Cristiano Ronaldo - v1

[raskolnikov]

OK so just yesterday I said this knee thing is probably an excuse, but after watching today's game I'm not so sure. His mobility seems so much more limited, and he couldn't sprint on counter-attacks like he used to. Maybe he doesn't want an injury lay-off and lose in the goals race. He had a huge lead over Messi at one point in the season and now he is actually behind on goals+assists despite playing a game more.

I dont think his knee bothers him that much, you woudnt make a bicycle kick like that when you are injured right? unless you are Pele in that sly stallone movie perhaps.
That one moment when he couldnt get past that bald defender in the first half and dived to get an easy freekick was telling though.
Maybe its just a combination of all things, regardless though, with a bad knee, bad form or whatever he could still easily score 2 goals in a game like this, he wa s abit unlucky today. Doesnt mean he won't easily reach 40+ goals in la liga this season and probably next season as well.

 

[footyfan]

I dont think his knee bothers him that much, you woudnt make a bicycle kick like that when you are injured right? unless you are Pele in that sly stallone movie perhaps.
That one moment when he couldnt get past that bald defender in the first half and dived to get an easy freekick was telling though.
Maybe its just a combination of all things, regardless though, with a bad knee, bad form or whatever he could still easily score 2 goals in a game like this, he wa s abit unlucky today. Doesnt mean he won't easily reach 40+ goals in la liga this season and probably next season as well.

I don't know, I'm not sure a bad knee would affect a bicycle kick as much as it affects sprints or running, and they are a key part of his game. Also, that kind of shot-making is very instinctual, I don't think he has the time to consciously not attempt an overhead kick.

The switch to the forward role does mean that he has to sprint less though, however that switch is also bringing his technical deficiencies into focus. I'm fairly certain this position is his future, because his instinct and movement are still great and it's not that hard to pound the lower La Liga teams into submission even with limited mobility.

 

[dakt]

Ballon dor

 

[putogusiluz8]

It kinda just hit me, how did he win the Ballon D'or in 2013 when Madrid won diddly. I was just wondering about that, I understand 2014 because he won the CL but I don't understand how he was worthy of it any other season if you look at stats I think Messi was equal. Someone refresh my memory.

 

[barca1899]

It kinda just hit me, how did he win the Ballon D'or in 2013 when Madrid won diddly. I was just wondering about that, I understand 2014 because he won the CL but I don't understand how he was worthy of it any other season if you look at stats I think Messi was equal. Someone refresh my memory.

Hat-trick vs Sweden -> extended voting period.

 

[KingMessi]

It kinda just hit me, how did he win the Ballon D'or in 2013 when Madrid won diddly. I was just wondering about that, I understand 2014 because he won the CL but I don't understand how he was worthy of it any other season if you look at stats I think Messi was equal. Someone refresh my memory.

The "How can Messi win if he hasn't played for half the year" idiotic logic.

 

[footyfan]

The "How can Messi win if he hasn't played for half the year" idiotic logic.

That logic is idiotic to you? Really? How many games must a player miss before he can be excluded from realistically winning the Ballon D'Or? The goal gap between Messi and Ronaldo was fairly significant (45 vs 69), the major reason being Messi's missed appearances. Going just beyond goals - although that was the season Barca won the league, the majority of their lead over Madrid was built up in 2012, infact in their matchups in 2013 they got eliminated from the Copa Del Rey and traded wins in the league. It was also the season Barca got pounded 7-0 on aggregate by Bayern. On an individual level, Ronaldo was better than Messi for fair chunks of 2013 - and it's not just revisionism. Jan-Feb went to Ronaldo, March to Messi, April was a disaster for both of them. September to Messi, Oct-Dec to Ronaldo.

Despite all of that, Messi only lost by 3-4%. IMO, contrary to what most people believe, Ronaldo deserved his Ballon D'Or more in 2013 than 2014. In 2014, he was not even the best player on his own team - he only got the Ballon D'Or because Ramos, Di Maria and Bale bailed Madrid out in CL and Cup. He was also a lot more team dependent in 2014.

