For me, Robson was my hero in the 80’s, and Bruno is in the 20’s. Lot’s of similarities. Both Robson and Fernandes would no doubt in my mind have been key players if they played under Ferguson during their hight. Then we’d be talking about them like we tslk about Roy Keane today (as a player). People from other leagues would talk about them like they do Paul Scholes.
Picking your all-time united eleven. Do you consider Bruno?
- Thread starter simplyared
- Start date
Given that Scholes and Keane probably don't make it. No chance.
I think he's that different kind of hero in the same way Robson was if that makes sense.
The star man in an ultimately flawed team.
If he wins a couple more trophies with us, he's definitely in the conversation for one of our best ever. To do what he's doing in this environment, whilst the club is in the state that it's been in is remarkable.
He plays the position we are likely most stacked ever in, and that's if you want to play a 10.
In a 3 man midfield you can pick from Charlton, Robson, Keane and Scholes
Move it to a 4231 and the 10 becomes Charlton, Cantona, Rooney, even Robson or Scholes could slot in there.
He's unfortunate, and of the last 15 years he's clear as our most important player, it's a shame it's just been such a shit generation for us.
In a 3 man midfield you can pick from Charlton, Robson, Keane and Scholes
Move it to a 4231 and the 10 becomes Charlton, Cantona, Rooney, even Robson or Scholes could slot in there.
He's unfortunate, and of the last 15 years he's clear as our most important player, it's a shame it's just been such a shit generation for us.
I think anyone would agree that Sir Bobby, George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo make this squad. As such, it leaves only 3 spots (GK and defense aside), one of which is for a CDM/DLP. So effectively Bruno could only challenge for one of two spots, but against the likes of Scholes, Rooney, Cantona, Beckham, Giggs, van Nistelrooy and Robson. The last spot would again be between Scholes and Keane most likely
Some previous takes of using a formation with 3 at the back for this all-time XI is lame - we nearly never played with 3 at the back.
Difficult for Bruno
Some previous takes of using a formation with 3 at the back for this all-time XI is lame - we nearly never played with 3 at the back.
Difficult for Bruno
Last edited:
Always for me now. In the attacking mid position behind the striker Rooney.
That’s an unbelievable side.
No because he plays in Charlton’s position and there’s no way he could be better than Charlton.
That’s fair. I’m 36. My team would be close but I was a 4-6 year old obsessed with Cantona. Not sure how I’d fit Bruno and Cantona. The king would get in. Arguably it could be for Giggs? Also RVN could be in for a shout?
Just for fun as we’ve had some incredible CBs too. Let’s do a 3-4-3.
Schmeichel
Rio Vidic Stam
Keane
Bruno Scholes
Ronaldo Rooney Cantona
Yeah, it's difficult to leave them out.
"Player X doesn't make the all-time XI" could honestly be said of all of the following world class players: Edwards, Law, Robson, Cantona, Giggs, Cole, Beckham, Stam, RVN, VDS, Evra, Carrick, RVP and De Gea. We really have an incredible history of players. Our 2nd best XI pisses all over the league and our 3rd best XI would have a decent chance too.
Bruno should be celebrated after yesterday and last season but this question is setting him up to get the opposite so there’s no point.
If you’re a newer fan and Bruno is in your personal eleven that you have seen that’s fine but in reality he’s competing Rooney, Cantona and Sir Bobby so it’s impossible for him to make it.
If you’re a newer fan and Bruno is in your personal eleven that you have seen that’s fine but in reality he’s competing Rooney, Cantona and Sir Bobby so it’s impossible for him to make it.
Given I haven't watched Utd pre-PL era then yes he'd be in mine.
Given Bruno is a #10, it is a pretty high bar because Bruno is competing against Charlton, Cantona and Rooney in that position.
The fact he's in the conversation at all says enough, and if things were different maybe you could make the case.
The fact he's in the conversation at all says enough, and if things were different maybe you could make the case.
Started watching football and United since 2006, and the 2007-2009 United team would essentially be the first XI, except RVP gets in as the main striker. Only honorable mentions who challenge to get into the team are Bruno (but ultimately Rooney is better as second striker), Valencia as RB (but again would go with Neville) and De Gea (but VDS was a more rounded GK in my opinion).
