Friday, 16 May 2014

Greatest seasons: Ronaldo fires Manchester United to glory at home and abroad

15:12

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Greatest seasons: Ronaldo fires Manchester United to glory at home and abroad

Greatest seasons: Ronaldo fires Manchester United to glory at home and abroad

Posted: 15 May 2014 12:55 PM PDT

There are few things in sport more satisfying than watching an athlete fulfil his or her potential. In this digitised age of instant judgements, even more so. Fuelled by Youtube clips and social media, sportsmen and women are tested like never before. The pitfalls are bountiful. They are hyped beyond reason – built up and placed under a microscopic lens where every action is scrutinised. And then, if performance drops below expectations, even for a second, knocked down relentlessly. Within this context, witnessing an athlete rise above all obstacles to truly master their craft is one of the most awe-inspiring sights around. 2007/08 was the year Cristiano Ronaldo evolved into the best player in the world – an award bestowed upon him by FIFA when he was crowned 2008 World Player of the Year. Prior to that season, Ronaldo's development at Manchester United had been gradual. He started as "the wee show-off who was desperate to convince everyone how good he was" as Sir Alex Ferguson once described him. By 2006/07 he had honed his incredible natural talent sufficiently to win an unprecedented trio of individual awards – PFA Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Football Writers' Player of the Year – as the Portuguese youngster helped catapult the Red Devils to the 2006/07 Premier League trophy, their first league title in four years. But if those four years showed a player learning how to walk and, subsequently, run, 2007/08 was the year the boy from Funchal learned how to fly. In one of, if not the finest individual seasons in Premier League history, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions. In the league he hit 31 goals in 34 appearances at a rate of a goal every 88.6 minutes. If those numbers appear staggering enough in their own right, it's worth a reminder that Ronaldo was only 22 at the start of this jaw-dropping season. And was playing on the wing. Redefining the winger At the time, the very concept of a winger scoring so many goals was nigh on unheard of. Not long after his 23rd birthday Ronaldo eclipsed George Best's 40-year-old record of 32 goals from a winger in one season. He fell just short of equalling Denis Law's record tally of 46 goals in all competitions at United. His minutes-per-goal ratio that year is also superior to Luis Suarez's rate of a goal every 95.5 minutes in 2013/14, though Suarez racked up double CR7's six assists. If the stats are impressive, they do little to encapsulate just how brilliant Ronaldo was, in a year he was instrumental in spearheading a quest for glory that culminated in Manchester United's league and Champions League double, secured in the soaking rain of a cool night in Moscow. Quite simply, it was the year Ronaldo revolutionised the role of a winger in modern football. Like Suarez in 2013/14, Ronaldo's 2007/08 campaign began under a cloud. In United's second game of the season Ronaldo was sent off in a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth for appearing to aim a headbutt at Richard Hughes. Ferguson claimed his star winger had been provoked but fined his player anyway. "He has fallen for it," said Ferguson. "You have to have a bit of calmness. You have to remind yourself you're a better player than they are." A three-match ban followed but Ronaldo learnt his lesson and returned from his suspension a more mature player. He scored his first goal of the campaign against his former club Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, a low, sweeping header at the Estádio José Alvalade for which he implored pardon. A goal rush was coming. Over the course of the campaign Ronaldo would show just what a rounded, uniquely talented player he had become not just through the sheer number of goals scored but also by their dazzling variety. Bullet headers like the one at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in the Champions League quarter final, an iconic header that mixed the brute strength and neck muscle fortitude of the game's all-time greatest headers of a ball with the sheer athleticism and hangtime of an NBA superstar. Long-range stunners. The Ronaldo trademark – a rapid, Cruyff turn style flick from one foot to the other to pull the hapless defender out of position before slamming the ball past the keeper, like those against Dynamo Kiev and West Ham, in the opening minutes of a crucial game in the title race on the penultimate matchday. Gravity-defying free-kicks like those against Portsmouth, Bolton, Sporting and Sunderland. Ronaldo redefined the art of the free-kick, perfecting a style that sent the ball rocketing off straight as an arrow and yet simultaneously loaded with dip and swerve. The technique caused nationwide debate. Pundits strived to uncover Ronaldo's 'secret' and all kinds of theories were put forward, from his standing stance to hitting the ball on the valve. "The secret? I will not reveal it, for I would be giving a trump card to my opponents," Ronaldo quipped. Cool as you like. The stunning nature and variety of Ronaldo's goals was one aspect that propelled him into the pantheon of Premier League greats, but an equally important development in 2007/08 was a growing ability to perform when it mattered. Question marks had remained about Ronaldo's big-game mentality. "Sure, he's a great player, but can he do it against the best?" people asked. It was the final hurdle for Ronaldo to leap over in order to win universal acceptance. This he achieved. Big game player He scored his first ever goal against United's hated rivals Liverpool in a 3-0 win. He scored home and away against title rivals Arsenal. He scored key goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League against Lyon and Roma. And though his copybook was blotted with penalty misses in the Champions League semi final and final, it was Ronaldo who opened the scoring in that Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow with another towering header. "I have been lucky to have played with a lot of the top, top players and Cristiano is at the top," Paul Scholes raved midway through the campaign. "To score the amounts of goal from his position is nothing short of amazing." Individually Ronaldo was exceptional – a stepover, a shimmy, a burst of pace and he was away. Few defenders could cope. His link-up play with fellow frontmen Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney was also outstanding. The trio formed a phenomenal partnership, perhaps best highlighted in a 4-0 win against Aston Villa in which they ripped Villa apart like savages. "If you could ever try to set the benchmark, that's it," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said, stunned. Ronaldo scored a backheeled flick through a Villa player's legs. It was another day at the office. In the Premier League era only seven players have scored 30 goals or more in a league campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo is the only man to do so playing from a position out wide and the second youngest to do so after Andy Cole in 1993/94. It was the year Ronaldo ensured his name would be forever etched into Manchester United's history. The year he became the best player in the world. GREATEST SEASONS Suarez takes Liverpool to the brink of ecstasy GREATEST SEASONS Villas-Boas helps Bale break free at Tottenham GREATEST SEASONS Ruthless Shearer gets the silver his goals deserve

