You're kidding, right? We're you around when Cantona joined?
It's an interesting question
Cantona was such an influential player and person..... we should have won the league the year before he joined and would have if not for a punishing schedule at the end of the season when Leeds pipped us. We were in an upward trend under Fergie...FA Cup in 90, CWC in 91, should have won league in 92, league in 93. Nevertheless Eric helped us get over the line. Cantona according to all reports was a fantastic example to the younger Co92 players but, I wonder was he more iconic than influential? I'm sitting here drinking coffee from a Cantona cup as I type and Cantona captured fan culture.
Keane.... well he joined a better team full of top hard pros like Cantona, Hughes, Ince, Bruce, Schmeichal etc - Keane grew up with these kid of guys and was the leader of our team from 98-2003. He was Fergie's man on the pitch setting the standards for other players and he was more of a 'leader' than Cantona for me purely down to his personality. I think that's maybe where Keane's influence was strongest. Creating the culture of always meeting United standards not just in games but in games and everyday life. Keane on Mark Bosnich is an example of how talent wasn't a barometer of being a United quality. It was about approach and attitude.
In terms of being Influential on the pitch....I look at Keane vrs Holland for Ireland, Keane vrs Juve and performances like these are so seldom seen and I can't think of too many performances from single players that compare in terms of influence and leadership. Keane as captain took us to the next level. We were one of the best 2/3 teams in Europe from 99-2002 and we should have maybe won another European Cup.
As I say it's an interesting question and I'm not sold either way. Maybe 6 of one, half dozen of the other