his outrageous talent, though.

[Annasfield]

Apparently, there is a rumour on Talk Sport that they're going to go after Torres.

You missed a good night last night guys. Shame you couldn't make it.

[matthew123]

Even if the Yanks did accept a bid for Torres - Torres would simply say no.

[Keef]

I hope so Matt, but they say everyone has a price.

[matthew123]

Putting aside all the tantrums, winks, stumbles in the box.. was Ronaldo United's greatest ever player?

[SimonM]

I saw George Best in his pomp: and Bobby Charlton. So...yer avin' a laff right? :))

[Keef]

Where are SP and red_devil? I want to know if you're pleased with the situation?

[????]

SimonM Wrote:

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> I saw George Best in his pomp: and Bobby Charlton.

> So...yer avin' a laff right? :))

I saw them in their pomp losing 2-1 at Upton Park :))

[matthew123]

I was watching Time Of Our Lives on Sky that focused on Matt Busby 1960s team. Jeff Sterling opened it up with, United dominated the 60s ... shortly afterwards one of the ex-players from that period David Sadler groaned how that team, of Law and Chartlon, almost got relegated in 1962/63 season.

[SimonM]

It was a different era.....no "Big 4" then or zillions of ??? floating around. At the start of a season everyone could fancy their chances a little bit. But players like Charlton, Best & Law still boosted everyone's gates.

[ratty]

Sad to say this but Ronaldo has more talent than Best and Charlton imo. He is not half the man either of them were though!

[Mick Mac]

Sorry ratty - that's just plain wrong. Not a patch on Best.

[kpc]

Love to see Ronaldo take a free kick with a sodden case ball from the sixties....or Charlton taking a free kick with a modern ball. Know it's a cliche but so much has changed. Ronaldo is immensely skillful but will be remembered by most people for all the wrong reasons. But only got himself to blame. Interesting to see reactions of ManU fans when he plays against them.

[Keef]

I don't think you can make the comparison, two different eras.

[Mick Mac]

Keef - The comparison will be how many people will consider Ronaldo to the best player ever to play in England 30 years after his last game - Best still has a lot of people who believe that. I'm not sure Ronaldo legacy will last nearly as long.

[Annasfield]

Just depends on your generation I guess. Some people are lucky (or unlucky depending on your stance) to have seen both play.

[matthew123]

Ronaldo is a fantastic player who is ideally suited to the smash and grab athletic nature of the Premiership. It's when he faces quality opposition that he looks more ordinary. Put a quick, strong defender on Ronaldo and he is often quiet. I've no doubt someone like Rio Ferdinand would shut Ronaldo down. The difference between Ronaldo and likes of Messi / Kaka / Torres / Gerrard is that those guys really are unstoppable on the biggest stage.

It is difficult to truly judge Ronaldo against someone from the 50s, 60s, 70s as we've usually only got goal highlights to go on which gives the impression that every time George Best or Bobby Charlton put their foot on the ball it resulted in a mazy dribble and a block buster goal.

What I would say is that Ronaldo has been the most influential player for his team in the Premiership even more so than Henry was at Arsenal or Gerrard at Liverpool.

[Keef]

Best was also all over the press, front and back pages, and so became a bigger star, and will be remembered so. Beckham will also be remembered for years, whereas other great players, like Gerrard, Henry, *grits teeth* Lampard, Scholes, Giggs and so on, will be forgotten quite quickly after retirement.

The fans of their clubs will always remember them, but lets be honest, who really talks about Robbie Fowler, Macca, Rush, Cantona*, Bergkamp, Petit, Van Nistleroy, even the young Owen, who seems like light years ago.

Not suggesting Best wasn't great, but I do believe that a player who is in the press a lot will become hyped up and remembered as possibly greater than another player who just kept his head down and played.

* Obviously the films keep him in the spot light.

[Mick Mac]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Just depends on your generation I guess. Some

> people are lucky (or unlucky depending on your

> stance) to have seen both play.

Are you trying to say I'm an old codger Anna?

I have to say Ronaldo has a fine shot and stepover - but I think he has limited ability to run with the ball and beat players at speed, something GB had no problems with whatsoever. The first 60 seconds of this show Best do things that Ronaldo could only dream of.

[Keef]

The PM plays footy? ::o

[Mick Mac]

Yes - He dribbles with his jowels....

[Annasfield]

17 minute hat-trick from our Nando in the Confed' cup. Get him off now please.

[matthew123]

The real reason Rafa wants more English players in the Liverpool team is because they get the summer off every year - whereas the Spanish lads will have played 4 years non stop by the time Liverpool lift the European Cup at Wembley in May 2011.