Jul 11
Ronaldo’s Not Worth United’s Principled Stance
I don’t want to write another tiresome article on Ronaldo. But the lad seems to have a knack of staying in the news.
I’ll keep it short to save you the trouble. For the others, I’d recommend poring over the comments from yesterday, if you want to see people displaying hurt sentiments.
I personally stopped caring many weeks ago, and if you are a regular here, you’d know it. Yesterday following Sepp Blatter’s comments regarding slavery, Ronaldo funnily (to put it mildly) agreed with what he had to say. I actually thought when I read the comments on skysports.com that it may have been taken out of context, but having seen the video there wasn’t really any different way of looking at it.
Ronaldo’s comments may not have earned him favours with the United management or players. Perhaps the only players who may agree with Ronaldo’s comments right now might be the likes of Hleb and Adebayor.
Even if you take your red spectacles off for a moment, Blatter’s comments come across as a case of extremely poor choice of words. The fact that Blatter railed against the eventual ruling in favour of Webster (which resulted in greater player power) speaks of the contradictions that fill the FIFA president’s head. And now Ronaldo has give further credence to his remarks.
Football economics function slightly different to that of regular people, in that there are contracts that exist. Whilst players have more power to get out of their contracts now, they still are legal documents that a club would expect a player to adhere to. Anyway, this post was not to debate that.
What I want to know is, if one does a cost benefit analysis of Ronaldo staying for a season at United, is he worth all the pain?
Let’s consider the latest bit of injury news to come out of Old Trafford: the player says that he expects to be out for three months, something the club has reported on its website. Note: the club has not moved to release a statement denying he’d be out for that long a time [in fact it's not possible to put an accurate date but let's give or take two weeks], unlike what they’d done with regard to taking advice on his operation previously.
So after all the talk about his injury, his statements (or the lack of them), is there any point in keeping him? Real would still be more than happy buying him now, although they’d try to push his price down with his injury. Three months from now would mean he’d be back only by October with a bulk of our toughest fixtures already over. We’d be kidding ourselves if we said next season was going to be a breeze. But one would question the wisdom of keeping him any longer, and justifiably.
Oh well, I still think he will stay at OT. But that belief, which was strong a few weeks ago, is considerably weakened with the latest developments.
PS: I am not good at expressing emotions well, but women blogging about football give an emotional angle to things. So here’s Jak with an account of her feelings for Ronaldo. She’s done a better job than me, for sure. In general, she runs a good blog and gives you a female perspective to footy and United in particular.
PPS: I also hopefully started a weekly column for Soccerlens, (hopefully I can stick to the one column a week thing) where I take my blinkered red-tinted lenses off (or sometimes I keep them on) as I discuss general football matters. Today’s piece is on how to promote soccer in the United States. Do read it and feel free to disagree.
Related items from Red Rants:- United’s Transfer Strategy — Is There More to Their Denial?
- Ronaldo’s Alligator Adventure + Cannavaro - Zola - Eriksson - Pele - Banks - Ferdinand
- United’s £100k+ Christmas party, useless Shorey, Arsenal will stumble and of course, Rooney is better than Kaka
- Glazers: Manchester United is not for sale
- Manchester United’s Munich tribute on 6 Feb 2008
Tags: Discussions
July 11th, 2008 at 17:18
Considering Ronaldo has the ego the same size as the Trafford centre, he is an absolute f**king weak human being.
If he cam out and said ” I WANT TO SIGN FOR MADRID” then I would have a little more respect for him, on a par with Bin Laden I would say, but to sneak around saying “you know what I want” is pathetic and simply weak.
