Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's playing style at Manchester United - wondering if the Portuguese star is a good fit for his current position.
Ronaldo made a red hot start to life back in Manchester - scoring five goals in his first seven games.
But with United struggling mightily over the last few games, Ronaldo's performance levels have also taken a dip - with no goals in his last three league games.
And Crouch wonders if the 36-year-old's style of play will be a good fit for United, and himself, in the long run.
Now in the latter stages of his career, Ronaldo has transitioned from a winger to an out-and-out striker.
In Solskjaer's 4-2-3-1 system, Ronaldo has lead the line as a lone striker in all of his appearances so far, with Crouch questioning if he's capable of putting in the necessary work to succeed, whilst getting the best out of his teammates.
He told the Daily Mail: "Standing up front just isn’t in vogue any more and this is an ongoing issue being debated around Manchester United this season after Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival.
"Things do change, new eras are quickly upon us, although there is definitely a part of me that is a little sad about it. I’m nostalgic and old now, remember.
"The people I looked up to while growing up were obviously the old-fashioned, quintessential No 9s: Dion Dublin, Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, the Brazilian Ronaldo. Supreme footballers.
“I think back to those combinations of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips, Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley, the big man-little man partnership.
“The sort that Jermain Defoe and I had. It has died out, the two strikers up there feeding off each other. I can’t think of too many around.
“There is so much more demand on the goalscorers in the modern game. Usually in that position now you have quick, potent wingers either side of you.
“The frontman didn’t used to get involved in too much pressing, but at Liverpool when you see Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane — plus Diogo Jota when he starts — the roles have altered hugely."
United's loss to Liverpool had lead to continuous speculation over manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future.
The Manchester Evening News understands the club hierarchy has given serious consideration to dismissing Solskjaer but as it stands he is expected to remain in place for the Spurs game.
