My, what an interesting read chaps.
My feelings, as a United fan & patriot, are as follows (and please believe me when I say that I'm the most objective United fan that you'll "meet"):
To this day, I believe that Rooney did not intend to trample on certain testicular tissue, I think that he had already been fouled twice and was trying to thrust away from his opponents.
The reaction of the Portugese players was typical of the Continental norm, Ronaldo included.
The wink was a quick gesture to the bench, saying, IMHO, "We've just gained a hell of an advantage here". If that hadn't been caught on film, the Pap wouldn't have found the scapegoat that we English always need to cover up the fact that we're not good enough.
Wazza & Ronaldo were in contact with each other via mobile after the game. There was never a problem between them, just hype from the press. The English United players are professionals. I don't know if there was a clear the air talk, but they got on with focussing on United's success & Ronaldo is crucial to that. I'd rather see that than them all snub him over a wink.
Ronaldo himself has his theatrical moments. I hate them. But he has cut them down and I hope that that continues. What we also have to take into account is that, with the speed he goes at, any contact can flip him over and this season we've seen him just get up & get on with it.
He has also been one of the best players in the league this year I reckon. If he was English, he'd be getting at least as much praise as Wazza.
And as for the "Anyone But England" mentality? I remember the ABU days. They're still there to some extent, but I think it's becoming more ABC now. It's part of the tribalism that is the very essence of being a football supporter.
I once read that men follow football as we're the warring gender &, in the absence of a battle, football is our substitute. I agree with that. I boo Gerard & Lampard in every league game that United play them. Would I want them in our team? Damn straight!
