Remember when Rooney was better 
Cristiano Ronaldo - performances 2017/18
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
His demeanour is a bit different with Portugal, when things aren't going for him.
You can see he feels responsible for the group. No throwing of arms, at bad passes or staring at teammates.
Without him, they are nothing.
Insane athlete. His age mates are talking about retirement.
You can see he feels responsible for the group. No throwing of arms, at bad passes or staring at teammates.
Without him, they are nothing.
Insane athlete. His age mates are talking about retirement.
Really annoys me he doesn't go for a more conventional, curling free-kick style more often, like tonight, rather than his over exaggerated long run-up, knuckle ball routine.
Even at Utd, he showed he could do it:
Even at Utd, he showed he could do it:
Was thinking that. Similar age, one signed for DC United with hardly anyone noticing the other is tearing shit up at the WC.Remember when Rooney was better
That is what made Juninho the best ever. He never stuck to a certain technique but he adapted to the keeper, distance, angles etc etc ...
He actually threw a fit in the first half from a over hit ball from Cedric.
Ah, I didn't notice that.
To be fair, that pass where he played in another player and he took a touch instead of shooting first time had me throwing a fit and I wasn't even playing. Must be infuriating for Ronaldo to play for the international equivalent of Newcastle.
His free kick against Arsenal in the Champs League is my fave, just so good.
He is still more involved and responsible for Portugal, I think it's the national pride.
The amount of people that spent the past 2 years completely ignoring his performances for Portugal while putting Madrid and Ronaldo's success on his teammates saying he wouldn't be able to replicate it anywhere else is incredible.
Oh definitely, I really miss Juninho, one of the first players who got me into watching Ligue 1 during Lyon's dominating days.
Arguably the most deadly free-kick taker ever and certainly the most versatile. Watching a compilation on YouTube and was reminded of how few of them are actually similar.
I think if Ronaldo was English, we'd win the World Cup. Saying that, if he played for France, Germany or Spain, they'd walk it.
Remember when Rooney was better
I feel like the 2nd half of 05/06 was when Ronaldo became the better player. Then he completely left him behind from 2007. It’s kind of sad Ronaldo still putting on world class performances on the biggest stage and Rooney fizzled out 4 years ago. Incredible really. Isn’t Ronaldo older too? Haha
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Rooney was probably the best young player in the world at Euro 2004. I still remember the faces on England players when he got injured, they were like "what the feck do we do now?" lol.
Good kick, but poor goalkeeping, tbh.
I dontn think the keeper expected it, even the commentator doesn't, listen to what he says right as Ronaldo is taking the kick lol.
Actually, that is probably unsavable by any keeper, though there is an element of "poor keeping" there to be had. But look when the ball travels between around 15 yards and the time it gets to the keeper. At that speed the ball is travelling it dips unexpectedly a good... 10-20cm. I don't think any keeper in the world has any reaction to read a dip of that magnitude. Especially in that era where ball-flight technology, like hitting a kuckleball or really light balls that when hit in a knuckle fashion produce results that vary from conventional spin techniques. Now these days the balls do all sorts of insane things on a pitch so keepers can prepare and understand for these technical anomalies.
I think its just as many parts unsavable as it is poor keeping.
Anyway, beast performance against Spain, could have even had two or three assists and maybe one more.
Nonsense.
Age goes the opposite way to Cristiano LeBronaldo, take a bow. 
I cant believe people think he is past it. World class last night.
To be fair, Portugal were thought of a nothing international team pre-Ronaldo, now they are thought of as a team that can challenge for cups. Its not ALL down to Ronaldo, but they definately got a ton better when he came on the scene. Even with Figo they were though of as a team to make up the numbers.
My bad. I agree with that. It's the part about him being responsible and not throwing a hissy fit when his 21 strike partner messes up that I disagree with.
He is insane. How long can he keep this up for? It is crazy to not only reach the level he has but the longevity as well, oh my.
Ronaldo was ridiculously good this game. It was like he was 28 again. Unplayable and was doing everything.
I did not care one bit about this game before it started because I'm not really fond of Spain's tippy tappy stuff. But Ronaldo had me glued to the screen.
I did not care one bit about this game before it started because I'm not really fond of Spain's tippy tappy stuff. But Ronaldo had me glued to the screen.
He did that in the game?
That third goal wasn't his usual knuckle ball, it was a disguised conventional free kick.
No-one could do what he's doing now. He is the best player in the world at age 33. Would the likes of Kane, Aguero, Lewandowski be able to do what Ronaldo did vs Spain - one of the best teams in the world? I don't think so. He is a level above. The great club he plays for has clouded people's judgement about how good he really is. Put any other striker into RM these last few years and they don't win 3 CL in a row. We will start to appreciate it when he stops playing.
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It was super weird, he walks around most of the game, 0 defending, but then scores a hattrick.
That just not true. They were semi-finalists and finalists at Euro 2000 and 2004 respectively, and had players like Figo and Rui Costa. Ronaldo was emerging in 2004 but he wasn't the driving force behind that. Portugal have always had decent respect on the international stage. And frankly even though they won the last Euros, no-one expected them to and it went down as a Greece type shock.
Yeah, that's my point. He should mix it up more often, rather than blasting it into the wall or into the stands from that sort of range.
Still remember reading numerous times on the caff how Ronaldo has been decline for the past few years. Always remember to take in some of the posters with a pinch of salt, Would welcome him back with open arms.
He turned back the clock, he seemed to have an extra burst of speed and his dribbling was so smooth. It's very different to what I've seen from Ronaldo at Madrid this season. He looked like a clearly declining player at Madrid.
The 2004 team was quality
Carvalho, maniche , costinha , Simao , Pauleta , Nuno Gomes , Deco , Rui Costa Figo and young Ronaldo.
Most of that team had Porto players who won back to back UEFA Cup and Champions League with Mourinho, added with veterans like Figo, Rui Costa and a very quick centerback who played for Deportivo, Jorge Andrade.
He and Ricardo Carvalho were probably the quickest centerbacks on Euro 2004, they made the team play with a much higher defensive line than the current one.
With those centerbacks today we could have more than a decent WC.
always thought Ronaldo > Rooney
Needs to be drug tested as that performance was Maradona-Esque dragging Portugal to the brink. How does he get the energy after such a long, hard season at 34 years of age!? watch every other top player flop and blame it on tiredness !
This is HIS World Cup... forget Messi who will go Missing in Action again.
The Ballon d'Or awaits. Even if Portugal don't make it out of their group, that hattrick will be one of the defining moments of the World Cup. Kind of like his hat-trick against Sweden to help Portugal qualify which virtually won him the gong.
This is HIS World Cup... forget Messi who will go Missing in Action again.
The Ballon d'Or awaits. Even if Portugal don't make it out of their group, that hattrick will be one of the defining moments of the World Cup. Kind of like his hat-trick against Sweden to help Portugal qualify which virtually won him the gong.
@RetroStu Try to find games from the Portuguese NT on Euro 2000 without Ronaldo, and then repeat the same thing again if you can.
Aside from his goals some of his touches on the counter were sublime.
Looks like this could be a good world cup for him and I think the main difference with Real Madrid is he's the only super star in the team so all the attention goes to him so he kind of soaks all the pressure from his teammates. They also seem to trust and rely on him a lot and he's been demonstrating he's up to the task. Still it's a shame he doesn't have a better team with better chances of winning the cup.
For me El Pibe is the best player I've ever seen play football. But the Ronaldo performance today was more stellar than anything I've seen. Instant classic.
And I have to give my congratulations to Spain. They play some really beautiful football.
And I have to give my congratulations to Spain. They play some really beautiful football.