[Bluesummers]

(IMG:http://www.9cristianoronaldo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Cristiano_Ronaldo.jpg)
(IMG:http://sportige.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Pato-Ronaldinho.jpg)

(IMG:http://cdn.serieatalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/milan-vs-realmadrid.jpg)




GAME INFO:


TUESDAY

OCT 19, 2010

20:45 CET

SANTIAGO BERNABEU









(IMG:http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4857/maldinidegouteparsansir.jpg)

[X-Offender]

You were talking about them as footballers, not their consistancy or longevity (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Dinho wins hands down as a footballer. Longevity? Obviosuly CR has the upper hand, Dinho lost his way, as we see happen with most Brazilians, maybe it's their mentality. But he's managed to work his way back, maybe not to the standards he set out, but that's because those standards were so rediculously high that no matter what he does now will pale in comparison.

C.Ron didn't win Man U the title by himself, don't build him up to be something he's not, Man U had a great all round squad when they won the CL, now if you want to talk about players winning their team the title talk about Kaka in 07, or Maradona leading Argentina to that WC practically single handedly. Not C.Ron with Man U (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Consistency is part of being a great footballer, han. I explicitly stressed it in my previous post. Ronaldinho lost his will (along with everything else) when he flopped big time in the 2006 WC, and he's never been the same ever since.

(IMG:http://i51.tinypic.com/10i8oqv.jpg)

Ooooh, I love this little fan talk before big matches! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Carry on sons, it gives the match up weight, and makes the occasion even more special. The thing with Ronaldinho is that even though his spark was too bright, it was too short lived. Few people can match his peak of 2002-2006, talent, creativity, and game reading skills. That and the fact that the Portuguese is physically well built, taller, and has a bigger, stronger frame which means he can make faster runs, dodge defenders, get up quickly when he falls down and still keep control on the ball, not to mention faster reflexes. But when it comes to pure talent, Ronaldinho wins it all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Then again, pure, unadulterated talent gets you this far in professional football. He's 29 for Pete's sake, and looks, feels and moves 39.

Now if we compare Cristiano to the Real Ronaldo, then there isn't even much to write about between the two. That Brazilian wins hands down. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) In case of R80, Cristiano has enough time to catch up with him, and part of that is because of Ronaldinho's own doing. He let himself down, flabby tummy, partying and all.

Exactly. Being talented means nothing if you can't live up to it. Look at Cassano, or Reccoba. Big talents but huge flops. Dinho wasn't a flop, he had his moments of huge glory, but it was short-lived.

By the way, Dinho made 30 in March, so don't say 29. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[acid911]

Exactly. Being talented means nothing if you can't live up to it. Look at Cassano, or Reccoba. Big talents but huge flops. Dinho wasn't a flop, he had his moments of huge glory, but it was short-lived.

True, that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) If we had the technology to make perfect (and similar) clones of both players, but give their respective talents to each players, Ronaldinho will take it quite easily. Give him physique, physical strength and will (let's admit it, Cristiano has more of it now), make them the same age, say 25, and pitch them against each other, bucktooth will have his number.

But what X-Off is on here is that this isn't the case. Ronaldinho has fallen from the high branch and frankly that's the reason he is here, even Ibra, Milan likes to get players that are off their peak form and fitness, and we get them cheap, try and recondition them and hope the gamble pays off. I'm sure everyone knows and understand this, but see this Football-Italia piece on Top Foreign Plays to Play In Seria A:

A second approach is the one currently being adopted by Milan. Rather than try to go for an untested youth who might explode or a superstar with a price-tag to match, they have been dipping into the bargain bucket. A bit like an eagle-eyed shopper at the sales, they have been quick to pounce on other people’s cast-offs. It doesn’t always work out, of course, but the sums appear to add up in the deals for the likes of Robinho and Ibrahimovic. With big-spending clubs keen to cut their losses and meet squad size requirements there is always a potential deal or two to be done.

Once again, however, this approach has to come with a health warning. Many of these players are discarded for a reason – perhaps their character, injury-prone physique or plunging form. Whatever the cause, they represent as much of a gamble as an unknown teenager. They also have the extra downside of being potentially much higher profile mistakes.

Source

In essence, he is a discarded player, and if he wasn't I doubt we'd have been able to get his signature this easily. This also means that if my life depended on it, I'd put my money on Cristiano (even though I don't like that fella that much) than Ronaldinho to give a good performance over a stretch of matches. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) And this is precisely the reason why I am keenly anticipating this match to see which player leads his side through. The WC match of Brazil against Portugal was another one that had the potential of a lifetime (Kaka vs Cristiano in national colors), but that was a dab downer.

As of this writing, I still consider Ronaldinho the better player overall (looking at their career) than Cristiano, but the Portuguese is closing the gap. And fast. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) He isn't there yet, surely, but another four years at the top flight, with a CL win at the Real Madrid, and they'll be even. Cristiano is immense, guys, love him or hate him, he just lacks the patience and experience, which Ronaldinho got at a young age. The only edge R80 will have now is if we were playing park futsal with 6 players a side. A slow tempo game, with not much of a pressure situation.

By the way, Dinho made 30 in March, so don't say 29.

Oh jolly good then, I'm not too big a fan of his (though appreciate the fact that he is playing for our club, and gives good performance more often than not), been years since I've visited his wiki page, never paid attention to his date of birth, so thanks for clearing that up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif) 30 he is, then!