He’s just too good
He’s too good to let play. And it was on display again when Manchester United drew against Portsmouth midweek. And it’s getting worse. Cristiano Ronaldo is taking a lot of lumps and it will eventually end in a injury.Last season Ronaldo laid down the gauntlet on the Premiership. This season, as if any more notice needed to be taken, clubs are actively taking to fouling him more than ever in a bid to stop him from playing. I must agree with Alex Ferguson’s comments about the situation, the referee’s need to do more to protect him, and those like him.
I’m by no means suggesting favoritism, more a recognition that “hey, everyone is after him, and the stats prove it, he was the most fouled player in the Premiership last season and is on course to see the same happen again –let’s send a message that you can’t target a player”.
Remember Maradona in the 1990 World Cup? He was fouled incessantly to the point where he said he’d never play internationally again until the rules were changed. Remember “The Butcher of Bilbao” injury? Ronaldo is going to sustain a serious injury if this continues.
Unfortunately, Wednesday the fouling got to him, Ronaldo was sent off for headbutting Richard Hughes. The situation got where it did because referee Steve Bennett didn’t deal with the situation.
“If you have got weak referees then you are going to be suffering. There is a concern players like Ronaldo are going to be the victims ... because it will end up with someone getting a serious injury."
And
"It's very difficult to completely punish Ronaldo or be angry with him, some of the things that are happening to him are not right." -Ferguson
Ferguson is correct. I think you should let the players play but not this. Ronaldo is being hacked up. We don’t want to see him go the way of Marco van Basten and see his career end early.
Labels: Manchester United, Portsmouth
by Football Commentator at 8/18/2007 01:20:00 AM
8 Comments:
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I think Fergie is being paranoid if he thinks Ronaldo was being singled out. Oh no that's right, he was moaning that Tevez was getting no protection. I was at the game and there was nothing dirty in it and the Pompey players certainl didn't try to deliberately foul Ronaldo. I know I'm biased...
biased is an understatement - he was hacked down about 10 times
yeh and next your being telling us that ronaldo didn't deliberately get rooney sent off in the world cup. get real and stop voicing your absolute one eyed opinion.
the truth is, ronaldo and tevez were fouled insane amounts and the sad thing about english football is that playing good football is being stamped out by tactics which can be called vicious at the least. man utd have been playing really well, hats off to them. i think chelsea's wins have been undeserved. man utd have the more skilled players by far, sad to say.
I agree, Ronaldo should be able to head butt anyone he likes. Rooney can push them around a bit, and Tevez gets two free swings per match.
And, for good measure, no more penalties to be awarded at Old Trafford against the home side. Hang on... that one's already a rule!
its a bit rich for fergie to complain considering to game long kickfest he aucestrated against reyes that completly stunted him as a player in england.
Perhaps the opposition should be have a limit on the number of times they can tackle Ronaldo, or perhaps he should be restricted in the number of times he is allowed to take a player on in a close dribble. All talented players who take players on, showing the ball then taking it away from the tackler because they are quicker / more talented than him, have had to avooid the lunges. Let me think...Jimmy Greaves, George Best...
I do however wish Ronaldo would stop the shoving the ball wide past a player and, with no effort to follow the ball, then run into the player looking for a foul. Did it at least twice on Wednesday and then sat on the ground throwing the toys out as the ref did not give a decision.
Simple solution to this, and other problems of the game right now:
2 fouls = yellow card.
It would bring: Loads more goals, more skilfull playing, less injuries, less downtime... Beautiful.
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