United's All-Time 23 Man Squad

[Robbo*]

Peter Schmeichel
Edwin Van der Sar
Harry Gregg

Denis Irwin
Jaap Stam
Rio Ferdinand
Paul McGrath
Nemanja Vidic
Patrice Evra
Gary Neville
Johnny Carey

Bryan Robson
Roy Keane
Paul Scholes
Duncan Edwards
George Best
Ryan Giggs
Cristiano Ronaldo
Bobby Charlton

Wayne Rooney
Denis Law
Eric Cantona
Ruud Van Nistelrooy

that group of midfielders is remarkable.

 

[honirelandboy]

Have people actually put Shaw

 

[choccy77]

The thread title needs to change for false advertising

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

All-time:

Schmeichel, De Gea, Van der Sar
Neville, Irwin, Evra, Byrne, Vidic, Ferdinand, Stam, Foulkes
Edwards, Keane, Scholes, Robson, Beckham, Charlton, Ronaldo, Giggs
Cantona, Rooney, Law, Best

Since I started watching football:

Schmeichel, De Gea, Van der Sar
Neville, Valencia, Evra, Irwin, Vidic, Ferdinand, Stam, Smalling
Keane, Scholes, Carrick, Butt, Beckham, Ronaldo, Giggs, Rashford
Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Yorke, Solskjaer

 

[harms]

Should be something like this. A lot of oldies got harsh treatment (Gregg, Foulkes, Viollet, Byrne, Kidd, ), Carrick could've made it as well as some of Fergie's utility men like O'Shea or Park... and then obviously the abundance of strikers of all shapes and forms — van Persie, Cole, Yorke, Hughes, Ole, Sheringham...

1. P. Schmeichel
2. E. van der Sar
3. D. De Gea
4. D. Irwin
5. P. Evra
6. G. Neville
7. R. Ferdinand
8. N. Vidić
9. J. Stam
10. P. McGrath
11. D. Edwards
12. B. Charlton
13. R. Keane
14. P. Scholes
15. B. Robson
16. D. Beckham
17. R. Giggs
18. G. Best
19. C. Ronaldo
20. D. Law
21. W. Rooney
22. E. Cantona
23. R. van Nistelrooy

Schmeichel
Irwin ----- Rio ----- Vidić ----- Evra
Keane ------ Scholes
Charlton
Best ---------- Law ----- Cristiano​

 

[RedTiger]

Should be something like this. A lot of oldies got harsh treatment (Gregg, Foulkes, Viollet, Byrne, Kidd, ), Carrick could've made it as well as some of Fergie's utility men like O'Shea or Park... and then obviously the abundance of strikers of all shapes and forms — van Persie, Cole, Yorke, Hughes, Ole, Sheringham...

1. P. Schmeichel
2. E. van der Sar
3. D. De Gea
4. D. Irwin
5. P. Evra
6. G. Neville
7. R. Ferdinand
8. N. Vidić
9. J. Stam
10. P. McGrath
11. D. Edwards
12. B. Charlton
13. R. Keane
14. P. Scholes
15. B. Robson
16. D. Beckham
17. R. Giggs
18. G. Best
19. C. Ronaldo
20. D. Law
21. W. Rooney
22. E. Cantona
23. R. van Nistelrooy

Schmeichel
Irwin ----- Rio ----- Vidić ----- Evra
Keane ------ Scholes
Charlton
Best ---------- Law ----- Cristiano​

That team would win the CL five times in a row

 

[Pat_Mustard]

Yep, I'm suprised with that as well I assumed it was supporters who only started following us in the last decade.

I'm honestly really tempted to put him in my squad and my Utd memories go back to 1990 or so! He has his faults, and it's tough to compare him to players who peaked in winning teams under Fergie, but he's made a huge impression on me.

 

[darko]

These lists are impossible. I like to mention Billy Meredith, Roger Byrne and Nobby Stilles.

