Players of the past #2: Louis Saha

IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos said:
Because Berba is incredibly cool and had a hall of fame first touch that makes you coo when you watch it back on YouTube. Nostalgia is a funny thing…

If you watched us play 90 minutes, week in, week out, we were never as good with him in the team as we were with Saha or Tevez. Pace and work rate.
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I'm pretty sure that Berbatov was a top scorer in 2010/11 in the EPL? He also scored a hattrick against Liverpool that season and 5 goals against Blackburn. He was very inconsistent indeed but I'm not sure if you claim that Saha and Tevez were even better than Berba. Berba was actually better in Spurs and Leverkusen than Utd from what I understood but being a top scorer in the EPL is no small feat.
 
KingEric04 said:
I'm pretty sure that Berbatov was a top scorer in 2010/11 in the EPL? He also scored a hattrick against Liverpool that season and 5 goals against Blackburn. He was very inconsistent indeed but I'm not sure if you claim that Saha and Tevez were even better than Berba. Berba was actually better in Spurs and Leverkusen than Utd from what I understood but being a top scorer in the EPL is no small feat.
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Saha and Tevez we just a better fit (OK, funny word to use in the context of Saha!), not better footballers.
 
KingEric04 said:
I'm pretty sure that Berbatov was a top scorer in 2010/11 in the EPL? He also scored a hattrick against Liverpool that season and 5 goals against Blackburn. He was very inconsistent indeed but I'm not sure if you claim that Saha and Tevez were even better than Berba. Berba was actually better in Spurs and Leverkusen than Utd from what I understood but being a top scorer in the EPL is no small feat.
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He was top scorer with 20 or 21 goals I think of which, as you say, he got 8 in two games.

I’m not for moment saying Berba was sh*t, far from it, but we were always at our best under Fergie when we played with searing pace which is not something even his most ardent fan could claim he added to a team.
 
Amazing talent who had everything to his game but was unfortunately made of sugar glass.
 
Blood Mage said:
Amazing talent who had everything to his game but was unfortunately made of sugar glass.
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I don't think he was that clinical, but had everything else. Pace, movement, strength, great in the air, great hold up play. Fantastic talent indeed.
 
Quality player riddled with injuries. Was so excited that we got him Fulham.
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
I don't think he was that clinical, but had everything else. Pace, movement, strength, great in the air, great hold up play. Fantastic talent indeed.
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Agreed. Such a complete footballer. Loved watching him play.
 
Saha was a complete player, second only to Thierry henry. In united terms he reminded me of Dwight yorke. It's a shame that injury crippled him
 
Quality player but big question marks over his mentality.

He was THE player that made me sit up and take notice that you could be a better side with a far lesser goalscorer (Ruud) in your team.

He never really delivered a truly big moment with us though. Opening goal v Chelsea in 06-07 at OT….
 
I still remember how crazy happy I was when we signed him from Fulham. Really liked him - shame for all the games he missed through injuries.
 
IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos said:
He was top scorer with 20 or 21 goals I think of which, as you say, he got 8 in two games.

I’m not for moment saying Berba was sh*t, far from it, but we were always at our best under Fergie when we played with searing pace which is not something even his most ardent fan could claim he added to a team.
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Agree and most would. We were alot better in the PL against most teams with Tevez and Saha in the side. Unfortunately Saha had injury problems. Berba was bought so we could play a diffrent style when needed. He wasnt suitable for our high octane style but was perfect for breaking down teams. Our best top 3 was rooney, ronaldo, tevez. Buying berba in hindsight was a mistake as it took playing time away from tevez and ultimately led to him leaving to a rival. And Berba really didn't suit us. Fantastic player just wasn't a good fit.
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
I don't think he was that clinical, but had everything else. Pace, movement, strength, great in the air, great hold up play. Fantastic talent indeed.
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Im not sure he was known for pace. Its not something that comes to mind when I think of berba.
 
KingEric04 said:
I'm pretty sure that Berbatov was a top scorer in 2010/11 in the EPL? He also scored a hattrick against Liverpool that season and 5 goals against Blackburn. He was very inconsistent indeed but I'm not sure if you claim that Saha and Tevez were even better than Berba. Berba was actually better in Spurs and Leverkusen than Utd from what I understood but being a top scorer in the EPL is no small feat.
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Tevez was miles better. Even in 2010/11 Berba lost his place in the second half of the season and didn’t even get in the squad for the CL final. That golden boot happened from about 3-4 hat tricks, including a 5 goal game. Genuinely on forums/social media around 2010 people absolutely hated him. Mad how he’s now a legend.

Saha also got some stick from fans but that was more because he just wasn’t the player from Fulham people wanted him to be, probably because of injuries. But there was a few other times he got lots of stick like after the missed penalty and an absolute sitter away to Celtic. Compared to what we’ve had in the last 12 years we now think he was actually brilliant.
 
golden_blunder said:
He actually reminds me more of Andy Cole
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I like to consider Andy as the bridge were the 80-90s striker meet the modern striker. He could and would gladly drop deep and though he wasn't as cynical as they were (though not as shit as Hoddle claimed) he was still very direct with goals being his main aim. If Andy played in today's football he would score 20 goals a season. Yorke on the other hand would have been SAF's best ever striker if only he was professional. There was absolutely no weakness in his game. The guy could dribble past players, he was great in air, he could drop deep and he was lethal in front of goal. Saha had that in the locker though he wasn't as good as Yorke was. Though come to think of it he had a lot of Cole as well. I think he was a mix of the two
 
golden_blunder said:
He actually reminds me more of Andy Cole
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I’d say he was more physically imposing and powerful than Cole. Probably better technically to.

Cole just had a phenomenal understanding of space. He was incredibly quick over the first few yards and his movement was absolutely world class. Had that goal scorers’ instinct for just being in the right place, at the right time.
 
Had all the attributes in his game.

Fitness and something missing with his mentality meant he was good rather than great.
 
07/08 was the first year I had a season ticket and I remember thinking then that Saha looked well past his best and needed to be sold. He was only 29. Injuries really did take their toll.
 
It's a shame he was so injury prone.

Nevertheless, he did provide us with some good moments.

During 2005 and 2006, when he stayed relatively injury-free, we played some exciting attacking football with him alongside Ronaldo & Rooney.
Much to the chagrin of the RVN fanboys...

Saha was a top Prem center forward in his prime - Mobile, strong, quick, had decent technique, and was capable of linking up well with teammates. He was also excellent in the air.

All the attributes you'd want in a top modern day number nine.
 
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