Who was better - Cole or Yorke?

[VP89]

I was too young to remember how good they were in tandem and appreciate them fully. Always wanted to look back and see how they compared.

Can anyone who remembers them well tell me who was better and why?

Might need a poll for this.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

I’m Andy Cole biased to a fault but Yorke’s level when he initially came was godly, the mans first touch under pressure was ridiculous.

I personally hate the fact these two are often pitted as a ‘who’s better’ when they’re both vastly better than a lot of strikers with had; past & present.

All that being said, I’m sitting on the fence cause I’m a Cole apologist to a fault, he scored goals of every variation.

 

[Cloud7]

Yorke forever, for obvious reasons. Not only was he a brilliant player, I probably would have been a fan of another club were it not for him.

 

[acnumber9]

Cole was a better player for longer and contributed more to our success. Yorke’s 99 season was the best either of them did though. I never liked that Yorke got the credit for how good their partnership was. Cole formed great partnerships with several players. Yorke, not so much.

 

[McGrathsipan]

They were a perfect duo.
Salt and pepper.
Each one suited to a particular dish but in general both are/were awesome

 

[Bwuk]

Andy Cole

 

[Dante]

Yorke's peak was higher. But Cole sustained it for longer.

Dwight Yorke in the Treble season:

29 goals, 22 assists in 51 matches

Those are Balon d'Or numbers. Messi only beat that assists total once in his career.

 

[Garethw]

Yorke was the better technical footballer. Cole was the better goal scorer. Both were fecking awesome.

Absolutely fecking loved everyone of those treble winning players.

 

[AaronRedDevil]

This duo is why I supported united. But I'd have to go with Yorke for me.

 

[SalfordRed18]

Yorke's peak was higher. But Cole sustained it for longer.

Dwight Yorke in the Treble season:

29 goals, 22 assists in 51 matches

Those are Balon d'Or numbers. Messi only beat that assists total once in his career.

Back then, but I honestly don't think they are now. The games developed that much.

 

[Bwuk]

Yorke's peak was higher. But Cole sustained it for longer.

Dwight Yorke in the Treble season:

29 goals, 22 assists in 51 matches

Those are Balon d'Or numbers. Messi only beat that assists total once in his career.

Yeah. I said Cole is better due to length, but it’s hard to argue against Yorke as better peak.

 

[Eckers99]

I'm so used to thinking of them as an inseparable duo that I've genuinely hardly given it much thought.

I'd say Cole was slightly quicker and a better instinctive finisher but Yorke was a better link player, stronger, better technically and very composed. Both were good in the air but, again, I think Yorke shades that area as well.

So, at their peaks, I'd go with Yorke as the better all-round footballer but Cole the better goalscorer. And his peak lasted a fair bit longer.

Easily the best centre forward partnership I've seen in the Premier League era.

 

[Dante]

Back then, but I honestly don't think they are now. The games developed that much.

If you consider that assists are harder to rack up than goals, Yorke's total of 22 is superhuman. As I said, Messi got 23 once in 2014/15 to beat him, but that was it. And he's the best player of all time.

There will have been a handful of seasons where Messi/Ronaldo would have obliterated those totals. But in most seasons, including the one where Modric recently one, Yorke would have easily been in the conversation.

 

[Spaghetti]

Andy Cole was far better overall. Yorke obviously had his one outstanding (not the same Outstanding as Andy) season, but Cole had many good seasons and was, arguably, the reason why Dwight was so good that season.

Either way, the partnership from 98-2000 was incredible.

 

[SalfordRed18]

If you consider that assists are harder to rack up than goals, Yorke's total of 22 is superhuman. As I said, Messi got 23 once in 2014/15 to beat him, but that was it. And he's the best player of all time.

There will have been a handful of seasons where Messi/Ronaldo would have obliterated those totals. But in most seasons, including the one where Modric recently one, Yorke would have easily been in the conversation.

No he's not but that's for a different thread.

