How good was Denis Irwin?

Without a doubt - he was the most consistent footballer I have seen in my time at United. Denis Irwin never had a bad game - he had a few average games, but never bad. As much as I loved Evra, I can easily remember a few games when Evra really struggled - not many but a few (especially against Lennon of all people) - but I can never remember anyone ever being up against Irwin, and won the battle.

He was rock solid defensively and very good going forward - in addition to being one of the best set-piece taker at United in modern times.
 
He was world class and one of the best of his time.

He'd definitely be top 5 today.
 
That assist from Eric. :drool: I remember having the season review VHS with that and watching it over and over.
 
To compare to Liverpool's current fullbacks:

Take Andy Robertson, make him even better defensively and superior in linkup play. Then add Alexander Arnold's ability to score from a free kick. You still haven't got a player as good as Irwin.
 
VorZakone said:
If he played today, would he be a top 5 fullback?

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Yes because he did everything well, went forward, got back, free kicks, penalties. And Consistent. Amazingly so. Maybe he lacked the pace of today's game. But he would be up there
 
Thing with Denis he was a quiet guy so went under the radar a bit. Nowadays players are never off social media so it makes them incredibly famous and people think their talent matches their fame. Most can't lace Irwin's boots.
 
Absolutely amazing. Guaranteed a minimum 7/10 performance every game!

Didn't we get him for something ridiculous cheap like 700k?
 
Easily the best left back in my time supporting the club, also arguably the best right back.
 
Two footed.
Great defender.
Unreal going forward.
Brilliant crosser of a ball.
Set piece specialist
Great character

Bar being a few inches taller he was the complete full back.
 
Remember the geese said:
To compare to Liverpool's current fullbacks:

Take Andy Robertson, make him even better defensively and superior in linkup play. Then add Alexander Arnold's ability to score from a free kick. You still haven't got a player as good as Irwin.
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Not to mention how incredibly consistent he was , both of them Liverpool boys can have a stinker here and there, especially Trent, you'd never get that with irwin.

What a gift he would be for any manager in the world, so consistent and capable of playing both sides.
 
Red the Bear said:
Not to mention how incredibly consistent he was , both of them Liverpool boys can have a stinker here and there, especially Trent, you'd never get that with irwin.

What a gift he would be for any manager in the world, so consistent and capable of playing both sides.
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Was going to mention the fact that he could play both sides. Free kicks, penalties, whatever you want.
 
He was brilliant, would be the best proper fullback in the league if he played today because his skillset is still exactly what that position requires. Two-footedness, good passer, good crosser, could run with the ball, could get up and down the line and, importantly, knew when he needed to attack and when he needed to defend. He was also remarkably consistent.

Would get into an United Premier League XI in both full-back positions.
 
Roy Keane thinks very highly of him apparently.
 
I don't think I missed watching a game he played. I can't recall ever watching a bad game. Did loads of running for the team. Rock at the back and gave the team so much going forward.
 
Outside of his final season when his pace started to go, I can never recall him struggling with a winger.
Super defender
Only one sending off in his career (at Anfield in '99, 2nd yellow and it was scandalous decision iirc) which shows how well he coped
Great set-piece taker (both Free-kicks and pens)
Super going forward
As consistent as you get
Could play LB or RB equally well
 
He was an excellent, excellent player, one of the best in his position in the world.

Only difficulty adapting these days would be he'd be a right-footed left back (Don't give me the two-footed thing, he was right-footed).
 
It would be fair to say that he was the Paul Scholes of fullbacks or maybe Scholes was the Dennis Irwin of midfielders
 
I go back to watching Utd since the 60’s, through all the ups and downs.
We’ve had some good full backs, some just OK fullbacks and some poor ones, but Denis Irwin stands head and shoulders above all of them, including top ones like Patrice and Gary.
Not only quality, but dependable and reliable.
Irwin is without question, the best FB we’ve seen at Utd in modern times.
 
Sir Alex rated him as the best and most successful signing of his managerial career. That said, he was probably the most accomplished fullback, who’s played for us in the last fifty years. His work rate was terrific.
 
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Fantastic player. You never saw those dramatic last ditch tackles from him; everything was nicely dealt with in timely and efficient fashion, quickly and sensibly. Incredible dead ball player too. Irwin easily makes the 'greatest ever united team' at left full back, no question.
 
He was probably first name on the teamsheet. And given who he was playing with, that says it all.
 
The best full-back in Premier League history for me.

Great defender, good going forward.

Had a decent strike on him, could chip in with goals and assists from open play and set-pieces.... In his prime he would be the best full-back in the Premier League today, especially when you see the amount of license they get when going forward.

Mr. Consistent. Never below a six or seven out of ten..
 
I think the general consensus is that he put in a 7/10 performance every single game of his career which when averaged out makes him an 8.5/10 player.
 
If he had the personality of Evra he’d be a bonafide club legend and icon but there’s nothing wrong with being quietly brilliant.
 


Scorer of great goals

 
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