David Sadler column

March 09, 2007

NEED a new centre forward, Sir Alex? Well, don't look too far, because the lad I would love to see banging heads with Boro's central defence is right under your nose.

He is 6ft 2ins, built like a brick outhouse, quicker than Roy Keane's temper and has already scored a bagful of goals this season from wide positions.

The lad I am talking about is Cristiano Ronaldo, and with Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer out injured, and Henrik Larsson leaving the club after tomorrow's game, he could be the solution.

From the day he came to United people have drawn comparisons with Thierry Henry. He joined Arsenal as a tall, fast winger who was out of favour at Juventus, and was transformed into the fantastic player he is today when Arsene Wenger switched him inside.

Ronaldo will remain a fantastic player if he stays wide, but I would love to see what he could do playing more centrally.

In many ways, we have already seen what he can do, because he is not a touchline-hugger.

He roams across the park and often takes up central positions, so this would not be any kind of experiment at a crucial stage of the season, any more than playing Ryan Giggs up there with Larsson would be. It would be an extension of what he is already doing.

I wonder if the fact that Giggsy was left on the bench against Lille in midweek is a pointer to Alex's thinking tomorrow.

It is a problem, and just as Larsson's arrival was perfect timing, as he arrived just as Saha suffered an injury, this time his departure is badly timed, just as Louis gets crocked again.

Do you think Ronaldo would be as effective up front? Have your say.

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Arj, Boro (09/03/2007 at 15:30)

Come on Boro!

TMUF, Manchester (09/03/2007 at 15:36)

I think Ronaldo would do a good job upfront as he never stays out wide anyway. I think if we weren't going to get a striker in the summer, then I would like to see Aaron Lennon come and Ronaldo converted. Fergie has hinted that Ronaldo's future is up front. Still with some of the crosses he has provided this season, I think there is no rush as he is class in both positions.

MJ, New York City (09/03/2007 at 16:53)

Of course Ronaldo could be the centre forward. The other option would be to keep Rooney front and centre and not have him roaming hopelessly on the wing. Rooney needs to be right in front of goal, a menace, a nuisance, freeing up Giggs and Ronaldo. As for the Roma match-ups, what a pity we sent Rossi out on loan. He would have loved to show Roma a thing or two.

Demo, Glossop (09/03/2007 at 16:55)

I think ronnie is class either positions. I would like to see him have a go as centre forward like we know he moves about anyway so its not like he has only played stuck to the touchline. Come on the reds

keen bgood (09/03/2007 at 18:18)

Absolutely not....Ron should stay on the wing...period. I hope SAF has learned that you cannot play players out of position at this level....Silvestre in the CB, Smith at midfield, DF JOS or KR anywhere off the bench!! If we don't have acover for two injuries to strikers then our mgmt. is INCOMPETENT!!! Remember SAF and Gill said we have the team to win....because that's what ManU is all about! NO EXCUSES ACCEPTED ON THIS WEBSITE.......YOU ARE IN POSITION NOW WIN IT!!!

Steve Chew, usa (09/03/2007 at 22:56)

C. Ronaldo would not be effective in the middle. It's easier for teams to mark him, clog up the center where he would not be able to use his pace to break down defenses. He's still more dangerous pulling the defense wide and then cutting in from the flanks or feeding Rooney or Smith/Larsson/Saha on the run. Besides, with him menacing on the flanks, defense would not dare to move too far upfield lest they get beaten by him thru a long ball down the line.

de Meester, netherlands (10/03/2007 at 15:31)

Quite simply, he would excel in the role.
As it says here he 'roams' anyhow not unlike Sahá plays.
So he would be a success.

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