Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The "alleged best player in the world on current form"

The points stand at the conspicuous number 69, a good nine points clear of Chelsea (who indeed have a grand one game in hand), but let’s be very honest, I could have well been just 67 points after the game against Fulham. Indeed, it could have stayed at just 66 had a certain Edwin van der Sar not have anything to do with it.

Cue Christiano Ronaldo, who at the 88th minute showed his peers, his manager and the staff and board of my beloved Manchester United exactly why he deserves – demands even – a salary reflecting the club’s estimate of his talent.

What a difference 8 months make

In his shoes not many would play it differently; if United were to own the bragging rights to the alleged best player in the world on form, then they had better put their money where their mouths are. From Ronaldo to Ferguson, Gill et al: “Show me the money!”

Few would have interest to argue with the caveat-laden tag of ‘best player in the world on current form’ that Ronaldo has been said to warm up to of late. This time last year Thierry Henry would have easily deserved this, had it not been for the deserving Ronaldinho; I personally would have handed it to Henry who single handedly inspired and led his team of fledgling prodigies to within 13 minutes of Champions’ League victory – a large portion of the game played with only 10 players - only to be thwarted by the Brazilian's more accomplished team-mates.

Didier Drogba’s goals aside, it would be a tough argument for anyone to put the Ivorian in contention for this tag. Ronaldo’s goals on the other hand have spurred United on to where they currently are in the Premiership. Cesc Fabregas has been immense for Arsenal (I still think he should have taken a good swing at Lampard), but again Ronaldo’s influence on the growingly confident United team has been truly immeasurable. And great results aside there certainly doesn’t seem to be anybody from Liverpool – including Steven Gerrard – who can hope to compare with the twinkle-toed Ronaldo – on current form.

United will need more and more from him, in the light of Larsson’s return to Sweden in 10 days, and in clear and honest consideration of Rooney’s decline in form.

Without meaning to jinx it, the team seems to be peaking just at the right time though, and Giggs, Scholes and Saha are really coming into their own. Still, it only takes a rash or malicious tackle or an uneven pitch to throw the boy wonder from Medeira into the Old Trafford injury list, and along with it perhaps any chance of United wrestling the title they last won four years ago.

Best player in the world? On current form, definitely. Show him the money United!

Golf lessons this Saturday
The ‘current form’ phenomenon continues, and I for one will not begrudge Liverpool their recent results against Sheffield United and Barcelona, coming as it did in the wake of the slightly-too-exuberant night out in Portugal.

Rafa seems to have built a dream midfield, and new-kid-on-the-Kop Javier Mascherano looked the solid player he was at last year’s World Cup. That aside – on current form – he still isn’t their best central midfielder, and neither is Gerrard or Xabi Alonso. That honour belongs to Momo Sissoko, who was simply phenomenal in the Barcelona game. Another foray to the right wing for Gerrard perhaps?

All things said, this game has all the makings of a classic; but as all predicted classics go, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised with an eventual stalemate.

Liverpool vs. Manchester United
LIVE from Anfield. Saturday, March 3rd, 2007. 7.45 pm.

This is the match of the week!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Christiano Ronaldo by far, has been the player of the season....there's no denying that...

Anonymous said...

No argument from me - Ronaldo best player this season... so far! Nice new template.

Doreen said...

*rubs palms together excitedly* oh yes, classic it is. the clash of old time rivals.

i was just thinking, what happens if there's a huge thunderstorm around Klang Valley at like.. uh.. 7:30pm on Saturday?

ASTRO sure KO.

Sunil said...

Hmmm .. Someone better get the weather report for Saturday before hand. Definately going to be a cracker!

Lily G said...

that pic of rooney up there is sooo ...errr...ronaldo, if you know what i mean :p

Anonymous said...

Man utd play dirty in Lille match...
Lose respect of man utd...boo

Anonymous said...

I hate to admit it but I dont think MU were playing dirty in the Lille match. Same complains time and again from teams who don't get their defence organised, when THEY are the ones who foul the opposition. The whole point of the freekick is to give advantage to the team that has been fouled.

