for Real Madrid, many in the football world claimed that MU would suffer in the goal scoring department. Well ....
Hi Martin. Love your column. Speculation about Manchester United's ability to score as many goals as Ronaldo for them over the last few years is rife. Rooney is handling those duties pretty well so far, but statistically how has Ronaldo's departure damaged, if any, United's goalscoring record? And has Rooney's form so far this season equalled Ronaldo's goal return at this same point in 2009, 2008, or 2007 (Ronaldo's most successful years)? Thank you very much. Mo Golbo, Dublin.
MARTIN SAYS: To answer your first question, Mo, United's goalscoring record this season does not appear to have been damaged by Ronaldo's departure. To date they have managed 56 goals in their first 24 Premier League games, which is significantly higher than the same stage in the previous three seasons.
Goals scored by Manchester United in first 24 Premier League games:
2009/10: 56 goals
2008/09: 41 goals
2007/08: 48 goals
2006/07: 53 goals
As for the comparison between Rooney and Ronaldo, the Englishman has managed 20 goals in the 23 Premier League games he has played this season. That's an impressive average of 0.87 goals per game - and it is better than Ronaldo's record at the same point last year. Remarkably, Ronaldo had a better record at the same stage in 2007/08 with 21 goals - one more than Rooney has this term. That season, the Portuguese international went on to score 31 league goals.
Ronaldo's record after 23 Premier League games:
2008/09: 12 goals
2007/08: 21 goals
2006/07: 14 goals
Source: http://www.skysports.com/opinion/sto...913982,00.html
Hi Martin. Love your column. Speculation about Manchester United's ability to score as many goals as Ronaldo for them over the last few years is rife. Rooney is handling those duties pretty well so far, but statistically how has Ronaldo's departure damaged, if any, United's goalscoring record? And has Rooney's form so far this season equalled Ronaldo's goal return at this same point in 2009, 2008, or 2007 (Ronaldo's most successful years)? Thank you very much. Mo Golbo, Dublin.
MARTIN SAYS: To answer your first question, Mo, United's goalscoring record this season does not appear to have been damaged by Ronaldo's departure. To date they have managed 56 goals in their first 24 Premier League games, which is significantly higher than the same stage in the previous three seasons.
Goals scored by Manchester United in first 24 Premier League games:
2009/10: 56 goals
2008/09: 41 goals
2007/08: 48 goals
2006/07: 53 goals
As for the comparison between Rooney and Ronaldo, the Englishman has managed 20 goals in the 23 Premier League games he has played this season. That's an impressive average of 0.87 goals per game - and it is better than Ronaldo's record at the same point last year. Remarkably, Ronaldo had a better record at the same stage in 2007/08 with 21 goals - one more than Rooney has this term. That season, the Portuguese international went on to score 31 league goals.
Ronaldo's record after 23 Premier League games:
2008/09: 12 goals
2007/08: 21 goals
2006/07: 14 goals
Source: http://www.skysports.com/opinion/sto...913982,00.html
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