If there were a poll held today to determine who would be the Player of the Year, then almost surely Cristiano Ronaldo would walk away with it. The Portuguese international winger has been quite outstanding again this season and is right on cue to retain the top individual honour in English soccer this season.

The Manchester United ace has been nothing short of electrifying this season and it appears, at this stage at least, there is no stopping him; nor does it look like he might slow down. The boy is in terrific form and deserves the praise heaped on him, week in and week out. In a side laden with stars this lad shines the brightest of them all.

No wonder then that Alex Ferguson, the man responsible for bringing him to Old Trafford in a £12 million deal in 2003 and nurtured him into one of Europe’s finest attacking talents, remains awed by the player.

“Ronaldo was fantastic again, amazing,” was how Ferguson spoke of his protégé after his two goals were incisive in eliminating Tottenham from the fourth round of the FA Cup last weekend. The operative word in Ferguson’s applause was: again. And it’s been like that for some time now.

But for all his prowess, running so elegantly with the ball, repeatedly stepping over it to deceive the opposition, feeding it with pin-point precision to his teammates to set them up for a crack at goal, or just hammering it in himself, there are some who question whether he can continue in this vein until the end of the season and take it with him into the Euro 2008 Championships in Austria and Switzerland in June.

The loyal supporters of the Red Devils will obviously say “yes” without hesitation; and maybe quite rightly so. But with Man United still in the thick of things on three formidable fronts – the English Premiership, the FA Cup and the European Champions League, one has got to wonder if he won’t start fading towards the end.

His staying free from injury and/or suspension will be critical to Man United’s cause, given that he is such an integral part of the well-oiled Red Machine of Old Trafford.

The absence of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez from Man United’s frontline can be papered over somewhat, but the exclusion of Ronaldo is considerably greater and some extent, damaging to their chances.

A Manchester United side with Ronaldo in the line-up has every chance of challenging for the Champions League in Europe, but one without the Portuguese star has no hope at all. This lad is as good as that, and the fearful thing for the rest of England and the continent as a whole is that he is getting better and better all the time.  

If Man United are in the Champions League shake up at end of the season (I reckon they will go on and win the Premier League), then he will be expected to be the point-man. That is the stage which I think he carves for, to show off his best.

But if he does, and at this stage there is every indication he that will, then he may well pay the price and flunk at Euro 2008.

By Shaun Orange

Liverpool‘s hopes of winning a first league championship title since 1990 evaporated into the thin air of Anfield on Monday night. Their draw with Aston Villa was the last thing that manager Rafael Benitez needed to maintain any realistic chance of catching the leading trio in pursuit of the Premiership crown.

The stalemate left the Reds in fifth spot, behind Everton, and a distant 14 points adrift of leaders Manchester United and Arsenal.

Perhaps more importantly to emerge from the game was the public acknowledgement by captain Steven Gerrard that the off-field ramblings that have dogged the Merseysiders over the past couple of months are taking their toll on the players.

It was the first time the skipper did so and now must surely serve as notice to the club’s American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett that they cannot continue in the same vein if they are genuine about their “love for the game” and their desire to see Liverpool succeed and win the league again.

If anything, the Yankee tycoons have done a marvellous job of destabilising the club by adding to the ambiguity over the ownership of the club and undermining the position of Benitez.

Their admission to speaking to former Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann while Benitez is still in office is nothing short of utter betrayal. Hicks' denial that he is about to sell up his shares to Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, does not come cross as strikingly convincing.

His assertion that he is “fully committed” to the club is about as shallow as a man can get trying to waddle his way through a mess as big as this and created by no-one but himself.

Not only has this debacle clearly shown Hicks and his mate for what they really are, but it has gotten so bad that even the League Managers’ Association (LMA) have added their voice to the saga.

LMA boss Richard Bevan understandably, and rightly, condemned Hicks and Gillett for the manner they have treated Benitez and called for the Americans “to act in a professional and business-like manner”.

He added that it was “surprising to hear the comments from the owner(s)”. But maybe not! Hicks and Gillett have their own agenda and while it might be seen as just another business deal (if they do sell up – for a healthy profit) it has certainly hurt the club; maybe so much so that the Reds could take a little while to recover.

The hope is that this will not be the case and that the proprietors will come to their senses and let the manager do his job the way he should. What is assured though is that Benitez has no hope of claiming an English league title, not this season anyway. Not after another draw.

By Shaun Orange

Tottenham’s turbulent season enjoyed a spot of respite over the weekend when they came away with the right result against Sunderland. But over the next week, there is every reason for their fans to fear the worst as they come up against three of the four top teams in the league.

On Tuesday (January 22) they clash with bitter city rivals Arsenal in a League Cup semi-final second leg tie at White Hart Lane and then on Sunday (January 27) they travel to Old Trafford for a meeting with Manchester United.