He needs to grow up he and CQ can leave our great club and good riddance.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:28
Sell him. Let him fulfill his “dream” and watch the Champions’ League finals on TV, instead of being there. We’ll always have Wayne Rooney.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:31
Off the topic for a second. Although I read this on the unreliable Tribal Football site, I have to comment on it. They are reporting that United are considering Michael Laudrup as a replacement for Carlos Queiroz. Now if this has any validity at all I am stunned and I would think that if it’s true it would be a major coup for United. I think Laudrup is one of the truly great young managers and football minds in today’s game. He has a strong tactical and training background and has played for some of the greatest clubs in world football. He speaks fluent English, Spanish, German and Italian and thus communication is not going to be a problem between him and many of our players. I also believe he has a very strong technical acumen and has proven to be a very strong motivator and match manager. If he is truly available, he would vault to the top of my list and I even think he would be a very fine replacement for Fergie down the road.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:32
@james f: Somehow, that just doesn’t fill me with great hope and encouragement.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:34
@Stephen: Presumably the only reason he will not hand in an official transfer request is because he must have a clause in his contract which entitles him 10% for example of any transfer fee as “compensation”.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:34
Grog, I agree he is ideal, but he was being linked to the dare I say the Real job, so would he take a number 2 role? I don’t know, but he is looking a great manager in waiting and one of my favorite players of all time.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:35
@ DMC, I think the you are spot on mate!
July 11th, 2008 at 17:37
@Grognard: I was wondering what Laudrup’s language capabilities were as this would seem to be a pre-requisite now and one that the internal candidates do not fulfill. Consider him vaulted.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:40
@Stephen: While what you say about his character is true lets not forget one vital factor here. He is being led and manipulated by his agent, family members, Blatter and especially Calderon. All these people are managing him and telling him to say a lot of what has been coming out of his horses ass of a mouth. This boy is not well educated and comes from a very restricted and poverty stricken background. This is the background that fosters gang bangers, drug czars and petty criminals. When you kick a can in the streets for your entertainment, you are apt to do most anything in your adult life to get what you want. And power and money corrupts people. Just because he plays football for us, does not mean he is not a perfect candidate for this kind of corruption. His background was a precursor for all of this. Lets also never forget that when it’s all said, he is a stranger in a strange land and not every stranger can or wants to adapt to the English way of life. All he is and all he ever will be is a street punk from Madeira. And like I have said many times before, all the money in the world cannot buy you class.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:46
@Stephen: I think that Laudrup himself believes he has a lot to learning this game as a manager and going to Real is just a step down because their incredibly unrealistic expectations will force his quick firing. With United he could have three years learning with the Grand Master Gandalf the White and when he graduates Fergie 101 school he will be even more suited and ready to take on any managerial job on the planet with great confidence. He is young and thus, three years under Fergie should not be seen as time wasting on his part. I would be over the moon if he were to sign up as Fergie’s #2. He might also help initiate a movement for players in other areas of Europe like Germany, Denmark etc while still maintaining interest in the Latin players due to his years playing in Spain.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:46
Blatter should commend us in standing up to the ego, money hungry paracites which is now the modern day footballer.
Asking a player who has signed a long term contract to a club and now wants to break that legally binding agreement is wrong both morally and legally wrong. Blatter should be saying to the footballing world, if you sign a contract to stick by the terms and conditions underlined in the agreement, but I suppose that is the real world.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:49
can we forget about this clown yet, and sign Huntelaar or Berbatov please!
July 11th, 2008 at 17:51
@DMC: Just imagine what a prick he is as he cannot even offer United and Fergie that paltry 10% compensation as a thanks and as a show of respect for all the man and the club have done for him. No, instead he keeps his mouth shut so that he can leave with 100% of his money and to Hell with United and Fergie the slave driver. Arrogant little prick! Honestly if I ran into him on the street I would strangle him and pay the consequences. The satisfaction alone would be worth the penalty I would receive. When I say he is dead to me, I should be saying I’d like him to be dead at my hands.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:52
@Traverse: I second the motion and emotion my friend.
July 11th, 2008 at 17:58
I really want us to purchase “The Hunter” he has almost thrown himself in front of SAF and begged to sign for us.
His record is as follows.
SC Heeenveen: Games: 46 Goals:34
Ajax Games: 82 Goals: 70
Holland: Games: 13 Goals: 8
Come on Fergie see sense!
