stephen_woodside
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Reged: 02/05/2007
Posts: 1880
Loc: Huyton, Merseyside
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This month's topic of discussion is, Who's been the outstanding player of the European season?
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Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
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adriansfc
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Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 30
Loc: London/Southampton
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European Leagues or just European competition?
The answer to both surely has to be Ronaldo anyway. In the premiership there is absolutely no contest. To score that many goals from midfield, regardless of how good your teammates are, is a terrific achievement. Chelsea and Liverpool have done well again in Europe, but both have done so without playing at their very best all the time. I couldn't pick a stand out player for Chelsea, although in terms of consistency and importance it must be Essien. Liverpool would not be where they are in Europe or the Premiership without Torres.
It is difficult to look beyond the English clubs in Europe this season, although credit to Rangers in the UEFA cup.
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henryfan1
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Reged: 22/06/2006
Posts: 795
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While Ronaldo has been the best player this season.There are still other players who can win it like Fernando Torres.And Leo Messi.If Messi outshines Ronaldo like Kaka did last season then it be Messi who is the best.
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henryfan1
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Reged: 22/06/2006
Posts: 795
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Also lets not forget that Euro 2008 is round the corner and if a player other than Ronaldo does what Van Basten did in 88.Or Platini in 84 then it be all about that player to win all the awards.
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adriansfc
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Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 30
Loc: London/Southampton
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It will be interesting to see whether Ronaldo continues his form into Euro 2008, or burns out after a long season like several did in 2006.
I personally think he'll keep it going. He just goes into every match thinking he'll score. Portugal must be one of the favourites for the competition with him in that form.
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AndyNeill
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Reged: 27/07/2007
Posts: 20
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There is a strong argument for Luca Toni. He has made a major contribution to Bayern's domestic dominance and their UEFA Cup run, as well as scoring vital goals in Italy's Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Barry Ferguson has been similarly vital for club and country, despite carrying an injury most of the season.
Good to see Raul back in form and looking hungry, too.
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Rogorn
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Reged: 24/03/2007
Posts: 315
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(Being World Soccer, shouldn't the question be about the best player in the world?)
I always think that these accolades, official or not, are given too early. The most important time of the season is now, when the candidates are separated from the champions, and although individual prizes shouldn't have to do with team trophies, surely collective achievement is important, especially when there is more than one candidate to consider.
This year, though, there can be no doubts. Cristiano Ronaldo's season is being so good that I would propose a new and further-reaching question: is Ronaldo 2007-8 the finest season of any player in Europe, ever? We still have to wait a few years to know whether he will merit a place in the pantheon of footballing greats (it's looking good so far, though), but as far as single seasons go, it's difficult to see what else Ronaldo (or any other player ever) could do to make it better. Can it stand up there with the finest years from Marco van Basten, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer...? Of course, in the weeks ahead we might still see him being sent off, or miss several sitters when a goal is sorely needed, or showboat too much or miss a decisive penalty. Manchester United might win the two biggest trophies of the season or only one or none at all.
But so far, I'd say his season does merit at least the consideration. At this stage he's sprinting away from the defenders, and facing one-on-one the goalie of History. And surely he must score...
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henryfan1
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Reged: 22/06/2006
Posts: 795
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Well Henry in the 2003/04 season was different class to any player in the world that season he had 30 league goals and 20 assists.Lets not forget the way he tore a world class back 4 which was Inter in a 5-1 thrashing. he got 2 goals and 2 assists that night.Have any of Ronaldo best games this season come close to Henry from that season.
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henryfan1
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Reged: 22/06/2006
Posts: 795
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Also names so far have been
Ronaldo
Torres
Messi
Toni
B,Ferguson
I will include Franck Ribery.And Raul as well.Also Adebayor as well.
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adriansfc
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Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 30
Loc: London/Southampton
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Michael Essien has to be one of the most consistent, despite Chelsea's problems, and being a poor team to watch. They wouldn't be chasing Man Utd, or in the Champion's League semi-finals without him.
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stephen_woodside
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Reged: 02/05/2007
Posts: 1880
Loc: Huyton, Merseyside
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Excellent call on Michael Essien. He has been the pivotal driving force behind Chelsea's revival that leaves Avram Grant's men in with a chance, albeit a slim chance of pipping Manchester United to the Premier League title. If Arsenal had Essien in their side, i firmly believe they would not have thrown away their chances of lifting silverware this term. On a personal note, i hope Cristiano Ronaldo does not win such accolades as player of the season. Why, because of his showboating arrogant antics this season. The Portugese star may have scored many goals this season, a fair few from penalty kicks it should be added, but for me he has gone missing in the bigger games. He also annoys me with his stance while lining up freekicks. All that is missing now is the clasping of his hands and stooping forward Johnny Wilkinson style, to which he clearly has watched and then invented his very own stance that has only recently appeared.