I like Bruno but no.
Schmeichel
Irwin Rio Nemanja Evra
Cr7 Keane Charlton Best
Law Rooney.
Schmeichel
Irwin Rio Nemanja Evra
Cr7 Keane Charlton Best
Law Rooney.
I'm 26 so he's fairly comfortably in the best XI of United players I've seen play.
De Gea
Valencia Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick
Giggs Bruno
Rooney Van Persie Ronaldo
Scholes is obviously the one that is controversial to leave out; I only do so because when I started watching football (2007/08) probably coincided with the end of his prime.
De Gea
Valencia Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Carrick
Giggs Bruno
Rooney Van Persie Ronaldo
Scholes is obviously the one that is controversial to leave out; I only do so because when I started watching football (2007/08) probably coincided with the end of his prime.
Bruno as AM the rest can pick itself
No and realistically there's nothing he can do to really put himself into conversation (otherwise he would've already been there, he's done enough).
As others have said, his competition, depending on the formation, would be mostly either attacking midfielders or second strikers, so he's competing directly against Sir Bobby (the greatest player in the history of this club), Cantona (arguably the most influential player of the entire Fergie era) and Rooney (arguably the best, especially if we include longevity, player of the Fergie era). He's really not a central midfielder to play in a midfield 2 if we go with this formation and there he'd be at least behind Keane, Scholes & Robson (probably Edwards as well — and then there are a fair few of other central midfielders that suit the role better despite not matching Bruno's overall impact on United's history).
He probably makes the third team though. And he'd be one of the best if not the best player on that team.
As others have said, his competition, depending on the formation, would be mostly either attacking midfielders or second strikers, so he's competing directly against Sir Bobby (the greatest player in the history of this club), Cantona (arguably the most influential player of the entire Fergie era) and Rooney (arguably the best, especially if we include longevity, player of the Fergie era). He's really not a central midfielder to play in a midfield 2 if we go with this formation and there he'd be at least behind Keane, Scholes & Robson (probably Edwards as well — and then there are a fair few of other central midfielders that suit the role better despite not matching Bruno's overall impact on United's history).
Law
Best - Charlton - Cristiano
Scholes - Keane
Irwin - Vidić - Rio - Neville
Schmeichel
Rooney - Cantona
Giggs - Robson - Edwards - Beckham
Evra - McGrath - Stam - ?Brown?
van der Sar
Best - Charlton - Cristiano
Scholes - Keane
Irwin - Vidić - Rio - Neville
Schmeichel
Rooney - Cantona
Giggs - Robson - Edwards - Beckham
Evra - McGrath - Stam - ?Brown?
van der Sar
He probably makes the third team though. And he'd be one of the best if not the best player on that team.
Hughes*
Whiteside - Bruno - Coppell
Carrick - Crerand
Byrne - Foulkes - Buchan - ?Rafael?
De Gea
* or van Nistelrooy/van Persie/Cole/Ole/Taylor... such an embarrassment of reaches.Whiteside - Bruno - Coppell
Carrick - Crerand
Byrne - Foulkes - Buchan - ?Rafael?
De Gea
So people are debating whether Bruno gets in an all-time side ahead of Charlton>Rooney/Cantona or even Scholes in that position?
Ok.
Ok.
From the players I've watched since around 90-91/91-92 seasons.
Schmeichel
Neville, Stam, Vidic, Irwin
Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs
Rooney, Van Nistelrooy
Schmeichel
Neville, Stam, Vidic, Irwin
Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs
Rooney, Van Nistelrooy
Pushing towards an all time squad now, yes, making the 11 no chance.
Win us the league, and then we'll talk again.
No Paul Parker at right back? I'd have him ahead of Brown or Rafael.
Not sure I'd pick Bruno over Beckham.
For modern times, soz Gaz, but the two FB positions have to be Denis moving back over n Paddy. It could be 100 years before anyone pushes those two out of the ATXI.
Bruno? Nowhere near.
Bruno? Nowhere near.
Bruno with prime CF Rooney, CR7, Scholes and Keane around could absolutely work as an all time great lineup. Id at least have Rio, Stam and Neville behind him though for the extra motion.
