Rank United's strikers over the last 30 years

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Rank these best to worst, based on their United performances. This is (I think) all (predominantly) strikers with at least 100 United appearances over the last 30 years.

Mark Hughes
Brian McClair
Eric Cantona
Andy Cole
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Teddy Sheringham
Dwight Yorke
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Louis Saha
Wayne Rooney
Dimitar Berbatov
Danny Welbeck
Javier Hernandez
Robin Van Persie
Anthony Martial
Marcus Rashford

GO!!!

 

[charlenefan]

How could you forget Forlan?

No Tevez either

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

How could you forget Forlan?

No Tevez either

They didn't make it to 100 United appearances. had to draw the line somewhere

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

I think Ruud had the best peak and pound for pound the best but overall you've got to put Rooney ahead of him. RVP had a better season and talent than anyone but the three below but it's hard to put him ahead of guys who played for years.

1. Cantona
2.Rooney
3. Ruud

Then it gets difficult. I'd have to think long and hard about the order.

 

[charlenefan]

They didn't make it to 100 United appearances. had to draw the line somewhere

Missed that bit, surprising someone like Saha had more appearances than both given his injuries

 

[RooneyLegend]

1 Cantona
2 Rooney
3 RVN
4 Yorke
5 RVP
6 Cole
7 Ole
8 Teddy
9 Hughes
10 Tevez

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Performances-based as OP dictates.

1. Cantona
2. Rooney
3. Cole
4. RVN
5. Yorke
6. Ole
7. Hughes
8. RVP
9. Teddy
10. Berbatov
11. Saha (did he actually reach 100?!)
12. Chicharito
13. Martial
14. Rashford
15. Welbeck

The last two were so much better as wingers/forwards.

Brian McClair - I dont remember.

 

[The Midnight Rambler]

1) Cantona
2) Ruud
3) Rooney
4) Yorke
5) Cole
6) Ole
7) RVP
8) Saha
9) Teddy
10) P. Neville

 

[Class of 63]

Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Eric Cantona
Wayne Rooney
Mark Hughes
Andy Cole
Marcus Rashford
Robin Van Persie
Dimitar Berbatov
Louis Saha
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Anthony Martial
Brian McClair
Dwight Yorke
Teddy Sheringham
Javier Hernandez
Danny Welbeck

 

[2cents]

I’ve divided them into a few batches where I don’t think there’s much to choose between them. Within each batch I might choose a different order tomorrow, but I don’t think I’d move any of them to a different batch:

Cantona
Rooney
RVN

Cole
Hughes

Solskjaer
Van Persie
Yorke
Sheringham


Rashford
Berbatov
Martial

Hernandez
Saha
McClair




Welbeck

 

[lex talionis]

It's a close call between Ruud and Cantona for the top spot. Cantona was the maestro who made everyone around him better, but as a finisher Ruud was without peer during the Ferguson years.

Cantona
Ruud
Rooney

Not a whole lot of daylight between the rest, although there has never been a greater squad striker than Ole.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Eric Cantona
Wayne Rooney
Mark Hughes
Andy Cole
Marcus Rashford
Robin Van Persie
Dimitar Berbatov
Louis Saha
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Anthony Martial
Brian McClair
Dwight Yorke
Teddy Sheringham
Javier Hernandez
Danny Welbeck

Personal preference but Martial ahead of Yorke and Sheringham!?

And Rashford ahead of both plus RVP?

 

[Class of 63]

Personal preference but Martial ahead of Yorke and Sheringham!?

And Rashford ahead of both plus RVP?

If I did it again tomorrow those after Rooney would probably be in a different order, and a day after different again, the top three are set in stone though.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Based on preference:

Cantona
Rooney
Hughes
Cole
Yorke
Ruud
Ole
McClair
Sheringham
RVP
Saha
Berbatov
Hernandez

Purposefully discounted individuals still playing for us.

 

[manutddjw]

Eric Cantona
Wayne Rooney
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Andy Cole
Dwight Yorke
Robin Van Persie
Mark Hughes
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Dimitar Berbatov
Teddy Sheringham
Brian McClair
Javier Hernandez
Marcus Rashford
Louis Saha
Anthony Martial
Danny Welbeck

 

[Njord]

Rooney
Cantona
Cole
van Nistelrooy
van Persie
Yorke
Tevez
Saha
Solskjær
Berbatov
Sheringham
Ibrahimovic
Rashford
Martial
Lukaku
Forlan
Hernandez
Welbeck
Smith

Haven't seen much footage of Hughes, McClair etc.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Eric Cantona
Wayne Rooney
Andy Cole
Robin Van Persie
Dwight Yorke
Marcus Rashford
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Mark Hughes
Brian McClair
Teddy Sheringham
Dimitar Berbatov
Anthony Martial
Louis Saha
Javier Hernandez
Danny Welbeck

