Cristiano Ronaldo Will Never Be a Manchester United Legend

"You can argue as much a you like Miles but Ronaldo will never ever be a Man Utd legend!"

This was the scathing and agitated response I got from a mate who happens to be a Manchester United fan through and through. As a modest Charlton Athletic supporter it beggared belief that this thought could be the consensus amongst Reds fans, so here beings the investigation.

Firstly I refuse to patronize the footballing masses by trawling through the various achievements, trophies and accolades amassed by Cristiano Ronaldo under Sir Alex Ferguson.

What is fact is that the right winger scored 118 goals in 292 appearances and what is obvious is that he was United's most influential and important player, as well as being certified as officially the best player on the planet at the peak of his United career.

For a midfielder his scoring record was exceptional and his goals per game ratio eclipses that of any other midfielder let alone right winger to have ever played for Manchester Untied. A prolific dead ball specialist, an accomplished dribbler, a deft finisher from range, a predator in the box and in the air he scored all types of goals and in important matches too.

He netted several crucial goals in Premier League matches in three seasons of dominance for the north east team including goals in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup final and a Champions League final to boot. The talisman also topped the assists charts setting up his team mates as often as he found the back of the net himself.

The exclusive group of players that go down in folklore at Manchester United are never disputed and this is probably why Ronaldo rouses so much debate in this field. Many fans feel he treated the club that made him with disrespect by openly pursuing his dream move to Real Madrid in what would turn out to be a world record breaking £80 million fee.

Others point to some of his on field antics as a reason he may not be appreciated as much as he should be. Everyone bar opposing defenders enjoys the silky skills of the Portuguese superstar, playing his game with a cocky arrogance which in fact is an undeterred belief and confidence in himself to be the best he can possibly be.

But when things were not going so well United fans were exposed to a different Ronaldo. Diving to win free kicks or going down too easily, arguing with officials, sulking and moaning, choking when he needed his composure the most.

In the eyes of some United fans that alone restricts him from sitting side by side with the greats to have pulled on the red shirt but to me it washes as a senseless and weak argument typical of the modern football fans selective memory bank.

His ability is unquestionable but it's when you throw the likes of Bobby Chalrton, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane or George Best into the mixer that the debate intensifies. An 11 year old United fan would not try to pretend that Eric Cantona or Denis Law are they're favourite players to have donned their teams colours. So there is a great number that would feel Ronaldo would probably be the best player they have ever seen in United colours.

But for a 60 year old veteran supporter, opinion would surely differ. But that insight into the understanding of the clubs history should not distort the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is amongst some of the best players to have played for that club in decades.

Article Source : bleacherreport.com

Alan Shearer Football Legend

Always remembered by many with that famous right boot wearing the black and white of Newcastle or white of England he was a true great english player one im sure that will turn to a manager in the future. Shearer was rejected by Newcastle as a schoolboy at the famous Wallsend Boys Club and instead signed as an apprentice with Southampton at the age of 16. He made his debut as a substitute against Chelsea in 1988, before prompting national headlines with his full debut a month later when he scored a hat-trick against Arsenal. At the age of 17 years and eight months, he broke the record for the youngest hat-trick scorer in top-flight football which had been held for more than 30 years by Jimmy Greaves.He never became truly prolific for Southampton until 1992, when he slammed home 13 goals from 41 appearances. Having become a regular for the England team at under-21 level the previous year, scoring 13 goals in just 11 matches, this potent spell by Shearer was noticed by Graham Taylor, coach of the senior team, and Shearer made his debut against France in February 1992.Like his full debut at club level, his full debut in international football was memorable. Shearer scored a poacher’s goal in the first half as England won 2-0, with the other goal coming from Gary Lineker, who was retiring in the summer after Euro 92

Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish who, armed with unlimited funds from club benefactor Jack Walker, offered Southampton an irresistible 3.6 million pounds for their prized asset, and Shearer made his move,man utd where also in the picture to buy him.Shearer settled down and became the most feared goal scorer in the Premiership. He rattled in a huge 31 goals from 40 games in the 1994 season as Blackburn finished a close second in the table behind Manchester United he also won footballer of the year that season.in 1995/96 42 games, he scored a phenomenal 34 goals as Blackburn took the Premiership title on the last day of the season at anfield even thou they lost the game.

