not sure what people want from him

You must be joking.

Then you talk about regularly? And then about Messi?
Non sense. Ronaldo is 10 times more regular than Messi will ever be. Messi is as regular as Robben.

Ronaldo is 10 times more regular than Messi will ever be. Messi is as regular as Robben.

Yes and it was a good goal. Unfortunately when rating players, scoring one goal every now and then and playing shite for the other 95 minutes doesn't usually mean you're any good.

I think this big game thing is inaccurate, as far as I know he has a decent record against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, then he scored in the CL Final, not sure what people want from him to be honest.

In any case, I don't think it is the big games these stars need to be good in, we know all too well with Milan that it's easy for players to be really up for it in the big games, but it's against the small teams that we've often struggled against, United rarely have that problem with Ronaldo on there team, he shows up for them games.

Decent game? yes. decent game for someone who is to win all the individual awards in one month's time, someone who scored 42 goals last season, someone who is considered by many the best player in world right now, etc.? IMO not at all. he was average like most of his teammates.

And we're talking about now, not 5 years later! I say if he's that good why he fails to make an impact in big games regularly?

Besides Messi is two years younger than Ronaldo and has already shined in many big games.

It's easy to be up in the big games? What are you talking about man? Of course championships are won again the smaller sides but that does in no way mean it's easy to stand out in the big clashes.

Maybe that's not a saying you know about or something? To be "up for the big games" means that' it's easy to be motivated for them and not so much the smaller teams, we see this all the time. I'm not saying it's easier to stand out in them, I just think putting great displays in against crappy sides is just as important (if not more) than playing great in the big games. Arsenal are a good example of it this season, it's all well and good beating United, but it ultimately means nothing when you've lost to Stoke.

What does that have to do with anything? These awards are for least season! He was the best player in Europe last season and he deserves them...

Alright then, about now... what is impact for you? Just goals and assists? Cause he was the main danger for Arsenal's defense and he kept their fans on their feet the whole game... I cannot name a single player that has shined in every big match he's played in

I would not say many but yeah. Messi does not shine in every big game either though... no one does and that's what I'm saying.

Maybe that's not a saying you know about or something? To be "up for the big games" means that' it's easy to be motivated for them and not so much the smaller teams, we see this all the time. I'm not saying it's easier to stand out in them, I just think putting great displays in against crappy sides is just as important (if not more) than playing great in the big games. Arsenal are a good example of it this season, it's all well and good beating United, but it ultimately means nothing when you've lost to Stoke.

But he will be the best player in the world for 12 months! he has to live up to that tag!

As a player who will be judged the best in the world based on numbers (before everything you hear people say 'he has scored 42 goals, wow, he is the best'), yes, I expect him to score goals and win the games single handedly when it matters.

And I don't say he must perform in EVERY signle big game of his career! it's obvious no one can do that. but I think Ronaldo is far from a player who's performed in 'most' of big games. remember he's at the peak of his career...

Again, I never said Messi has performed in EVERY big game. my point was that age does not always matter.

I don't think so. there are competitions like World Cup, Euros and Champions League. these are won by big-game players (please don't start the 'he scored in the final' thing he did alright in the CL [he certainly did not have amazing, jaw dropping performances there] but people would have NEVER said he is the best in the world if only the CL performances were to be considered). these are the competitions people will mostly remember big players with, not league games.

Just my opinion.

he did alright in the CL [he certainly did not have amazing, jaw dropping performances there]

What tag? He was the best player OF LAST SEASON! Does he have to be the best player for the rest of his career to prove he was worth of that award?
And if you think he has, then what about Kaka? What about Cannavaro, Ronaldinho and Shevchenko? They all were mediocre the season after they won the award does that mean they did not deserve it? (Well Deco should have won it instead of Sheva but anyway...)

You make absolutely no sense to me! Whoever wins this award wins it for what he does not for what he will do! Based on your logic, the same should apply to teams too and we should be stripped of our 07/07 CL win because the next season we were eliminated in the Last 16 Round and finished 5th in the league...

He is in his peak? He's only 23!

I understand you think there is someone who deserves the Ballon d'Or more than CR!? Who is he?

Gosh. I should get out my popcorn! Interesting discussion here.
Congrats to Locke on Arsenal's win. Sounds like it was a good game!

Ronaldo offers one thing that alot of top players don't though, consistancy. Yeah, he may not be amazing in all the big games, but he's very, very rarely bad in them either, neither is he bad against the easier teams. He finished top screr in England, the Champions League and the World, so he's doing it in all the games, big or small. In my opinion he's the been by far the best player in the World in 2008, if he doesn't win World Player of the Year it's a joke.

