I remember his first game, was in the Scoreboard End when he came on as sub against City, was pissing down and the roofless Stretford Enders were wearing free condoms, don't recall he did much in the game, how little we knew about what was coming!
Eric Cantona appreciation thread
- Thread starter Jim Beam
- Start date
Was privileged to be at so many of the defining games of his career (including Palace). There's not been a United player with that "Ready Break glow" around him since.
He was the reason I played football and followed Utd from thousands of miles, just based on words on a piece of paper and a sequence of pictures from the official United Magazine. More impactful personally than Pele or Maradonna.
CR would’ve been a fitting replacement on the throne but he shat on it so Eric is still the king to me. We cherished every single minute we got to see him live on telly.
Absolutely everyone’s collar was turned up at the park.
CR would’ve been a fitting replacement on the throne but he shat on it so Eric is still the king to me. We cherished every single minute we got to see him live on telly.
Absolutely everyone’s collar was turned up at the park.
First time I've ever seen this and my god I can't stop smiling.
Pure love and excitement released all at once by 67,000 people, insane.
He had very little opportunity in Europe in reality.
Only really the 96/97 season when granted he was poor v Dortmund but he still scored some important goals that season.
If someone like Danny Welbeck could score away at Real Madrid, I think Cantona would have been brilliant in Europe, armed with the modern tactics that Ferguson introduced eventually.
I know Ronaldo was better than Eric, just as I have to admit that Henry was the better French export to English shores... but having to choose between the 3 I will select Eric as the most charismatic and most immune to fame and hype. For Cantona fame was a by product of being a soccer player.
The camera loved him. His impact was enormous from 93 - 96. This has not been discussed much, but I really believe he was more charismatic than Beckham. Most who followed him on TV or at matches will agree with me.
There is a shot of him at a Community Shield, him emerging from the tunnel at Wembley with the camera following him from the back. There was a booming bass blaring, and the occasion combined with all these elements made an impression on me.
I know Ronaldo was better than Eric, just as I have to admit that Henry was the better French export to English shores... but having to choose between the 3 I will select Eric as the most charismatic and most immune to fame and hype. For Cantona fame was a by product of being a soccer player.
The camera loved him. His impact was enormous from 93 - 96. This has not been discussed much, but I really believe he was more charismatic than Beckham. Most who followed him on TV or at matches will agree with me.
There is a shot of him at a Community Shield, him emerging from the tunnel at Wembley with the camera following him from the back. There was a booming bass blaring, and the occasion combined with all these elements made an impression on me.
Maybe, think we were on a learnign curve still back in Europe, as tactically during this period, despite a great side still, finding space was a problem.
Cantona suffered from that, he always found space to dictate play in the premiership, often in Europe he recieved the ball with his back to goal.
Its different eras and players but premiership I woul d have Cantona in my best United eleven all day, Europe Rooney
Cantona was the first Premier League star. He had the physical aura, charisma and skills. He was the original pointman to United’s 20 year dynasty that followed. His retirement announcement was a huge deal back then too. Everyone was reporting on it and talking about it in the days when internet was a very cliquey and obscure thing.
All the kids in school and football practice, regardless of supporting United or not, used to put the shirt collar up to mimic him. Everyone used to try recreate the goals, whether it be volleys or those 25 yard chips.
Closest player to Cantona in terms of having the presence, charisma and skills I’ve seen since is Zlatan.
All the kids in school and football practice, regardless of supporting United or not, used to put the shirt collar up to mimic him. Everyone used to try recreate the goals, whether it be volleys or those 25 yard chips.
Closest player to Cantona in terms of having the presence, charisma and skills I’ve seen since is Zlatan.
I saw him in the reverse fixture at Maine road. I was 15 and sat in the city end in my first away, I remember being worried about celebrating.
We were 1-0 down and he scored the equaliser i completely forgot myself and went ape shit, luckily half the stand were Reds so I wasn’t on my own.
I think that he was already a shell of himself by 97 and you could see it in the spring there. He was never the leaves of players but he had gained significant weight by the second half of the season then, and generally didn't have the same output that he had in 96.
If I remember the semi finals, we must have had 6 clear cut chances at Old Trafford but everyone's shooting boots were home (including Cantona's who was poor, to be fair). After destroying Porto by 4 in the quarters, I think some might have thought United had a good chance of reaching the final. As it was, the deflection did Shcmiehcel and it was all downhill from there.
