Great work with the stats
@Chabon
There is a great thread with the stats from 87/88 onward that might help people understand the impacts and careers of McClair, Hughes and the like. It's a wonderful resource in general.
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/manchester-united-goals-and-assists-1987-88-today.396084/
Prior to RVN, McClair was the last United striker to clock 30+ goals in a season, he'd scored 40+ the season before at Celtic. He pretty much kept pace with Hughes in the 4 years following and played an important role in the side that won the FA Cup, League Cup & Cup winners cup across three seasons . This started the winning momentum that was to build over the next decade. He then lost his position to Eric Cantona (no shame in that) but adjusted to a deeper role, playing nearly every game in the title winning triumph of 92/93. Roy Keane arrived and McClair not only lost his position but also his permanent place on the team-sheet. He still played a shed load of games and was a key figure in the squad as it transitioned to the 'fledglings' but never again would we see the razor-sharp striker that arrived.
Precursor, I adore Cantona.
History is all about who is telling the story and sometimes due to the romanticism of a particular narrative it takes centre-stage and shrouds more practical, mundane realities.
Eric is kind of viewed as the catalyst that pushed us over the edge, he is iconic, symbolic of the end of our 26 year wait for league success.
Truth is, we were already a fantastic team that somehow conspired to not win the league the season before Eric arrived. We had built the momentum and relished the taste of winning. With three cups in 24 months we were already on the cusp and had we won the league in 91/92 (and we really should have) we would talk a hell of a lot more about that pre-Cantona team. Figures such as Hughes & McClair are pivotal protagonists in the building of the United legacy that emerged, McClair being involved in coaching and the like up until 2015. Cantona was the most extravagant, indulgent icing on an already perfectly baked cake.
There is nothing sexy about McClair, even writing this I am thinking more about Eric than him, but he and others deserve far more shine then they'll ever receive.
Viva Choccy!