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Ferdinand to begin thinking about future

Posted: 15 May 2014 08:37 AM PDT

It was reported on Monday that the vastly experienced former England centre-back would not be offered a new deal at Old Trafford, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. And Ferdinand, who joined United for a then club-record fee of around 30million back in 2002, subsequently confirmed his long spell at the club was over. The 35-year-old has been linked with moves to the United States and Turkey, but could remain in the Premier League if rumours of a switch to Arsenal are to be believed. In the coming days I will start to think about my next step and make a decision on what will happen, he said in quotes reported by Sky Sports. I havent had much time to do that yet since the season ended. Ive been able to get away from the hype and enjoy my time. Louis van Gaal looks set to be the man to replace David Moyes in the United hot seat, and Ferdinand expects the Dutchman to prove a hit with the clubs supporters. He seems very strong and direct, has a good understanding and knowledge of what he wants to do and doesnt deviate. You need to be like that at a club like Man United, the former England international said. At every club hes been at - Ajax, Bayern Munich, Barcelona - he seems to have gone in and done things his own way and I envisage him doing same thing if he comes in to United like its anticipated.

Man United third-quarter profits up 60 per cent

Posted: 15 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT

On the field, United endured a dismal 2013-14 season, finishing seventh in the Premier League having disposed of the services of David Moyes. However, Woodward was able to deliver more positive news from a financial perspective and hoped the club would be more competitive next season. "We once again generated record revenues and EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) as all of our businesses delivered impressive year over year growth," he said in a statement. "This puts us in a healthy financial position to continue to invest in the squad. "Everyone at the club is working hard to ensure the team is back challenging for the title and trophies next season." Revenues in the three months to March rose by 26 per cent to £115.5 million, while profits are up to £40 million. This was, in no small part, down to a 64.1 per cent increase in broadcasting income, with sponsorship revenue also up 43.5 per cent. Despite an increase in earnings, wages climbed £8.5 million to £53.4 million, and United's failure to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League is predicted to see the club take a significant financial hit.

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Crouch: Supporting cast can help Rooney shine

Posted: 15 May 2014 03:19 AM PDT

The Manchester United forward is preparing to head to his third World Cup, having carried great expectations when representing his country at previous tournaments. But Crouch, who represented England on the biggest stage of all in 2006 and 2010, feels the inclusion of talented youngsters such as Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling could ease the burden on Rooney when the competition gets under way next month. "They (the younger players) won't have respect for people and will just go out there and do what they know they can do," he is quoted as saying in the British press. "It will certainly benefit us and Wayne. "The last two World Cups have all been about if Rooney stays fit then we are going to win it. The pressure was ridiculous on him. "But now we have other players in the squad. "I can't even remember Rooney being mentioned too much in the lead up to this World Cup. "I think taking a bit of pressure off him and letting him enjoy his football can only be a good thing. "What is good about the squad at the minute is there are a lot of young players and it is a bit different. "Hopefully they'll go into the tournament with less fear and the lack of experience can help the players. I genuinely do believe that. They will go out there and continue what they have been doing this season. "Sturridge and Sterling seem to be playing with so much freedom at Liverpool and if they can take that into the World Cup with other players like Barkley and Adam Lallana - really exciting players - then I'll be excited to see them on the world stage." England face Italy in their first Group D clash on June 14 before taking on Uruguay and Costa Rica.