After the success of Euro 96, Shearer rejected lucrative offers from other top clubs to fulfil his childhood dream of playing in the black-and-white jersey. “All I ever wanted to do was play for Newcastle. I’d stand on the terraces dreaming of the day I would walk out on that hallowed turf.” That day arrived on August 6 1996, when Shearer’s return home shattered records worldwide, making him the world’s most expensive player at £15m. But it was a move made for sentiment and not money as Shearer not only returned to his roots but got to play under idol Kevin Keegan. The move was a crowning glory for Geordies and a remarkable part of English football history as 15,000 people stood in a rainstorm just to watch him wave.

Sadly, Shearer’s Newcastle seasons have been plagued by injury woes and by the sudden departure of Keegan. His rather quick recovery from a career-threatening injury suffered in 1997 helped his team avoid relegation. But as always he did score some great strikes for Newcastle and the famous one hand celebration we will never forget!

Off the pitch, Shearer has been deemed bland and boring. His deadbat television technique and taciturn PR skills are largely responsible for this tag. One magazine described him as having “all the personality of a suet pudding” while 2 infamous Newcastle directors, labelled him ‘Mary Poppins’. Former Blackburn team-mate Tim Flowers too has dubbed him ‘Mr Mogadon’ while another has commented that he kept Shearer’s season diary next to his bedside as it put him to sleep. Shearer was once challenged by team-mates to incorporate the title of an Abba song into an interview. So he answered a question with: “Yes, but the winner takes it all.” In a now famous comment

Mark Lawrenson who worked with Shearer at Newcastle says, “That’s Shearer. Put a microphone under his chin and a camera in front of him and he switches off. But I can tell you now that he has got one of the most outstanding personalities in football.”

A true great and yes he is good for match of the day beu would make a great Newcastle manager. Here is a video showing some great footage it kicks in after 30 seconds enjoy!

Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona appointed new coach of Argentina

Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona was named coach of the national side here on Tuesday according to 1986 World Cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo after he came out of a meeting with Argentinian Football Association president Julio Grondona.

The 48-year-old - who almost singlehandedly led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup trophy - won crucial support last week in his bid to become the next Argentina coach when the man charged with finding Alfio Basile's successor threw his weight behind the World Cup winning skipper.

“I'd like Maradona to be the next coach,” said Noray Nakis, the president of the Argentina Football Association (AFA) selection commission.

Basile resigned a fortnight ago after a World Cup qualifying defeat to Chile.

Maradona faced competition for the job from Carlos Bianchi, the former coach of Boca Juniors, whom he led to four national league titles, San Lorenzo coach Miguel Angel Russo and Sergio Batista who took the Under-23 squad to Olympic gold in Beijing in August.

What Does it Take to be Called a Legend of Football?

Through the years we have seen plenty of players with the ability to amaze us with their skill and tremendous talent.

Players like Zinedine Zidane, Diego Armando Maradona, Dennis Bergkamp, Pele, Roberto Baggio, Romario, Jurgen Klinsmann, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Zico, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, Georghe Hagi, Hristo Stoitchkov, and many more stand out from the rest with their exquisite skill.

But that brings us to the point where we could ask ourselves a few questions. What has really made them into the great players—legends, even—they are considered to be today? What does it take to be a legendary player? Is skill enough or is it something more?

In my opinion, it is the latter.

One factor that could be a catalyst in the development of a player’s career is his character. The character of footballers, as in real life, can either help the player gain fame, or bring him to his downfall.

We have witnessed cases in which a footballer with breath-taking skill has been booed by fans and hated by the media, simply because his character is somehow contradictory to the publicly accepted values.

I could not stress more the importance of a player’s loyalty towards a club or his country, as well. If a player is not loyal towards a club of his choice throughout his career, then that would surely damage his image with the public.

The same goes if a player is not loyal to his country. Even if he shows spectacular talent and skills he would still be looked at in doubt and disrespect.

A typical example of this is Nicolas Anelka, who undoubtedly has a tremendous amount of talent but his lack of loyalty towards any team, and his poor decisions throughout his career, remain the main reasons why he would never join the ranks of the greatest players.

Some people would ask how the lack of loyalty towards a club can really matter on the football field.

When the players are down there, it comes to being eleven versus eleven, and a ball. So how could a decision made by the player, who is not pledging his loyalty to a club, possibly affect him and his team on the pitch?

I think it matters exactly how you behave on that field. It is on that football field where you can see the real character of a man.