I see what you're saying about assists but personally I don't see him being in contention in the modern game.

 

[El Jefe]

Yorke at his peak was better but Cole was better over the course of their careers.

 

[Tarrou]

Peak: Yorkie

Overall: Cole

 

[Dante]

No he's not but that's for a different thread.

I see what you're saying about assists but personally I don't see him being in contention in the modern game.

He had a better season than Modric, who finished first in 2018. And a more prolific one than Ronaldo, who finished second.

 

[Ian Reus]

Yorke was just ahead but I prefer Cole as he just got United.

 

[Redplane]

Another threat to remind me of glory days gone by that makes me wanna cry.

Yes I know that rhymes. You re welcome.

 

[caid]

Cole shades it for me. He was great for longer. Yorke was a bit short lived.

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

Loved them as a partnership. Truly special pairing. I'm echoing what most have said in that Yorke was the bigger talent who had the higher peak but due to his lifestyle he burned out quicker. Cole was a quality goalscorer for a very long time.

 

[SalfordRed18]

He had a better season than Modric, who finished first in 2018. And a more prolific one than Ronaldo, who finished second.

Did he?

I see your point, but he wasn't in the conversation during that season so why would he be now?

 

[Yagami]

Yorke's peak was higher. But Cole sustained it for longer.

Dwight Yorke in the Treble season:

29 goals, 22 assists in 51 matches

Those are Balon d'Or numbers. Messi only beat that assists total once in his career.

Yeah, I think Yorke was one of our 5 best/most important players that season alongside Schmeichel, Stam, Keane and Beckham.

As far as CFs go, is it fair to say he's our best from an individual season standpoint? He's certainly up there.

His general play was superb. Tracked back to help defence, held the ball up brilliantly with excellent close contro l and shielding, could dribble. I thought he was great, and the best out of our 4 forwards at the time (even though Sheringham was my favourite!).

 

[Dante]

Did he?

I see your point, but he wasn't in the conversation during that season so why would he be now?

Rivaldo won it that year for political reasons. It was criminal that a United player didn't win it.

In those days, it was nigh on impossible for a player from the PL to win the Ballon d'Or. Spain and Italy had it wrapped up before a ball was kicked back then.

 

[VeevaVee]

They are as one

 

[Dante]

Yeah, I think Yorke was one of our 5 best/most important players that season alongside Schmeichel, Stam, Keane and Beckham.

As far as CFs go, is it fair to say he's our best from an individual season standpoint? He's certainly up there.

His general play was superb. Tracked back to help defence, held the ball up brilliantly with excellent close contro l and shielding, could dribble. I thought he was great, and the best out of our 4 forwards at the time (even though Sheringham was my favourite!).

I think it was between Yorke and Beckham, personally. Schmeichel had his mid-season dip, whilst Keane was missing from the CL final.

The Ballon d'Or award is always political/a popularity contest. But on merit alone, I think Yorke should have edged it. That's just me, though.

 

[jesperjaap]

Yorke was the better player and Cole was by far a better player when in tandem with Yorke. I would say both were far better as a partnership than as individuals and that isnt a big criticism as they were magic and two of the best strikers we have had when together, but neither individually were in the same league as Van Nistlerooy for example.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Yorke in the short term but Cole had some longevity

 

[Yagami]

I think it was between Yorke and Beckham, personally. Schmeichel had his mid-season dip, whilst Keane was missing from the CL final.

The Ballon d'Or award is always political/a popularity contest. But on merit alone, I think Yorke should have edged it. That's just me, though.

I've always had Beckham as our best that year (& wish he had won the Ballon d'Or) but I can certainly see why others would say Yorke. In his debut season, too!

 

[SalfordRed18]

Rivaldo won it that year for political reasons. It was criminal that a United player didn't win it.

In those days, it was nigh on impossible for a player from the PL to win the Ballon d'Or. Spain and Italy had it wrapped up before a ball was kicked back then.

Beckham finished 2nd, and Keane finished 6th.

