Profile of the Month :: Christiano Rolando -> the real CR7
Nick : CR7
Birth : Februari, 5th 1985 Funchal,Madeira,Portugal
Position : Midfield
Height : 6'1
Weight : 13st 0lbs
Cristiano Ronaldo became Manchester United's newest young hero when he signed from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003 and was immediately given David Beckham's number 7 shirt.
The Portuguese teenager was expected to take his time to settle in England, but made an immediate impact with a stunning debut against Bolton at Old Trafford. While he did not always replicate that level of performance in his first season, Ronaldo's tricks were always entertaining at the very least.
Sir Alex Ferguson made sure he gave the youngster plenty of rest, and the three week break he enjoyed after Christmas certainly paid dividends with some inspirational performances towards the end of the season.
While Manchester United's title challenge was fading fast, Ronaldo's importance to the team was becoming more and more evident with each game. The season ended on a high for him with a goal in the FA Cup final and a call-up to Portugal's Euro 2004 squad.
He started the tournament on the bench, but his performances and goals persuaded Luiz Felipe Scolari to make him a crucial part of the team that went all the way to the final, though Ronaldo was left in tears after Greece spoiled the hosts' party.
Those tears were soon turned into smiles though as he became a firm favourite with the Old Trafford faithful in his second season at the club. Indeed, along with fellow youngster Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo's superb season was one of the few highlights in an otherwise poor campaign at Old Trafford.
Despite a small dip mid-season, his crowd-pleasing tricks saw him make 50 appearances all in all, scoring nine, often lavish, goals including two in a Barclays Premiership game against Arsenal.
He continued this fine form for Portugal, scoring seven goals as they made a strong start in their World Cup 2006 qualifying group. 2005/06 was a mixed season for him, with off-field troubles and heartbreak affecting his form on it. He improved after Christmas, scoring six goals in five games in February, including one in the Carling Cup final.
Ronaldo also performed well for Portugal in the World Cup in Germany, helping them get to the semi-finals, although his tournament was overshadowed by the part he was alleged to have played in getting Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney sent off in the quarter-finals. The young winger was made public enemy number one by the English press, while quotes attributed to him about wanting to join Real Madrid only made him more unpopular.
With many fans, both opposition and Manchester United, baying for his blood at the start of the season, Ronaldo rose above the criticism to put in some stunning performances for the Red Devils and was the key figure in their push for the title in 2006/07, not only winning that trophy but also every individual award going and establishing himself as one of the best players in Europe.
He continued to shine in 2007/08, his fine form helping United to a Premier League and Champions League double.
He scored 42 goals (just two short of Ruud van Nistelrooy's club record), but beat George Best's long-standing goal-scoring record for a midfielder.
One of those goals came in the Champions League final against Chelsea and, despite missing a penalty in the subsequant shoot-out, United still claimed glory.
Such was his impressive form that he attracted the interest of Spanish giants Real Madrid. He has done little to dismiss rumours of a move there, and it still remains unclear if he will be playing his football in Manchester or Madrid next season.
Reference @ www.carling.com
The Gunners "SHOOT" Red Devils 2-1
A double from French forward Samir Nasri condemned United to a second defeat of the season, and moved Arsenal ahead of the champions in the Premier League table. The Gunners' summer signing from Marseille struck with 20-yard efforts in either half, while United had only Rafael's late consolation to show after passing up a string of chances.Wayne Rooney, Anderson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ji-sung Park were all unable to find a way past Manuel Almunia, while Gael Clichy was a touch fortunate to survive a first-half penalty claim for handball. The first half was a captivating affair, with chances cropping up from the get-go. In the first minute, Manuel Almunia picked up an errant back-pass from former Reds defender Mikael Silvestre and, from the resultant free-kick, Anderson’s effort was inadvertently blocked by Ji-sung Park, and Michael Carrick sent the rebound just wide. After eight minutes, the Reds went one better and found a route past Almunia, only for Berbatov to see his goal chalked off. Great build-up play between Neville, Ronaldo and Park ended with Rooney’s curling effort being parried out by Almunia, before Berbatov converted the loose ball, having been lurking in an offside position.
