by SeaofRed » Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:35 pm
Niall, I respect what you are saying, but I disagree. Henry didn't exactly turn up for the big matches did he throughout his career, does that tarnish his ability? No. Not every player is going to be like player x,y and z therefore comparisons are useless. I have never once said that Ronaldo will stand amongst the greats of football, but to me he is a fantastic player with an immense ability. I thoroughly enjoy his arrogance just as much as I enjoy his finesse on the ball and his trickery. He's a character. I like all sorts of footballers, I just do what you do and churn out Pele, Maradona, Romario etc. Why? Because I know you aren't going to get another Pele or another Maradona, another Puskas, another Beckenbaur, another Rudi Voller or Mark Van Basten - You'll not even get another Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery, why? Because players are their own individuals and play the game in their own way, so these all time greatest player lists are meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Would you turn down the chance of signing Ronaldo? No one who has the slightest clue about football would turn away Ronaldo from their team. I don't care whether he doesn't turn up for one leg of a Champions League, I care about what a player does throughout the course of the season and Ronaldo was the main reason that United enjoyed three successive Premiership triumphs and two back to back Champions League final appearances. Man Utd look half the team they were when Ronaldo was with them.
He's had a bad world cup, so what? It doesn't diminish his standings as a brilliant player.