Cristiano Ronaldo's Porto stunner makes him a little easier to respect

16 April 2009 11:26
15.00 THE HEADLINES THIS HOUR [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Arsene Wenger's Arsenal are a decent team; Wenger thinks likewise about Manchester United; and the pair agree their Champions League semi-final should be one for the purists. Still no reason to leave any cold pizza carelessly around the place when the two teams collide three times in 18 days from the end of the month, eh?[LNB] Related ArticlesRonaldo wants wonder goal on DVDFerdinand the key for UnitedWenger ready to face old foe'Ronaldo is a Real Madrid player'Paper View: Rocket Ronaldo has United soaring but Real Madrid keep callingSir Alex Ferguson takes heat off Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Porto testBlackburn Rovers' 'victory' in fending off Manchester City's bewildering attempts to swap Roque Santa Cruz for a big bag of used foreign bank notes to the value of £18 million appears to have been a pyrrhic one. The overrated Paraguayan forward is looking at an extended spell out of action after undergoing knee surgery.[LNB]And, despite his little rotating legs being all tired and that, Robinho will be restored to the City first team for another underwhelming turn in their encouraging but ultimately redundant 2-2 draw with Hamburg tonight.[LNB]--[LNB]14.00 THE HEADLINES THIS HOUR [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are falling over themselves to compliment each other now they are set to contest a Champions League semi-final. [LNB]AW: 'I believe that both teams always produce very exciting games. Both teams like to go forward so it will be a promising semifinal.'[LNB]SAF: 'We are two good footballing sides, so it should be a terrific semi-final and we are looking forward to it.'[LNB]With them set to play each other three times in 18 days, however, the Bung predicts that cordiality is not likely to be an enduring one... [LNB]Franck Ribery 'still has a lot to do" with Bayern Munich, apparently – emptying his locker, handing in his cards and organising a leaving do primary among them if his answer to the question 'would you like to play for Barcelona one day?' is anything to go by: 'Of course, which player would not like to play for Barca?'[LNB]Read more here... [LNB]And the promise of his own body weight in Ginsters pasties if he scores the goals that save Newcastle from relegation has prompted Mark Viduka to haul himself off the treatment table and in to their squad to face Tottenham this weekend. [LNB]-- [LNB]13.00 THE BUNG AT ONE [LNB]Quote of the day: "Mark Viduka has trained for the majority of the week," Alan Shearer shows he is already performing miracles on Tyneside. [LNB]Bet of the day: Arsenal to win the Champions League @ 4/1 [LNB]Must read: Why Arsene Wenger is not the only fan of naff touchline jigs. [LNB]Must watch: That goal. It gets even better. [LNB]--[LNB]12.00 THE HEADLINES THIS HOUR [LNB]Not unsurprisingly, given that he has fallen behind David Ngog is the Anfield pecking order, Ryan Babel could be on his way out of Liverpool this summer. [LNB]Rangers manager Walter Smith says Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will play for the club again because they weren't the only players caught scooping after Scotland's game against Holland. Displaying exactly the kind of robust and uncomprimising line required for dealing with naughty children, Smith said: "I did say they'd never play for Rangers again. Since then I have had a think about it and feel I have got to give them some leeway." Is it any wonders these poor kids are confused? [LNB]And Franck Ribery, who was revealingly quick to swap shirts with Barcelona players on Tuesday night, could well be there full time next season. "Of course, who wouldn't want to play for Barca?" he beamed. [LNB]--[LNB]11.40[LNB]Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent reckons Spurs will keep the Russian this summer - and sell Darren Bent. "Spurs may sell one of their forwards this season, and it is Bent," said Victor Kolar, who didn't elaborate on why Redknapp would sell the player he starts with rather than the sub... [LNB]--[LNB]11.00 THE HEADLINES THIS HOUR [LNB]Shameless contract-chasing Aussie striker Mark Viduka will come out of his annual winter hibernation to score three goals in three games for Newcastle, thereby earning himself a lucrative summer move to Galatasaray, or some other mugs. "If we can keep him fit, then he will play a big part in helping us," said Alan Shearer. Big if. [LNB]Ramon Calderón, sacked as Real Madrid president for dodgy dealing, is still banging on about Cristiano Ronaldo. 'I can't give any names" said Ram(ble)on. "What I can say is that one of the best players in the world, thanks to Ramon Calderón and difficult and laborious negotiations that having been going on since last year, is already formally a Real Madrid player, subject obviously to him being able to sign the relevant contract.' [LNB]And Kaka has called on AC Milan to sign Steven Gerrard. Which they probably will. In 2018. [LNB]--[LNB]HERE COMES THE SCIENCE[LNB]Sooner or later, a grant-chasing scientist at Watford University will "discover" a biological bacteria that explains why it's impossible for an English football fan to like Cristiano Ronaldo. [LNB]Using basic Photoshop and made-up Latin, the boffin will attempt to show how a precise combination of diving, smirking, winking, strutting, stepovering and Ferrari-pranging provokes a physical shudder of disgust among this country's footiephiles. At a guess, they will call it Portugalis Wankeratium. [LNB]This season, though, it's not just liking Ronaldo that's been impossible. Respecting him has been, too. [LNB]Last season, few could argue that Ronaldo was a magnificently effective footballer. You may have issues with him (that'll be the PW), but 42 goals and the Ballon d'Or confirms he was playing at a rarefied level. More importantly, his individual feats inspired United to collective success. Respect was earned. [LNB]This season though, with the odd exception, he has been little more than a flat-track bully. The stats show he has scored 20 goals, but the vast majority have been at home, and against limited opposition. [LNB]He has scored doubles against West Brom, Hull, Stoke and West Ham - important, of course, but essentially stat-swelling turns compared to the true match-winning performances he produced last season. [LNB]With United wobbling, Federico Macheda was starting to become a more regular go-to guy for Alex Ferguson. So it was not before time that Ronaldo, when his team and his manager really, genuinely, needed him, produced. [LNB] "It was a fantastic goal, truly fantastic, the best I have scored" said Ronaldo, modest as ever, but, this time at least, 100 per cent accurate. [LNB]To hit a moving ball 40 yards, rising all the way, past a diving goalkeeper who couldn't even lay a finger on it, is quite a feat, particularly for a player noted mainly for his dribbling ability. It was a freakish goal from a freakish player. [LNB]And though he will always be impossible to like, he is easier to respect this morning. [LNB] 

Source: Telegraph