Nothing can be hidden there. The lack of loyalty or commitment can be easily seen on the football pitch. The state of mind of any of the players can also be easily sensed. At the end of the day, it comes to the things that really matter: your god-given skills and your way of using them.

Sometimes though, it is not that simple. Sometimes there are outside factors that could influence a player’s performance on the field.

The truth is that no matter how good a footballer may be at playing the game, he would always remain under the restrictions of how he should behave on the field and, indirectly, outside of it. Crossing those boundaries will further him from being accepted in any society, thus inevitably damaging the player’s career and reputation.

Do you remember Paolo Di Canio’s Fascist salutes? Do you remember Joey Barton’s misbehaviour on the field, or outside of it?

There are some things that a player, however talented, simply should not do, like attacking a fan, or behaving too aggressively towards his opponents or teammates. That would just damage the reputation of the player, no matter how good he is. It is never simple in the world we live in.

I doubt if a young boy who is making his first steps in football would want to become like footballers of such quality.

A legendary player has to have the necessary qualities to be an example for the next generations of footballers. He has to epitomize the ideal footballer, to which future talents will strive to become.

That can be achieved not only by having a unique and impressive style of play on the field, but also by showing a socially acceptable and admirable behaviour outside of it.

A great footballer has to burden himself with the responsibility that comes with being one.

He has to know that all eyes are turned towards him and in response; he must attempt to act as an example for younger players and future generations of footballers. Only then he can he become a legend.

Maybe that is why some footballers will never be legends. They would be remembered as just one of many others who possessed talent. Nevertheless, those who carry the responsibilities on their shoulders can never be forgotten.

Footballers such as Thierry Henry, Johan Cruyff, Pele, Bobby Charlton, Ferenc Puskas, Franco Baresi, Michel Platini, Dennis Bergkamp, Paolo Maldini and many, many more are footballers who will always be in the hearts of fans and the people who enjoy football.

This is not simply to the fact these people have raised the level of football from a practical point of view but they have also contributed to the improvement of the ethics of football.

They have put a mark on the world with their characters and have revealed to the younger generations a successful path to glory.

Do you see Ronaldo as a Man United Legend

Will Ronaldo go down as a Man United Legend?


Man United sign a 18 year old ronaldo for £12m in the summer of 2003, picured here alongside another magnificent talent - kleberson.



Ronaldo signs a contract extension till 2010 in the summer of 2004



Ronaldo looses out on the young player of the year to rooney to seasons in a row between 2004-2006




In euro 2006 Ronaldo apparently played a part in Rooney's sending off and his infamous wink made him extremely unpopular with united fans. Real came knocking on the door and Fergie only just kept him at united, convincing him he still has a future in england.




Ronaldo finally wins the league for the first time in may 2007, scoring 28 goals in the process making him PFA player and young player of the year for the first time in his career. He also signed a contract until 2013 fending off Madrid's intrest



March 2008 vs Bolton, Ronaldo captains united for the first time, breaking george best's 40 year old record in the process. That season he scored 42 goals in 49 games!! He was PFA player of the year for the second year running, was 3rd in the world player rankings.




Despite scoring a header for united vs chelsea in the CL final, ronaldo misses his penalty. Luckily for him Terry and anelka did no better.


2009- Ronaldo agrees with blatter on comments that he is a slave, again trying to force a move to madrid. Instead he stays and wins the premier league for the 3rd year running and becomes world player of the year.




Ronaldo plays his last game for united, in an all white strip. United lost, he later took off his loser's medal in discontent and slammed fergie's tactics. In total he had made 292 appearances for united, scoring 118 goals.

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Honours

Club

Manchester United

* Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
* FA Cup: 2003–04
* League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09
* FA Community Shield: 2007
* UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
* FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Individual

* UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament
* FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06
* Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2006–07
* UEFA Team of the Year: 2003–2004, 2006–07, 2007-08
* FIFPro World XI: 2006–07, 2007–08
* PFA Young Player of the Year: 2006–07
* PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
* PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
* PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
* FWA Footballer of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
* Barclays Player of the Season: 2006–07, 2007–08
* Barclays Player of the Month: November 2006, December 2006, January 2008, March 2008
* Barclays Golden Boot: 2007–08
* Barclays Merit Award: 2007–08
* European Golden Shoe: 2007–08
* UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2007–08
* UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
* FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2007–08
* Ballon d'Or: 2008
* FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
* FIFA Team of the Year: 2008

Orders

* Officer of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique
* Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza)[67]

Italian masters and pasta disasters

With Carlo Ancelotti on his way to Chelsea, we take a look at how his fellow Italians have fared in English football.