 

[Art Vandelay]

1. Eric Cantona
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
4. Robin Van Persie
5. Mark Hughes
6. Dwight Yorke
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8. Dimitar Berbatov
9. Andy Cole
10. Brian McClair
11. Teddy Sheringham
12. Javier Hernandez
13. Louis Saha
14. Marcus Rashford
15. Anthony Martial
16. Danny Welbeck

 

[FrankDrebin]

Rooney
Cantona
Cole
van Nistelrooy
van Persie
Yorke
Tevez
Saha
Solskjær
Berbatov
Sheringham
Ibrahimovic
Rashford
Martial
Lukaku
Forlan
Hernandez
Welbeck
Smith

Haven't seen much footage of Hughes, McClair etc.

You unfortunately missed out on watching a great player in Mark Hughes.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Rooney
Cantona
Cole
van Nistelrooy
van Persie
Yorke
Tevez
Saha
Solskjær
Berbatov
Sheringham
Ibrahimovic
Rashford
Martial
Lukaku
Forlan
Hernandez
Welbeck
Smith

Haven't seen much footage of Hughes, McClair etc.

Both very good players and the only reason they're not in most people's top 5/10 is because we've been spoiled with great forwards.

McClair scored over 100 goals for us in his first 5 seasons. Class act.

Hughes was a thundering old fashioned centre forward. Good right foot, very good in the air and excellent at volleys.

I was right behind the goal for no.1

 

[Green_Red]

Cantona
Rooney
Ruud

Most of the rest are very close behind

 

[V.O.]

You unfortunately missed out on watching a great player in Mark Hughes.

Hughes was a thundering old fashioned centre forward. Good right foot, very good in the air and excellent at volleys.

As a United fan from Wrexham, it's always been a bit of a regret that I came along too late to know Hughes as anything other than the sour prick he became as a manager.

 

[tenpoless]

1. Welbeck

 

[Renegade]

Rooney
Cantona
Cole
van Nistelrooy
van Persie
Yorke
Tevez
Saha
Solskjær
Berbatov
Sheringham
Ibrahimovic
Rashford
Martial
Lukaku
Forlan
Hernandez
Welbeck
Smith

Haven't seen much footage of Hughes, McClair etc.

What’s your reasoning for Saha/Tevez > Ole/Sheringham? I’m curious.

 

[lysglimt]

Rank these best to worst, based on their United performances. This is (I think) all (predominantly) strikers with at least 100 United appearances over the last 30 years.

Mark Hughes
Brian McClair
Eric Cantona
Andy Cole
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Teddy Sheringham
Dwight Yorke
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Louis Saha
Wayne Rooney
Dimitar Berbatov
Danny Welbeck
Javier Hernandez
Robin Van Persie
Anthony Martial
Marcus Rashford

GO!!!

McClair doesn't belong there - he played about 2 seasons as a striker before being moved back into midfield. Correction - I checked - he played 3 Seasons as a striker - so ok..he belongs there

 

[Spaghetti]

Cantona
Rooney
Cole
Van Nistelrooy
Hughes
Van Persie
Yorke
Rashford
Solskjaer
Saha
Martial
McClair
Berbatov
Hernandez
Sheringham

welbeck

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Are most people forgetting Lukaku

 

[Njord]

What’s your reasoning for Saha/Tevez > Ole/Sheringham? I’m curious.

I see Solskjær and Sheringham as wonderful finishers, players with clever movement, but also players that lacked some qualities to be our first choice starters. I was very young back then, so this is mostly based on some matches I have seen in replay, and highlight videos.

Tevez was a starter in the 07/08 season, and in addition to being a goal scorer, he did a lot of work to elevate Ronaldo and Rooney.

I rank Saha in the same group as Solskjær and Sheringham, but I think his atheltism edges it. If not for the injuries I think he could have been a proper United legend.

 

[SecondFig]

1. Eric Cantona
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
4. Andy Cole
5. Robin Van Persie
6. Mark Hughes
7. Dwight Yorke
8. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
9. Dimitar Berbatov
10. Teddy Sheringham
11. Brian McClair
12. Marcus Rashford
13. Louis Saha
14. Javier Hernandez
15. Anthony Martial
16. Danny Welbeck

In terms of their contribution/impact to United as a club - it'd be a very different list if it was on talent across their career

 

[pacifictheme]

Rooney
RVN
Cantona
Cole
Yorke
Hughes
Ole
Teddy
Berbatov
RVP
Hernandez
Saha
McClair
Martial
Welbeck

Not including rashford as he is a winger. Include him you include Ronaldo.