I had this on a DVD that I bought online. There used to be a few websites that would sell rips of United matches for around GBP 5 or so. You could order classic matches and watch stuff you were interested in. This was before youtube took over.
Is it fair to say he was among the top 3 French players between the end of the platini era and the beginning of the zidane/henry era?
Before he arrived, I supported the club. After, I loved it. He opened my eyes to how the game should be played. The King.
Probably not if you spoke to a Frenchman. But who cares anyway.
The King 
got him on the back of the black 09/10 jersey with the chevron and an old French top my brother got me too. Idolised him and just a phenom.
What a man.
got him on the back of the black 09/10 jersey with the chevron and an old French top my brother got me too. Idolised him and just a phenom.What a man.
No footballer has ever brought me as much joy as the King did.
I still fondly remember the string of 1-0's we had driving towards the title, with Cantona scoring the solitary goal nearly every game.
God of a man.
I still fondly remember the string of 1-0's we had driving towards the title, with Cantona scoring the solitary goal nearly every game.
God of a man.
Was the catalyst for everything.
saw it on ceefax and remember saying feck Me!,
said that so many times in his 5 years with us!
saw it on ceefax and remember saying feck Me!,
said that so many times in his 5 years with us!
Absolutely loved him! So worthy of his title King.
Totally agree with this - My memories of Eric are in colour vision for all the flicks, tricks and moments of brilliance that we could see on the highlights videos and match of the day...but for me the most potent memories of Eric are of the sound....listening to these crunch games in a title run-in on a crappy radio...time running out and Eric would JUST FIND A WAY to get that crucial goal. Headers, volleys, side-foots that may not have been him at is most creative, but showed his immense will to win and tenacity to never give up.
I vividly remember listening to this sequence of games live on the radio and somehow Eric just kept getting the crucial goals, just when we needed them.
Those moments, for me are captured in a particular group of sounds...a buzz of expectation from Old Trafford crowd as they see Eric moving into a good position, or the anguished dread of the opposition crowd as wave after wave of attacks threaten to make that crucial breakthrough...the mounting excitement as the ball moves towards Eric....the audible holding of breath from some in the crowd as everyone wonders....what will he do this time? Will he score? He ALWAYS scores! and then, the orgiastic screams....the commentators summing up the relief, the joy, the celebration in just one word....."CAN-TON-AAAAAAAA!"
@buchansleftleg Absolutely. Still remember listening to the Newcastle game on the radio. Monday night, hotbed atmosphere, surges of noise every time Newcastle attacked. Then bang Cantona goal.
Let's discuss Eric the actor
Is The Traveller worth watching?
I was looking for info on Inhuman Resources season 2, it seems to be renewed but there's nothing saying when it will come out
Is The Traveller worth watching?
I was looking for info on Inhuman Resources season 2, it seems to be renewed but there's nothing saying when it will come out
I forgot about that goal. I remember watching it over and over again in the early days of youtube. It was still weird seeing him wear our kit at that time just as it was a little strange to watch him wearing our treble kit during Sir Alex's testimonial 3 years earlier.
I agree, fully. He was dragging United to wins with some really beautiful goals out of nowhere. The lob over Seaman wasn't even a chance. The goal against Tottenham was equally ridiculous as he picked the ball up 45 yards from goal, got closer to the edge of the box, shifted it to his left foot and scored. Nothing more needs to be said about the cup final goal against Liverpool but people tend to forget that other contributions such as clearing the ball off the line in the semi final against Chelsea.
Looking For Eric is still one of my favorite movies.
It's kinda strange that a Ken Loach movie would be this wholesome though
The McGrath one is the best I've ever read. If his life was made into a film, people would refuse to watch it because they would think it was too unrealistic.
If you look back at it
93/94 - we had to play two rounds just to get to the Group stages and lost the 2nd round on away goals.
94/95 - Suspended for three games and were f**ked over the foreigner rule
95/96 - Didn't qualify (was suspended for the UEFA Cup matches.)
96/97 - Semi-finals
Had the Champions League from 93 onwards followed a similar format to today, we'd have played more games and probably got to grips with it quicker.
Yep, heard only raving reviews about it. Ordered it through eBay, so am eagerly waiting.
Simply the best, 96 was his year , I had a video years ago all about him it was released just after he retired , do you think I can put my hands on it. 96 shirt I got and it's my favourite shirt. Along with the CL 99 one . How much would he be worth in todays money?
