Dec 02
Ronaldo Wins Ballon d’Or
Finally.
A realisation of another of the many dreams the boy from Madeira might have had, Ronaldo now becomes only the first player since George Best to win the Ballon d’Or as a United player. This, in itself, is a shame and does a disservice to the vast number of outstanding players that wore the famous red shirt. But, then again it’s a great achievement, especially in an era where the likes of Platini and Blatter attempt to do everything in their power to undermine the growing power of English clubs in Europe.
Ronaldo would forever have his detractors; to be fair he hasn’t been a saint. But as a player he has been remarkably consistent and prolific over the past two years. And beyond a certain point, it really becomes hard to ignore what the lad has done for us. Like him or not, but when a player wins an award as overwhelmingly as he has done, it goes to show how bloody brilliant he’s been.
We United fans have been fortunate to be seeing such an outstanding talent who gets recognition for his greatness. So let’s savour this moment while it’s there in front of us. Kudos Ronaldo, may this be the first of many more.
Speaking of awards, Red Rants has been nominated in the 2008 Soccerlens Awards in the “Best Blog Community” category. It’s a fault on my part for being less prolific lately, but when the readers can be so committed while I was away on a brief vacation (or what I’d call, an escape from life) as to swell the comment count to over 800, I must say this blog’s certainly been a facilitator for a community to grow around it. Credit of course has to go to the readers — it’s your contributions below the fold that gave this place a community atmosphere. So, dear readers, if you feel that this community that you are a part of deserves votes, then go ahead and feel free to vote us up. It’s more a recognition of your efforts than mine, which is great to see. We are up against some biggies though, which include the likes of Arseblog (which averages 1000+ comments daily!), so I wouldn’t keep my expectations too high. Also, do look up other categories in the awards. There are some very good blogs out there.
To vote for us, click here.
Finally, a word on a personal front. I was extremely busy with personal commitments and once I got that load off my shoulders, I decided to take a breather and went on a brief jaunt to some icy peaks. As an aside, I learned that extreme cold weather is not my cup of tea, although I had fun skiing. I am back now, and I should be in a position to talk about United, Ronaldo, the City game (although it’s probably now too late to write a match report for it) and the season as a whole.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Ronaldo’s FifPro Award and Thoughts on the Player
- Roy Keane sings a song for Ronaldo
- Cantona: Domenech’s the worst coach since Louis XVI
- Ronaldo is really two humans in one body
- Breaking News: United accept 80m Ronaldo bid
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (484)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Smokescreen. has to be. Tosic’s work permit hearing proves that.
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We have also been linked with a midfielder from racing club. He is called franco zuculini(something like that). Anyone watch him
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Great Article RR, and Id like to thank Ronaldo for all the memories, Lets hope there are plenty more to come! (Good ones. In a Red shirt)
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@Madschester United: Listen mate, I am not one to carry a grudge and so I hold no animosity to you even if you disagree with me. I am not trying to run this blog nor control the content. Feel free to express yourself but just know that when certain comments are made online, they occasionally look and sound different than they do if those comments were made in person. I’m sure you and I would be having a very friendly argument talking about football if we were having a few pints at a pub. The Internet is cold and can come across as very unfriendly, even when that isn’t the intention. So lets move on and forget it if we upset each other in the past.
I would like to no out of curiosity what you meant about me insulting more than a few with my last long blog? Other than players who wear pink boots and calling them puffers (very un pc but necessary for the sake of good taste
), what else did you find insulting? Also, I respect and love the old guard on the club but there comes a time when they need to step down for the good of the club. They are holding better players back.
Anyway, I hold no grudge mate and I look forward to debating with you in the future.
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@Liam: Oh yes he is. So thrilled he’d like to ring Fergie’s neck for being so blindly ignorant of the lad’s skills.
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@Manutd forever: He will have to still travel a very long road before he gets into Eric Cantona and George Best territory.