Mentioned it before and been lambasted but as good as rvn was I never really think of him or have many fond memories of him as a united player. Really weird, no idea why. He was obviously brilliant but he would be one of the lowest if I ranked them all by how fond I am of them as players (but then again they're all pretty great so no great shame in that).

 

[EwanI Ted]

On talent and goalscoring ability. So partly goals per game kind of stats, but also factoring in style, how they compared to their peers at other clubs at the time, a general sense of their abilities, and so on.

1. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Eric Cantona
4. Robin Van Persie
5. Andy Cole
6. Dwight Yorke
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8. Teddy Sheringham
8. Marcus Rashford
9. Anthony Martial
10. Louis Saha
11. Mark Hughes
12. Brian McClair
13. Dimitar Berbatov
14. Javier Hernandez
15. Danny Welbeck

On importance in the club's history. A more interesting list I think. I did this to take account for the fact that in terms of goalscoring talent, players like Choccy are nowhere compared to someone like Robin Van Persie. But in the scheme of things, RVP just gave us one title among many, while Choccy was a key factor in turning the club from perennial bridesmaids to relentless winners.

1. Eric Cantona
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Andy Cole
4. Mark Hughes
5. Brian McClair
6. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8. Javier Hernandez
9. Teddy Sheringham
10. Dwight Yorke
11. Louis Saha
12. Robin Van Persie
13. Marcus Rashford
14. Anthony Martial
15. Dimitar Berbatov
16. Danny Welbeck

 

[Jeppers7]

Lukaku was rank

 

[pacifictheme]

On talent and goalscoring ability. So partly goals per game kind of stats, but also factoring in style, how they compared to their peers at other clubs at the time, a general sense of their abilities, and so on.

1. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Eric Cantona
4. Robin Van Persie
5. Andy Cole
6. Dwight Yorke
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8. Teddy Sheringham
8. Marcus Rashford
9. Anthony Martial
10. Louis Saha
11. Mark Hughes
12. Brian McClair
13. Dimitar Berbatov
14. Javier Hernandez
15. Danny Welbeck

On importance in the club's history. A more interesting list I think. I did this to take account for the fact that in terms of goalscoring talent, players like Choccy are nowhere compared to someone like Robin Van Persie. But in the scheme of things, RVP just gave us one title among many, while Choccy was a key factor in turning the club from perennial bridesmaids to relentless winners.

1. Eric Cantona
2. Wayne Rooney
3. Andy Cole
4. Mark Hughes
5. Brian McClair
6. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8. Javier Hernandez
9. Teddy Sheringham
10. Dwight Yorke
11. Louis Saha
12. Robin Van Persie
13. Marcus Rashford
14. Anthony Martial
15. Dimitar Berbatov
16. Danny Welbeck

I would have ruud below Yorke, ole and Teddy in importance to the clubs history.

Possibly even hernandez and berbatov.

Not saying he wasn't great but I'd define importance to clubs history by what trophies a player helped us win.

 

[Josh 76]

Strikers who were great for utd.
Cantona
Rooney
Ruud.

But if i had to pick one striker in his prime to play in a do or die game.

Robin Van Persie.

 

[Chabon]

This is (I think) all (predominantly) strikers with at least 100 United appearances over the last 30 years.

Romelu Lukaku (55) started more premier league games for Manchester United than Danny Welbeck (53) or Chicharito (49) ever did.

'Appearances' can be deceiving.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

As a United fan from Wrexham, it's always been a bit of a regret that I came along too late to know Hughes as anything other than the sour prick he became as a manager.

As a United fan from Wrexham (guessing Op is too) I'm glad I got to see and meet him... before he turned into the sour prick.

 

[Random Task]

Ronaldo has to be included, surely? He is no less of a forward than Martial, Rashford, and players of that ilk.

 

[OleBoiii]

Ruud was the best goalscorer and therefore by extension the best striker, imo.

I'm not sure if Cantona was as good as Ruud, but he was more important to the team, so it's difficult to decide on a winner.

Rooney follows behind Ruud and Cantona.

 

[EwanI Ted]

I would have ruud below Yorke, ole and Teddy in importance to the clubs history.

Possibly even hernandez and berbatov.

Not saying he wasn't great but I'd define importance to clubs history by what trophies a player helped us win.

Winning is part of it for sure, but not the only thing, because It depends on the team behind them. No-one can blame Ruud for us not winning more, he was a one man strikeforce on many occasions. With those other players, they all played a part but their contribution to their team was proportionately less than Ruud's was to his.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Romelu Lukaku (55) started more premier league games for Manchester United than Danny Welbeck (53) or Chicharito (49) ever did.

'Appearances' can be deceiving.

if we are adding in Lukuku, I’ll just put him at the bottom as that's where he deserves to be.