Greatest Manchester United one season wonders

R.N7

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 16/17 - If this turns out to be his only season, of course. He's scored more goals this season than many United legends despite the shite football at display that hasn't suited his playing style at all. I know the lazy populist belief is that 'our game is built around him' but that simply isn't true. Instead of playing to his strength he's had to deal with panicky penalty area scraps, floated Valencia crosses, Rashford running the ball out of play for a goal kick, and Mikihitaryan flat out refusing to pass him. Pogba's been the only one who's been as mentally quick as Zlatan and that's where many of the goals have sprung from. It's a shame that his season was cut short by injury and suspension, MoM in the league cup final and would no doubt have upped his game in the important upcoming matches.

Nani - 10/11 - Was a contender for player of season, shame about the rest of his United career, truly underwhelming stuff and let down SAF and the club big with his red card against Real Madrid.

O'Shea - 02/03 - Was a terrific prospect running down that left flank, gangly, quite skillful. Then he got fat...and ended up being at best a competent squad player, but also a hindrance to Rafael's early development and SAF addressing the midfield situation.

Any other contenders?
 
Owen Hargreaves .... I think he was wonderful in 2007-08 season. Helped us winning double.
 
How do you define a one-season wonder?
 
Gabby Heinze.
Anderson's debut season was quite brilliant too. He looked the part until he got fat.
 
Tim Howard. Had one great season then somehow lost the ability to not play like someone with tentacles for hands.
 
Well you've got to stick Januzaj in there although I still think he will come good.

Hernandez, as much as I like him never came close to replicating his first season.

Probably going to get some hate for this one but Van Persie. Legendary first season but nothing much of note after.
 
Macheda?

Or do they have to have played the entire season?
 
Oaencha said:
Well you've got to stick Januzaj in there although I still think he will come good.

Hernandez, as much as I like him never came close to replicating his first season.

Probably going to get some hate for this one but Van Persie. Legendary first season but nothing much of note after.
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Adnan did he even have one good entire season with us?
 
Actually...

Raimond Van der Gouw.

(90% of his United career as substitute 'keeper, finally had his season in the sun when Mark Bosnich turned out to be shit. Played so many games he won a PL medal, and even became our first choice in the Champions League (think, penalty save vs Sturm Graz) Then we signed Barthez and it was back to being the backup man again.
 
Nani was definitely good for more than one season. He started becoming great like halfway through the 09/10 season and continued playing well until about half way through the 11/12 season.
 
JustAFan said:
Adnan did he even have one good entire season with us?
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Looked very good in the pre-season under Moyes, played in almost all of our tour games. Made a really good debut in the PL (scored twice in that game IIRC) and seemed to be in the ascendancy. I can't remember how good he was at the end of the year but the hype train was flying along.
 
Oaencha said:
Well you've got to stick Januzaj in there although I still think he will come good.

Hernandez, as much as I like him never came close to replicating his first season.

Probably going to get some hate for this one but Van Persie. Legendary first season but nothing much of note after.
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Hernandez was great in his third season too - he had an average second season (still useful) and a very sub par final season, but so did most players under Moyes.
:wenger: at the OP for saying O'Shea and Nani. Nani was great in his first season, very good for the second half of 09/10, maybe our best player in 10/11 & continued to contribute in any season after that whenever he was given a rare run of games to play into form. O'Shea was a very dependable player for us throughout his whole career, in several positions.
 
Off the top of my head, Januzaj and Van Persie are all I can think off, suppose Zlatan is in there as well depending on what way that whole thing turns out.
 
Very harsh to call Nani a one season wonder, he was a very good back up for a few years. The then between 09/10, 10/11, 11/12 up until his injury he was one of the best around.

let down SAF and the club big with his red card against Real Madrid.
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Also this, are you on a wind up?

Never a red card, feck me.
 
Heinze.

Smalling.

Nani is a bad shout. He was good in other seasons (07/08, end of 09/10 and start of 11/12).
 
Henrik? Although not a full season.

Cracking signing and would have loved for him to have played more for us.
 
Terrible thread.

Nani one season wonder? Let the club down with that red card?

Please.
 
OP is incredibly harsh on Nani.
 
There was a season where Phil Neville played against most of the big teams and was absolutely brilliant.
 
DatGuyRich said:
Terrible thread.

Nani one season wonder? Let the club down with that red card?

Please.
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Errr and O'Shea, a player who played nearly 400 games for us and contributed to countless trophies. What an absolutely brilliant squad player he was who could play in countless positions and was always a reliable option. He's one of the players the Sunderland fans appreciate and want to stay. Disgusting to suggest he's a 'one season wonder'.
 
I always would have thought the likes of Ricketts and Zaki were 'one season wonders' and not players that contributed towards counties trophies.
 
Nani probably hit his best form in the 2011/12 season. It was just that his hamstrings were made out of tissue paper.
 
RVP. His 20th title season was magnificent. Second season he got stuck with lost of injuries and his last season was underwhelming.
 
17 Van der Gouw said:
Looked very good in the pre-season under Moyes, played in almost all of our tour games. Made a really good debut in the PL (scored twice in that game IIRC) and seemed to be in the ascendancy. I can't remember how good he was at the end of the year but the hype train was flying along.
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So the answer to my question is no he did not.
 
Not sure if you understood the meaning of "one season wonder". I'm pretty sure the term "one season wonder" means players who tear it up in the league for just one season and fade away in subsequent seasons. How can you classify Zlatan as a one season wonder if this season turns out to be the only season he has played for us? :confused: :lol:
 
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Yorke only had one truly great season. His second season wasn't too bad but he never hit those heights. And his third season was forgettable.
 
Nani and O'Shea had successful careers here. A one season wonder would be Januzaj - or more appropriately a 1/4 season wonder.
 
Raoul said:
Nani and O'Shea had successful careers here. A one season wonder would be Januzaj - or more appropriately a 1/4 season wonder.
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I would say one game wonder as no one is remembering him for anything now except these 2 goals against Sunderland.
 
Snafu17 said:
Nani probably hit his best form in the 2011/12 season. It was just that his hamstrings were made out of tissue paper.
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Don't remember Nani having problems with his hamstrings.

That year it was Carragher that basically ended his season.
 
I'd say one season wonder are players like Michu,Carroll, Reyes, Robinho and to a small extent Vardy rather than players like Nani and O'Shea who were part of our most successful time in history.
 
Nani wasn't consistenly good a whole season, so he doesn't fit the category.


Robbie Boy said:
This isn't the 'one game wonder' thread.
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He was the deciding player one season though, and played, and scored, in more than one match.
 
Nani was excellent for 2-3 seasons. Very harsh on O'Shea too. Who next, Fletcher? Berbatov?
 
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