Ronaldo the "King of Free Kicks"? He's not even good enough to shine Juninho's crown!

Last night, Manchester United claimed another three points to strengthen their strangle hold on the top spot in the Premier League.

It was by no means a vintage performance by the Red Devils but grabbed all three points regardless.

Many people in the media are lauding this and are saying that to pull a win from such a performance is, as Phil McNulty states in his BBC Sport blog, "the hallmark of champions".

It is very difficult to argue with this and it is also hard to see anyone overtaking Manchester United, barring a monumental turn-around of form from the current holders.

But while all this media adulation is understandable (Man United are so consistently able to do this and are unstoppable at the moment) it reminded me of another, more questionable, media based Man Utd love in.

It's interesting to see that Cristiano Ronaldo has been labeled by the media as some sort of 'dead ball expert'.

He isn't. Just as Roberto Carlos wasn't.

Hitting the ball very hard and managing to put unbelievable dip or swerve on it is very impressive, but make a free kick expert it does not.

Nor does hitting the wall or ballooning it over 20 times out of 25 attempts.

On ITV's highlights show, of the first leg of the Champions' League round of 16, Juninho Pernambucano was said to have "done a Ronaldo".

He didn't. If anything Ronaldo 'did a Juninho'.

Most bewilderingly, Craig Doyle, the presenter, asked his studio 'expert' Robbie Earle:

"We all know Ronaldo is the King of Free Kicks, but what about Juninho?"

To which Earle replied: "He's definitely up there."

Up there?! He's more than just up there. He IS there!

The Lyon playmaker can take all kinds of free kicks; Beckham and Pirlo-esque curlers, Carlos/Ronaldo style dippers and swervers and even Riise style, straight forward, pile drivers. All with devastating consistency.

His delivery from corners and free kicks in wide areas is also exceptionally accurate and, what's more, he's been doing it for more than seven years.

It makes you wonder whether these 'experts' really watch football or just pander to favouritism.

Agree? Disagree? Make your own mind up. Watch this Juninho Compilation and this Ronaldo Compilation and then leave a comment.