Are United better off with out Ronaldo?

A summer of drama in the Cristiano Ronaldo affair may have left many football fans in trembling transfer limbo. The ‘will he won’t he’ scenarios will have been especially agonising for those in Manchester who wanted to see their favourite star stay at Old Trafford.

£70 million for Ronaldo seems to be enough for United and as the two European heavyweights slug out the small details for the Portuguese prize fighter we take a look at what Madrid should expect and whether Ronaldo will be missed by those at United.

Do Madrid know what they are buying?

Bernd Shuster said recently that the acquisition of Ronaldo would help his side push for a Champions League trophy next season.  He obviously didn’t watch either of the two semi final games against Barcelona. Ronaldo was a non factor, with his only memorable moment being a missed penalty in Camp Nou.

Ronaldo is not a big game player in the way Lionel Messi is and, apart from his towering header in a good first half performance against Chelsea in the Champions League final, he has been posted in missing in the other important match ups. If Schuster was serious about tapping Manchester United for their magic of last season European triumph surely Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic or even Rio Ferdinand would be on the top of his list. But Europe might not be the only problem for Ronaldo.

King Henry’s curse

United were in danger of becoming a one man team. Not in the sense that Ronaldo was the one man that could win the game, United have far too much talent for that. It was in their style of play. United’s key is their balance but at the end of the season Ronaldo was being passed too more often than necessary and therefore unsettled the rhythm of those around him.

In the same way Thierry Henry stunted the play of Arsenal in his last few years in London the United side were at risk of becoming predictable in their over use of fleet footed winger. Next season United may actually benefit from Ronaldo’s sale as his presence was beginning to plug the flow of football throughout the side.

Moving to Spain

Again like Henry it seems Ronaldo has not considered his transition to the Spanish League. Possibly dazzled by the bright lights and the big names in Madrid he may have not have realized the impact that the pace of the English league has had on his success. He is after all moving to a league that is practiced in the art of defending speedy wingers. If Henry’s example at Barcelona is anything to go by Ronaldo might struggle in a division where defenders back off and an emphasis is placed more on the tempo of his passing game and his ability to think off the ball.

Still, he is sure to be given a license to roam at Madrid and any responsibility of defensive duties will be waived by German coach Schuster allowing the winger to focus on the attacking game he excels in. With out a doubt Ronaldo will have to alter his game the only question is, will he be so good once he does adapt?

Not a Real leader

Ronaldo, for all his wizardry and goals, often under performs when his team is backed up against a wall. If things aren’t going his way it shows immediately as he either spreads his arms in disbelief or shakes his head in disgust. Ronaldo has never been a player that can take the game by the scruff of the neck and haul his side back into contention. Traditionally, United players have been ‘geniuses soaked in sweat’.

Undoubtedly the genius is there in abundance but the sweat is missing as he sulkily walks back to position every time he loses possession - a point that could start to rub team mates the wrong way. In this regard, he is not a traditional United player and it seems, in many respects, that Ferguson has made a rare exception for Ronaldo’s super talent. Furthermore, for both United and Portugal he has been handed the captain’s armband but the question arises , how can he worry about the rest of the team as the captain when he is so worried about himself?  Still, in his defence, based on goals, Ronaldo was leading everyone in the league by example all last season.

Finding 42 goals in one summer

Statisticians everywhere will be pointing to the fact that United would have struggled last season were in not for a total of 42 goals in all competitions for Ronaldo. However, you would expect that some of the £70 million generated from the sale would be put towards buying big name stars to bring goals to Old Trafford. Still, let’s not forget that United have always scored goals and with Ronaldo gone the stage could be set for the promising partnership of Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney to fully blossom.

Undoubtedly, no single player will replace Ronaldo’s goals by themselves, but as a collective unit, finding the back of the net has never been a problem for Ferguson’s men. In terms of play Nani will be expected to weigh in with goals and assists and it could be the youngster that will ultimately fill Ronaldo’s boots at the club.

The perfect replacement

It seems that Ferguson was preparing his contingency plan for Ronaldo’s departure already a year ago. He wouldn’t have expected to lose his main star so soon, but Ferguson is never caught off guard. Although Nani came in as an understudy to his countryman, he did enough last season to show that he is capable of emulating the feats of Ronaldo at Old Trafford.