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Welcome back Red Ranter. Hope you are well and have energized yourself with a little rest and relaxation. As for cold weather, trust me mate, you haven’t lived in cold weather unless you have lived in Northern Alberta when it is -40 degree celsius and with a wind chill factor of -30 on top of that. I grew up in that environment and let me tell you, nobody ever gets used to that. Although we get a little snow here in Vancouver, it’s not like back in Alberta. And the temperature is so much better. Even with the rain I’d take it over the extreme heat and humidity of Texas.
Anyway, once again welcome back.
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@Rahul: Did you watch the Villa Park game mate, Rooney was on the pitch, he made an appearance and then disappeared. Trust me he was very ordinary, and has been in quiet a few games.
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@Grognard: Ha ha I hate puffers too, horible coats
I hate pufters more! 
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@Stephen: I have nothing against gay people. I just have a problem with their style of fashion forcing itself into our sport. A sport that still attracts far more heterosexual and alpha male types as supporters. We do not appreciate our game turned into a London musical by prancing around in pink boots. That’s just wrong on so many levels. I can’t see the US woman’s or German woman’s national teams wearing pink boots. For males to be wearing them, it’s just going too far in my books.
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@Grognard: I agree.
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@Grognard: It was mainly the gay comment and that the thrashing you gave Anti-Ronaldos in @Grognard: as you self realized: you were “a little harsh.”
@Grognard: I think it is officially called metrosexuals. Bendter is an embarrassment to all Danes with his shaggy hair cut more so than his pinkish boots. He looks like he belongs in a cartoon with a big dog called Scooby.
Has anyone compared our season two years ago to this season from a game-to-game perspective. From what I can recall we are now playing better than back then and we still won the EPL and, were it not for Kaka, we would have been in the CL Final as well.
Some nice statistics should show that we are indeed playing an early tough schedule.
@RDJ: Why do we need to keep signing people? We have a team that is so large that we cannot play Tevez on a regular schedule… What we need is an assistant manager. Phelan is not up for the job, just as CQ is not ready (ever?) for the job as manager… what about Pako Aysteran? He has the experience, the prestige, and he would make liverpool wipe themselves over.
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@Madschester United: A team should never sit on it’s success. We should always be looking to sign new players. Even if it’s young players who may not play immediately. Players get injured and players get old. A team has got to constantly recycle itself in order to stay competitive. The writing was on the wall last season when it came to Giggs, Scholes and especially Neville. Honestly, Fergie made a terrible error by assuming that we would be a better team this year when those three players were all going to be a year older and a foot or two slower. In the past he had no problem cutting ties with players who he felt were passed their expiry date. But now he has gone a bridge too far with this group. And he has relied on players who are or may not be good enough to replace these legends. So the need for new players is there, whether some of us want to believe it or not. If we are to maintain our dominance in the EPL and in Europe we can’t sit idly by and watch the leaves fall. I’m not calling for an overhaul here. Just a few fine tuned tweaks to the engine that I feel will make it once again purr like a kitten.
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Here I am, covering another Carling Cup game.
Burnley lead Arse by 1-0 after 58 minutes played. Derby and Stoke are drawing “double donuts”.
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Correction! Burnley lead Arse by 2-0!
So much foo their kids being the best in the nation. 
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http://www.iraqgoals.com/en/ch2.html for CC action from Turf Moor
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@Grognard: If we buy two young players one year (ie. Nani Anderson) why can’t we go two years without more young wingers? Does it imply Fergie is doubting the credentials of Nani or is he stimulating competitition?
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3-0 to Burnley! No wait, its 4-0. Wow, the ref thinks Arse stink like an arse(!) so he decided to make 1 goal they concede 4 goals! Its 6-0 to Burnley!
No seriously, its only 2-0. For now….
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Arsenal have had 6 one on ones with their players and the goalie, and missed every one – what numptees
. Wenger’s blood pressure looks like it at boiling point 
. I hope our youngsters play better against Blackburn tomorrow, because Blackburn want the win bad, its their only chance of silverwear. So wouldn’t be surprised if they play most of the full 1st teamers.