GIANFRANCO ZOLA
The diminutive sardinian was idolised at Chelsea as a player. He was one of the first Italians to join the Premier League when he was signed by Chelsea in 1996 and his considered by fans at the Bridge to be one of their greatest ever players.
Zola returned last year when he was appointed West Ham manager in September to replace Alan Curbishley. Despite little coaching experience, having only been Italy Under-21 assistant coach for less than two years, the Italian steered West Ham away from relegation to a ninth place finish.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

MASSIMO TAIBI
Highly-rated Taibi moved to Old Trafford from Italian side Venezia for 4.4m in 1999. But the keeper endured a nightmare stay-highlighted by a howler against Southampton when he let a Matt Le Tissier strike nutmeg him.
Things got worse for the hapless Italian when he was blamed for two of the five goals United leaked during a humiliating away day at Chelsea.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

CLAUDIO RANIERI
Ranieri joined Chelsea in 2000 with a lofty reputation after achieving European and domestic success with Valencia. His lack of English proved a problem initially, though, and the Blues finished sixth in his first season in charge.
In 2001 he made one of the most important transfers in the club's recent history-signing Frank Lampard.
Ranieri did not improve on the league placing the following season (2001/02) but led the team to the FA Cup final, where they lost to Arsenal. Fortunes improved in 2002/03 with the Blues qualifying for the Champions League, but the arrival of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich put Ranieri's job in jeopardy as speculation grew that Sven-Goran Eriksson was being lined up as a replacement.
Ranieri lasted another year, though, during which time he splashed out millions on rebuilding his squad, bringing in the likes of Claude Makelele, Wayne Bridge, Glen Johnson and Hernan Crespo.
Chelsea were runner-up in the league-their best finish for 49 years-and they reached the Champions League semifinals, but it was not enough for the italian to stay put, and he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

ANDREA SILENZI
Silenzi became the first Italian to play in the Premier League when he was signed up by Nottingham Forest in 1995. Let's just say he didn't lay much of a benchmark.
He made just 20 appearances and scored only two goals. He was loaned out but when he refused to return from his spell at S.S.C. Venezia, it is alleged that Forest manager Dave Bassett tore up his contract.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

PAOLO DI CANIO
The king of controversy may have split opinions but no-one could argue that he was a magnificent footballer. When he wasn't pushing referees he was scoring wonder goals for West Ham that have secured his status as a legend at the club.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

ATTILIO LOMBARDO
Lombardo was named caretaker player-coach alongside Tomas Brolin as Crystal Palace in early 1998 for the remainder of that season. He could not save the club from relegation, however, and left in January 1999.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

ROBERTO DI MATTEO
Di Matteo adapted superbly well to his English surrounding after his move to Chelsea from Lazio. The Italian was the main catalyst behind Chelsea's 1997 and 2000 FA Cup successes and won a total of six trophies in his six seasons at Stamford Bridge.
He's now turned his attention to management with the MK Dons, where he's been quietly going about his business and getting his team playing the type of football that you would expect under an Italian manager.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)

ROLANDO BIANCHI
Sven Goran Eriksson shelled out close to 9mil. to sign the Reggina star for Manchester City, and Bianchi looked to be well worth the money after scoring on his debut and then hitting a 20-year screamer in the Carling Cup.
After that though, the goals dried up. He scored five goals in 24 games before being firmly strapped into his seat on the plane and returned to Italy.
Verdict : dispiace (A Mistake)

GIANLUCA VIALLI
The Chelsea striker had a tempestuous relationship with manager Ruud Gullit during his playing days and was often forced onto the bench, but Vialli was to have the last laugh when he replaced the Dutchman as manager in 1998.
In his first few month in charge Chelse won the Coca-Cola Cup and the European Super Cup, as well as finishing third in the Premier League.
The following season Vialli led his team to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on their debut, but they finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League.
Vialli did guide Chelsea to an FA Cup final triumph over Aston Villa, however, and started the 2001/01 season brightly with a defeat of Manchester United in the FA Charity Shield-the Italian's fifth trophy in less that three years.
Five games into the season, though, Vialli was sacked.
Verdict : bellissimo (Very Beautiful)