You’d have to look at Mike Duxbury and Paul Parker way before Wes Brown or Rafael in an all time United squad, my Grandad grew up watching Jonny Carey and compared him to Paolo Maldini
Maybe. Haven't seen much of Duxbury and I rate Brown's and Rafael's peak seasons ahead of Parker's (but he probably deserved it on merit). Frankly, our right back position is fairly thin once you move past Gary.
Again, my team is very much just the best team that I have seen play.
The pool of right backs I have to pick from is not fantastic. Gary Neville was well past his prime when I started watching football. He'd be a shoo-in otherwise.
The pool of options I had was Wes Brown, Rafael, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, and Aaron Wan Bissaka. None of those are absolutely outstanding candidates - Brown would probably be the one I'd put in there. I just think that, across my time watching us (2007 to present day), Tony V is the one I have the fondest memories of.
It too difficult to pick an all time 11. Too many great players. Bruno would be in with a shot though. The only player post SAF worth considering by a mile.
Nope. Great player but he's just not getting ahead of Rooney or Scholes
No but I think it's testament to the quality of players we've had. He'd probably make most other team's best XI.
This thought experiment made me realize how ridiculously stacked we are when it comes to the front two (CF + 2nd striker/no.10). It's quite imbalanced compared to the other positions when making an all-time XI:
Goalkeeper (1 spot, 3 candidates):
- Schmeichel
- Van der Sar
- De Gea
Centrebacks (2 spots, 4 candidates):
- Edwards
- Stam
- Rio
- Vidic
Fullbacks (2 spots, 3 candidates):
- Irwin
- G. Neville
- Evra
Central midfield (2 spots, 4 candidates):
- Robson
- Keane
- Scholes
- Carrick
Wingers (2 spots, 3 or 4 candidates):
- Best
- Giggs
- Beckham
- Ronaldo (could also count as CF)
Front two (2 spots, 9 or 10 candidates):
- Charlton
- Law
- Cantona
- Cole
- Yorke
- RVN
- Rooney
- Ronaldo (could also count as winger)
- RVP
- Bruno
Goalkeeper (1 spot, 3 candidates):
- Schmeichel
- Van der Sar
- De Gea
Centrebacks (2 spots, 4 candidates):
- Edwards
- Stam
- Rio
- Vidic
Fullbacks (2 spots, 3 candidates):
- Irwin
- G. Neville
- Evra
Central midfield (2 spots, 4 candidates):
- Robson
- Keane
- Scholes
- Carrick
Wingers (2 spots, 3 or 4 candidates):
- Best
- Giggs
- Beckham
- Ronaldo (could also count as CF)
Front two (2 spots, 9 or 10 candidates):
- Charlton
- Law
- Cantona
- Cole
- Yorke
- RVN
- Rooney
- Ronaldo (could also count as winger)
- RVP
- Bruno
Still lots of good players not even mentioned in the third team. I’d have Ince there, there is also Stiles. Bruce or Pallister would be in with a shout for CB. Jackie Carey for right-back.
Van Nistelrooy would be my striker, but also I’d have Yorke over Van Persie. The likes of Dennis Violet too. Kanchelskis in contention on the wings. Park, Valencia and although a divisive figure, Rashford too could be considered.
I don’t think its particularly a United thing, it would be the same for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Barcelona is next level though, their all time selection of attackers would not just be more impressive than any other club’s, it would be up there with any list of best ever attackers who ever played for anyone else other than Barcelona, its wild.
AC Milan would probably be more concentrated in defense and Bayern’s would probably be the most balanced within the positions.
Sh’Mikes
Irwin
Rio
Stam
Evra
Keane
Scholes
Ronaldo
Cantona
Rooney
RVN
—————————-
EVS
G Neville
Robson
Vidic
Beckham
Best
Giggs
Law
Irwin
Rio
Stam
Evra
Keane
Scholes
Ronaldo
Cantona
Rooney
RVN
—————————-
EVS
G Neville
Robson
Vidic
Beckham
Best
Giggs
Law
You could argue that Bruno is playing with more average players around him now (and still delivering the goods) than some of United’s other great midfield combinations over the years. For me, Bruno is definitely in the conversation.
Great Player but not for me.
might scrape it for the bench
might scrape it for the bench
Logically maybe because he is a better attacking mid than Scholes