Players are remebered for what they do in the big games? Maybe so. But for me the CL doesn't hold much weight, it's a fixed competition so the big teams can always reach the latter stages so the 'stars' can show what they can do. It will never be as important as a league title for me, because there's no fixing, you all play the same teams and have to keep a level of consistancy for 8 straight months, not just a few games every now and then.

BUT HE IS YET TO WIN THOSE AWARDS!!!

It makes no sense to me that he should stop performing his wonders because last season's performances will win the awards for him! after January it's a different story...

Your logic sucks! I don't know what that's got to do with what I said!

And I said people see things this way. they judge him based on the number of his goals. they don't care the number of his assist is unimpressive for example...

All I'm saying is that as the best player in the world he is not good enough in big games and today he confirmed this.

He is at his peak! we can't say he will become better in the future because we are not prophets! we can only talk about past and present.

Screw you! I never said that.

I did not say you did, I said "I understand..."

Ronaldo has scored like 7 already, and he was injured until late Sep. I mean it's not last season but it's hardly rubbish.

If he turned up for the big games and not the others he would be branded 'inconsistent' if he turns up for the little games consistently he's branded 'a little game player', the guy can't win. I forget scoring in games like the CL Final mean nothing...

I don't think he's that bad against the big teams it's just that they have a stronger defence, I mean it's not the same comparing Hull City and then Liverpool's defence.

I'd like to know who is better, I mean Messi hardly set the world on fire against United either.

Last season Ronaldo was a little greedy, I think he only had 2 or 3 assists, but who can blame him for not passing if everything you do results in a goal?

Oh please. He had around 250 shots on goal, he had to score some of them.

Oh please. He had around 250 shots on goal, he had to score some of them.

And as for Adebayor...

Adabayor didn't have nearly as many.

Fabianski just made the best save The Emirates have ever seen!

Fabianski just made the best save The Emirates have ever seen! Frankly, I haven't seen better since Seaman's FA Cup heroics back in 2003.

Get Fabianski.

Sack Carlo.

Fabianski just made the best save The Emirates have ever seen! Frankly, I haven't seen better since Seaman's FA Cup heroics back in 2003.

''I had a coin threw at me a few weeks ago but I couldn't have thrown it back if I wanted to'' - Harry, the World does NOT revolve around you, shut the hell up for a change!

By the way, Eduardo should be back in 2 or 3 weeks, and Rosicky might start training again in 6-8 weeks.

how many games have he played for arsenal uptill now

61 apps in all competitions.
that's mostly because he hasn't played since January, this guy is the "glass man" impersonified.

Before you start questioning the sanity of quoting myself, I'll explain that I am dazzled and slightly bewildered at the moment, so bear with me as best you can.

I'll have a little lie-down now.

He's my favorite player both in Arsenal and Czech NT. Too bad he has a body made of silk!

''I had a coin threw at me a few weeks ago but I couldn't have thrown it back if I wanted to'' - Harry, the World does NOT revolve around you, shut the hell up for a change!

Chips off the menu for England

England players appear to have had their chips after coach Fabio Capello revealed he had taken the traditional British favourite off the menu.

The Italian has also slapped a ban on tomato ketchup after impressing on his squad the importance of healthy eating in their quest to qualify for the next World Cup.

Speaking to the latest edition of Fifa Magazine, Capello spoke of the sweeping changes he has made since taking over from Steve McClaren as England manager last December.

He said: "I have, for example, impressed upon (the players) the advantages of a Mediterranean diet over ketchup and chips.

"I have also put some rules of conduct in place for when the national team meets up, from eating breakfast together to the use of mobile phones, which must be switched off from time to time."

The new regime is a world away from the McClaren era, where players were referred to by nicknames and the atmosphere was altogether more casual. Capello, it has been reported, prefers the use of surnames.

But while his methods may seem a little austere, results speak for themselves, with England currently sitting pretty at the top of their World Cup qualifying group after taking maximum points from four games.


'I hope that's not salt and vinegar, I can smell...'
Capello confirmed there had been no dissension in the ranks, explaining: "The players have been very co-operative, and that is a clear indication of the high level of professionalism at their clubs.

"Arsenal's academy, for example, is the perfect example of how young players should be brought along at all European clubs."

But not all Premier League managers share Capello's views on eating habits.

When Harry Redknapp, who has won five out of his six games since taking charge at White Hart Lane, was asked whether a change in diet had contributed to Tottenham's amazing turnaround, he replied: "If you can't pass the ball properly, a bowl of pasta's not going to make that much difference!"

And in his column for The Sun this week, he wrote: "I know the odd indulgence doesn't hurt players from time to time...besides, what can you do? Can you follow a player home to check if his missus is giving him steak and kidney pie for tea instead of pasta?"

Food for thought, perhaps, for the England coach.

You kinda quoted the wrong part there buddy...