 

[raskolnikov]

That logic is idiotic to you? Really? How many games must a player miss before he can be excluded from realistically winning the Ballon D'Or? The goal gap between Messi and Ronaldo was fairly significant (45 vs 69), the major reason being Messi's missed appearances. Going just beyond goals - although that was the season Barca won the league, the majority of their lead over Madrid was built up in 2012, infact in their matchups in 2013 they got eliminated from the Copa Del Rey and traded wins in the league. It was also the season Barca got pounded 7-0 on aggregate by Bayern. On an individual level, Ronaldo was better than Messi for fair chunks of 2013 - and it's not just revisionism. Jan-Feb went to Ronaldo, March to Messi, April was a disaster for both of them. September to Messi, Oct-Dec to Ronaldo.

Despite all of that, Messi only lost by 3-4%. IMO, contrary to what most people believe, Ronaldo deserved his Ballon D'Or more in 2013 than 2014. In 2014, he was not even the best player on his own team - he only got the Ballon D'Or because Ramos, Di Maria and Bale bailed Madrid out in CL and Cup. He was also a lot more team dependent in 2014.

Agreed, he deserved it more in 2013 than 14, just the way how he won it was pathetic and corrupt.
I feel it should be awarded based on a football season. Yearly based is unlogical and leads to the first 6 months of individual performances being overlooked.

 

[putogusiluz8]

That's why i was confused basically because the damn thing is based yearly it's half of two seasons put together it makes it a little bit hard to remember how shit went down exactly.

 

[putogusiluz8]

Footy did a good job explaining.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

If Ramos didn't score that header vs Atletico to take the Cl final to extra time then I'm almost 100% certain Ronaldo wouldn't have won the balon dor.

Further analyzing, if three very close matches went differently(Barcelona vs Atletico for la liga, Atletico vs Real, and the world cup final) then the comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo wouldn't exist anymore. Such is life though and Messi is playing amazingly while Ronaldo is in shit form now.

 

[JamDav1982]

If Ramos didn't score that header vs Atletico to take the Cl final to extra time then I'm almost 100% certain Ronaldo wouldn't have won the balon dor.

Further analyzing, if three very close matches went differently(Barcelona vs Atletico for la liga, Atletico vs Real, and the world cup final) then the comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo wouldn't exist anymore. Such is life though and Messi is playing amazingly while Ronaldo is in shit form now.

There is loads of situations like that for every player that ever won the balon dor.

Could just as easily say... had Masch never made that tackle against Arsenal Messi would not have won it one year.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

There is loads of situations like that for every player that ever won the balon dor.

Could just as easily say... had Masch never made that tackle against Arsenal Messi would not have won it one year.

Messi was by far the best player in the world that year though. Ronaldo wasn't even the best player on his own team.

 

[JamDav1982]

Messi was by far the best player in the world that year though. Ronaldo wasn't even the best player on his own team.

Ronaldo was the best player in the Real Madrid team and deserved the balon dor.

Messi did next to nothing in the bigger games to deserve it.

Ronaldo has been by far the second best player in the world these past 5/6 years. Barca fans trying to deny it are as bad as the child like Real fans that try to discredit everything Messi does and point to Xavi/Iniesta being the real brains of the team.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

Ronaldo was the best player in the Real Madrid team and deserved the balon dor.

Messi did next to nothing in the bigger games to deserve it.

Ronaldo has been by far the second best player in the world these past 5/6 years. Barca fans trying to deny it are as bad as the child like Real fans that try to discredit everything Messi does and point to Xavi/Iniesta being the real brains of the team.

Di Maria, Ramos, and Modric were all more influential in the champions league than Ronaldo. It's not like Messi made it to the world cup final and won the golden ball or anything...Oh wait he did while Ronaldo didn't even get out of the group stage.