Manchester United eleven Sir Alex era

[UnofficialDevil]

To be fair, they played 2 seasons together. We didn't really even compete for the league in either campaign, nevermind win one. Zero big trophies (Champions League, Premier League, or FA cup), for the United of that era, was disappointing.

Why blame that on Rooney and Ruud?

 

[UnofficialDevil]

I hated that kit so much. Despite all of the legendary players we had play in it, it always reminds me of Alan Smith

First United kit I didn’t ask for for Christmas. Even as a kid I knew it was trash. The AIG ones that followed were excellent though.

Alan Smith in midfield! I didn't mind it that much. It does remind me of Beckham with his blond streaks

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Alan Smith in midfield! I didn't mind it that much. It does remind me of Beckham with his blond streaks

I don’t know why, Beckham never played in that kit!

The red & black one from the year before makes me think of Beckham & Ruud. I liked that one.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

I don’t know why, Beckham never played in that kit!

The red & black one from the year before makes me think of Beckham & Ruud. I liked that one.

Oh yeah! you're right..! Shame on me. I thought it was the same kit, and that we had a white and black version.. Christ my memory is abandoning me, yeah the red and black one was a nicer design. Looked great combined with the black shorts.

 

[Charlie Foley]

Schmeichel

Irwin Ferdinand Stam Evra

Robson keane Scholes (deep lying)

Ronaldo Cantona Giggs (or Rooney)

That’s one hell of a dressing room attitude

 

[devilish]

GK: Schmeichel

RB: Gary Neville
CB: Jaap Stam
CB: Rio Ferdinand
LB: Denis Irwin

DM: Roy Keane
AMR: Cristiano Ronaldo
MC: Paul Scholes
AML: Ryan Giggs

STK: Eric Cantona
STK: Wayne Rooney

 

[Xeno]

How good was Robson? Im
Not quite old enough.

 

[AgentSmith]

Schmeichel
Ferdinand - Vidic - Stam
Scholes - Carrick - Keane - Giggs
Ronaldo - Cantona - Rooney​

Rather have an extra attacker than waste a spot on an overrated bum like Neville.

Didn’t know Sven-Göran Eriksson had an account on here.

 

[AgentSmith]

Schmeichel
Irwin - Ferdinand - Stam - Evra
Ronaldo - Keane - Scholes - Giggs
Rooney
RVN​

 

[Xeno]

Here’s a squad of players no one else has named which I reckon could match our current squad. Shows how much quality we’ve had over the years.

VDS
Rafael Bailly Johnsen Heinze
Butt Scholes
Fernandes Veron Kanchelskis
Ibra

 

[Physiocrat]

Would probably go for this but with Giggs subbed for Beckham, and Ronaldo switching wings.

Loved Beckham, but Giggs' longevity, and extra pacey threat in his earlier days wins out. With Ronaldo and Giggs as twin wingers you have an incredible mix of flair and steel in there, similar to the early 93-94 team style.

I think Beckham provides more balance as Ronaldo won't offer much defensively. IIRC too Ronaldo was better on the left than the right for UTd.

Beckham can tuck in a little and make it more of a midfield three on the ball - Scholes is the older DLP version

 

[SirAF]

Schmeichel

Neville
Ferdinand
Stam
Irwin

Keane
Scholes
Giggs

Ronaldo
Cantona
Rooney

 

[shabz]

Schmeichel

Irwin
Rio
Stam
Evra


Scholes
Keane

Ronaldo
Cantona
Rooney
Giggs

424/4231 withbone of Cantona or Rooney dropping into number 10

 

[micmac]

Schmeichel
Neville Vidic Stam Evra
Giggs Scholes Keane Ronaldo
Rooney RVN

For the cups,

Schmeichel
Neville Rio Stam Evra
Ronaldo Scholes Keane Kanchelskis
Yorke Cole

 

[Teja]

Didn’t know Sven-Göran Eriksson had an account on here.

Even Sven wouldn't play Scholes at RWB

 

[OleBoiii]

-------------------------- VDS ------------------------
--------- Neville - Rio - Vidic - Evra ---------
Beckham - Keane - Scholes - Ronaldo
--------------------- Cantona ----------------------
------------------------ RVN --------------------------

The combination of VDS, Rio, Vidic and Evra was our best defense under Fergie. Irwin and Schmeichel might be better than Evra and VDS, but it feels wrong to split them up.