 

[hatchetmac]

I would like to give a big shout out to Tommy Taylor. My uncle told me that he always got the bus to Old Trafford with his boots in a brown paper bag. What a legend.

 

[Fitchett]

My selection, from 1963 to present day:

Schmeichel, Van der Sar, De Gea

Dunne, G. Neville, Buchan, Stam, Ferdinand, Vidic, Albiston, Irwin

Beckham, Ronaldo, Charlton, Robson, Keane, Scholes, Best, Giggs

Law, Cantona, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney

 

[The Brown Bull]

Schmeichel
VDS
DDG

Dunne
Buchan
McGrath
Bruce
Stam
Irwin
Vidic
Evra

Best
Charlton
Robson
Keane
Giggs
Scholes
Kanchelskis
Beckham

Law
Rooney
RVN
Cantona

 

[MUFC OK]

Schmeichel
VDS

Evra
Irwin
Ferdinand
Vidic
Stam
Pallister
Foulkes
Neville

Keane
Charlton
Edwards
Robson
Scholes
Giggs
Best
Beckham
Ronaldo

RVN
Cantona
Law
Rooney

 

[MUFC OK]

Schmeichel
VDS
DDG

Dunne
Buchan
McGrath
Bruce
Stam
Irwin
Vidic
Evra

Best
Charlton
Robson
Keane
Giggs
Scholes
Kanchelskis
Beckham

Law
Rooney
RVN
Cantona

No Ronaldo?.

 

[lex talionis]

So many great players would have to be left out of a top 23. There’s no arguing with Law, Cantona, Ruud and Rooney, but for the short time that we had him was Ibrahimovic, when he was in his mid 30s, all that far off any of those at their peak in their mid 20s?

 

[The Brown Bull]

No Ronaldo?.

God dang it!

 

[harms]

So many great players would have to be left out of a top 23. There’s no arguing with Law, Cantona, Ruud and Rooney, but for the short time that we had him was Ibrahimovic, when he was in his mid 30s, all that far off any of those at their peak in their mid 20s?

Yeah, he really was. He was pretty great, but there's a significant gap between his performances for us and that of peak Law/Cantona/Ruud/Rooney or even van Persie, Cole & Yorke.

 

[MUFC OK]

Bill Foulkes has to be in any squad imo. I won't run through his achievements or stats but younger fans (myself included) should read up on his historical significance at the club, as he isnt mentioned nearly as much as the trinity, Edwards etc. As big of a legend as anyone to have played for the club.

 

[Thelongsleevesofblomqvist]

Love posts like this one:
Schmeichel
VDG
Edwards

Byrne
G Neville
Buchan
McGrath
Stam
Rio
Brennan
Irwin

Beckham
Ronaldo
Charlton
Robson
Keane
Scholes
Giggs
Best

Taylor
Law
Ruud
Eric

this trumps all

Edwards in goal? Two keepers or Van der Sar and De Gea in one?

 

[lex talionis]

Yeah, he really was. He was pretty great, but there's a significant gap between his performances for us and that of peak Law/Cantona/Ruud/Rooney or even van Persie, Cole & Yorke.

Fair enough. A gap between Ibra when we had him and L/C/R/R and even RvP but I'm not having a gap between Ibra and Cole and Yorke.

 

[Thelongsleevesofblomqvist]

Why is not Foulkes a more common option in the teams? Argument for McGrath?

 

[devilish]

Players I watched

GK: Schmeichel, VDS

RB: G Neville, Brown
LB: Irwin, Evra
CB: Stam, Vidic
CB: Ferdinand, Varane

DM: Ince, Carrick
MC: Keane, Robson
AMC: Scholes, Bruno Fernandes

AMR: Beckham, Kanchelskis
AML: Giggs, Ronaldo
STK: RVN, RVP, Cantona

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

3 Gks
Schmeichel
Van der Sar
De Gea

8 defenders
Irwin
G.Neville
Evra
O'Shea
Ferdinand
Vidic
Pallister
Stam


8 midfielders
Robson
Keane
Scholes
Ronaldo
Beckham
Giggs
Kanchelskis
Carrick

4 strikers.