Indeed, Nani in many ways is more of a complete player than Ronaldo in that his goal-to-assist ratio is far more balanced than his Madrid-bound friend. Nani may not have the swagger of Ronaldo, but his certainly has the ability and this new season could be a coming out party for the former Sporting Lisbon star.

Will Ronaldo be missed?

Fans will definitely miss the chest pouting free kicks, scintillating shots and Ronaldo’s Tour de France peddle feet in the exact same way that the United accounts will miss the sales figures in Ronaldo’s merchandise column. Goals will come and new players will entertain at United.

After the dust has settled, Ronaldo will be remembered fondly at Old Trafford, despite the lack of courtesy surrounding his exit. For both fans and many team mates Ronaldo’s departure will leave a gap in their lives, but his absence will not make the slightest bit of difference to Ferguson’s United side’s performances as they grind slowly onwards into another title defending season.

philykitch:

funny! so you just go and label people as foreigners and you dont no were dere from??

 united

 yea guys that's why i felt it is... people like red army isn't talking sense at all and i knew this coming when i asked "would u leave ur company for a fatter paycheck?" and indeed red army replied they he wouldn't and stay on if the company treats him well! well i seriously doubt so red army... what i am trying to say is it is all by human nature to work for higher pay... that's equity law. The main reason i think you wouldn't move is because you were bound to your contract. Unless someone is willing to break your contract for you of course you wouldn't leave! -_- that's quite senseless thing to say when you say u'll wait till ur contract ends... (when no one is willing to break it for you for tht higher pay)

However putting emotions aside i would apologise to those if they felt offended and still have the mentality that loyalty IS A MUST! However put it this way... Cantona is from leeds before he xfer to man utd.. did he pay loyalty to that club?? Tevez is from west ham .. did he too pay loyalty to that club?? I think soccer clubs are no longer what we use to think... it is more of a business now.. as mention ronaldo did contribute quite significantly guys and of course the man utd did too.. however its all the same if people leave .. they leave... do we complain when cantona left for man utd from leeds? 

I know this is a sensitive issue and of course i do hope that Ronaldo pays loyalty to the fans... and his allegience to the club but in total i guess everyone in general (EXCEPT RED ARMY who said he would stay on for loyalty) would move for a higher paycheck. Its sad to say, but in the world today everyone must admit if you want a good life... you need money... 

sorry red army, maybe you're exceptional. But i am not trying to go against you, but is probably my instinct that tells me that most people would move for a higher pay, for a better life...that would be ceteris paribus (if only money was the changing factor leaving all factors constant such as work environment)

Your absolutely correct.......and i also need anger management.

I think some of us take our love of the club too serious.Im very passionate about the club and seen some great players since the early 70's.

Personally as a fan....its a kick in the teeth and we may as well endure continuous replays of stevie gee smashing a volley into us for eternity.Not the fact he may want to leave,that alone is almost inconceivable  one of the new fergie babes mark2 is leaving when the teams set to dominate european football for at least 5 year....but the fact its our brightest star,one we cherish above all others,we almost installed the marble base at OT.

Its the way he is conducting himself over this whole issue...im afraid IMO its club or player because of this reason alone he is sh*tting on us.....and until otherwise comes to pass its occums razor....he doesn't intend to set foot in manchester again.

sawnders, yes, that´s the way it should be. and more than that: even if Ronaldo leaves for Real Madrid tomorrow, why shouldn´t you like him as a footballer the day after? Real Madrid isn´t precisely my favourite, but seeing Ramos playing is fantastic. Why shouldn´t I admit that?

I would prefer, if people took things a bit cooler. The club did a lot for Ronaldo. Ronaldo did a lot for the club. If he now decides to fulfill his dream and Madrid pays what is needed, fair enough. Thanks to everyboday and good luck - and that´s all. Everything else looks a bit childish to me.

for some reason, all of the above posts seem to think that Utd fans have to take a side; Ronaldo or Man Utd.  Until I hear the news that Ronaldo is leaving for Madrid next season, il support him to the end. Although I totally disagree with his treatment of the team and fans recently, he is still a part of Manchester United, and will be until 2012. he has done alot for the club....everyone is entitled to their own opinion on him, i just dont see the need to choose between him and the club. i like Ronaldo alot as a footballer but i also love Man Utd

 Ronaldo should leave MUFC. Ronaldo is a traitor, this wonderful club has given him everything, gave him fame, money and glory, now decides to leave. finish your  contract with MUFC and then go
Ronaldinho should be replaced and the ideal candidate, here in MUFC to regain its high level

You are absolutely spot on. We can't absolutely blame 100% on Ronaldo on this. He's young, talented and have many years of great football for him. So from my point of view, if this lad stays we will exite us with his talent for 2008/2009 season. But is he decides to leave then it's his decision to make. We can't really be an anti Ronaldo here. This is how footballers live is for them. The important thing now is SAF have to scout influential players like Ronaldo which can make an impact on a game rather than the name and price tags they carry only. The best is SAF must look for a striker, midfielder and a versatile defender. Period! Keeping the team together is the most important thing now for Manchester United.

