Originally Posted by Stilton Cheesew:
“I have said it is not a fit and proper benchmark. I am still not a Ronaldo "fan" since yesterday despite your continued suggestion that I hold my opinion because i am. He is simply an illustration which disproves the suggestion that in order to be a great you have to do it for both club and country. Its really THAT simple. Week in week out performance is a benchmark, a number of things you have no control over coming together in the close season every four years is not.
Of course its bigger "for the italian people" thats obvious because they are a collective until rather than their loyalties being split among various clubs but if you are telling me that there is more pressure on Ronaldo playing for Portugal than there is playing for Real Madrid then you are incredibly misguided.
I have no idea what you boxing at club level has to do with Mike Tyson losing to Buster Douglas. Tyson was mentally insecure from day one but the reason he lost to Buster Douglas was because he was in the middle of a complete meltdown in his private life, had drug issues and hadn't been training. Douglas had a punchers chance and won. It happens on a one off basis for a variety of reasons. In footballing terms its the equivalent of winning one game, its doesn't stand up to any form of comparison really though.
Totally agree with you which is why Im am not judging a player on one tournament, Im looking at 10 years of doing it, thats what Ive been saying. We aren't talking about Ronaldo (to continue using his example) winning one cup, or managing one good season. We are talking about a player doing it week in week out for 10 years.
Winning a league title can never be mediocre.”
Again, the true greats dit it week in week out but were able to peak for the really big ones, just like the athletes do for the Olympics and other big one in sport
You say the pressure is the same playing for RM as it is for Portugal. You say that despite everything said by past and present players and managers who all say it's on a different level.
Brendon Foster used to vomit before races at the Olympics and was never able to produce his best because of nerves and pressure. He did not vomit running a regular race at somewhere like Crystal Palace.
Ron playing for RM against the likes of Granada or Ebar in LA Liga or Lyon or Malmo in the CL, is a million miles away from the pressure he's under here.
As for Tyson vs Douglas.
Douglas did not have a "punchers chance"
He was a light hitting boxer, who simply stood his ground and actually threw punches back at Tyson.
He destroyed him with very basic boxing skills of a jab, jab, jab and right crosses. Tyson had no answer.