Yorke finished 11th.

 

[Pughnichi]

Cole is 3rd on the all time prem league top scorers list...without taking penalties...which tells you that he was consistently great for a number of years. He scored all kinds of goals be it poached, header, solo/dribble, long range, brilliant volleys. Tarnished by Hoddles ridiculous statement and poor England showing. Despite that he was my fav Utd player, perhaps still even to this day. He just made it all look so easy. He went next level when partnered with Yorke who, as most have said already had a better 99 season than Cole. He was epic that year. Ronaldinho like in that he just loved being on the pitch, always smiling. It is hard to separate them as we can’t ignore the treble season. Both fantastic players, perhaps the best partnership I’ve ever seen. Also rightly pointed out that individually whilst great players, not quite RVN level who would have smashed all records available had he been here longer. If only we had any one of these 3 fine strikers now.

Makes it even more frustrating for those that can remember when we see lukaku and his woeful first touch and link up play. 75m!!! Oh my days

 

[Dante]

Beckham finished 2nd, and Keane finished 6th.

Yorke finished 11th.

It's always been a popularity contest. Beckham happened to be the most famous name in the United team so he got second.

Players for the big Spanish and Italian had it wrapped before the first kick of the season. That's still the case today, to some extent.

It should have come down to Yorke, Keane and maybe Beckham, considering those 3 won the Treble. The fact that Rivaldo won it was an expected injustice.

But given the ascendancy of the PL these days, I think it would be difficult to ignore a player winning three major trophies whilst scoring 29 and assisting 22. Those are undeniably Ballon d'Or level numbers.

For what it's worth, Beckham got 9 goals and 18 assists despite supposedly being the creative fulcrum in the team. His second place well ahead of his teammates made little sense beyond his celebrity. That was the feeling even back when it happened.

 

[Snow]

Yorke's peak was higher. But Cole sustained it for longer.

Dwight Yorke in the Treble season:

29 goals, 22 assists in 51 matches

Those are Balon d'Or numbers. Messi only beat that assists total once in his career.

22 assists this season, 23 assists in 15/16. 28 assists in 14/15, 25 assists in 11/12, 24 in 10/11.

 

[Oldham]

Yorke was our best player in the treble season imo.
Cole better career...

 

[devilish]

Yorke was more talented but also less reliable. Cole was a professional something Yorke wasn't

 

[RedRonaldo]

Yorke. He is our best player in treble season. Like everyone said, Cole sustain longer, but his early years at United was really wasteful and subpar too. His later years was good though.

 

[nameischarles]

Yorke in the treble year but Cole overall career.

I just started to get into football overall the season before United won the treble. Can anyone explain why Cole was never a regular with the national team?

 

[RedRonaldo]

Cole is 3rd on the all time prem league top scorers list...without taking penalties...which tells you that he was consistently great for a number of years. He scored all kinds of goals be it poached, header, solo/dribble, long range, brilliant volleys. Tarnished by Hoddles ridiculous statement and poor England showing. Despite that he was my fav Utd player, perhaps still even to this day. He just made it all look so easy. He went next level when partnered with Yorke who, as most have said already had a better 99 season than Cole. He was epic that year. Ronaldinho like in that he just loved being on the pitch, always smiling. It is hard to separate them as we can’t ignore the treble season. Both fantastic players, perhaps the best partnership I’ve ever seen. Also rightly pointed out that individually whilst great players, not quite RVN level who would have smashed all records available had he been here longer. If only we had any one of these 3 fine strikers now.

Makes it even more frustrating for those that can remember when we see lukaku and his woeful first touch and link up play. 75m!!! Oh my days

If Lukaku stays in Premier league for few more years, he is likely to break Cole’s record though.

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

Yorke, Cole did really well but I’ve always felt he could be improved upon.
I don’t know if you remember, but SAF wanted to buy both Kluivert and Yorke to play together upfront that summer, it wasn’t either one or the other, but Kluivert went to Barcelona and the rest is history.