Three days later (January 30) they tangle with high-riding Everton in the Premiership on Merseyside. And just to whet the appetite even further, on February 2, Spurs are at home to play Man United again, in the league.

The regular following to White Hart Lane were subjected to a traumatic saga involving Martin Jol, which ended with the Dutch coach been given the boot by the London club towards the end of October.

And life under new manager, Spaniard Juande Ramos was expected to be smoothened out somewhat, and for a while it seemed so. However, Ramos has now found out, much to his chagrin, that not all is as rosy as it looked from afar.

Tottenham’s victory over lowly Sunderland came after two defeats in the league; and the fixture before that was the 10-goal thriller in which they overcame Reading 6-4.

The Spurs boss has not only had to deal with the irritation of some poor showings on the pitch, but also the unsettledness of England striker Jermain Defoe.

It’s been reported that the Spaniard has told Defoe he can get on his bike and push off. And for good measure, Defoe has been in talks with Aston Villa and Martin O’Neill is said to be keen on him.

But then again, there have also been reports that the forward said he would stay put at White Hart Lane and fight for his place. Just what the real scenario is, is anybody’s guess. Still, it’s a pathetic situation no matter which angle you look at it.

Spurs’ sporting director Damien Comolli came out this week to quash reports that they were about to offload Darren Bent. The centre-forward arrived at Tottenham in a club record £16.5 million deal in the summer from Charlton. And now there are suggestions that he might rejoin his former boss Alan Curbishley at West Ham.

Spurs also shot talk of a swoop for Brazilian striker Fred, from Lyon, but have been mum on Tiago returning to the Premiership from Juventus. The former Chelsea player is said to be dying to come back, and Ramos might yet get his midfield hard-man.

For Ramos it should be sooner rather than later, given the fixture line-up that awaits his team. They might fancy their (slim) chances against the Gunners, having held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the first leg two weeks ago. But it might also be wishful thinking, because when Arsene Wenger’s side hit full stride – with or without their African stars, they are just too sleek for Spurs.

Man United, we know will not spare them and Spurs can expect a thumping if - for one moment, they let down their guard. History has taught Spurs that. Thus, should they indeed be distracted, they may well suffer a double dose of humble pie.

That’s why their fans fear so much. It’s easy to understand.

By Shaun Orange

To suggest that Liverpool are in turmoil is an understatement. And for those who might think that this is being particularly coarse, consider the fact that this is the most successful football club in Britain.

It is one that prides itself on traditions that set the standards for not only English soccer to follow, but the rest of Europe, and beyond.

Thus, when two American tycoons take control and turn their backs on a glorious history with utter contempt, then they need to be told straight in the face that they have no place at the club and neither do they belong at Anfield.

Yes, the argument will be that they have financed a takeover of the club and that they now run the show. Well, at what price and what show will they run if Rafael Benitez and a good number of the squad that he has so adeptly put together exit northwest England, as they are expected to do at the end of this season.

Unless of course, Messrs Tom Hicks and George Gillett get their act together, come to their senses; leave Rafa alone to orchestrate the tactics of getting the team to play, and concentrate on the financing of bringing in the players the manager has identified and the new stadium in Stanley Park.

That is the way it should be, but it’s hardly been the case. Instead, these two fellas have gone behind the Spaniard’s back and offered his job to a German coach, who has since chosen to coach in Germany. How shameless can you be?

The answer from some quarters might be: that is now the way of the world. All well and good, but this is not the Liverpool way – never has been, at least, not until Hicks and Gillett showed up at the Shankly Gates.

It would appear now that the best way out of this for the Reds is for the Dubai International Capital (DIC) to come in and takeover from the two Americans. Twelve months ago they were on the threshold of doing just that before Hicks and Gillett scuppered their bid.

Not only does the Dubai-based investment company have the dough to comfortably fund the future plans of the club, but its founder/chairman and lifelong Liverpool fan, Sameer al-Ansari, is said to be desperately keen to put things right at Anfield.

And without the risk of selling their souls to the highest bidder, there many in this club who would rather let DIC take a stake in Anfield than have to deal with Hicks and Gillett.

The fact that DIC will also have the commercial apparatus as the key behind their investment cannot be disputed – neither should it be. It must be accepted that clubs have got to be run efficiently and profitably, otherwise you sadly end up in a position similar to which Luton Town recently found themselves – begging to stave going under.

That too is not the Liverpool way.

That famous Anfield boot-room culture is where this club should return to. It’s definitely where the fans want to be and a long string of former players, including living legend, Kenny Dalglish.

He noted: "The fans are very disappointed and frustrated. I don't think they have ever had this before."

No, they have not. And who needs all this turmoil (understatement) anyway? Apart from maybe two Americans and a band of those who do not recognise the importance of wining the European Champions League, reaching a second final in three years, and clinching the FA Cup in the same timeframe.