Van Persie
Van Nistelrooy
Cantona
Hughes

 

[harms]

Fair enough. A gap between Ibra when we had him and L/C/R/R and even RvP but I'm not having a gap between Ibra and Cole and Yorke.

Peak Yorke was probably a Ballon d’Or contender — 29 goals and 22 assists in our treble-winning season. Cole was slightly less impressive but better long-term, still, 97/98 - 25 goals and 11 assists, 98/99 - 24 goals and 11 assists. All while contributing a lot in terms of pressing.

Ibra’s best season for us had him on 17 goals and 5 assists with all of our attacking play being built around him. United finished 6th and won the FA Cup without him.

I really liked him and his time here, but not let his style and persona confuse you — he wasn’t world-class (like Ibra himself was at his best and like both Cole & Yorke were) for us. His arrogance was marvelous, he really brought some character to that team but his performance was more of a surprisingly great for an old guy rather than world-breaking. And United had a lot of strikers that reached that level

 

[Josh 76]

Instead of listing 23 players that no body will probably read. It has to be broken down to this.

Pre Fergie:
Edwards
Best
Law
Charlton
Robson (peak)
McGarth (peak) ?

Fergie era:
1994
1999
2008

Post Fergie:

 

[lex talionis]

Peak Yorke was probably a Ballon d’Or contender — 29 goals and 22 assists in our treble-winning season. Cole was slightly less impressive but better long-term, still, 97/98 - 25 goals and 11 assists, 98/99 - 24 goals and 11 assists. All while contributing a lot in terms of pressing.

Ibra’s best season for us had him on 17 goals and 5 assists with all of our attacking play being built around him. United finished 6th and won the FA Cup without him.

I really liked him and his time here, but not let his style and persona confuse you — he wasn’t world-class (like Ibra himself was at his best and like both Cole & Yorke were) for us. His arrogance was marvelous, he really brought some character to that team but his performance was more of a surprisingly great for an old guy rather than world-breaking. And United had a lot of strikers that reached that level

You’ve convinced me. Thank you!

 

[Thelongsleevesofblomqvist]

You’ve convinced me. Thank you!

You convinced me until the hinted comparasion of Y & C and Ibrahimovic in their primes. Prime Zlatan is of course way beyond both. And hm, speaking of the above made argument on the team being built around Zlatan - compare the team sorrounding Y & C:s points and those sorrounding Zlatans. Anyways, he obviously didn´t do enough or was on a level during his short spell to be in an all time United Squad.

 

[Tribec]

Goalkeepers: Schmeichel, Van der Sar, De Gea
Defenders: G Neville, Irwin, Dunne, Byrne, Stam, Ferdinand, Vidic, McGrath
Midfielders: Robson, Scholes, Edwards, Keane, Charlton, Giggs, Best, Ronaldo
Strikers: Law, Cantona, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney

Seeing some putting Duncan Edwards in defence at even at left back. He was only chosen in defence once in his entire career and that was in a youth match.

No doubt he could play anywhere...but so could Robson Keane and others.

Learn your history lads!

I'm a little surprised to not see Tommy Taylor in your 23, but blimey with that squad I'd put my house on us winning against any other clubs 23 in the world.

 

[Bestietom]

Duncan Edwards doesn't even make the list?

Reading my mind.