I just hope this comes back to bite MU soon... ie. they concede a free kick and don't get their wall organised in time and WHAM!

spiller said...

like what they've said in ESPN Football Focus, Sissoko's performance in Nou Camp was exceptional, no doubt about that. he was MOTM in fact.. but i believe he can't perform at that level in every game for pool.

the best central midfielder for pool is definitely Alonso. he has been consistently outstanding.

Match of the week, where would u be watching? ;)

sic6sense said...

ronaldo is playing well. rooney looks sluggish in comparison.

spiller, frankly i think alonso is having a shite season. Gerrard is the best and the problem with sissoko is that he cant pass and bloody score.

Desparil said...

doreen,

quick, take that back, take that back right now!

*cross fingers and prays for clear skies and even clearer astro transmission*

Anonymous said...

Keropok & sic6sense,
I would actually go on a step further to say Rooney is currently the weakest link in MU, followed by Carrick. All other players seems to be doing well.

Should be a good game at Anfield this weekend. Here's to good weather in Malaysia.

Miguel

waffles said...

go all yer scousers! wuh wuh wuh.

Anonymous said...

Alonso's not having a shite season...Alonso's just plain shite!

Unknown said...

Yah... Ronaldo! Hopefully he can keep his pace. Rooney needs some booster la.

Doreen said...

Des: Wahahaha. Oh, I was reverse psycho-ing the weather k! OK lah OK lah *takes back what she said about the Klang Valley thunderstorm*

Cosmic_GurL said...

Ronaldo is on a roll huh? And he's so young! Well, good luck to all of u ManU fans out there...

Desparil said...

anybody knows a good bomoh? just in case lah..

Ariel said...

ok. i came, i saw, and then wondered, "Di manakah warna hitam?"
(text colour doesn't count):-)

and then i it hit me that not everyone has to like black just coz i do and... yeah..

oh yeah, the game besok. the g-man's been trying to convince me to cancel attending a friend's wedding reception so he can watch it. i told my friend to have a tv & astro at the reception coz i'm thinkig quite a number of ppl would wanna watch it. lol

Anonymous said...

Manchestr United 1 (Giggs)
Liverpool 2 (Kuyt, Risse)

I have the gift of foresight.

the witch's broo said...

manchester manchester manchester
UNITED
WE WILL WE WIll *********

GoRgEoUs CeO said...

I agree with graham poll..

Can't wait for the match..

Anonymous said...

liv 0-1 man united (90+1 o'shea)..
ten man down, 15 shots on goal for liv while man u only managed 6..and who came back as a winner?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....go walk alone you scousers!!!!

Keropok said...

I'm as hardcore a United fan as you'll ever find one... and while I can't be too proud of the manner of a number of (dubious) United victories this season, this one was bona fide.

Undeserved... but bona fide.

You can get lucky, but you're never going to score if you're camped in your own half. If United hadn't pushed on - in spite of being a man down against a highly offensive Liverpool, mind you - Giggs wouldn't have won the free kick, which eventually led to the goal.

Fortune favours the brave, I guess.

I guess what I'm saying is that it isn't all down to luck; sometimes its about the luck that you make.

Mat Sempit said...

Yeah, yeah... whatever! The way things are being said I wonder why we dont just give MU the damn trophy already......... Another 9 games to go, all the play for. And dont forget MU still have to visit Chelski. I will consider that the most useless game this season!

GoRgEoUs CeO said...

Referee kelong lah. Liverpool would have scored if not for that offside rule.

Mirebella said...

Im just pleased that we managed to not only get away relatively unscathed - we also managed to break Liverpool's record of 15 hrs of not letting a goal in so its a blessing.

At the end of the day, the better team might not have won..but the team that won is the one that got the goal in innit?

Take it as karma for the Henry goal a coupla weeks back :-)

Anonymous said...

I like your dog-eye view. :)

Monster Mom said...

haha.. my first time here n i'm enjoying it...
when'll be ur next en3?
cheers mate!