July 11th, 2008 at 18:01
@Stephen: And what message does this convey to every poor working stiff out there that may actually be working under a contract like all civil servants? This mentality widespread would create chaos and anarchy. No contract would ever be considered valid. In fact, I’ve decided to reconsider paying off my VISA bill. After all, it’s only a bloody contract I signed. I refuse to be enslaved by that company and it’s fascist and slavish contractual agreements. All spouses beware, your marriage contracts are worthless pieces of toilet paper and I for one will never live up to my mortgage payments again. I’ve decided I will not honor that contract. And to Hell with the tax man and the contracts that bind me to my property and income taxes.
How long do you think it would take before my world shattered all around me with that kind of attitude? And imagine everyone felt that way and dishonored every binding contract that they signed. There wouldn’t be enough prisons and firing squads available to keep up with the demand. Wild and crazy analogies but this is what Sepp Blatter is proposing to the world with his irresponsible and unethical statement.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:03
@Stephen: You’d be surprised how all those statistics and video matches of this player’s brilliance means little to so many fans that just don’t see what you and I do. And to be honest, I don’t think he is the top priority for Fergie either.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:08
Stephen and Grognrad…why do you guys think that is though? I was reading on another blog that only Arsenal has even been rumored to be interested in this guy. What’s the problem with him? Plus he featured only sparingly during Euros although he did score a goal. Makes me think if maybe we haven’t signed him because Fergie isn’t interested. Like for a legit reason, other than Fergie just hangin out at Carrington all day. There’s gotta be a reason right? What are we on day 12 since Euro’s ended? Its starting to sound to me as if the Hunter wasn’t bragging that United really wants him, he was trying to get his name out there because not only does United not want him, nobody else does either. If people here the name Manchester United, they realize that oh crap, Fergie might get him, we need to move quickly. And yet he still sits. Really makes me wonder….
July 11th, 2008 at 18:09
Grog, I for the life of cannot understand why we do not go out and buy this player he is also 6′1 not a dwarf which is important.
He is also Dutch so used to our climate, he is younger and cheaper and does not have the attitude of Berbatov, and scores more goals, and more importantly he wants to play for us, please Fergie for me
July 11th, 2008 at 18:13
He did score in his only game Brian.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:14
If Ronaldo scores I’m chanting ROOONEEYYY all season. Jumped up little so and so.
He’ll go eventually…but on Man Utd’s terms.
Ronaldo scores Roooooneyyyyyy!
He misses Roooooooonneeeeeyyyyy!
He does an unnecessary trick ….ROOOOOOOONNNNNNEEEEEEEEYYYYY.
Flash, egotist. Make him sit out a season or two Fergie
then sell him for a fraction of the price in a couple of years when you’ve signed up some of the best
young players o the planet. We don’t need Real’s cash.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:17
Sorry Brian misread your post, CQ gone to Porugal 4 year contract.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:17
Yeah I know he did, but seriously, this guy’s stats are out of this world. Why aren’t more people after him?Why aren’t we after him?
July 11th, 2008 at 18:18
I believe the 2 reasons why this traitor has not been sold are
1 - We haven’t found a suitable replacement. It’s better to get the new winger in (i know we already have Nani, Park, Giggs and our ever-versatile Roo and Tev, but i just feel that we need 1 more young winger for the future) before we sell him off. If we get the replacement AFTER selling him off…….well, even people like Kleberson would cost 50 million quid.
2 - Principle, especially after what Blabbermouth said. If MU sell him now, it’ll mean MU is a club with no principle….we’re just doing whatever people want us to do and for a club this big (if not biggest), it’ll be such a shame for us to do that. And it’ll definitely be bad for the entire football world since players and clubs like Real Madrid will start using the same tactic.
Just my opinion
July 11th, 2008 at 18:23
I think problably earlier he was negotiating a contract with Ajax, and with Van Basten going their a player whom the Hunter has been likend to people thought he would stay. He has been strongly linked to Real and the consensus was he was going to sign for them, but I believe and correct me if I am wrong they are now after someone else.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:25
Meh. I’m just looking forward to pre-season and a new campaign.
