OT: Ronaldo Returns to Man U
Just when the EPL couldn't be any better- they go and do this!
August 27th, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
Yeah I just saw that and was totally surprised. I don't know what's more shocking - this or Harry Kane ultimately deciding to stay at Tottenham. Also - first two weekends of games have been really good already.
August 27th, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
While I fully recognize that La Liga, Serie A and the Bundes are all great leagues, I just don't get the same enjoyment from those matches as the EPL. There's something special about the games being on NBC, USA, the environments, and the fact that it has a pretty large following in our country.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
Production value and accessibility absolutely matters and the EPL nailed it. La Liga wasted a decade of Messi and Ronaldo by only being broadcast in the United States on BeIn Sports (at least for part of the time? Not knowing the answer speaks to the point). I had to go so far out of my way to get access to it, and never just put on random La Liga games like I would EPL games because of it. Serie A and the Bundesliga recently joined up with ESPN+, but at this point the EPL secured their foothold in the U.S. and I don't really see myself trying to get invested in an additional league at this point.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^
Pretty much this. I will only watch the other leagues when the marquee teams are televised (if I find the matches at all).
Meanwhile, I'll watch any EPL match regardless of the side. I realize there are only two or three clubs capable of winning the league title, but the depth of talent is incredible right now.
August 27th, 2021 at 5:36 PM ^
I’m not sure English-speaking Americans were ever going to get into Spanish soccer beyond the big two, and two teams probably isn’t enough to justify a league-wide TV deal. If you’re NBC and you’re trying to broaden the appeal of the sport to mainstream US audiences, the EPL is culturally a much easier sell.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
I can see that. I think it's natural for Americans to mostly be into the EPL. And I think it's actually good for the other leagues. I overall consider the effect of American money and American fans to be a net negative on English football as it dilutes the local character of the game.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
I think there are plenty of levels that can remain localized in English football (Championship, League One, etc). Those clubs have plenty of history. The EPL doesn't need the Americans to make it the most popular and lucrative league in the world.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
Harry Kane didn't really have a choice.
He's signed through '24 and Manchester City didn't meet Levy's evaluation of him and stopped coming back to the table once their second terrible offer was laughed out of the room. His brother's conduct didn't really help matters either.
Frankly, I think this all a set-up for him to move on next year when economic conditions are better throughout the sport and Spurs can try to move him somewhere NOT in England.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:09 PM ^
I can’t imagine Ronaldo’s ego allowing him to play the role the team needs him to play to be successful. Pogba and Bruno need the ball. Add in the addition of Sancho and Ronaldo is at best their 3rd best player. He isn’t the same player he once was and his ego isn’t going to allow him to recognize that.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:34 PM ^
Dreamboat is kind of in a tough spot - not good enough to be a workhorse anymore but too good to be put to pasture in the MLS. Becks went the same route and was able to draw a paycheck for occasional set-play brilliance.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:34 PM ^
Maybe, but maybe not.
Ronaldo and Ole played together for 4 years so there is a relationship there. Sir Alex is still around the club. And Ronaldo was going to Goto city until Rio, Rooney and others started talking to him about how he would burn himself with United if he went there.
It seems that there are a lot of people around United that have known him for a long time to keep him focused and to have honest conversations.
Who knows though, it could blow up in spectacular fashion. Even then it was only 15 mil euros fee for one of the top 10 scorers in the world.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:22 PM ^
JFC, does everyone have to play for City??
August 27th, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^
Everyone but a real striker.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^
Problems in the middle too?
August 27th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
For city? Theyre weak at cb if they lose Dias.
But their cm is stacked. Fernandinho and rodri.
Debruyne, grealish, Bernardo, foden and gundongan.
They should have 60 pct possession against anyone.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:43 PM ^
3rd best player? Lol.
You may even be right. But Cristiano is one of a handful of names in the world who might make the casual fan pay weekly attention.
This is a HUGE move for Man U and the ?
August 27th, 2021 at 3:53 PM ^
1. Cristiano is going to produce. 30 goals wouldn't surprise me
2. he steps up in big games.
3. ManUtd doesn't have a good attacking target in the box, he fills the role.
4. ManCity desperately needs a finisher, so this also counts as addition by opponent's subtraction (a tactic we're familiar with around these parts).
5. Cristiano is going to draw a TON of attention from defenders which opens up space for Bruno; B.Fernandes could see his field production increase a lot even if his goal output will likely be impacted.
6.Man Utd signed him for relatively low cost so the risk is rather minimal. Jersey sales and TV revenue will make a quick payback.
7.Return of a special player to the club.
All of these make it a no-brainer of a move. EPL will be a blast to watch this season.
August 27th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
Nobody wins against Father Time! I followed Ronaldo closely at Juventus. He isn’t the same player he was at Real or Man U. He is 36 and can’t do what he once did. No way in the world he sniffs close to 30 goals.
August 27th, 2021 at 7:47 PM ^
30 would be crazy.
He is not at United for 30 goals on 15 mil euros.
United have cavani, greenwood, martial and rashford in a pinch.
Ronaldo needs to split time with cavani and score 40 between the pair to be a success.
Cavani is gone next season and cr7 keeps the seat warm for haaland and scores sub goals like cavani did this year.
