What a player. My favourite player of all time. Feel robbed that he has such a short peak due to injuries but still ended up coming back as half the player he was at his peak and destroyed defences and goalkeepers. Unbelievable how many times he slept the goalkeeper. Don't even think he considers him a keeper rather just one more opponent to get past before rolling the ball in an empty net.
Love it Big Will. Imagine playing Ronaldo at his best, as a central defender or keeper you'd have been having nihilistic visions of inevitably being turned into an instant Buster Keaton slapstick routine on that evening's news.
For real. He really was something special. The pace, power, flair. He had it all. Ine thing that video shows as well is his movement. Guy was forever on the shoulder of the last defender and knew exactly when and how to move to get a 1 on 1 without straying offside.
With all these grainy videos I sometimes imagine what it would have been like if Ronaldo was at his peak during these social media and 24/7 football coverage days. Looking back at some of his old clips, you'd think you were watching something from the 70s. I could have sworn video quality wasn't that bad in the 90s, was it?
He's the reason I've never quite been able to take Cristiano Ronaldo seriously regardless of how many goals he scored. Some talent levels are just on a different level. His supposed rival Messi is one of them. Ronaldo original was another.
Two of my favorite footballing memories are related to him as well. Henry at the Bernabeu and watching Ronaldo's carcass singlehandedly wreck man u's champions league hopes that year.
flobaba Some talent levels are just on a different level.
Yeah, totally. It's like the difference between man killing himself to maximise his mortal talent on the one hand, and being touched by a miracle of God on the other. That the original Ronaldo's athleticism and physique collapsed so fast spoke volumes about the unearthly way his talent had operated.
Ibra retires. Legend.
Gerrard to manage in KSA tells us he's not a serious manager. Imagine he probably didn't get approached by any European clubs that he felt 'matched his stature'. Bit like when Lampard turned down the opportunity to apply for the Norwich job and then proceeded to do jack shit at (an admittedly dysfunctional) Everton and Chelsea.
Ancelotti to Brazil next season. Good move for him, if he wins the World Cup for them he will probably be the greatest manager by trophies won
Don Pacifico Imagine how Villa fans feel, having watched Emery take over and take Villa from 16th to 6th in 19 games. The switch was worth more than a point per game.
Although I've always loathed Gerrard, he was a terrific player. But even as a player he was the type of guy who'd never change a bad decision, and would embarrass himself fairly regularly. Well, if becoming a manager was one such bad decision, maybe disappearing to Saudi Arabia will spare his blushes for a few years.
My understanding is Gerrard hasn't even gotten the reins of one of the clubs that's all juiced up with PIF money, so surely he'll suck shit over there as well.
Burnwinter Emery is an example of someone who had to work hard to get to where he is now in his managerial career. If Gerrard isn't willing to learn by taking a step backwards then he'll fade pretty quickly I reckon. Managing in KSA, I'm not sure what he'll really learn as the league looks a bit of a farce.
Burnwinter It's quite weird most of the top British CMs flopped as managers while the top Spanish CMs are awesome at them
The English u21 team is legit impressive. Haven't concede a single goal and playing tiki taka every game. Angel gomes in particular looks a real gem
Cmon Emile
England take the lead through a deflection after being outclassed completely the entire half.
And now a fight broke out as Palmer celebrated in front of the Spanish bench
Spain are technically a level above but only 1 shot on target
What an ending. A bogus penalty given after 6mins of stoppage time after dude was lying on the floor for 3 minutes while the game was going on. Keeper saved the penalty and the rebound. Then Spain get a red following that. Gibby White also sent off lol. 11 mins and counting but looks like England has won it..
What an ending! Spain could play for another 90 mins and not score.
guess Man City weren't selling some random goalkeeper for up to 19m pounds to Burnley then 
Big Willie penalty call was correct. Save was incredible. Didn't think Spain were that much better than England, if England had any sort of striker they'd have scored a couple more. Spanish kept the ball well and their long passes connected a lot more often than Englands but they'd no guile in the final 3rd. England carved them open a few times but just lacked a finisher.
The lack of a good CF could be a real issue for England in a couple of years as Kane ages out.