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Greatest seasons: Ruthless Shearer gets the silver his goals deserve

Posted: 15 May 2014 12:30 AM PDT

It's sometimes possible to lose perspective on just how very, very good Alan Shearer was at kicking – and heading – a football into a goal. Consider this: over 22 Premier League seasons featuring hundreds of centre-forwards, the magical 30-goal mark has only been breached nine times. Six men - Andy Cole, Thierry Henry, Kevin Phillips, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez, all at their absolute peaks, have done it once each. Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Ian Wright never managed the feat. Alan Shearer did it three times. The fact his goal-quakes so rarely resulted in trophies is probably why the Geordie may not be everybody's automatic first pick as the greatest English top-flight front-man of the past two decades. But the greatest he was – and the only season where his ability was properly rewarded was 1994/95. That season, he could barely miss. He found the net on 34 occasions, equalling Andy Cole's record for Newcastle United, set a year earlier. Nobody has come close to the tally since, and the mark still stands (Ronaldo and Suarez got 31 in their season-long rampages, Van Persie, Henry and Phillips all hit 30). Bargain of the century Shearer was the key reason Blackburn Rovers scooped their third ever top-flight title, 81 long years after they'd sealed their second. Certainly, the team had some other fine players: Tim Flowers in goal was an extraordinary shot-stopper, Colin Hendry a pasty tower of Caledonian might at the back, and then there was the English midfield maestro, of whom moneybags owner Jack Walker – in a probably apocryphal story – once rebutted manager Kenny Dalglish's attempt to sign a notable Frenchman with: "Why do you want Zidane when we've got Tim Sherwood?" But the Geordie – poached from Southampton for £3.6 million from under Alex Ferguson's hooter – was to prove the bargain of the century for the Lancastrian steel baron who bankrolled the side. As a forward, he had the lot. Strong and physical (some would say a little overly so, especially those defenders who caught his elbow in the kisser), able to hold up the ball well, with impeccable positioning, an incredible leap, bullet header and a shot that could fell a bull elephant, Shearer terrified defences (His secret? "Get your head and knee over it to keep the shot down, and strike the ball with your laces to generate power," he once told FourFourTwo). He also had the ability to create chances and link play – a legacy of his younger days as a midfielder – and while this element of his skill set became less apparent later in his career, Shearer was always someone who thrived with the correct sidekick. The summer of 1994 saw his perfect henchman arrive from Norwich City. Chris Sutton was another muscular-yet-thoughtful battering ram of a striker. Together, the original (footballing) SAS rained down death from above. The duo's ability to lay chances for each other on a plate cannot be underestimated: Sutton assisted Shearer 11 times and Shearer paid him back nine times; between them they accounted for 61.25% of all Blackburn's 1994/95 goals. Sutton would end the year with 15 strikes and 17 assists; Shearer with an unbelievable 34 goals and 16 assists. Big Al got vital strikes in wins over Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Coventry and Southampton; he thumped hat-tricks against QPR, West Ham and Ipswich Town. But ultimately, Shearer was the difference when it counted most. After a wobbly goalless draw with Leeds, Ferguson – manager of title rivals Manchester United – used some classic mind games by claiming that Rovers would have to "finish like Devon Loch" if they were going to blow the title. Going the distance The crafty comparison to the famous blundering nag seemed to work. Blackburn collapsed at Manchester City and West Ham. Ferguson ramped things up further and suggested Blackburn may be lacking nerve, leading to Flowers blowing his top in a tremendous TV rant ("don't talk to me about bottle!") – and a perfect Shearer riposte. A fine performance and a goal against his hometown club, Newcastle United, saw Blackburn emerge as 1-0 winners and the rot came to a stop. In the end, it was United who lacked the most bottle. The title went down to the final day of the season, and Rovers blew their lines by losing at Anfield (after a week of ridiculous speculation about how Liverpool would let them win because they didn't want to see another United title triumph). But Ferguson's men also faltered, managing just a draw at Upton Park. Shearer had secured his one and only Premiership title. In typical no-nonsense style, Shearer famously went home to creosote his fence the next day (although he later revealed that his father-in-law in fact did the creosoting, while he merely brought out refreshments). That oft-repeated anecdote gave Shearer the reputation of something of a dullard, and his straightforward attitude to life and football still skews the judgement of those who would argue that the grace and elan of Henry, or the cunning artistry of Suarez or Van Persie made for better players. But Shearer, named PFA Player of the Year, didn't care much. He'd scored 31 goals the season before, and kicked on to bag 31 in 1995/96, too, completing an incredible hat-trick of prolific seasons that is unlikely ever to be equalled. GREATEST SEASONS Suarez takes Liverpool to the brink of ecstasy GREATEST SEASONSRonaldo fires United to glory at home and abroad GREATEST SEASONSVillas-Boas helps Bale break free at Tottenham

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