July 11th, 2008 at 18:28
I think that the problem with modern day players is that they have never had to respect contracts because if they are good enough they just keep getting offered higher contracts every 2 or 3 years. They have never done a hard weeks work in their lives and have never had any job outside football. For instance I got my first job when I was 16 and worked full time during the Summer. I was delighted with the money I got and that my hard work had been rewarded. Ronaldo makes nearly 100 times what I made that Summer in a week for doing something I do with my friends for fun! And apparently he is the slave. Unbelievable
July 11th, 2008 at 19:10
look what football365 just released.
July 11th, 2008 at 19:11
We’re not in for huntelaar because he’s not good enough. Simple.
July 11th, 2008 at 19:21
Like I’ve said before, what irks me the most is his indecisiveness on this. I have no problem w/ him mulling his options over, because realistically, thats what all people do. But to come out w/ one ambiguous statement after another just pisses me and all of you off. Even him coming out and saying definitively, “I am taking a look at my options and planning what may be best for me.” would be worlds better than “Its no secret that it’s what I want, but it isn’t left up to me.”
July 11th, 2008 at 19:28
Btw, Queiroz officially joins Portugal. And another new post up (Yup! Bonus post for the day). Enjoy!
July 11th, 2008 at 19:53
@Grognard: Michael Laudrup is a good coach to have but it would help if you did just a little digging from the source that tribal football article referred to. It sourced from Times Online where in a column Tony Cascarino mentioned him as among United’s options, just like we debate possible candidates here.
I agree with you on Laudrup’s pedigree though. I’d like him at OT.
July 11th, 2008 at 20:04
@Grognard
Previous article; in response to your comment 95 or 96
Yes, I am in a state of Nirvana. Don’t get me wrong. I am a worrier of a person myself. But Im told that we have won a Double after really long and hence I want to enjoy it a bit.
As far as relaxing while Rome burns. Don’t get me wrong. What I meant by relax was .. Enjoy the double and let SAF take care of it. This saga has typically become a media drivel. I dont even know whats right and who said what and whether it was verified. All I know is SAF is there and at times like these we should have faith in the manager. Yes, he is fallible and human but its the only thing we can do.
Either way is hell for us. Ronaldo going isn’t great as we cant get an able replacement within 1 month. And him staying may be harmful if he decides to continue behaving like a baby.
Worse happens, loan him to Sunderland and let Keano deal with him
July 11th, 2008 at 20:06
@Brian Lomax: It’s got to do with price. As good as he is he is one of many players right now that are being priced above their value. Also, many teams of the big teams already have proven strikers and aren’t interested. And smaller clubs can’t afford him. I also think that some teams don’t want to be caught in a bidding war with United or Arsenal and are waiting to see what those two end up doing before the tender an offer. It’s not a proble with the player, believe me. He is quality and he is a genuine goal scoring machine.
July 11th, 2008 at 20:10
@tevez: Yah, I’m so sure. Why doesn’t that surprise me coming from you?
July 11th, 2008 at 20:13
@Red Ranter: Heck I never even took the rumor seriously because it came from Tribal. I just thought despite the source, you know that is a great candidate for the job and I would be all for his signing.
July 11th, 2008 at 20:20
@Piper: I get your point but some of us just can’t relax when something we love is in serious jeopardy. And although I have 100% faith in Fergie as a manager, I think a lot of this is actually out of his hands and in the hands of the Glazer’s in respect to selling Ronaldo as well as what kind of money do we presently have to repair the damage before it happens. In that scenario I have very little faith in Fergie because it’s not his call to make. To be honest, I’m afraid the glazer’s may do something here that will piss off Fergie so much that he will quit himself because of what he will consider betrayal and going back on their word to him. It’s certainly possible. He’s getting old and he is probably asking himself right now, “Do I need this shit?”
