Quote Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost of Christmas View Post
Unfortunately for that Ronaldo, I don't think he was ever fit enough for long enough to have that same kind of influence. And by current standards his best goalscoring season, was quite slim in comparison (even though it was 47), he did however score lots of goals right from the start of his career.

You can mention all the other guys that have been very good in what I am saying is now a forward role but neither of them have achieved the same amount of goals that Ronaldo and Messi have and for season after season. That's the difference and that's wherein their influence over football lies.

Plus back in those times, 4-4-2 wasn't played with as much paucity as it is now; football has clearly changed since 1996-1997.

You only have to look at Spain now to see how largely irrelevant the role of what was expected of a traditional striker has become.
Nah, you can't forget the original Ronaldo and his influence. Even though Ronaldo's Inter and Barca days were short, he changed the expectations for a forward. He was the prototype. It was all Fox in the box/Poacher type strikers and he was the one that started dropping deep, drifting wide and moving all over the pitch to confuse defenders. His dribbling on the ball....an absolute beast.

After the injury he adapted his game to more like a traditional striker but before that he was the originator. Messi and Ronadlo...great players who have helped redefine the role of a forward/striker but buck tooth Ronnie was that guy! If he hadn't have had those injuries....