Yeah, as I said earlier I think in terms of individual ability the 08 squad are superior in quite a few areas but 99 was more than the sum of its parts. There are so many intangibles that people aren't considering, like Beckham's set-piece threat and his relationship with Neville down the right, Ole's uncanny ability to score when it mattered, the seemingly telepathic understanding Dwight and Yorke had, Roy Keane's body being at a stage where it could keep up with his unstoppable desire to win every football match, Scholes' impact as an attacking force – something we only got a glimpse of in 08 against Barca. Whether you think any of this is enough for 99 to beat 08 is entirely in the eye of the beholder but to act like 08 would wipe the floor with 99 or to imply 99 had an easy run to the treble like some posters have been doing is delusional.
Oh I agree, but Is it better talent? Look at the goals record of 08, three made it to double figures, two of the three didn’t even break 20 goals, so that I disagree with. Keane, scholes, beckham, giggs, York, Cole, solkjaer and sheringham all were match winners. I argue 99 had more depth in an attacking front and some in defence, even the 99 left back was our leading penalty taker.
Like I say, that 99 side can beat anyone they proved and I argue they beat stronger sides than what the 08 side would offer. Apart from Ronaldo, our attacking intent was not in great form, Rooney and tevez only clicked for a few months between September to November, mostly ronaldo was scoring the goals with a defense doing the part.
The will and mental strength of the 99 side made them unstoppable, and it took a mental test to do what they done that stuns me many don’t even look back on, to go and beat Arsenal 2-1 in extra time with 10 men, and 3 days later they go to Turin and turn juventus over after going 2-0 down with prime David’s and Zidane is what I call a mental and physical achievement even by today’s standards.
Oh I agree but what sets the 99 side apart is three things
1 - beating Bayern in the final without Keane and scholes, that does not get enough credit
2 - beating arsenal 2-1 with 10 men with prime vierra, Pettit, overmars, and anelka with that back line, then to best juventus away with prime David’s and zidane to just name a few
3 - the 99 CL opponents were one of Europe’s strongest I had ever seen, and we passed every test. Bayern twice, Barcelona, inter, juventus, 99 faced them all
For me what always was a problem for the 2008 united squad was the midfield it was always the weak link, was never convinced with Hargreaves and Anderson, Scholes and giggs always had a few slow games, carrick was ok, but the 99 united midfield was so strong, put them in a 5 man midfield of Keane scholes butt beckham and giggs, that midfield had everything.
I've not read the whole thread so have missed this. Anyone suggesting that the '08 team would wipe the floor with the '99 side either didn't really see the '99 side or was too young to get what was going on. The Group Stage was rock solid and we went on to play some of the key teams of that era in the knock outs.
We had possibly the best - certainly the most complete - United midfield of all time and all 4 of them were in their absolute prime.
We had one of the most fluid, lively and exciting partnerships we've every had up front, Jaap fecking Stam and 2 of our best ever full backs. Oh, and Peter Schmeichel.
Keane alone is reason enough to believe the '99 side could overpower the '08 team. He was an absolute force of nature back then - just the ultimate leader (and an very underrated footballer).
I'm amazed that some of our own fans are so desperate to defend a viewpoint that they'd come out with nonsense like that.
99 passed every test we beat them all, 99 didn’t hide they went toe to toe like warriors and came out winners. We faced the storm of arsenal with 10 men, 3 days later we in Turin winning 3-2, we beat Bayern without Keane and scholes, that gets no credit what so ever, we were in the group of death, Bayern 99 were the peak of how brutal of a side Bayern were and we won. Now could 08 beat the 99 Bayern side? that’s debatable in itself, could 08 pass the group of death and go toe to toe with one of the strongest arsenal sides who were mentally strong, 99 side I would put my life in their hands, 08 not so much. I wouldn’t be so confident 08 midfield of Scholes and carrick could get the better of vierra and Petit in their prime, even with Ronaldo they would be bullied
You've got your individual battles all wrong mate. For me the 2 teams would like line up as-
Schmeichel
Neville Stam Johnsen Irwin
Beckham Scholes Keane Giggs
Yorke Cole
vs
Van Der Sar
Brown Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Hargreaves Scholes Carrick
Ronaldo Tevez Rooney
In midfield you have 3 vs 2 situation and as good as Keane was it was no easy task to be able to harry the 08 version of Scholes and Carrick out of possession. Also any space he vacated would be immediately occupied by Tevez or Rooney. The 08 team will win the midfield possession battle. Also for 99 Scholes and Keane to be able to play through the middle they would have to contend with Hargreaves who at that time was one of the best CDMs in the world. For the 99 team the most feasible avenue of attack would be going out wide. Beckham vs Evra is an intriguing battle but you can be damn sure that Rooney would be tracking all of Neville's overlapping runs essentially making it a 1v1 between Beckham and Evra, a battle Becks wouldn't win through pace, he would have to rely on his pin point delivery into the box. And as good as Becks was I would put my money on Vidic or Rio winning most of the headers against Yorke and Cole. The 99 team's most potent avenue of attack would be through their left with them isolating Brown against Giggs, with Ronaldo not tracking back this would be one of weakness.
On the other hand the 08 team would have most of the ball and the movement of the front 3 would cause the 99 defense all kinds of problem. Tevez and Rooney would harry the back 4 incessantly and the likes of Johnsen and Neville would be prone to mistakes in possession if pressed. Also you have Ronaldo who the team will constantly be looking to isolate against one of their defenders and even against Stam never mind the other 3 I would except the 08 version of Ronaldo to be able to beat them again and again. Evra with his bombarding runs would push Becks back and Rooney drifting infield would cause Neville all sorts of problem, he himself admitted he was not comfortable with a wide man moving into the inside channel. Plus in Rooney he has an opponent he won't be able to bully, same with Ronaldo against Irwin.
The match would play out with the 99 team being up against it for the most of it but having joy through their left with Giggs giving Brown a run around. But the 08 team would have too many avenues of attack and I would expect them to able to crack that 99 defense open at least twice.
Fergie played a 442 against Barcelona in 08, and considering Hargreaves missed huge chunks of the season I would not be confident he be fit, would they get more of the ball? You can’t have two scholes, one has to go, but 08 Never dominated the big games much they were always struggling because they had the slow midfield of scholes and Carrick. In the final of 08 he played a 442 Hargreaves played right back, so really they be matched in a 442 both sides. Hardly did Ferguson play 433 in 08, So say it’s 08 carrick scholes Ronaldo and giggs, against say Keane butt Beckham and blomvquest my money is on 99 through a younger midfield. Keane scholes beckham giggs in their prime against older Carrick scholes giggs and crocked Hargreaves half the time, 99 have the advantage