Worth mentioning that he was in quite good form going into that Crystal Palace match in 1995. Scored the winner against Blackburn at OT a few days beforehand. No doubt in my mind we'd have won the league and probably another double without that ban.
We also absolutely should’ve won that game. Missed a shit load of chances (Eric included)
Iconic.
Getting knocked out by Dortmund still rankles me tbh
How we didn't muster even a single goal in both legs after creating a ton of fecking chances still gets to me.
Cantona's form had taken a dip at the time and Cole only just started to get going that year
If we had a world class striker like Shearer up front we would've been the team to face Juve in the final instead.....even Pallister missed a point blank header he usually wouldve eaten up blind folded on another day!
Was thinking about Cantona and some of the criticisms thrown at him regarding needing to do more in the Champions League at key moments, but is that fair?
The 3 foreigner rule ended in February 1996, by which time we were already knocked out of the UEFA Cup. So, Cantona had a total of one season under the non-3 foreigner rule and we made it to the SF. Am I wrong for thinking that this has a huge bearing on our early CL woes, especially considering the likes of Keane, Irwin and co were considered foreign players?
The 3 foreigner rule ended in February 1996, by which time we were already knocked out of the UEFA Cup. So, Cantona had a total of one season under the non-3 foreigner rule and we made it to the SF. Am I wrong for thinking that this has a huge bearing on our early CL woes, especially considering the likes of Keane, Irwin and co were considered foreign players?
I don't have his name on the back of the jersey, but my first top was the iconic '97 with the collar. I know for a fact it didn't even need Cantona on it, but that was His kit. Still have it to this day (even though it's a tad too tight to wear).
Without a doubt one of the most iconic players to play for United. Even after he retired he is a true symbol of the club.
Also, if someone could remind me the latest United documentary where he was heavily involved in narrating it, would be much appreciated as I want to watch it again after seeing this thread
Without a doubt one of the most iconic players to play for United. Even after he retired he is a true symbol of the club.
Also, if someone could remind me the latest United documentary where he was heavily involved in narrating it, would be much appreciated as I want to watch it again after seeing this thread
Yeah it obviously hampered us in 93/94 and 94/95.
It’s a shame how it worked out, as Cantona was past his peak in 96/97 and had to play up front on his own in a couple of matches where he looked a bit lost, especially away to Juve where we were schooled. He was good away to Rapid Vienna from what I remember.
I tend to consider the 4-0 at home to Porto as Fergie’s United’s first proper statement victory in the CL, and Cantona was at the centre of it. But he missed those chances at home to Dortmund and that’s what tends to come to mind when thinking about Cantona in Europe.
I was at the 3-3 game at Old Trafford v Galatasaray back in 93. We had a quality team even then, but we didn't have the top level european experience yet, our naivety that night was evident. Went 2 up then 3-2 down, Cantona actually scored our 3rd goal, but he barely touched the ball that game. Took us a while to adapt to the european game at that level. I know we'd won the euro cup winners cup 2 years prior to that, but this was a step up and it showed at times.
If ever there was the epitome of a certain player 'born to play for a club', it was Cantona and Manchester United.
Yeah remember that, the previous round against Honved was a bit mental too from what I recall.
In fairness, it only took three seasons without the 3 foreigners rule to win the thing. I think the most disappointing seasons in the CL came after 99.
I’m sure it’s been said plenty already in this thread. But after Fergie Cantona is the 2nd most important factor in Utd success and turning team into such a giant club worldwide
92/93 season wasnt going too well before he signed late November. It would have been yet another year without a title and more questions on if Ferguson could take the extra step. Obviously they had won cups the 3 previous seasons but Utd desperately needed the top prize. the Cantona signing turned our season around pretty dramatically And the rest as they say is history
92/93 season wasnt going too well before he signed late November. It would have been yet another year without a title and more questions on if Ferguson could take the extra step. Obviously they had won cups the 3 previous seasons but Utd desperately needed the top prize. the Cantona signing turned our season around pretty dramatically And the rest as they say is history
I was thinking last night which foreign nationality of players outside of the rest of Britain and Ireland have had the most impact at the club and France must be number 1 for us almost because of Eric alone. Cantona transformed the club and I remember in 96 OT was full of French flags for his return against Liverpool. We've also had Patrice Evra, Martial, Louis Saha, Blanc, Bartez, Mikel Silvestre.