This is my Man United greatest all time XI: 4-4-2 GK: Schmeichel RB: Neville CB: Ferdinand CB: Staam LB: Irwin RW: Ronaldo CM: Scholes CM: Charlton LW: Best ST: Law ST: Cantona Subs: Van Der Sar, Edwards, Bruce, Robson, Beckham, Giggs, Rooney. What is yours?
No Vidic? I wasn't alive to see some of the club legends so I'll do the ones I've watched play Schmeichel Neville Staam Vidic Irwin Beckham Scholes Keane Giggs Cantona Ronaldo
Mine is this; Van der Sar Irwin Foulkes Pallister Byrne Giggs Edwards Keane Charlton Best Cantona Subs; G Neville, Schmeichel, Van Nistelrooy, Robson, Ronaldo, Stam, Hughes, Law, Milne
This GK 1 Alex Stepney DF 2 Jimmy Nicholl DF 3 Arthur Albiston MF 4 Sammy McIlroy DF 5 Brian Greenhoff DF 6 Martin Buchan (c) MF 7 Steve Coppell MF 8 Jimmy Greenhoff FW 9 Stuart Pearson FW 10 Lou Macari MF 11 Gordon Hill 81' Substitute: MF 12 David McCreery 81' Manager: Tommy Docherty
Interesting selection and I know this is all about opinion but both Dennis Irwin and Roger Byrne were twenty times better left full backs than Evra could ever dream of being.
Irwin won the champions league in 1999 played over 500 times for the club and won seven league titles with us, he eclipses Evra in absolutely every aspect whilst at United and not only that is a far better player and better bloke. Evra has got some way to go to come close and his performances of late suggest he never will. In those 500+ games for United Irwin did not have one single bad game, ever. Byrne was captain of the club during the Busby Babes era and was also an England International and widely recognised as the best left back around at that time and a great captain. I never saw him play but base this on the opinion of thosethat did, like my Dad and grandad! He was killed at Munich. We should do a best PL era eleven and a best pre PL era eleven.
Yep quality side Chops, shame none of the mickey's bit from my selection. RHC shame on you 'shire boy!
Irwin was awesome Evra is awesome (and has played 414 Times for united and has won the champions league and four league titles, I think eclipsing Evra may be guilding the lilly) i think it is hard to compare them but Evra breaks forward really well, but Irwin's free kick were amazing. In the Irwin era united really were dominant now we have City and Chelsea's cash to compete with now.
Evra's only played around 270 times IIRC. If he'd played 414 times that would be around 70 games a season!! For me, Evra is more talented, faster and better at going forward. But Irwin was much much more consistent and solid at the back. Almost never stopped concentrating and rarely put a foot wrong, even in his mid 30s. He also dealt with Luis Figo very well on more than one occasion, despite getting almost no help from our left wingers at the time. That, for me, is why Irwin was better.
Righto, here goes. Pre Premier league; Stepney Duxbury Buchan Foulkes Byrne Charlton Robson Edwards Best Taylor Law subs; Bailey, Albiston, Muhren, Coppel, Moses, Whiteside, McQueen, Macari (for Tunns) Premier league era Van der Sar Neville Pallister Stam Irwin Giggs Keane Scholes Ronaldo van Nistelrooy Cantona subs; Schmeichel, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Beckham, Hughes, Cole, Rooney.
Hey your right I must be drunk and I didn't even know it. Still that would gives him 230+ games to try and get those three more league titles, assuming you had your facts right. Still I think he is worthy of a mention in the same discussion. Irwin is and was a United great I'm saying Evra is also very very good and not leagues below him, which seems to be your point. P.s Irwin made 368 appearances for United.
Irwin made 368 LEAGUE appearances for United mate. He made about 540 in total. He also won four FA cups to go with those league and CL's you assume I had right. As you can see, I'm a fan. He's a ****ing legend, the type of player on which our club is founded. Without loyal, commited playes like him we'd be nowhere near where we are.
Hey your right I must be drunk and I didn't even know it. Still that would gives him 230+ games to try and get those three more league titles. Still I think he is worthy of a mention in the same discussion. Irwin is and was a United great I'm saying Evra is also very very good and not leagues below him, which seems to be your point.
Don't get me wrong, Evra IS a great player and a great LB. I like him. Irwin for me epitomises United and what makes us successful. Non stop commitment and hard work, game after game. A level of excellence that was unending. He's an unsung hero and as such I feel it's my duty to sing about him! He was rarely even booked, for a full back with wingers charging at you that's worth a mention itself. As a bloke and pro he's second to none. <starting to sound like an Irwin stalker>
Joining in with the Irwin love-in, he was always one of my favorite players when I was at school, as you said a model pro. Not many players like that don't really exist anymore, Scholes is one of the last of that kind. No humility anymore among good players (maybe with Messi). I agree Irwin is often overlooked for more glamourous players, but any true United fan knows his value.
