Manchester United - Dream Team

[jifortin]

The greatest Manchester United XI from the Alex Ferguson era



Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has given us a good reason to cast our minds back over his 26 year tenure and pick what we think is his strongest team from all those years in charge at the Theatre of Dreams.

Each and every one of the following players will have experienced the great man’s infamous hairdryer treatment at some stage, and some certainly left Old Trafford not on the best of terms with their gaffer.

Here’s who we picked, with the reasons why – but as ever with these lists, it’s only one opinion and we would welcome your views to the contrary.

- – - – -

Peter Schmeichel - Quite simply the best. The Great Dane was an absolute colossus in his eight years between the sticks, culminating in him being captain of the team that won the treble in 1999. Voted the world’s best keeper in 1992 and 1993. Oh, and who can forget his legendary tussles with Ian Wright…

Gary Neville - One of Fergie’s fledglings, and another who went on to skipper the side with distinction, Neville was a one-club man who is still England’s most capped right-back. His hatred of Liverpool was legendary, but with eight league titles to his name, not to mention countless other trophies, Phil’s big brother was certainly Mr Consistent.

Jaap Stam - One of those who Fergie fell out with due to comments in his autobiography, and which hastened his departure from Manchester, the giant Dutchman formed a brilliant partnership with Ronnie Johnsen. Equally adept in the air and with his feet, he surprisingly only spent three seasons at Old Trafford.

Nemanja Vidic - The Serbian gets the nod over Pallister/Bruce/Ferdinand due to his powerful and consistent performances. Another one to skipper the side in recent seasons, and has survived Fergie at Old Trafford, although injuries are starting to affect his career.

Denis Irwin - Undoubtedly one of, if not the best left-back to play in the Premier League. Lighting pace down the left made him a real handful going forward, and he was a brilliant free-kick taker that got him more than his fair share of goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo - For many, arguably already one of the all-time greats of the world game, despite being only 28. Enjoyed a close relationship with Sir Alex and still does to this day. Pace, trickery, great in the air and a mean free-kick artist. Ronaldo has it all – except perhaps for humility, and the ability to know when enough is enough with the hair gel.

Roy Keane - Like Stam, his United exodus was far from cordial, but his fiery character and unflinching commitment to the cause made him the player he was. Remembered particularly for his battles with Patrick Vieira at Arsenal, Keane was a United captain who demanded everything from his troops. His selfless display in the 1999 Champions League semi-final resulted in a card that saw him banned for the final – the Irishman thoroughly merited his place on the greatest stage of all.

Paul Scholes - Like Fergie, announced his retirement only to find the pull of Old Trafford too much to resist. Lauded by the likes of Zidane and Gerrard as the greatest midfielder they ever played against, the ‘ginger ninja’s’ incredible passing and powerful shot won many a game. Rarely had a poor game, and is set to call it a day at the end of this campaign.

Ryan Giggs - United’s longest serving player, and another Fergie fledgling like Neville and Scholes. The boss said his mazy runs gave defenders “twisted blood”, and who would argue? Still playing in his 40th year and set for at least one more season, the Welshman is United’s most decorated player of all time. And don’t forget his goal to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup in their 1999 semi-final replay – wow.

Eric Cantona - The Frenchman is often hailed as being the key to United’s renaissance. Like Keane, he had a fiery temperament and was never far from controversy. Blessed with a touch of genius, King Eric could do things that most fellow professionals could only dream about. The swagger and puffed out chest marked him out as a firm fan favourite – the United faithful still sing his name at every home game.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy - The Dutchman was another to fall out with Fergie before leaving for Real Madrid, but having waited to sign him after a career-threatening injury, United got more than their money’s worth. Didn’t score too many from outside the box, but what a finisher.

SUBS

Edwin Van der Sar - Fergie always said he regretted not signing the Dutchman earlier in his career – unlucky to miss out but a more than able deputy to Schmeichel.

Gary Palllister - Part of the famed partnership with Steve Bruce, Pallister’s aerial ability marked him out as a defensive rock.

Bryan Robson - Fergie’s Captain Marvel – another midfield dynamo that got goals as well. The former England captain is unlucky to miss out to Keane, but injuries affected his time under Fergie.

Andrei Kanchelskis - Phenomenal pace and skill, the Russian’s inclusion might surprise a few, but was a great watch for this observer.

David Beckham - Wore the number seven shirt prior to Ronaldo’s arrival and another quite brilliant talent. Only misses out because of the Portuguese’s exceptional ability.

Mark Hughes - The powerful Welshman made scoring look easy – from both inside and outside the box.

Ole Gunnar Soslsjkaer - The Norwegian is the original United ‘supersub’ – could always be relied on to come on and score.

http://worldobserveronline.com/2013/05/11/the-greatest-manchester-united-xi-alex-ferguson-era/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral

[TheCANTONA]

martin buchan bagus tp ga sehebat om rio, captain marvel juga setipe dg sir bobby jadi ga cocok dimainkan bersama so paul scholes pilihan yg lebih logis krn selain piawai mengatur serangan scholesy juga bsa bmain sbg jangkar tim, PLUS orang yg menempatkan beckham diatas giggs JELAS orang yg gak ngerti sepakbola i mean seriously becks over giggsy ... so my team would be

Peter Schmeichel:
Duncan Edwards (big dunc bisa dimainkan dimana saja)
Rio Ferdinand
Jaap Stam
Denis Irwin:
George Best
Paul Scholes
Bobby Charlton
Ryan Giggs:
Eric Cantona
Denis Law

[zudomiriku]

Manchester United's greatest Premier League XI: Wayne Rooney fails to make the cut... who takes his place up front?

