Saturday’s replay-salvaging penalty against Middlesboro saw the much-vaunted Portuguese winger score his 17th goal in all competitions in this his annus mirabilis. He’s having the season of his young career, and the propaganda machine at the self-styled ‘Theatre of Dreams’ has been wheeled out to laud him as “the best player in the World” relentlessly over the last few weeks. A cynic might suggest that they’re trying to trump up his market valuation should the indecisive winger opt to ‘do one’ over the summer. A United fan on the other hand would only be too willing to remind us all that there’s another 10-15 games left in the season for them, which could lead to his already-impressive stats finishing up as glorified cricket scores. That’s the problem with him, and United specifically; contrived nonsense interchanges with actual fact so often it’s hard to make out the wood for the trees. Here’s what we definitely know about him… • 174 games for Manchester United, 43 goals. Approximately 1 goal every 4 games. • 27 European Games, not one goal. In 4 years of Champions League football, he’s yet to score. Roy Keane had 14 for United. • 26 League games this season, 16 goals. • Of his 16 goals, not one has come against Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal • In fact, he’s never scored a goal against Liverpool or Chelsea in his career • 14 International goals, of which only 1 came at the World Cup. Against the mighty Iran. From a penalty. • He dives. So, he’s scored 16 goals this season (the only time he’s ever done so in his career), all of which have come against opposition outside of the Top four. He hasn’t managed one goal in the Champions League, he’s come off the back of a less-than-impressive World Cup, hasn’t won a trophy for two years, but he’s still the “best player in the World”. Right. The facts exemplify a staggering lack of impact on the biggest stage. Against solid, top drawer outfits and defences – he is negated time and again. The same cannot be said of Ronaldinho, Kaka, Eto’o and several others. If United are to fight on all fronts at this ‘the business end’ of the season, Ferguson will be looking for a lot more finish to the gloss in the high-end games, where chances are at a premium. Nutmegging somebody when you’re 3-0 up at home to Watford is all fair and well, replicating the trick and adding a finish to it in the Semi-Finals of a Champions League are distinctly another. He should know, he’s never done it. Credit though, where it’s due. He’s been outstanding on occasion this season. Pace, strength, guile, and some thrillingly brilliant goals & assists. For the first time in 4 years, he seems to have added some degree of ‘end product’ to the countless stepovers, flicks, and general wastefulness – Style finally overtaking substance. When he’s in full flight, best exemplified 2 weeks ago at Anfield when he left John Arne Riise for dead, there can be few better sights to behold in the modern game. He’s Ryan Giggs at his mid-90’s best, only with two operating feet. And bar a strong case for Didier Drogba, he’ll be most people’s favourite to land the Player of the Year accolade. Yes, he’s talented, but he falls well short of the greatness bestowed upon him by Rooney, Ferguson, and the British media. There are still damning flaws; failure to deliver on the biggest stage - be it domestically or in European competition, inconsistency, an over-bulging estimation of his own self-worth, and notably a disregard for defending, team-mates, and anything that reproaches solid ‘work’. In 45 first half-minutes against Lille he received the ball 10 times, and gave it away 9. That he walked off shaking his head as Sir Alex replaced him before the end spoke volumes. He’s gratefully thrown himself into the marketing hype surrounding him too. Any recent search for him on YouTube offers a plethora of self-gratifying winks, nods, finger gestures, and preening. He loves it. There’s also much to be said for United PLC’s bottom line taking a boost with every hoop ‘n’ holler surrounding the lad as there is on-the-pitch glory. Eulogising him now may lead to oeuf on faces come next season should he receive the bloated contract he’s playing for, and should United’s accountants fail to get the 50 million odd they’re banking on should he decide he’s off to greener, Spanish pastures.
thats a good read. unfortunatley though, i think he is the best player in the world at the moment. henry injured, ronaldinho playing pure shiite?? theres not much better out ther at the moment imo. scoring reguarly, good form are great but the diving will always overshadow it.
it pains me to say it but i think he has to be the best at this present time, if not up there near the top! Great Player....Awful personality!
I think Essien has been a lot more consistent this season than Ronaldo, especially considering he's been moved around positionally. Kaka should be within a shout for World Player of the Year too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjXTrERnj9Y Going by that goal he scored he is the best player in the world!!!
its the swerve how on earth does he get the ball to do that no one else can and also he is the best player in the world at the moment regardless of goals hes a midfielder they dont have to be prolific goalscorers the goals are just a bonus hes a joy to watch and i wonder what his assist record is this season?
i would say hes good, better than ronaldinho, but thats not hard - ronaldinho makes work for himself. just saw an interview and said 'maybe people dont like me cos im too good' and winked. thwen when asked how he feels when accused of cheating he said ....'good' :rant: ****
Judging it on 1 goal , does that make mahon the 2nd best player in the world " going by that goal he scored" Ronaldo has so much talent, and can definately be considered one of the best players in the world. Personally, i think kaka and maybe others are less wasteful, and as good if not better players. Good article jobr
I don't count any of the european ponces to be the best in the world - ESPECIALLY Ronaldo. Somebody who dives simply is not the best player in the world, because they are CHEATING. C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G. It is easy to win by cheating, as you are not abiding the same rules as everyone else. If he didn't cheat, score 30 a season and healed sick children then maybe. But he is too disgusting a person to even put into words, and his play does not back up his mouth. Or his actions. Over hyped, over rated piece of greasy, ugly, buck toothed trash.