 

[Invictus]

All-Time 23 man squad and Staring XI (with appropriate representation for United's foremost periods of success):

• Goalkeepers (3): Edwin van der Sar, Peter Schmeichel, David de Gea
• Fullbacks (3): Denis Irwin, Roger Byrne, Gary Neville
• Centerbacks (4): Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Paul McGrath
• Wide midfielders or Wingers (4): George Best, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham
• Central-ish midfielders (5): Bobby Charlton, Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes, Duncan Edwards
• Forwards or Strikers (3): Denis Law, Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney
• Specialist (1): Nobby Stiles (man-marking)

• Busby Babes: Roger Byrne and Duncan Edwards
• First European Cup: The holy trinity
• Second European Cup: Roy Keane, Denis Irwin and Peter Schmeichel
• Third European Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić

 

[Mr. MUJAC]

I'm a little surprised to not see Tommy Taylor in your 23, but blimey with that squad I'd put my house on us winning against any other clubs 23 in the world.

If I had to drop anyone it would be Eric...it was a close call to be fair. I could have put any number of great strikers in ahead of him but you're right...Tommy Taylor is the most obvious!

Others I thought about were Rowley and Viollet.

Wev'e been blessed

 

[Valencia's Left Foot]

After Carrick left the club yesterday, I came to the conclusion that he would make my all-time squad of United players that I've personally watched.

What is everyone's all-time 23?
Criteria:
3 Gks
8 defenders
8 midfielders
4 strikers.

Mine is as follows:-

1. Schmeichel
2. VDS
3. DDG
4. Irwin
5. Evra
6. Neville
7. Brown
8. Stam
9. Vidic
10. Ferdinand
11. McGrath
12. Robson
13. Keane
14. Carrick
15. Scholes
16. Beckham
17. Giggs
18. Ronaldo
19. Kanchelskis
20. Cantona
21. Rooney
22. RVN
23. Hughes

It was a toss up between McGrath and Bruce and between Kanchelskis and Nani.

If I were to include players I've never watched then I'd include:

Law
Charlton
Best
Foulkes / Buchan
Coppell.

Can't leave RVP out. He was on another level when he played here. Almost single handedly won us the league.

 

[lex talionis]

You convinced me until the hinted comparasion of Y & C and Ibrahimovic in their primes. Prime Zlatan is of course way beyond both. And hm, speaking of the above made argument on the team being built around Zlatan - compare the team sorrounding Y & C:s points and those sorrounding Zlatans. Anyways, he obviously didn´t do enough or was on a level during his short spell to be in an all time United Squad.

Prime Zlatan blows Cole and Yorke out of the water, but in all fairness I did stipulate the Zlatan at the time we had him in his mid 30s. Even in his mid 30s Ibra was Beast, but as you rightly note due to his short spell he just can’t be in an all time United side.

 

[Avero]

Would have loved to see these teams play against each other

-------------------------------------- Edwin Van Der Sar
---- Denis Irwin ----- Rio Ferdinand ----- Nemanja Vidić ----- Roger Byrne
--------------------------- Bryan Robson ----- Duncan Edwards
---------------------------------------- Bobby Charlton
------- Cristiano Ronaldo --------- Denis Law -------- George Best


-------------------------------------- Peter Schmeichel
---- Gary Neville ----- Bill Foulkes ----- Martin Buchan ---- Tony Dunne
--- David Beckham --- Roy Keane ---- Paul Scholes ------ Ryan Giggs
----------------------------- Eric Cantona ---- Wayne Rooney

 

[Alemar]

Schmeichel

Neville
Stam
Ferdinand
Shaw

Keane
Scholes
Ronaldo
Giggs

van Nistelroy
Cantona

Second team:
De Gea

Valencia
Pallister
Vidic
Evra

Carrick
Robson
Beckham
Nani

Cole
Rooney

Third GK: van der Sar

 

[diarm]

Players I've seen:
Schmeichel, Van der Sar, De Gea
Rio, Stam, Vidic, McGrath
Irwin, Evra, G.Neville, Shaw
Keane, Scholes, Robson, Carrick
Ronaldo, Beckham, Giggs, Kanchelskis
Rooney, Tevez, Cantona, Van Persie

All Time:
Schmeichel, Van der Sar, Gregg
Foulkes, Rio, Stam, Buchan
Irwin, Byrne, Carey, Dunne
Edwards, Keane, Robson, Scholes
Best, Charlton, Ronaldo, Giggs
Law, Cantona, Rooney, Taylor

