The people who have been banging on for months (years?) that an elderly Ronaldo makes the teams he plays in (Juve, Man Utd, Portugal) worse have, I think, been emphatically validated.
You could never tell it from Portuguese media but a lot of those people are indeed Portuguese tired for several years of having the National team almost highjacked and seeing Silva, Fernandes and others forced to cater for you know who.
I can believe that. I was in Lisbon three years ago and you couldn’t get away from him - his face was everywhere, on billboards, posters, merchandise…
Cronaldo was past it a few years ago tbh. The main problem with him is that he likes to have the ball given to him so he can get the glory. I've always felt he was a bit overrated and hyped up; in the Pl, he was very good, but generally against crap teams. Outside of Old Trafford, I think many people saw him as a bit of a show pony. He'd often go missing in big games against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea, and in the CL, he only seemed to realy shine in the early group stages, again against weaker teams, yet in the latter stages against the top guns, would often be found wanting. At Real, he flourished cos the team was built around giving HIM the ball all the time, and again; the Spanish league bar Barca and Atletico is pretty poor. Yes, he has had spectacular games, but generally only when he's been surrounded by top players. He's never quite been the game changer that Messi is. And in today's high pressing game, he doesn't get the time on the ball he wants, and he isn't prepared to track back and defend like the game demands. He hasn't got the speed he used to, and he's lost that edge of sharpness he once had. But his real undoing now, is his ego. He'd have done himself a huge favour by retiring after Juve, and going on to be a game 'ambassador' or something. Or just going back to Sporting, where he could enjoy his last years being adored and get the attention he craves. Fact is that no one needs him any more. And that is the biggest problem his ego will ever face.
Yes I read that and thought you wouldn’t be pleased. My own fear is that Rice comes back injured. He didn’t train today as he is ill.
No, not pleased at all.
It was always going to be hard for Arsenal to sustain their form with a smaller squad than Man City. Man City could lose Haaland, for instance, and most of us would still see them as favorites for the title. But Arsenal don’t have the depth to deal with losing Jesus and maintain a title challenge.
You’ll just need to strengthen in the January transfer window. I hear there is a promising young talent available on a free. Portuguese. Got a house in Manchester. Good for team morale!
If you read Portuguese you would love the recent days best of in the news.
I think we will miss Rice more than you will miss Jesus. Sounds like he is gone in the summer 🥲
Don't worry, when you sell your soul to petro-states, they come get you.
The Qataris have pulled this tourney off with near-total success as far as their intentions are concerned, which means we can look forward to years of listening to callously glib supervillain-style one-liners like this from the same shower of crooks.