The '99 team had the best midfield under Fergie, so I don't want to split them up too much either. But Ronaldo has to be in there and I want him in his best position, so Giggs is out.

Cantona is there for the magic.

RVN is our best goalscorer in the Fergie era.

 

[BrumTown87]

Here’s a squad of players no one else has named which I reckon could match our current squad. Shows how much quality we’ve had over the years.

VDS
Rafael Bailly Johnsen Heinze
Butt Scholes
Fernandes Veron Kanchelskis
Ibra

This would be better than our current 11

 

[WakeAndBeek]

Schmeichel

Neville
Vidic
Ferdinand
Evra

Ronaldo
Scholes
Keane
Giggs

Rooney

Van Persie

All fairly straight forward other than the striker position, my initial thought was Ruud but if it’s players in their prime 12/13 Van Persie edges it for me. Also Vds and Schmeichel is a close one too.

 

[2 man midfield]

Schmiechel

Neville
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra

Ronaldo
Keane
Scholes
Giggs

Rooney
Ruud

 

[Pughnichi]

Schmeichel
Neville, Ferdinand, Stam, Irwin
Kanchelskis, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo
Cantona
RVN

 

[lex talionis]

Schmikes
Neville Rio Vidic Evra
Ronaldo Scholes Keane Giggs
Cantona Ruud

Leaving off Robbo and Rooney is not an easy decision, but if you’re looking for perfect balance this it.

Prime Ronaldo was a forward, but United Ronaldo was a winger who became a colossus in his last two seasons with us. Could Ronaldo and Cantona have succeeded together? Oh yeah, baby.

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

Why blame that on Rooney and Ruud?

They were the main striker partnership, and we were relatively goal-shy, compared to the figures the club put up the season immediately following Van Nistelrooy's departure. Sometimes, it's just a matter of certain strikers's styles not meshing as well as they should. And that's all it was, in my opinion.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Most of us just disregard his nonsense by now mate

He's picked a team without any full backs and Scholes right midfield for goodness sake.
With Giggs left midfield and not in attack too.

Have to hope the opposition don't have any sort of attack from wide eh.

No idea if it's attempted humour or constant attempts to be 'edgy' - but it fails spectacularly on both counts. Not sure how Neville could ever be construed as being 'overrated' - he was a bloody fantastic RB who was super consistent.

 

[Sandikan]

No idea if it's attempted humour or constant attempts to be 'edgy' - but it fails spectacularly on both counts. Not sure how Neville could ever be construed as being 'overrated' - he was a bloody fantastic RB who was super consistent.

I can imagine bitter ABUs calling him overrated, but I can't legitimately think of any right backs better than him in the last 25 years in the Premier league.

Ivanovic, Kyle Walker, TAA, Henning Berg, Lauren, Zabaleta?
I'm really struggling to think of many classy right backs to be honest. Definitely not one who keeps peak G Nev out

 

[Robbie Boy]

I can imagine bitter ABUs calling him overrated, but I can't legitimately think of any right backs better than him in the last 25 years in the Premier league.

Ivanovic, Kyle Walker, TAA, Henning Berg, Lauren, Zabaleta?
I'm really struggling to think of many classy right backs to be honest. Definitely not one who keeps peak G Nev out

Yup agreed, his consistency and longevity were phenomenal. He also worked his bollox off and his 'bottom level' was probably like a 6/10.

I think the issue potentially is that people may think he's a-bit of a bell end nowadays, which may cloud their judgement. But his career as a pundit/commentator, should be separated from his wonderful career as a footballer.

 

[Man of Leisure]

Here’s a squad of players no one else has named which I reckon could match our current squad. Shows how much quality we’ve had over the years.

VDS
Rafael Bailly Johnsen Heinze
Butt Scholes
Fernandes Veron Kanchelskis
Ibra

No one’s named them cos it’s supposed to be a thread about the best XI under SAF. Other than Scholes and VDS, nobody else really qualifies.