 

[Sky1981]

GK : Peter Schemeichel // Edwin van der Sar (No place for DDG due to declining peak)

RB : Gary Neville // Antonio Valencia (just realized we don't have that many legendary Right Back)
CB : Rio Ferdinand // Gary Pallister
CB : Nemanja Vidic // Jaap Stam
LB : Dennis Irwin // Patrice Evra\

LW : Ryan Giggs // Best (Never seen Best live)
MF : Paul Scholes // Paul Pogba (assuming he's on top form and motivated to play)
MF : Roy Keane // Brian Robson (never seen him live)
RW : David Beckham (C) // Ronaldo

CF : Dwight Yorke // Wayne Rooney
CF : Andy Cole // Eric Cantona

Manager : You know who
1 last spot : John O'Shea for versatility

 

[GueRed]

Players I've seen

3 GK's - Peter Schmeichel, Edwin Van Der Sar, David De Gea

8 DEF's - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Denis Irwin, Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Paul Parker, Jaap Stam, Paul McGrath

8 MID's - Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Paul Ince, Michael Carrick

4 STR's - Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Andy Cole

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

GK : Peter Schemeichel // Edwin van der Sar (No place for DDG due to declining peak)

RB : Gary Neville // Antonio Valencia (just realized we don't have that many legendary Right Back)
CB : Rio Ferdinand // Gary Pallister
CB : Nemanja Vidic // Jaap Stam
LB : Dennis Irwin // Patrice Evra\

LW : Ryan Giggs // Best (Never seen Best live)
MF : Paul Scholes // Paul Pogba (assuming he's on top form and motivated to play)
MF : Roy Keane // Brian Robson (never seen him live)
RW : David Beckham (C) // Ronaldo

CF : Dwight Yorke // Wayne Rooney
CF : Andy Cole // Eric Cantona

Manager : You know who
1 last spot : John O'Shea for versatility

I understand why people might pick van der Sar over De Gea, but declining peak? De Gea is 31. Van der Sar joined United at 35. Van der Sar was also struggling a bit around age 30 and a late career revival. Such is the nature of being a goalkeeper for 15 years, it happens to a lot of goalkeepers, there are very few who are consistently good every year. I'm hopeful given De Gea's form this year that he is on the way back to how he was.

 

[Lentwood]

This will be done with a heavy PL era bias, but I would go....

GK - Schmeichel, De Gea, Van der Sar (3)
DEF - G. Neville, Dennis Irwin, Patrice Evra, Luke Shaw, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Harry Maguire, Jaap Stam (8)
MID - Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis, Paul Pogba (8)
ST - Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Robin van Persie (4)

I can't honestly pick players like Best, Law and Charlton because I have never seen them play one full game.

I know people are going to whinge about Pogba, Maguire and Shaw, but a) all of my knowledge of early 90s Utd players comes from the 'Season Review' videos, and they mainly featured offensive players, since it was highlights of each game and b) I honestly think that in good sides under a good manager, those players would do well and be good options

I also only have one natural left-winger, because Rooney, Ronaldo and Pogba could all play out left if needed.

Let's hope in 10 years, we will be adding Greenwood and Sancho to an all-time 23

 

[yamo123x]

Can only do it based on players ive actually seen in my lifetime

Schmeichel ,Van De Saar

Irwin, Stam, Vidic, Ferdinand, Neville

Keane Scholes Beckham Giggs Carrick Robson Sharpe Ince

Rooney Ronaldo RVN Tevez, RVP, Cantona Cole Yorke


If i was to pick a worst

Taibi, Goram, Bosnich

Prunier,, Duxbury, Buttner, Jones, Rojo, de laet

Djemba x2, Kleberson, Gibson, Cleverly,Schneiderlin, Di Maria, Wallwork

Bellion, Bebe, Manucho, Sanchez, Depay, cruyff, Chadwick