Spain v Portugal - Match Thread

[Max Wall]

45 minutes ago, ealingfox said:

I mean tbh that game could happen ten times over but it remains the same - Ronaldo is more effective but Messi is a more gifted footballer. That's the bottom line isn't it? That will always be the case.

 

We're incredibly blessed to have witnessed both of them play out their careers. In terms of the sport of football they're the best two players there has ever been (Pele - played mostly against cloggers plus started counting his goals from U9s, Maradona was a proper cheat) and we just have to wait and hope someone surpasses their level during our lifetimes. Messi is the most gifted player there's ever been in terms of playing the game, but in terms of playing and winning football matches Cristiano Ronaldo is as good as there's ever been.

 

I prefer Messi, but like I say, we should be thankful that we've enjoyed both of them in their prime, they've lifted football to a higher level.

I think that's a bit simplistic regarding Maradona. Dismissing him as a cheat when all forwards play for penalties and dive isn't really fair. As for comparisons, Maradona dragged unfashionable Napoli to the title without the aid of the best players in the World alongside him like Mes si and Ronaldo have had at their respective teams. He also practically dragged Argentina to two finals and has won the World cup. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

1 hour ago, ealingfox said:

Ronaldo is more effective but Messi is a more gifted footballer. 

 

Surely being more effective makes you more gifted, no? 

 

I don't like Ronaldo whatsoever but I think anybody claiming Messi as better now is blowing a lot of hot air.

[ealingfox]

55 minutes ago, Max Wall said:

I think that's a bit simplistic regarding Maradona. Dismissing him as a cheat when all forwards play for penalties and dive isn't really fair. As for comparisons, Maradona dragged unfashionable Napoli to the title without the aid of the best players in the World alongside him like Mes si and Ronaldo have had at their respective teams. He also practically dragged Argentina to two finals and has won the World cup. 

 

What about the drugs and that?

[ealingfox]

50 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

Surely being more effective makes you more gifted, no? 

 

I don't like Ronaldo whatsoever but I think anybody claiming Messi as better now is blowing a lot of hot air.

 

I hear that but still think there's a difference. Messi has been doing playmaker stuff whilst Ronaldo's been running into the box waiting for a chance to score. All comes down to how you define 'better' I guess.

 

Easy to forget while Real Madrid won the CL they weren't even close to Barca in the league as has been the case through much of their career.

 

Like I said I think they're the best two players there's ever been and I'm very pleased to have watched them both. They've egged each other on throughout the years as well, it's been mental.

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

I'm sure i read once that Ronaldo gives an exceptional amount to charity come to think of it

 

His ego is what it is. He is who he is and doesnt hide it and it is touching on the absurd and how can one not dig that?

[Guest Col city fan]

22 minutes ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

I'm sure i read once that Ronaldo gives an exceptional amount to charity come to think of it

 

His ego is what it is. He is who he is and doesnt hide it and it is touching on the absurd and how can one not dig that?

Because there will always be those who are basically jealous of others. And searching for something, anything, to try to knock someone down.

[Nalis]

Ronaldo could easily end up with 7/8 goals by the end of the group stage as Iran and Morocco are both shite.

[chris_lcfc_85]

On a side note, if this Pereira is that good then why is he second fiddle to cedric? 

[Mrfox452]

59 minutes ago, chris_lcfc_85 said:

On a side note, if this Pereira is that good then why is he second fiddle to cedric? 

Cedric came into the team mid euros and hasn't put a foot wrong. Defensively he's incredibly reliable for Portugal since then.

 

We might see Pereira against teams that play more defensively, as he is better going forward.

[AKCJ]

1 hour ago, chris_lcfc_85 said:

On a side note, if this Pereira is that good then why is he second fiddle to cedric? 

Cedric is defensively solid. Pereira is better in attack.

 

I think we'll see him play against Morocco and Iran.

[yorkie1999]

40 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Cedric is defensively solid. Pereira is better in attack.

 

I think we'll see him play against Morocco and Iran.

Bit like danny simpson and ritchie de laet

[Guest]

Ronaldo is genius.

 

How anyone can call Mahrez world class after you've seen Ronaldo in action amazes me. So many levels difference.

 

Vardy would love those touch passes and Ronaldo would have world cups to his name if Vardy could have been his strike partner.

[Max Wall]

3 hours ago, Col city fan said:

Because there will always be those who are basically jealous of others. And searching for something, anything, to try to knock someone down.

Not that you have ever criticised any footballer.  Isn't what you have said above exactly what you have been guilty of on here? Amartey  immediately springs to mind, among others. Do you criticise him so heavily because you are jealous or does your above opinion only apply to others? 

[The Bear]

3 hours ago, chris_lcfc_85 said:

On a side note, if this Pereira is that good then why is he second fiddle to cedric? 

Because the coach has made some strange decisions in his squad. Pereira, Semedo and Cancelo are all better than Cedric. 

[chris_lcfc_85]

3 hours ago, Mrfox452 said:

Cedric came into the team mid euros and hasn't put a foot wrong. Defensively he's incredibly reliable for Portugal since then.

 

We might see Pereira against teams that play more defensively, as he is better going forward.

I get that and your probably right but he's rated very highly around Europe. If he was that good he'd be starting regardless 

[AKCJ]

31 minutes ago, The Bear said:

Because the coach has made some strange decisions in his squad. Pereira, Semedo and Cancelo are all better than Cedric. 

None of them are close to Cedric defensively.

[Mrfox452]

25 minutes ago, chris_lcfc_85 said:

I get that and your probably right but he's rated very highly around Europe. If he was that good he'd be starting regardless 

 

48 minutes ago, The Bear said:

Because the coach has made some strange decisions in his squad. Pereira, Semedo and Cancelo are all better than Cedric. 

The back four since the last 16 in the euros for Portugal was Cedric, Pepe, fonte and Gureuro. They conceded one goal in the next four games.

 

Before that they conceded four in just the group stages.

 

The way Santos sees it is that if it isn't broken there is no point trying to fix things.

 

Yesterday was the most I've seen us struggle for a while with that back four, but the reality is that Spain were extremely good for majority of that game. I am Portuguese myself, and honestly I prefer Cedric to all the other options we have. Those 4 games in the euros he barely put a foot wrong. He's been very reliable for Portugal, hence why he starts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lcfcrinaldi]

11 hours ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

Bit rich nattering about tax from a Messi fan...

That was my point.

Everyone has this 'hatred' for Ronaldo, but really they are just as bad, in some cases.

 

Sorry, I should have spelled it out a bit better for you.

[foxy boxing]

Really great game and obviously “ game of the tournament so far” Ronaldo is just simply amazing and he is just so much on another level to anyone else. The guy is cocky at times but he puts the effort in on and off the pitch and is a model professional on how to stay on top in peak condition season after season. He is just so determined to be the best and as well as natural ability is able to reach the level of performances and puts other footballers to shame. A great game of football and Spain will feel aggrieved not to have won it. But if you have a player like Ronaldo on the pitch anything is possible.

[Raj]

Maradona

Pele

Ronaldo

Messi

 

That order...