* Cristiano Ronaldo selected up front with Eric Cantona
* Peter Schmeichel beats Edwin van der Sar to No 1 spot

Manchester United are comfortably the most successful team of the Premier League era, winning 13 titles since its dawn in 1992.

Picking their greatest team of the last 23 years, therefore, is not an easy task, with many serial trophy winners bound to be missing out.

As part of our ongoing series, Sportsmail's Mike Keegan has set about that task. See if you agree with his selection...

PETER SCHMEICHEL

Arguably the club's greatest goalkeeper of all time, let alone the Premier League era. Questions were asked when Schmeichel arrived for the princely sum of £500,000 from Brondby in 1991 and endured a shaky start which included an aerial bombardment at Wimbledon. The Dane, however, soon became great and at times appeared as though he simply could not be beaten. His penalty save from Dennis Bergkamp in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final paved the way for the historic treble.

GARY NEVILLE

Christened 'busy' by his Class of 92 pals and for good reason - the Bury boy turned commitment into an obsession.

Neville recognised early on that he may not have the ball-playing skills of some of his fellow graduates but he could not be matched for work ethic, drive and determination. Lived and breathed Manchester United and hated Scousers, as the song goes, and pretty much anyone who dared to take his beloved Reds on.

Brought the curtain down after 602 matches for his club and 85 for his country with a crammed trophy cabinet housing 20 winners' medals.

RIO FERDINAND

May not have achieved iconic status in the Stretford End but the £30m man was an immense presence for more than a decade at the heart of United's defence.

Famously opened the doors to balaclava-clad supporters furious at him being spotted dining with Chelsea's former United chief executive Peter Kenyon during a contract dispute in 2005 – this was always a man who had the courage of his convictions regardless of whether they made him popular.

Athletic, strong and rapid, a colossus of a defender.

JAAP STAM

Spent just three seasons at the club following a £10.6m move from PSV in 1998 but fans still sing the imposing Dutchman's song with regularity. Stam's only error came off the field, when his warts-and-all autobiography shed a little too much light on the club's clandestine move for him. Was told by a raging Sir Alex Ferguson that he was on his bike at a petrol station after Italians Lazio made a £15m offer the Scot said he could not refuse. Ferguson would later regret that decision, as would United fans all over the world. Just edges out Nemanja Vidic.

DENIS IRWIN

Another Fergie steal, United paid just £600,000 to bring the Irishman 12 miles down the road from Oldham Athletic after their epic FA Cup semi-final battles with their neighbours in 1990. Over the next 12 years he would win it all. Irwin mixed defensive agility with attacking intent and struck a killer free-kick when given the opportunity. Became part of the furniture at Old Trafford in a glittering trophy-laden era and even won a Championship when he left the club to join Wolves in 2004.

DAVID BECKHAM

Where to start with Becks? Burst on to the scene with a JFK moment – everyone old enough remembers where they were when they first saw that crazy strike from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996 – and would provide iconic moment after iconic moment. Devastatingly accurate with the ball at his feet and adored by the faithful, especially after he became a national hate figure following his needless red card which ended England's promising 1998 World Cup campaign. Another who may have left too soon, United's loss was Real Madrid's gain. And AC Milan's. And Paris Saint-Germain's etc etc.

PAUL SCHOLES

One of the all-time greats, the Middleton-lad was pure Manchester United. Outrageously gifted, almost everything he did was laced with attacking intent. His jettisoning out of the England side should be viewed as a national disgrace. Like Beckham, so many images rush to mind. That volley at Bradford City, that screamer against Barcelona and those long-range lobs landing on team-mates' heads when they ventured into the bushes at the training ground. Understated genius who, long after hanging up his boots, has us hanging on his words after his surprise and searingly outspoken venture into the media world.

ROY KEANE

United fans have now been asking for another Keano for the best part of 10 years. A midfield warrior with an engine that covered mile after mile, the chances are nobody will fill the void the Irishman left. Like so many others in the Ferguson years, Keane left under a cloud and that speaks volumes. Nobody gets upset when the average players go. Ferociously tough tackling, a leader of the side who demanded – and got – the best from his team-mates. His swashbuckling 1999 Champions League semi-final performance, after a yellow card that ruled him out of the final, is one of the greatest moments in United's proud history.

RYAN GIGGS

Tore opponents apart, as the song goes, from 1991 to 2014 over an incredible 23-year stint. Babies became adults, wars were won, lost and fought again and the world became a different place in the time the Salford lad from Wales wore the red shirt. Put simply, the most decorated player in the history of English football. Now assistant to Louis van Gaal, the legacy lives on. Credits his Peter Pan-esque longevity to yoga classes. Where's that gym?

CRISTIANO RONALDO

As bizarre as it seems now, the lanky Portuguese flier arrived at Old Trafford with fans still furious that the club had missed out on buck-toothed Brazilian Ronaldinho. They were not upset for long. With explosive pace and outrageous skills, Ronaldo was made for United's attack-from-the-flanks approach. Equally dangerous on the wing or up top, he goes into this side as a striker to accommodate Beckham. Left for £80m in 2009 with the blessing of 'father' Ferguson and would be welcomed back with open arms.

ERIC CANTONA

Selected ahead of Wayne Rooney – that is how good the Frenchman was. The icon of all icons, King Eric represents Ferguson's finest hour in the transfer market when the wily Scot somehow persuaded bitter rivals Leeds to let him cross the Pennines for £1.2m in 1992. His impact was instant. A force of nature, Cantona had the feet that could do everything – from karate kicks to carrying out outrageous dinks over unsuspecting keepers. That he did not lift a Champions League or World Cup and retired at 30 simply adds to the wonderful enigma.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3108789/Manchester-United-s-greatest-Premier-League-XI-Wayne-Rooney-fails-make-cut-takes-place-front.html