As for the other Red Devil supporters... all of us hope that we do have a similar or more better talents coming in to Old Trafford in this summer signings. Remember guys SAF is not the person who signs players just for the sake of their reputations but more to their skills, ability and most importantly a team player. If you guys remember last time Ronaldo is not much of a team player... because he is damn young that time. But if a nurtured that kinda player with that kinda talent with the right formula then you got Christiano Ronaldo. So what we need now is not Big Names and high price tags players but merely young players which can excite us for more years at Manchester United.

Very true, but I really think he is naive. I really believe, this (still very young guy) hoped, his club and his fans would understand, that his dream is his dream ... and that he has any right to fulfill it.

That´s not the real world of course - as you see you can always expect the "loyality-fraction" to insult him daily instead.

It seems a little naive for any player to expect a club to be so grateful for putting in a record breaking season that they would agree to sell him!

Maybe he should have tried for a really poor season then we would have been biting Real's hand off for 10 million!

Anyway, here is an interesting article for to get back to the subject:

 Observer

"Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United owe him a 'dream' transfer to Real Madrid as reward for his record-breaking efforts during the club's Premier and Champions League winning season - a move the Portugal international decided to pursue in December.

On a weekend when Arsene Wenger said that Sir Alex Ferguson would appear 'weak' if he allowed Ronaldo to leave for the Bernabeu, Observer Sport can detail how the player has planned his departure. Contrary to reports that Ronaldo's representative, Jorge Mendes, has manufactured a situation in which he would profit from a transfer and contract worth a potential €200m (£158m), the agent has persistently asked his client to reconsider his actions and remain at Old Trafford.

According to sources close to the player, Ronaldo told Mendes that he intended to join Madrid seven months ago, saying he was prepared to go to United's board to explain that his dream was to play for the Spanish club. Though Mendes persuaded him not to do so, arguing that he would be crazy to leave them at this stage in his career, Ronaldo insisted he would depart at the end of the season.

'He told Jorge that United were going to win everything and then it would be easy for him to leave,' said a source close to the agent. 'Ronaldo thought that if he played a great season, United would be grateful enough to let him go.'

In April, as United closed in on the Premier League-Champions League double, Mendes again had to persuade Ronaldo not to inform Ferguson and assistant manager Carlos Queiroz of his desire to sign for Madrid, eventually convincing him that it might jeopardise United's pursuit of the two titles. After winning medals in both competitions, both England's Player of the Year awards, and scoring 42 goals, Ronaldo believed he had done enough to earn United's grace.

In an interview with the Brazilian website Terra ahead of Portugal's Euro 2008 campaign, Ronaldo stated that he wanted to join Madrid 'if it is true they are eager to pay me and Manchester United what they have been saying they will'. After his nation's quarter-final exit he went further, speaking extensively about the move and adding 'everyone has a dream to chase and I'm going to chase mine'.

Ronaldo said so much to the press in Basle that Madrid are understood to have been unhappy with his comments. Though the Spanish champions have mandated Mendes to negotiate a deal with United, club president Ramon Calderon has subsequently attempted to distance Madrid from the transfer. 'It is something between the player and Manchester United,' said Calderon last week. 'If he continues to insist that he wants to come and if United consider letting him go, then we will ask.'

 Couldn't agree more, but for a laugh just read some of his other posts, he clearly has anger management issues, and uses a zenophobic stereotype in atleast one more post, tut, tut, tut, its just my misinterpreting his "spoken word"

I agree, but he, he go's. There is nothing we can do. Like Rio said: Ronaldo's future is not up to us.

Shropshire, leave it, he won´t understand you anyway. Simple lack of potential.  When someone says "humans are the only intelligent life in the universe" there are posts which really make me shiver :-)