Saying all of that, i feel Ronaldo will win Player of the year ahead of Lionel Messi. Whichever way the award goes, it will almost certainly go to a player plying his trade at one of the so-called "Big Clubs". It is a shame really has players such as Zenit St Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin have been playing out of their skins all season. Arshavin, like Essien has been instrumental in steering the Russian outfit into the UEFA Cup semi-finals, an achievment that will always be overshdowed by Champions League progression. Luca Toni and Fernando Torres amongst several others deserve recognition but ultimately, and sadly for me, Ronaldo will top the list.
Edited by stephen_woodside (21/04/2008 14:43)
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adriansfc
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Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 30
Loc: London/Southampton
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I'm sure there are many who aren't too fond of Ronaldo, for his general demeanor and showboating more than his role in beating England in the World Cup. I've never been much of a fan of his, but the sheer consistency of his scoring from midfield has been outstanding. A lot have been from set pieces, but I don't see too many other players scoring as many free kicks. Having said that, I can't imagine many other teams get as many free kicks anyway. He does seem to have less impact in the bigger games, although he was very good against Roma. I think that aspect of his game will be judged in the remaining Champion's league games. However, unless Messi or Torres have an exceptional end to the tournament, I think European player of the year is Ronaldo's.
He is obviously very skillful, but for me too much of his game is about power and pace. That seems to be the way the game has gone, but you have to wonder how his game will adapt as he gets older.
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badgerboy
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Reged: 26/03/2007
Posts: 727
Loc: Bucks, England
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There's no question that Cristiano Ronaldo has been the outstanding player of the European season so far.
Extend the question until the end of Euro 2008 and the only player I could see taking the title from him (& deserving to do so) would be Fernando Torres - should he follow up his brilliant first season at Anfield by firing Spain to (or close to) Euro glory.
The awards at the end of the year might be different. Rightly or wrongly - I would suggest wrongly - these tend to remember mainly players that are outstanding in only the biggest games (even if they were mediocre for the rest of the season) rather than rewarding consistent excellence.
One other player from the Premier League that I think deserves a mention is Rio Ferdinand. He wont win any major awards - but has been at the centre of a consistently excellent Manchester United defence that has been as essential to their success as Ronald's goals.
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steve31
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Reged: 15/07/2007
Posts: 484
Loc: the wirral
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it has been a disappointing season for me concerning the top players due to injuries and lack of form.the outstanding player of this european season has been ronaldo.lionel messi has also been outstanding but only in fits and starts due to injury.looking at the others kaka hasnt done much,ditto henry and as for ronaldinho what can you say!
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Oboylio
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Reged: 01/03/2008
Posts: 3
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It just has to be Ronaldo. Any player who scores almost 40 goals a season simply cannot be ignored, yet to be a winger and be this prolific is just unbelievable. Some may argue that he doesn't turn up during the big games - for example, the CL semi-final on Wednesday - yet United would probably not even be in games like this without him. Besides, he seemed pretty good against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to me. It would be different if Ronaldo was part of a team all playing well, yet the only others to have really impressed my this season have been Ferdinand and Vidic. The Portuguese has carried the team pretty much by himself.
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MKMark
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Reged: 09/06/2008
Posts: 9
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I think Cristiano Ronaldo has to be the winner in this as he has been a major contributing part in Man Utd winning the Premiership and Champions League. He scores goals from all areas and tracks back when needed to put his foot in too.
Messi has been great again but has been hampered by injury and the fact that Barca had a poor season by their standards.
Luca Toni scoring 39 goals for Bayern in a season is also an amazing statistic.
I have not seen anyone mention goalkeepers and I feel Ilker Casillas of Real Madrid is the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment.
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washiefrog
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Reged: 20/06/2008
Posts: 5
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Without a doubt, Ronaldo.
He has played superb this season for Manchester United and has deserved the Golden Boot. He has so consistant it is unbelievable. Any team would want his ability. I don't know what United would do without him. I wish Arsenal had him and maybe then we could win our first champions league. His only weakness is his annoying antics, rolling around on the floor. Other than that he is the best player in the world.
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