In response, Gael Clichy fizzed in a superb left-wing cross which found Bendtner in-between Ferdinand and Vidic, but the Dane could only guide his free header over the bar. Two minutes later, he was again guilty of a glaring miss, failing to apply any kind of touch to Nasri’s in-swinging cross. That move was exceptional, but bettered by a piece of United teamwork in the 18th minute. Anderson skipped away from Fabregas and found Berbatov’s run inside the area. The Bulgarian fed Ronaldo, who slid a ball back for Rooney, but the England striker fired over when well-placed, 15 yards out.
For a game of such speed and incision, it was far from fitting that the opening goal came from a set-piece and a deflection. A right-wing free kick from Fabregas was headed clear by Berbatov, as far as Nasri on the edge of the area. The Frenchman’s left-footed strike took a telling deflection off Neville en route, leaving van der Sar helpless as the ball sped past him. United’s response was to dominate possession immediately afterwards.
After Gallas had prevented Evra bursting into the Arsenal area, Ronaldo's perfectly drilled in-swinging free-kick clipped Clichy’s head, but somehow inched past the far post. The game continued at a breathless pace, with Walcott firing a volley off-target for the Gunners and Park having a fine left-footed effort powerfully parried away by Almunia. The Reds had a reasonable shout for a penalty turned down when Rooney's cross struck the arm of Clichy inside the area, before Anderson wormed himself through a cluster of Gunners defenders, but saw his close-range effort clutched gratefully by Almunia. Somehow, just the one goal was the collective end product of some superb attacking play from both sides. Within two minutes of the restart, however, Arsenal struck again.
Fabregas turned Neville and slid a pass to Nasri, who took advantage of space created by Walcott's run to drill a fine shot high past van der Sar. Little more than a minute had passed when United had a glorious chance to pull a goal back. Park again worked well down the left and curled in a delightful back-post cross, but Ronaldo sidefooted fractionally past the far post. Had that opening been converted, Arsenal's nerve would have been tested. As it was, the hosts were able to regroup, and proceeded to defend as if their lives depended on it. Time and again a home defender applied a telling touch or block to curtail a United forward foray, ensuring an afternoon of frustration for the Reds. Sir Alex Ferguson introduced Rafael, Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez as the second period wore on, with a view to injecting more attacking incision, and it was the young Brazilian who belatedly gave his side hope. In the final minute of normal time, Silvestre headed Giggs' cross clear as far as the edge of his own area, where Rafael took a touch on his chest and lashed a stunning left-footed volley past substitute goalkeeper Fabianski, who had earlier replaced the injured Almunia. It was too little, too late though - despite six minutes of injury time - as the Reds were unable to forge another opening and were left to rue a glut of spurned first half opportunities.TEAM LINE-UP :
ARSENAL: Almunia (Fabianski 78); Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy; Walcott (Song 78), Denilson, Diaby (Toure 86), Fabregas, Nasri; Bendtner. Substitutes: Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou. Booked: Gallas, Sagna, Clichy
MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar; Neville (Rafael 63), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Giggs 72), Park; Berbatov, Rooney (Tevez 77). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Nani, O’Shea, J Evans. Booked: Evra, Carrick
United is AWSOME..!!!, "Kill" celtic 3-0
Manchester United strolled to victory to leave Celtic's Champions League hopes hanging by a slender thread.
Dimitar Berbatov looked offside when he flicked home a close-range finish to put United ahead after 30 minutes.
And there were similar doubts about his second, turned in on the rebound after Celtic keeper Artur Boruc could not hold Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick.
Wayne Rooney emphasised the gulf in class between the sides with a 20-yard shot on the turn with 14 minutes left.
United are now sitting pretty at the top of Group E and on course to qualify for the knockout stages, but Villarreal's win against Aalborg leaves Celtic with an uphill task to emerge from the group phase.
Gordon Strachan's side was below-strength and it showed as they never looked like making a dent in a dismal Champions League record on their travels that now reads played 17, lost 16 and drawn one.
But they will also point to two debatable United goals, although in reality they were massively inferior to their English counterparts.
