Manchester United's purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo with 22% of all votes cast in a BBC survey today for the premiership's best signing was second ahead of another United legend, Eric Cantona, who was third with 19% of the vote. Thierry Henry was first with 35% of the vote. Depends on what is meant by "best" signing: If we are talking about the best player to have played in the premiership, then I would put Ronaldo ahead of Henry. If we are talking about the signing with the most impact (at United), I put Cantona well ahead of Ronaldo. He was the catalyst who kick-started the successful era and at £1m was an absolute steal. Worst signing at United: Djemba-Djemba or Kleberson (take your pick).
Schemeichel and Keano are the best signings by Utd. They were that instrumental I can't decide between the two of them. Worse has to be Taibi though
Cantona, he was the catalyst that set the SAF era on its way. Worst, in terms of price and sod all in return Veron
But Cantona didn't lead Utd to the treble like Keane and Schemichel. If I was picking a SAF Utd all time team, I don't think Cantona would get in mine.
Perhaps the biggest "steal" for United was Denis Irwin, who cost a mere £625,000. That worked out at just over 56 grand per major trophy Puts SAF on a par with Dick Turpin
Giggs. Signed for free at a 14 year old from City In terms of actual transfer, I'd say Cantona as he was the catalyst for our initial success. We might not even have managed to convince Keane to choose us over Blackburn if we hadn't won that first title with Cantona. Worst signing must be Veron. We could have had Lampard and Ballack for £28 million at the time, or waited a few years and had Makelele or Essien. Kleberson, D-D, Taibi and Bellion were ****, but no more than £6 million a pop, so they didn't really affect our overall budget and ability to spend.
Spot on Chief. King Eric was the final piece. You only have to see the praise from Giggs, Beckham, Butt Scholes etc etc Plus that goal in the cup final against Liverpool's Spice boys. Magnifique
Best or most influential?, Eric raised the whole team and gave them the style and confidence to know they could beat anybody if they wanted it enough. Schmeichel saved us between 15 and 20 points per season, both were bought for peanuts. Worst Taibi.
Your best signing without doubt is Cantona. That signing won you the first title and got you on the way to a glorious period of your clubs history. He is no way the best player you've ever had, hell I wouldn't consider him for a strongest all time eleven for you guys, but he was the catalyst Worst signing is difficult. A bad signing is a bad signing. If they don't work out then they don't work out and the only real gauge to separate them is cost. Of course, over time inflation as kicked in so more recent failures always look worse than those of the past.
He would make my 11 Gerrez, but maybe we should have 3 seperate squads, Sir Matt era, SAF era, and the doldrums between the two. The three eras were totally different, but produced good and bad signings
In terms of best signing, I cannot believe there is any doubt that it was cantona. One could even argue that ferguson struck gold with that signing and that the whole period of success he had would not have happened without cantona' presence plus the emergence of the class of 1992 (including giggs) Cantona and giggs: best signing and best player over the longest period. The 2 most influential players.
Fergusons best 11 team of signings (paid a fee for, not youth graduates) 4-4-2 Schmeichel Parker Pallister Stam Irwin Ronaldo Keane Ince Kanchelskis Cantona van Nistelrooy Fergie's worst 11 signings, 4-4-2; Taibi Fabio Prunier Smalling Buttner Bellion Djemba Djemba Kleberson Obertan Bebe Dong
