During a lively debate last week on whether Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, one of our contributors, WSAS, raised the sort of question that’s hard to resist: “This is the BEST ManU team since….?”
The treble winning team of 1999? The double winning side of 1994? 1968’s European champions? The Busby Babes, hit by tragedy 50 years ago next month.
Before we go on, let’s get one thing clear. For the moment, when we talk about the current United team, it’s all about potential rather than actual achievement. With just one league title in the trophy room, this crop have yet to amass the silverware to make a case for greatness.
But could this United team, one day, eclipse the achievements of all the others? Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson, Rooney and Tevez are all under 26 with the latter, thrillingly attacking foursome comfortably so.
Add the assumed progress of Nani and there aren’t too many gaps to be filled. Man for man, they look better than ’99. Peter Schmeichel and Roy Keane would walk into any United side but Ronny Johnsen and Jaap Stam? Would Andy Cole or Dwight Yorke trouble Rooney, Tevez or Ronaldo for a place up front?
The same could be argued against ‘94 and, perhaps less clearly, ’68 with the individual brilliance that marked both those sides - Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs, George Best and Bobby Charlton - matched today by Ronaldo and Rooney (a 200 million pound partnership according to Red Rants).
But great teams are measured by success as well as style. Back-to-back championships would be a start but hardly a unique achievement - the club have already managed the feat four times since 1993. The real test is in Europe and one bad performance, one bit of brilliance by a Raul or a Kaka, could see them come up short again (remember 2000 and 2007).
I can’t help feeling, though, that a European Cup win is just a matter of time for this team, perhaps even in Moscow in May. But what do you think about this United side? Are there weaknesses that will consign them to more disappointment, in Europe if not at home? Or do they truly have what it takes to become the best United team ever?
Padraic Halpin, London
PHOTO: Manchester United’sTevez celebrates after scoring during the 6-0 Premier league win over Newcastle United, Jan. 12 REUTERS/Phil Noble
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8 comments so far
Schmeichel, Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Yorke, Cole
versus
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo.
Now that would be some match although poor Ryan would have alot of running.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsWhat 2008 boasts in flare, 1999 has in experience. 1-1 draw I reckon
I’d have to say that the 2008 side is a better one than the 1999 winners. But like you said in your article, a simple game where one or two players dont perform can get you kicked out of the champions league. Its fair to say that they will only really be remembered if they do win so lets hope they do. This is a team with strength in depth and if they dont win the CL this season they should do next season. Maybe with Manucho as a danger in the air!
- Posted by aaronI think this team might well be better than the treble-winning side. I was lucky enough to be at the Champions League final at the Nou Camp in 1999 and they looked a very ordinary side that night. Great ending, of course, but Bayern had been outplaying them.
- Posted by Kevin FylanKeane was missing, and Schmeichel looked very nervous early on, Giggs did nothing and Beckham was bad too (until right at the end, of course).
Having said all that, they’d looked much better in a 3-3 against Barca the same season… Best game I’ve ever seen.
They won’t equal the previous greats mentioned.
- Posted by Five TimesNot because the players aren’t good enough but simply because Ferguson isn’t getting any younger. He will need to stay at the helm for 5 or more years which means if ferguson was 5 yrs younger then i’d say yeah… fair chance to equal or better the previous greats.
I’d agree with the point about Ferguson. If they win the European Cup, surely he’s going to retire on that note. I can’t see him hanging on this time to try for another. If they find the right successor, maybe they could go on and do more, but there’ll be a big opportunity to mess things up when he goes.
- Posted by Londonas far as i am concerned the current crop of players has the potential to be up there with the great united sides, but to be truly great you have to win things. it will be interesting to see how it pans out for us this season but right now i would consider the 99 team as THE best united side ive seen. they were the definition of the word ‘team’ and have the trophies to prove just how good they were.
- Posted by JonathanIf I had to choose an all time united team from the united teams I have followed (from 1992-present day)it would be a very hard choice. Schmeichel is the only absolute definate player without a doubt.
I would probably have to go with:
Schmeichel, G.Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Irwin, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney and Cantona.
Having said that there are so many insanely great players not mentioned who had a massive impact on uniteds fortune such as Beckham, Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy and Sheringham.
- Posted by Richard Youngi know that the style of soccer has changed drastically over the years, but a few of the busby babes would still make it to the best team, namely duncan edwards, eddie colman and possibly roger byrne…..
- Posted by JOHN TURNER