(sigh) What times to be a United fan! What a strike partnership! Cole and Yorkie destroying European opposition. The goals they scored in Barcelona. The great one two combination goals they scored. Beckhams countless goals, free kicks and assists from crosses. Super Jesper Blomqvist raiding the left flank along with Giggsy. What a year! Do you think we can ever hope to get back at that level anytime soon?
As I watch my Manchester United 1999 Treble Video
- Thread starter Donaldinho
- Start date
People have to realize that was a unique year. We had luck on our side, and many players were at their peak. We certainly won’t come close for a while, and I doubt with many of the same players. But who cares ?
It'll be hard. And i take great offence when Arsenal say they think the Treble is a realistic goal. They have gone from NOTHING repeatedly to a Double. There team is good, shamefully probably the best at the moment, but it is still a long way short of our Treble winning side.
as u watch the video of 98/1999, it's clear that our defence was not that good,,but we had a world class GK to cover & a great fire power upfront.
Let`s not say it won`t happen again - we have to believe! － but I agree that season was unique.
It is difficult to compare that side with our current side as we had experienced players such as Andy Cole, who had been developing for some time, combined with the fresh influence of Dwight Yorke (who sadly let his achievements go to his head not so long after).
Andy was superb that year because he had reached his peak development at Old Trafford - he had played with the Master Eric for a few years and had become such a better, all-round player. Yorkie brought a new balance to the attack and he and Andy just gelled. Plus the guile and experience of Teddy and Ole`s freakish ability to find a way past the defence.
We also had the rock steadiness of Big Jaap and the strength and versatility of Ronnie Johnson, and at the back the best goalkeeper to have played in Britain, Schmikes. Combine that with a powerhouse Keano and the near peaking skills of Beckham, Giggs et al and there was the recipe for the Treble.
The Treble probably won`t be replicated by any other British team and it will be very difficult for Manchester United to do it again. Particularly with this current team. Although nobody seems to be able to admit it or identify it, it is clear to me that Manchester United are in a highly transitory stage.
It is not business as usual with players going, others replacing them and Manchester United chugging along comfortably with success. Even when we didn`t win anything in the 97-98 season it did not look to me as if the team would have problems reinvigorating itself and Sir Alex`s shrewd signings proved that correct.
However, it is clear to me that at the present time Manchester United is going through a rebuilding phase.
Sir Alex`s last season signings were not as shrewd as those of previous years. love Seba and want him to stay but let`s be honest - he was surplus to requirements when we snapped him up given our midfield and while he will do the job for us in the absence of Keano, who performs best for us - Veron or Keano? and I think we all know the answer to that.
Therewas an obvious lack of balance to the team last season and while Keano may
see complacency as the key to winning nothing last season, it was a mixture of that and signings that were not as effective as in the Treble year.
I think the signing of players like Diego for 7 million was bad business given we could have blooded youngsters like Webber or made good purchases in the market for less than 7 million(Arsene and Gerard Houllier do that better than Sir Alex these days).
It`s Manchester United til I die, even if we go down to the Nationwide and Conference, but I do not believe we can repeat the Treble in the foreseeable future. We have to have a better transfer policy in place, reinvention of the team and luck.
It is difficult to compare that side with our current side as we had experienced players such as Andy Cole, who had been developing for some time, combined with the fresh influence of Dwight Yorke (who sadly let his achievements go to his head not so long after).
Andy was superb that year because he had reached his peak development at Old Trafford - he had played with the Master Eric for a few years and had become such a better, all-round player. Yorkie brought a new balance to the attack and he and Andy just gelled. Plus the guile and experience of Teddy and Ole`s freakish ability to find a way past the defence.
We also had the rock steadiness of Big Jaap and the strength and versatility of Ronnie Johnson, and at the back the best goalkeeper to have played in Britain, Schmikes. Combine that with a powerhouse Keano and the near peaking skills of Beckham, Giggs et al and there was the recipe for the Treble.
The Treble probably won`t be replicated by any other British team and it will be very difficult for Manchester United to do it again. Particularly with this current team. Although nobody seems to be able to admit it or identify it, it is clear to me that Manchester United are in a highly transitory stage.
It is not business as usual with players going, others replacing them and Manchester United chugging along comfortably with success. Even when we didn`t win anything in the 97-98 season it did not look to me as if the team would have problems reinvigorating itself and Sir Alex`s shrewd signings proved that correct.
However, it is clear to me that at the present time Manchester United is going through a rebuilding phase.
Sir Alex`s last season signings were not as shrewd as those of previous years. love Seba and want him to stay but let`s be honest - he was surplus to requirements when we snapped him up given our midfield and while he will do the job for us in the absence of Keano, who performs best for us - Veron or Keano? and I think we all know the answer to that.
Therewas an obvious lack of balance to the team last season and while Keano may
see complacency as the key to winning nothing last season, it was a mixture of that and signings that were not as effective as in the Treble year.
I think the signing of players like Diego for 7 million was bad business given we could have blooded youngsters like Webber or made good purchases in the market for less than 7 million(Arsene and Gerard Houllier do that better than Sir Alex these days).
It`s Manchester United til I die, even if we go down to the Nationwide and Conference, but I do not believe we can repeat the Treble in the foreseeable future. We have to have a better transfer policy in place, reinvention of the team and luck.
The 1998/99 season was a season dreams are made of, one of those events that happen once in a life time. We shouldn't compare the present team to that side. Every player was at the top of his game (including the Nevilles), we had very few injuries. Everything just slotted into place, each team should be judged on its merit, that team is in the past and we have to look forward.
If Berkamp scores his penalty and that Bayern striker (?) scores instead of hitting the cross bar we are not talking treble. We were good and also fortunate in '99. We were much more dominant in the PL in 2000 and in 2001. I thought United's best CL team was the year they lost out to Hitzfield's Stutgart. United dominated and missed so many chances.
Personally, I don't think the Treble will be repeated by any of in Europe any time soon. It was a freak season, however our team now is only 1 or 2 signings from a potential PL/CL winning team which is all anyone can ask for in a season.
You just have to look at games like the FA Cup semi final replay against Arsenal and the CL final to know what sort of season that was. The players were in top form, everything was falling into place, and confidence was high.
It would be hard to rediscover form like that, but when a team is high on confidence, those sort of performances are the results. I'll doubt we'll have another season like that, but I'm sure we can have moments like that again.
It would be hard to rediscover form like that, but when a team is high on confidence, those sort of performances are the results. I'll doubt we'll have another season like that, but I'm sure we can have moments like that again.
Originally posted by darko:
<strong>If Berkamp scores his penalty and that Bayern striker (?) scores instead of hitting the cross bar we are not talking treble. We were good and also fortunate in '99. We were much more dominant in the PL in 2000 and in 2001. I thought United's best CL team was the year they lost out to Hitzfield's Stutgart. United dominated and missed so many chances.</strong><hr></blockquote>
hitzfeld used to play for stuttgart but that was back in the 70s