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So Derby and Burnley are on to the semis. If we beat Blacburn, it looks like its only Spurs that can hold a threat to us. I hope we play this team tomorrow
Foster
Rafael Evans Oshea Fabio
Anderson Possebon Gibson
Nani Tevez Welbeck
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If our youngsters step up the CC is there for the taking. I hope Fabio plays. Quadruple anyone
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Seriously, it’d have been a travesty to football if Ronaldo didn’t win, Messi is probably the better player right now and might be the better player in future, but theres no denying that for a long time, no winger will probably achieve anything close to the level of Ronaldo last season. Congrats to him. Now unto the next award, the FWPOTY. Anyone know when thats meant to be announced???
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@Rd: In 2 weeks time.
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Huntelaar will sign for Real. Thankfully that story is over.
Can that mean that Real does not want Tevez? 
What will happen to the lad. I hope Fergie could find a way to use him in this side. He is a brilliant player and can do marcellouw things with the ball. But he needs to start showing it. So Real have Ruud, Raul, Saviola and Klaas.
Barca have Etoo, Henry, Bojan and possibly even Messi if needed.
Inter have Adriano, Zlatan and Cruz. Milan have Pato, Sheva, Ronaldinho and Inzaghi. Who is left? Bayern? Lyon? Hard competition with Rooney and Berba, but imagine having to compete with Klose, Toni, Podolski, Benzema and possibly Klaas. He must stay in United, he just needs to find his role. Its obviously not as a starter, but a first team player surely. Super sub?
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I see this for tomorrow:
Foster
Rafael Evans Brown Fabio
Fletcher Anderson Possebon Nani
Tevez Manucho
With Gibson, Park, Neville, Giggs, P.I.G. on bench
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@RedDevilEddy: Plus, who can afford him… I say, if he leaves, it may be to Arsenal or Chelsea (which ferguson will not want). What about Roma?
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@Madschester United: Welbeck? He’ll hopefully start on the right with Manucho and Carlos up front
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@RedDevilEddy: I agree with you completely, I am so glad someone finally signed Huntelar, I am tired of hearing about this clown.
You also bring up a good point about tevez, who can afford him? If MSI want 30 million for him I dont see any team but City being able to buy him in january. I cant see Madrid buy Tevez after spending 20 million euros on Klass.
Maybe now MSI will lower there price to United, so we can sign him.
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Fabio isn’t in the squad for tomorrow’s game. According to the BBC website our squad is:
Foster, Kuszczak,
Rafael, Evans, Cleverley, Neville, Chester, Vidic, O’Shea,
Nani, Park, Fletcher, Anderson, Possebon, Gibson, Giggs,
Tevez, Welbeck, Manucho.
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Well done to Ronaldo, he deserved it. Even if the team was set up around him last season, 42 goals for a winger is nothing short of miraculous.Thank you very much Christiano for your perfomances as a Red Devil and long may they continue.
I’ve turned a corner with the lad, i’ve even started singing his songs again with my 2 year old son! Now i’m not saying i’m happy with the way he carries on sometimes, he still manages to make me cringe with some of his on-field antics.
To be the best you’ve got to believe it! This has been misunderstood as extreme arrogance. He’s still got alot of work to do though, but i dont think he’s the type to rest on his laurels.
I hope that the command of the english language is high on his list of things to do. As it might do something to ease the rate of how many times he’s misquoted, must say after reading a list of his “quotes” since the summer, i’ve realised how much the hacks really wind things up. He didn’t say he was the 1st, 2nd and 3rd player in the world, at least not like it was portrayed in the media. I’m not saying that the lad is full of humility cos he plainly isn’t, but the constant way he’s portrayed badly in the media is beginning to stink of conspiracy. This greatly undermines the relationship he has with us , the fans. So now i take most of Ronaldos’ comments with a large pinch of salt.
