That explains it. I thought the defending was pretty poor and figured it might have been some low level European team.
Eric Cantona appreciation thread
- Thread starter Jim Beam
- Start date
I was about 14/15 on holidays in Greece with my nan and gramp, I vividly remember my gramp coming into the hotel room to tell me Cantona had retired. It’s strange the details that stick with you re people that make an impact on you
This resonates. He was flawed, but even as a grown man I still respect him as childhood role model. He was real, intelligent and had conviction. He was unique, who has followed him with such gravitas?
It would be interesting to know how fans outside of the club viewed him.
That run in March and April 1996 when United overhauled Newcastle into top spot. Starting with that Newcastle game, he scored in 6 consecutive league games, grabbing the winner in four 1-0 victories, and a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Capped it off in May with the winner in yet another 1-0 victory in the FA Cup Final. What also made that run special was both the calibre of the opposition in turning over all the best teams in England at the time - Newcastle, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs - and the quality of the goals - the ice-cold downward volley against Newcastle, the chest control and long-range lob over Seaman, the take in a crowded midfield, run and outside-the-box finish against Spurs, and the controlled volley in an awkward position against Liverpool. No easy goals in there, just pulling rabbits out the hat week after week. Rarely has a player produced such a series of singularly influential performances at the exact right time in the season - to not only drag his team-mates over the line, but to break the hearts of the challengers who had led all campaign.
Even watching him play beach football tournaments was a pleasure.
He was incredible and vastly underrated in the pantheon of great PL strikers.
Giggs speaking to Rashford, telling him what it was like to play with him, his passes to his teammates perfect and how Rashford would of loved to play with him.
He was incredible and vastly underrated in the pantheon of great PL strikers.
Giggs speaking to Rashford, telling him what it was like to play with him, his passes to his teammates perfect and how Rashford would of loved to play with him.
I watched all those goals again last night.
"Now what's he going to do?... There is your answer"
The Arsenal one, though, was the most Cantona goal you'll ever see. The ball cleared and bouncing away when out of nowhere Cantona's chest appeared to take control of the situation.
Even when he took it down nobody else but him had an idea what he was about to do.
It was pure Cantona. Power, Poise, Arrogance, Imagination
True, I was just getting tired of saying volley all the time.
Cantona and Arsenal will always be about the free kick and his tuba grip. What a goal.
Met him in a hotel and I'm 6-2 tall and seemed to tower over me - he's a BIG bloke but so fecking skilful and balanced as a player - bloody loved having him at United and must go down as the best signing we ever made in terms of the stepped change at the club. Perfect blend with the young talent coming through at the time.
I loved the advert too, clearly still remember the billboard.yeah saw that after I posted it! Well done
talking of adverts I also used to like the diadora ‘ever played against a brick wall’ with butt and Keane
wonderful memories, well writtenFair
Fergie's most important signing. Someone who completely embodied the myth and magic of the Ferguson era. Oh to go back to 1992!
same here
There is a guy who lives in my town who’s wrapped his entire work van in this Cantona advert.
It’s absolute class.
Probably the coolest footballer of all-time. Who would be his competition btw? Cruyff, Zidane, Maradona? Socrates? Netzer? While he may have not reached their heights on the pitch (he only spent 5 years at United and for most of the time we were handicapped in Europe by the foreign limit; plus he never properly fit into the French team), I can't think of any other player who would combine arrogance, charisma, talent and unique personality in such a way.
Ibra tries to emulate him in some ways, but he can't replicate Cantona's image even though he has way more options to promote his own image.
Ibra tries to emulate him in some ways, but he can't replicate Cantona's image even though he has way more options to promote his own image.
No. Just no.
Nearly 25 years later Cantona is revered across the world. He still has that aura about him, and always will.
I love Zlatan, but his character is more of an ‘in-joke’ and a slight caricature that he plays up to. However, Cantona was pre internet, and the level of scrutiny on him now would have ridiculous.
The king of kings, the ultimate utd player, played for us the way we all wish we could, with a strut, a snarl and a swagger, a massive feck you to anyone who wasn't on board. Effortlessly cool and stylish, not just a footballing god but a cultural icon. If one individual could personify man utd, its the king.
That's precisely my point. The fact that Ibra tries to do that doesn't mean that he succeeds in doing so.
Precisely put.
zlatan tries so hard to be cool he just ends up looking like a try-hard nerd
eric is cool because he is his own man. He doesnt look to impress anyone. just be himself
The best, for me he had everything maybe best penalty taker we've had. I bought a t shirt yrs ago with no 7 on back and cantona on front with his when seagulls follow the trawler quote, when I wore it, I had so many comments mostly positive even off the scum fans. Dont ask me where its gone. There were players and there was Eric Cantona.. special guy.
I still worship him. In my mind, he is always the king of old trafford.
First ever Utd hero. Loved watching him play. Just pure confidence personified.
The KING
The KING
Can't have an Eric Cantona appreciation thread without the gif that defines him.
I remember being a kid and wanting a cast on my right arm. Thats my biggest memory of him, running away waving his finger after scoring a free kick against Arsenal with his arm in plaster. Legend!
2:11
2:11
The King of Manchester, Legendary and was a joy to watch and was a pleasure to meet him after a game and see him show his appreciation to our fans was magic.
I've said it many times. The most important Manchester United player since Charlton/Best.
And by far the biggest star of the PL in 92-97.
And by far the biggest star of the PL in 92-97.
Love this one
That is how I will always remember him.Can't have an Eric Cantona appreciation thread without the gif that defines him.
How can you not love the man.
The King!! We need that arrogance back in football and England. It’s dying.
I do love the man.
I'd legit have his babies if he asked me nicely enough. Feck genetics.
Wow, I haven’t seen that one before.
Love that shot of him walking out the tunnel into OT where it fades from black and white into colour.
Hah. Just to take his surname
The King
Fergie's most important signing. The King. Take me back to the 90s!
Absolutely my favourite ever United player. I used to love watching him play, and watching at OT you’d see him making runs and taking up positions that would've been out of shot on TV, his reading of the game was incredible.
I bought a shirt signed by him from the club back in 94ish, my 20 year old son has now claimed it and it’s framed and hung on his wall.
I bought a shirt signed by him from the club back in 94ish, my 20 year old son has now claimed it and it’s framed and hung on his wall.