You are way too concerned with ronaldo being the cr7 of 10 years ago as opposed to a big piece of a team that uses him in the right spots.
August 27th, 2021 at 1:49 PM ^
Transfer window is full on drunk in the club and I LOVE it.
August 27th, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
Is Becks coming back too?
August 27th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
In related news, I posted a detailed breakdown of Michigan's depth chart on a Manchester United website.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:20 PM ^
It's almost as if this post was marked OT and had some pretty clear markers of what is was about.
This is a Michigan Sports board that talks about other sports as well and there are a lot of soccer fans on the board. Why this particular form of bitching continues to be a thing will ALWAYS mystify me.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:39 PM ^
I know this got negged a bunch by the “fuck you soccer is awesome don’t post if you don’t like it” crowd but that was funny as fuck for real
+1
August 27th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
As a new/casual fan to soccer, and with the groups drawn for the CL yesterday, I was curious and looked up lists of the top 50+ players. I was gobsmacked that like half of them play in the EPL (Man City, Liverpool, Man U and Chelsea). The other half are all on PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Those 8 teams all have like 5-10 top players, and the hundred or so other top flight Euro clubs have 0-2 each. Shit's crazy to me
August 27th, 2021 at 2:08 PM ^
it's all about the money in the global game. the have's and have not's really seperate themselves. PSG has a video game level attack right now with arguably 3 of the top 10 players in the world.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^
Yet the EPL won't let Newcastle get sold to the Saudis...
August 27th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
It's like they took enough flack for the sportswashing going on at Chelsea and city and said enough!
God forbid.
Let the Saudis go buy st Etienne and have a proxy war in ligue 1.
The EPL media contract is so good that if Newcastle can't sell to a real buyer, and not a disgusting human rights violating petro state prince, it is because their current management has run one of the great clubs into the ground.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
There is no dispute whatsoever that the current owner has run the club into the ground. In fact, he's been downshifting in hopes of really driving it deep. At the same time, there are only so many potential buyers out there.
That said, the Prem has already said that it's decision wasn't based on sportswashing and human rights concerns. Maybe that's just them trying to be PC, but seriously, is there really any difference between Man City being owned by the Qatari and Newcastle being owned by the Saudis? Nope. It's just a NIMBY spat between some of the richest countries in the world.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:53 PM ^
Sportwashing, LOL. Dumb term, and Man city aren't state run by Quatari, that's PSG. Man City are owned by Sheik Mansour and run by the City Football Group, hardly state sponsored, but every media outlet has lead their readers to believe that nonsense. Yes, the owner has more money than God, but lets be real, man U is in debt to it's eyeballs, yet spends just as much as man city, which isn't in debt at all, and they have won fuck all but a Europa league in the last 4 years.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:14 PM ^
Hardly state sponsored? City? Lol.
Hit the googles or wikipedia son.
Mansour is abu Dhabi royal family, using the royal family holding company to buy city and spin off cfg.
But when you're 16 and choosing a team and just choose whoever is good, then you hit 25 you have to have a way to justify it I guess.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
Remind you of anything? Money talks
August 27th, 2021 at 5:44 PM ^
It turns out that soccer players all love that delicious English cuisine and 4:00 pm sunsets in the winter.
Or they like getting paid a lot.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:09 PM ^
obligatory...
August 27th, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
Everything old is new again! Unreal...
August 27th, 2021 at 2:34 PM ^
Except Michigan winning the Big Ten.
(sorry, had to)
August 27th, 2021 at 2:50 PM ^
Rashford Ronaldo Greenwood up front will be trouble for most teams with
Pogba and Fernandes feeding them. Varane and MaGuire in the back. Bye Cavani, Bye Fred.
Glory Glory! Best day since Michigan hockey recruiting ; )
August 27th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
Still need Cavani. Still need Lingard. Still need Fred. Feel bad for Van De Beek. United has a ton of matches to play this season and need the depth. Especially with the Euros this past summer, guys like Pogba and Fernandes played way too many minutes with little rest. Add in Rashford being out until at least October and Martial looking like he wants to be anywhere else and Cavani is going to see the field plenty.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
Maybe this move paves the way for West Ham to get Jesse Lingard back from Man U
August 27th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
If they lock up Ted Lasso for coach, I may start to finally watch soccer.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^
New episode dropping today! Signed up for Apple TV+ just for Ted and wasn't disappointed.
August 27th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
I am very happy Ronaldo went to United and not to my club, Man City. United is where he belongs, and it would be too weird to see him in sky blue. This strengthens the league, but Ole better win something this year or it's bye bye. I didn't think he was a Pep type of player, and it'll be interesting where Ronaldo plays for Man U. It's not exactly a position of need for them especially after paying 70 mil for Sancho and 12 mil of that going back to City.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:42 PM ^
Is Ronaldo still a top 3 player in the world? I hear a lot about how he’s no longer that great dominant player he once was, but I find it hard to believe - though I don’t follow Italian soccer.
August 27th, 2021 at 5:47 PM ^
He’s 36 years old, so it’d be shocking if he weren’t beginning to decline. I didn’t follow Juventus too closely but the fact that they didn’t win the league with a team built around Ronaldo probably is telling.