| Johaldo8 wrote: |
Messi p!ssed all over Ronaldo.
What did Messi create? In one word. FEAR. Every time the brilliant Argentine touched the ball you could see United's defence quickly shuffle across to get more numbers on him. This guy can beat players like they simply aren't there - see the way he beat Scholes on the touchline? Or when he jinked past the same player and could have had a penalty at the start of the second leg? My favourite was the nutmeg on Ronaldo himself right at the death, as if to say "you might be in the final kid, but as long as I'm around you're second best". To quantify the chances he created, I will recall the chance he manufactured himself when VDS pulled off a flying save to his right after Messi skipped past two United defenders. I also recall two sub standard shots from Deco from better positions than from where Scholes scored - both moves which led to Deco shooting were created by Messi. The cutback to Eto'o (where he chose to pass rather than shoot) after beating Scholes. Iniesta's dangerous cross which Brown just managed to clear - Messi orchestrated the move. Some of these aren't clear one on one chances, but they are opportunities where more should have been made from them. Messi did his bit. More significantly, when you consider that Fergie pretended to be Benitez and stick 10 men behind the ball (going totally against his own attacking principles), the number of chances Messi STILL managed to create was very impressive.
Now...what did Ronaldo create? He didn't create the goal or can claim an assist in the goal, that's silly talk - he was dispossessed fairly by Zambrotta and the Italian was in complete control of the ball, so that's when Ronaldo's contribution to the move ended in my opinion. That goal was all about Paul Scholes' shooting ability. Apart from a dribble near the end when Barca threw even more caution to the wind and Ronaldo shot wide, I don't recall anything of note. Don't forget that he wasn't given anywhere near the attention Messi was, and that Barca stuck to their principles of trying to attack and hence left far more space for United to exploit than United did. Only that Ronaldo made very little of it.
The difference between the two is probably best explained by the fact that Barca felt one man (Zambrotta) could look after Ronaldo. United needed Brown, Evra, Carrick (tracking back) and sometimes even Rio to stop Messi. He requires extra attention from the opposition - a true mark of respect. rrrrRonaldinho's post sums it up perfectly. Messi brought fear to United's defence.
But forget the comparisons to Ronaldo. The only player in the world who can match him is Kaka, but for my money Messi is the best player I've seen since Zidane. We are watching the early stages of a young man's career who has the ability to match the all time legends of the game i.e. Messrs Pele, Maradona and Cruyff. |
Great post Johaldo, I seem to have lost track of this thread and missed your writings...until now
Now Roonanialdo is about to p!ss all over Johaldo
I note that you chose the easy option and jumped on the bandwagon with the majority of other people on here.
So Messi created FEAR, in your opinion, well I didnt see ANY United players running SCARED, they handled him tactically well and in a very professional manner, and no matter how much FEAR you think he created, it all amounted to ZILCH as far as being an affective influence on the result of this game. What he needed to create was GOAL chances and all he managed was one shot on target easily saved by VDS. The rest of his play resulted in dead ends, or intercepted and ineffective passes. He was not involved at all in either of Deco's missed shots as you incorrectly state he was. Yes, Messi brilliantly beats Scholes in the box and immediately spoils it with a poor pass easily intercepted for United to counter-attack. If there was any fear in anyone's mind it was that of SAF's who once again opted for a stifling Italian style of play in this very important European game. The man just get's better and better with regard to out-thinking his managerial opponents and his team followed orders to the letter and deserve all the plaudits for maintaining impeccable discipline under pressure from the very gifted Messi.
You argue that Ronaldo can not be credited with any contribution towards the goal scored by Scholes and yet you openly credit Messi for similar contributions to Barcelona moves that ended no-where, and you omit a number of key contributions made by Ronaldo that created clear cut GOAL chances for his colleagues. Your argument is thus unfair and unbalanced. So you don't recall anything of note. I will remind you.
Ronaldo received a pass from Ferdinand and ran at the Barca defence, drawing 3 Barca defenders and creating the space for Scholes in midfield, he was disposessed by Zambrotta, Ronaldo continued to press Zambrotta and forced an error from the defender who passed the ball into the path of Scholes, who then scored. The goal would not have happened without Ronaldo's massive contribution and mere presence (FEAR factor I believe)...end of.
A ball played from midfield over the heads of the Barca defence and Ronaldo's pace allows him to pick up the ball on the left side of the Barca box, under severe pressure from 2 defenders he quickly and unselfishly turns a pass into the path of the oncoming Park who should have done better with his placed shot, just wide.
A ball headed across the Barcelona goal sailed over Ronaldo's head, he picked up the loose ball in the box and, pressured by 4 defenders, he turned it inwards with a reverse pass into the path of Nani who's flicked shot was JUST turned around the post by the keeper. Sheer unselfish brilliance from Ronaldo.
Tevez receives the ball 5 yards outside the centre of the Barca penalty area, he plays a ball into the feet of Ronaldo, surrounded by 3 Barca defenders, Ronaldo lays off a fantastic wall pass for Tevez to run onto and shoot, bringing another save from the keeper.
Nani picks up the ball just outside the United penalty area and starts to counter-attack, who is ahead of him, Ronaldo surrounded by 2 defenders, Ronaldo breaks forward at pace receiving a pass from Nani, and under pressure from 2 defenders plays Nani back in, as Nani takes on the Barca defence and has a shot, over the bar. And who was lurking in the box for a pass or loose ball, Ronaldo.
Tevez picks up the ball in right midfield, fires a pass forward to Ronaldo, surrounded by 3 defenders (btw Zambrotta is on the other side of the pitch at this moment), Ronaldo beats one man, two men, and shoots wide with his weaker left foot when challenged by the third defender.
Barcelona are pressing strongly for an equaliser in the last minutes of the game, a cross comes into the United box and who is there towering above everyone to head clear, Ronaldo (Evra was injured in the incident).
Bojan is thrown on and attacks the United defence on the injured Evra's area of the pitch, who is there getting in a tackle, Ronaldo, unfortunately he gives away a free-kick in the process, the last one of the game, the game is over after it is taken.
Ronaldo had to put up with WILD challenges anytime he got near the ball.....Milito just outside of the Barca box took Ronaldo at the knees as Ronaldo attempted to dribble past him (straight Yellow in my opinion but no booking), not unsimilar to the Scholes/Messi incident. From a corner he was blatantly taken out by a shouldered body check from the same player. This was a blatant foul and penalty...not given yet again to Ronaldo. In contrast, Messi was handled fairly by the United defenders.
So I say......don't listen to the one sided argument put forward by Johaldo, and don't disrepectfully disregard his talent because Johaldo THINKS that Kaka is better or that Messi is better. Ronaldo is a wonderfully talented individual with physical attributes that supplement his skill, that both Kaka and the one dimensional (one footed) Messi can only dream of emulating.
Now I don't suppose for one moment that this post will receive the plaudits drawn by Johaldo...simply because I am a biased Manc......or so most people think.
