It's funny how he's playing nearly identical to last year and displaying the same attitude as last year, but back then he was the absolute 100% Balon D'or greatest player on the planet with amazing determination and drive for success, and now he's this bitter, angry aging man with a busted knee on the decline.
It goes to show just how much your team plays into the perception of you as a player. If he were still getting handed penalties/tap-ins left and right, he'd still be the beloved and unstoppable CR7.
I don't really understand the criticism that much of his play. He wasn't that good of an overall player earlier in the season either (or last season for that matter). He's there to do his very one dimensional role, and he does it very well. He's there to finish off the work and creativity of others which is exactly what he was doing in these past 2 weeks, 4 shots leading to 4 goals in the last 2 games.
I think I rate Cristiano far lower than most people, but there's a lot to be said about synergy in a football team. And he synergizes perfectly with his team in the role he plays. People complaining about him being the problem now are just as silly as the people claiming he was the reason for their success earlier in the season.
Bale is a horrible player and has horrible synergy with this team. He is an example of a problem. Cristiano isn't and won't ever be this season.
...Here's to many more years of the BBC