Cristiano Ronaldo: The Saviour Of Football?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the best, and also the most important, footballer in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo is the player who is going to save football.
Football is a whole new ball game compared to when I started watching it in 1989, and I was beginning to lose interest in it. Football has lost its soul. The money-men rule the game now, to a much higher degree than they did then. We fans have always been at the bottom of their list of priorities, but at least the player, and therefore the matches, and therefore the results, were pure and honest. Ish.
Tevez to Man Utd? Manu Utd, Man City, Chelsea and Villa owned by Foreigners? Players poncing around, ruling the roost, diving, cheating, whinging? (Let me clarify this. I’, not against a passionate, heart-on-his-sleeve player bending laws to gain an advantage for the club he loves. But a lot of the biggest cheats and whingers are fly-by-nights who only cheat to guarantee their win bonus.) I fell in love with the game standing in a decrepit, crumbling ’stadium’, watched 10 idiots on £500 quid a week try to hoof the ball up to a brilliant, but overweight, Scouser. (Maybe I’m being harsh on some of the Newcastle players. Wayne Fereday could only have been on £350 a week.) It was awful, but at least we has a bond, an affinity with the 10 muppets and Fatty Balatty. That’s just not there any longer.
I’ve moved away from Newcastle, so I don’t get to see that much football ‘in the flesh’. Newcastle, although light years ahead of where we were in ‘89, are probably further away from winning the league now than we were then. So maybe it’s just me. Maybe everyone is still in to the game as much as when they first went. But I’ve asked other fans, and that’s not the case. The whole football experience is ’slicker’. The skill level is higher. The influx of foreign players has led to a more dynamic style of football. But in the ‘parlance’ of the moneymen the ‘product’ is not as satisfying. Our current fat Aussie centre forward maybe 10 times as good as our fat Scouser one from 19 years ago, but I know which one I’ll be nostalgic about in another 19 years.
But, all is not doom and gloom. Keegan has got me watching Newcastle again. And - lo and behold - I’ve even started taking an interest in ‘how the other half live’ - watching the title race and even the Champions League. The reason? Cristiano Ronaldo. I want to see what he is going to do next. To see just how good he can become.
So how good can he become? Some players; Zola, Law, Beardsley, Greaves were capable of scoring goals like the back heel against Villa. Some players ; Shearer, Ferdinand, Bryan Robson, scored goals like the header against Roma. Some players; Andy Cole, van Nistelrooy, Romario scored 35 - 40 goals in a season. Ronaldo is all of the above, and more. My Dad reckons the comparison with George Best are well justified.
So thank you, Cristiano Ronaldo, thank you. The money man have taken a lot out of football. You have reminded us that it’s still all about the magic that can be created by one man at the top of his game.
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Tom Said,
April 8, 2008 @ 4:22 am
Let´s see if he could save it. His technique is wonderful but I think that he must enter more and more to the penalty area…
http://euro2008-blog.blogspot.com
Football Betting Systems Said,
April 20, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Cristiano Ronaldo is a legend. I think he can save football
Free Football Tips Said,
April 27, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
Cristiano Ronaldo yes is the best player and yes i do beleive he is one of the most talented players ever. But i hate the way he is so smug! Its as if he almost thinks he is god!
If you look at other good footballers there is no smugness! So come on ronny lose it!
Alan Richardson Said,
May 21, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
One of the best players to appear in English football for some time and he has generated a renewed interest in the game.Stay with us Ronaldo!
Les Welter Said,
May 21, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
Ronaldo is CRAP. I don’t care if scores 80 goals. He was back to his old diving ways in this champions league final. Dive after dive. Midway through the second half you could actually here the crowd booing after each. Finally, in the second overtime period, even the rubbish refs imported from Slovakia (like the dodgy turf) began ignoring Ronaldo. I was thrilled when Ronaldo, after illegally coming to full stop during his run, was stopped by Cech after Ronaldo telegraphed his intentions to the keeper.
Footy51 Said,
May 27, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Ronaldo is great but a bit petulant, he needs to calm that down (as if ALL decisions must go his way). Agree with you on the money men ruining football. Such a shame. I’m getting much more enjoyment from Championship & League One these days. More heart and soul there.
bob Said,
June 18, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
he’s a great player- i just wish he’d stop diving and crying so much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xe3PLTMye8
Pachuca Red Said,
June 22, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
Seemly you have people that agree with you, well to a certain degree at least, though to say that Ronaldo will save football is very premature and slightly beyond his capabilities in my mind. Firstly Ronaldo won’t save football (if you think it needs saving) as he has a more important agenda than football in his career namely himself. He is a phenomenal talent, undoubtedly, but he has an equally great ego which hinders him from being all that he could be if he focused less on himself and more on his team. Also why does football need saving? If there exists a problem in football, the responsibility rests with the people like in all things and unless the people (fans) stop endorsing modern football with their purchases of merchandise and season ticket buying, then football will continue very much as it has done in the last 20 years!
free bets Said,
July 7, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
hope he decides whether he wants to join Madrid soon as its gettting boring now
Watch Football Online Said,
July 13, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
I definatley think he can save football. One of the best players of the current generationif not ever!
Kent Said,
July 15, 2008 @ 6:57 am
Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever…what more can you ask? speed..got it, skills…got it, tricks…got it, scoring ability…got it, heading ability….got it, strength…got it. But for us fans there is still one question that remains….one important question…..loyalty? I cant say that he got that
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