Love him or loath him, he’s joined a very exclusive “club” of United players who’ve won the Ballon D’or, Charlton, Law and Best. Remember last season on MOTD, every week at the end of the show they’d repeat some of his little stepovers or deft touches with some unusual part of his foot or body, have we ever seen a player so comfortable with a football? No matter his arrogance, his brillance has to be good for our team. Apart from the goals, the way it rubs off on the younger players in training can only be good. Will we see another United player win this award soon? Cos we’ve been waiting quite awhile for this one
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@Madschester United: Because if they aren’t showing signs of improving and instead digressing, one has to bring in competition. Therefore Fergie has bought Tosic because clearly Giggs is finished and Nani hasn’t shown the progress he did early last year.
I’m not advocating a spending spree. Far from it. I’m just saying that the club should look at adding a player or two every year. But add a player in an area where you will be needing an upgrade.
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Come on Fergie lets see what Manucho can do, give the lad a run out tomorrow FFS. I followed Angola in the ANC last season and Manucho impressed me, not just his spectacular goals but his all round play up top.
My prefered Team
Foster
Raphael Evans Vidic O Shea
Park Possebon Anderson Nani
Teves Manucho
And despite what some of you think about the Carling Cup, i like it. It gives the younger lads a chance to shine and show us why they should be in the mix
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@RedDevilEddy: I wonder what will happen if Tevez doesn’t start? Also, I wonder if there is any more interest in Tevez with Real Madrid now that they bought Huntelaar? (F#$%#^$ Bastards). Actually I am angrier with Fergie. Just watch how Huntelaar performs now.
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@RedDevilEddy: A lot of wishful thinking me thinks. I wouldn’t put Tevez up against any of those forwards you mentioned. Not anymore. Right now he totally sucks. And you can thank Fergie for that.
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@Grognard: What was i saying the other day Grog? Very happy Fergie has gone out to strenghten these areas LM and CM, with the double aquisition of Tosic and his mate,excuse me but i’ve forgotten his name
Btw read your “how to make United Sexy again” and agreed with most of your sentiments there. Having said that, i’ve probably got more confidence in Fergie than you do 
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I’m off to bed, completely knackered, Night all
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The link yo vote directs me back to this page. Please fix.
Congrets to Ronaldo good job and he deserved it. We need to win tomorrow. Nani, Anderson and Tevez to start.
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@phoenix red: I used to have a tremendous confidence and faith in Fergie but I think it has been shot over the past 6 months. Part of the problem with Fergie is more finger pointing towards the team and the owners as well. I have serious issues about our current ownership. I thgink they are dealing with financial instability due to the economic crisis and although I do respect their hands off policy where they allow Fergie and Gill to run the day to day operations, I think and will always believe that the club is financially strapped. O h they can make the odd purchase but they are in no way in the market to really buy players who can make a difference for them so they just don’t. Fergie claims everything is fine, even when it’s not because he knows the bank is empty. This shakes my confidence in the owners much more than in Fergie. His willingness to tolerate such conservative player management however is disturbing. We need help and to not acknowledge it is just putting off the inevitable.
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Went through Soccerlens so it’s done
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Is the league cup match being aired in India?
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@RDJ: Not unless Zee Sports is very kind to us!
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@Craig Mc: Bro I was just kidding there. Every player can be ordinary! I actually did not see the Villa game.. so I dont know.
I heard Scholes might play the Rovers game.. that true?? Cuz that wil be wonderful.
