The Ronaldo thread

[WingsForDinner]

Well, we're set to hear the "imminent" decision from Ronaldo sometime today or tomorrow, so I thought a thread for discussion would be appropriate. We'll see whether or not he makes the move to Real or stays with United.

Seems to me as though he's just grabbing the attention with no real plans to move on. Then again, he could have planned his move out of Old Trafford many months ago...all we can do is wait and see.

It's not as if United don't have strikers to replace him with in terms of scoring, a la when Bolton lost Anelka; however, a player that can put the ball in the net and do a decent job in midfield is hard to come by. So, an interesting next 24 hours awaits.

[bedir than average]

I'm all for a big shake up that would be involved in a C.Ronaldo move, the trickle down should be intriguing.

[WingsForDinner]

As if United weren't being petty enough, they've announced today that Ronaldo is not for sale, and they will not entertain offers for him. A bit scared of loosing him, I suppose; however, they should welcome the player furthering his career more than anything, I'd say...

[bedir than average]

How does a player further their career by moving to a team that was less successful?

[WingsForDinner]

By embracing the task of helping that team become more successful.

It's easy to go to a successful team and have success, but it's a true challenge, and a character builder, to go to a team with less success and help them become successful.

Look at Anelka -- he was the stroppy Frenchman prior to his move away from England, and subsequently back to England. He helped Bolton during his time at the club, regardless of what happened last season (which could have turned out for the better if he had stayed, but that's another issue). The time spent at Bolton and in Turkey helped him to further his career (all the way to the Blues' Bench!) and shift the focus from his attitude as a teenage to his form and attitude now.

Ronaldo could be in a similar position of helping a club that's down on it's luck (though still a world-class club) regain the former glory. A club's current lack of success doesn't mean that players moving to that club won't find ways of furthering their careers.

[bedir than average]

I'm just thinking that a player of his caliber can't really prove himself any better at the club level.

Now if he takes Portugal to UEFA'08 or WC'10 he'll be cemented as one of the best ever.

[WingsForDinner]

Aye, but now the hunt is on for a new manager for Portugal, which shifts the focus away from events on the pitch (the WC Qualifiers in September) and onto the "exciting" hunt for Scolari's replacement.

It's true, though, helping Portugal to success in WC 2010 would be a huge notch in the belt towards being one of the best.

With regards to the club level -- perhaps not, but there's still the character that needs some work. Going to a less-successful club and enduring the team struggles that Man United don't face too often can only be beneficial for a player the likes of Ronaldo. He's 23 and has the ego to go with it, give him a club with some hard times and help to take him down a peg or two. Hell, the best move he could make would probably be to PSG at this point

[bedir than average]

He should actually just join the Fire in Chicago with the likely addition of McBride, bringing them up through the MLS, the CCL and finally to the World Club Cup.