 

[anant]

VDS
Neville Rio Vidic Evra
Beckham Keane Scholes Giggs
Rooney Ruud

Including just the players I've seen in Utd shirt.

Tough to leave out Ronaldo though, but people forget how good Becks was so CR7 will have to sit out

 

[red4ever 79]

The back 9 picks itself. Only the striker positions that are debatable.
4-4-2
Schmeichel
G Nev
Rio
Stam
Irwin
Becks
Scholes
Keane
Giggs
Ronaldo
Ruud

 

[Flying high]

Schmeichel

Irwin Rio Stam Evra

Robson Keane Scholes

Ronaldo Ruud Rooney

Subs:
Vidic
Giggs
Cantona


That team is hard as nails.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

Schmeichel
Neville Rio Stam Irwin
Beckham Keane scholes Giggs
Rooney Ronaldo

 

[Pughnichi]

No one’s named them cos it’s supposed to be a thread about the best XI under SAF. Other than Scholes and VDS, nobody else really qualifies.

almost agree!! Kanchelskis though...how very dare you sir.

 

[RUCK4444]

How good was Robson? Im
Not quite old enough.

Friggin outstanding

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

They were the main striker partnership, and we were relatively goal-shy, compared to the figures the club put up the season immediately following Van Nistelrooy's departure. Sometimes, it's just a matter of certain strikers's styles not meshing as well as they should. And that's all it was, in my opinion.

I think they were about all that were keeping the team’s head above water during the transition seasons

 

[davidmichael]

Schmeichel, G. Neville, Rio, Vidic, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, Cantona, Giggs in a 4-3-3 for me with VDS, Parker, Stam, Evra, Carrick, Rooney, RVN as the subs.

 

[forlans.second]

Van der Sar
Irwin
Ferdinand
Stam
Evra
Ronaldo
Keane
Scholes
Giggs
Cantona
Van persie

God that was hard, picking 5 subs wouldn't be easy either

 

[dal]

———————Peter——————
—————Vidic—Ferdinand———
Neville———————————Irwin
—————-Keane——Scholes——
Giggs—————Rooney——Ronaldo
————————Tevez———————

Subs : Solskjaer Ruud Beckham Carrick Stam Evra VDS.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

A Fergie style XI really has to be 4-4-2 - but if we forget about that just for the sake of experimenting a bit...

I've always liked to feck about with the idea of Scholes (older version) as a DPL.

I'd have him in that role combined with two multi-functional CMs (box-to-box players, ideally - since we want to be attacking). Pretty obvious who that'd be.

Back four is...whatever - but the historical greatness of the Vidic-Rio combo is hard to beat. Individually, you could make a case for both Stam and McGrath - but the actual combo is, again, hard to beat. Personally, I'd go for Neville as RB and Irwin as LB - but it's clearly possible to play the latter as RB and thus open for Evra as the LB choice.

Front trio (it would be that) - many possibilities. But if we're experimenting - I feel tempted to play Rooney as a false nine of sorts. Flanked by Giggs and Ronaldo.

Keeper? Schmeichel or VDS. Doesn't really matter - but since the whole setup would be more in line with a ballsy/gung-ho-ish sort of approach, I'd probably opt for the Dane.

Spoiler: Fergie era XI

 

[Gio]

@Chesterlestreet Same midfield and attack for me. I’d go for @Physiocrat ’s defence.

In a 442 I’d probably keep Robbo and Keane together and have Giggs and Ronaldo giving it laldy down the wings in a 93/94 homage.

 

[Sandikan]

Here’s a squad of players no one else has named which I reckon could match our current squad. Shows how much quality we’ve had over the years.

VDS
Rafael Bailly Johnsen Heinze
Butt Scholes
Fernandes Veron Kanchelskis
Ibra

Almost every poster before you mentioned Scholes you maniac

 

[iambad]

------------------Schmeichel---------------
-Neville-----Ferdinand-Vidic----Evra-
--------------Keane--Scholes------------
--Beckham-------Rooney------Ronaldo--
---------------------Van Persie------------------

so hard to decide the striker, we really been spoil for choice. RVP 2012-13 was just too good though, which of our players can do that volley vs Aston Villa? Insane player.