I think it’s even tougher for many of us to relax because we are powerless to do anything about the situation and yet we are all so emotionally and socially invested in it. Supporters are always the ones who get the short end of the stick at the end. And as for celebrating the Double, that’s past history. As sweet as it is, I’m like Fergie. Five minutes after it’s over I’m already thinking of ways to improve fro the next term. It’s like a drug, you get addicted and you can’t get enough.
July 11th, 2008 at 20:32
Hey everyone, got to the Sun and sign their petition to get Sepp Blatter sacked as head of FIFA. What the Hell, it will make you feel better.
July 11th, 2008 at 20:48
@Grognard: Well we don’t seem to be interested. I wouldn’t really be disappointed if we got him, but i hope we don’t because i’ve gone on about how much better other targets are lol. As you said though, many players are valued too highly. If we get huntelaar, i’m putting it down to that…
July 11th, 2008 at 22:14
@Grognard:
The thing is he isnt good enough for what the club need. The stats, the videos ect ect can look as good as they want but he isnt the 3rd striker we are looking for. We need a player with proven premiership quality who is different to Rooney and Tevez. The Dutch league isnt the English league and even top rated players can struggle to make the switch to the english league. Huntelaar is not a 3rd striker signing, he is a fourth striker signing at best at this moment as theres a major chance he won’t immediatly adapt. The chances of him hitting the ground running are not in his favour and while players some players are at clubs where they will keep getting played to help them settle in that wont happen at United as we cant afford to lose points
July 11th, 2008 at 22:22
From what I’ve learned, petitions get you nowhere. And it’s the Sun — like FIFA are going to take note of a Sun backed campaign. I can think of many jokes already.
July 11th, 2008 at 23:47
kick racism out the game. REMOVE BLATTER.
July 12th, 2008 at 0:35
@Wakey: “The Dutch league isnt the English league and even top rated players can struggle to make the switch to the english league.” You mean like van Nistelrooy and Bergkamp?
“Huntelaar is not a 3rd striker signing, he is a fourth striker signing at best at this moment as theres a major chance he won’t immediatly adapt.” You honestly believe that don’t you?
Yes he isn’t a 3rd striker or a 4th, he’s #1 striker who far better than your beloved Tevez and arguably better than Rooney ever since Wayne forgot how to hit the side of a barn door from 5 feet. Premier League experience is so fucking overrated it’s ridiculous. In the past I have named at least 30 foreign stars who have come to the EPL with no experience and made an instant impact. I’m not going to waste my energy on you this time as you clearly don’t get it and we don’t see eye to eye. It’s just not worth the effort anymore! 
July 12th, 2008 at 0:38
@Red Ranter: I didn’t say they were going to be taken seriously. I just thought it would be a mild way of individuals voicing their disapproval and letting off an ounce of steam in the process. It’s no different than when Dan cries to us to give some effort and get to the magical #200 in posts on a given topic.
July 12th, 2008 at 0:39
@vaz: OK I am certainly not a supporter of Blatter but I ma trying to figure out what the Heck racism has to do with his stance on Ronaldo and ending so called slavery in football?
July 12th, 2008 at 10:56
@Grognard:
And for everyone you can name you can name atleast 2 that came here with great reputation and never settled or took time to settle. Even Hargreaves who when he played did well openly admitted he is really struggling to adapt to the pace and intensity of the english league.
Being able to play well in another league doesnt mean they will do so elsewhere as some leagues can suit a player and make them look good. And as good as the Dutch are at churning out future stars their league is no where near the competativness, quality and intenstivness of the English league. The way that David Jones did so well over there a few seasons back highlights that, a player who we sold to Derby and who apart from a few good games at the end of the season failed to shine.
Does he have the potential to be a top player in the English league? yes he does. Would I like to see him signed? Yes I would. Is he top priority? Hell no we need a proven striker first, doesnt need to be that young either with Huntelaar being signed after that. If Hunelaar hits the ground running then thats great, but if like alot of Foreign players it takes time to settle in then it doesnt matter and he can have 6months, a year, maybe more to find his feet