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@Grognard: Grog, we are not Chelski. It has forever been Fergies policy to find out what is wrong and rather than buy a new player right away, give some players time. That is why our youth team was so succesful. Fergie gave them a chance. Nani hasnt performed so well, neither has Hargreaves or Scholes or Tevez or VDS. The latter may not have much time, neither do Scholes, but Tevez and Hargreaves are good enough, when on form, to go straight into any European side. Fergie sold Ince, Kanchelskis and Highes so Shcoles, Becks and Neville could get a shot in the team. It didnt work out right away, 3-1 loss against Villa, but look what they have become now. In football you need patience. You know that you too. If United and Fergie did not have patience we would not win anything! If you think Fergie is wrong because he doesnt see the obvious faults in some of our players, then too bad! But his policy is to give them time. Maybe next summer, he may sell Nani. Tevez will certanly not dissapear right away. Anderson, Evans, Welbeck, Rafael… Why buy Arshavin when you have Anderson? Why buy Ramos when you have Richards? Why go for Benzema when you have Frazier Campbell waiting? Right now Rafael, Anderson or Campbell are not as good as those players mentioned. But they might be someday. Rafael is 18, Anderson 20 and Frazier 21. Who was Fabregas when he was 19? Or for that matter Gerrard? In 2006 Fabregas showed the little skills he has by passing the ball. But he was not the brilliant all-around player he is now. Neither was Gerrard. When he was 20 he didnt score a single goal! He lost the ball and awful lot and had a terrible shot. His head was always down and he got bullied by other players. Anderson is 20. He hasnt scored a single goal, but he scored a penalty in the CL final. Not many people have the strong mentality to do that. And to compare him to Gerrard and Fabregas at that age. Anderson is faster than both of them. Fabregas vision and positioning was terrible a couple of years back, thereby Anderson is better. Positioning is not his strongest asset, but he is better at it than Febregas. Vision is better than Gerrards. I remember watching him in 2000 and saying: “How come he cant see that player? Is he blind or something?” Andersons vision is very good. Proof? Wigan game, Roma, Lyon, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Boro last season. Wonderful passes that, a team like Chelski, would score from. If United had only been more prolific…
He has faced players like Lampard, Ballack, Fabregas, Gerrard, Juninho and Moutinho and he hasnt let them do anything when on the pitch. Im not gonna go through every asset they have, but he will become brilliant after a while. Rafael is very good right now and who knows, in 4 years he may join the FIFApro team? Or win the WC win Brasil? 
Campbell has unbelieveable pace and a composure when 1-on-1 that even players in older ages have. They will become great, just give them time Grog. Give them time…
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@Grognard: Oh, and about not buying players that we need. One word: BERBATOV!
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@Rahul: I hate their website. Can’t find their tv schedule
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@Liam: welbeck is a striker who can play on the wing. play him in his natural postion, upfront.
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@RDJ:
they are showing spurs – watford match it seems…shit 
..how on earth can they do that when the european champions are playing at teh same time
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@bond: Who will ever watch Spurs vs Watford in India?? Do we have a few Watford fans here?? Cuz sure as hell there aren’t any Spurs fans in this country!
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@Rahul: Spurs and Watford, wtf?
How can they ignore two premier league teams, one of which is the champions of England and Europe? Not to mention the large fan base for United in India. Fucking retards!
I hate Zee….
Now we have to depend on crappy online feeds
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@RedDevilEddy: Sorry mate but I do not share you optimism on certain players. Nani and Anderson especially do not fill me with confidence. I have no problem with Campbell. I believe we need more of a presence in central midfield and although I am a big Hargreaves supporter, I am unwilling to risk all on him coming back at 100%. Anderson is neither Senna, DeRossi, Diego or Arshavin. You can love them all you want but Nani and Anderson may not be what the doctor ordered. I am not one for blind loyalty and although I am patient to a point, I am not willing to wait forever for some players to mature and make their mark. We are not a middle of the table team. We are defending champions as well as Euro champs and we have a high degree of excellence to live up to. You cannot be too patient with players. Ronaldo did well instantly as has Rafael. If players don’t show continuing improvement they need to be reassessed. Anderson and Nani have regressed badly and their time is running out, make no mistake about it. You can see it in the way Fergie is using…..or should I say not using them. Loyalty and wearing blinders when it comes to players is for the birds. They better perform or they better leave and make sure the door doesn’t hit them on the way out. I will say this though. Play them and give them a proper chance before cutting them adrift. By playing head games with them, Fergie is never going to get the best from them.
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