Manchester United lost Rio Ferdinand with a groin injury, but Ronaldo kept his place despite speculation that he might be rested - and he played his part in a vibrant first-half display from Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
It was Celtic, however, who posted the first danger after 11 minutes when Aiden McGeady forced Edwin van der Sar into a save low to his left with a 20-yard shot.
United went ahead on the half-hour, but it was a contentious moment that will have left Celtic and their massed ranks of supporters nursing a sense of injustice.
When John O'Shea jabbed the ball into the danger area following Nani's corner, Berbatov was clearly in an offside position as he flicked a finish beyond Boruc.
Scotland captain Darren Fletcher should have made it two on the stroke of half-time when he cut inside and shot over the top from only 12 yards.
United doubled their lead six minutes after half-time, but again Celtic will ask justifiable questions about the legitimacy of the goal.
Boruc could only palm out Ronaldo's vicious long-range free kick for Berbatov to turn in the rebound, but the Bulgarian appeared to be in an offside position when the ball was struck.
Rooney had the ball in the net again seconds later but it was ruled out for offside, although this time it was United who could ponder a questionable decision.
Ferguson made a double change on the hour, sending on Carlos Tevez and Wes Brown for Berbatov and Gary Neville.
And the Argentine almost got in on the act instantly with a 25-yard shot that was deflected just inches wide.
Celtic had sent on substitutes of their own, with Paul Hartley and Shaun Maloney replacing Barry Robson and Shunsuke Nakamura - but they were having trouble creating any clear-cut opportunities.
And they were powerless to stop United as they swept forward to add a third with 14 minutes left, almost inevitably through Rooney.
A move that started with Van der Sar's throw out ended with the in-form England striker scoring on the turn from 20 yards to make it nine goals in seven games for club and country.
It was a fitting flourish to another outstanding display by Rooney as United continue to move ominously into top gear.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (Brown 59), Evans, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo (Park 82), Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Berbatov (Tevez 60), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Giggs, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson.
Goals: Berbatov 30, 51, Rooney 76.
Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, Loovens, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura (Hartley 61), Scott Brown, Caldwell, Robson (Maloney 61), McGeady, McDonald (Sheridan 77).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Hinkel, Donati, O'Dea.
Oh my, Wayne's two good
Rooney wasn't the only Red on target, either: Rio Ferdinand broke the deadlock on 52 minutes after an unconvincing first half that saw the Three Lions booed into the break. Wayne played a big part in pressuring his marker to concede an own goal 12 minutes later, before getting on the scoresheet himself with a neat downward header from Wes Brown's cross. His second, a poacher's goal from close-range, arrived just moments before he was substituted.With Ukraine and Croatia playing out a 0-0 draw, England's win moved Fabio Capello's side to the top of Group 6. Elsewhere, Reds midifelder Darren Fletcher captained Scotland to a 0-0 draw against Norway at Hampden Park. The Scots will have been disappointed not to take all three points in a game that saw Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo commit "the worst miss by a Scotland player in living memory" (The Telegraph). There weren’t any goals in Stockholm either, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani turned out for Portugal against Sweden. Patrice Evra and France headed to Romania in search of victory, but Les Bleus will be pleased enough with a point after going 2-0 down after 17 minutes. Fellow United defender Nemanja Vidic was involved as Serbia cruised to a 3-0 victory over Lithuania in Belgrade, but Jonny Evans was powerless to stop Slovenia snatching a late 2-0 win against Northern Ireland. In Argentina, Carlos Tevez played 90 minutes against Uruguay in a fiesty 2-1 victory. Although he didn't find the net, Tevez looked sharp and played a major role in the home side's win. On Sunday, Manucho was in the Angloa squad but failed to take the pitch as the Black Antelopes beat Niger 3-1. Likewise, Anderson was an unused substitute in Brazil's 4-0 win over Venezuela. Meanwhile, Ji-sung Park captained South Korea to a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in a friendly ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against United Arab Emirates. Result of WORLD CUP QUALIFYNG : England 5-1 Kazakhstan Scotland 0-0 Norway Sweden 0-0 Portugal Romania 2-2 France Slovenia 2-0 Northern Ireland Argentina 2-1 Uruguay Angola 3-1 Niger Venezuela 0-4 Brazil International friendlies : South Korea 3-1 Uzbekistan
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