How good was Denis Irwin?

Not much more you can add to everyone elses sentiments. He was fantastic.

I will forever hate David Elleray for sending off Irwin against Liverpool for having the "audacity" to pass a ball that had only marginally gone out of play about 5/10 yards in front of him - wanker.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
Not much more you can add to everyone elses sentiments. He was fantastic.

I will forever hate David Elleray for sending off Irwin against Liverpool for having the "audacity" to pass a ball that had only marginally gone out of play about 5/10 yards in front of him - wanker.
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IIRC he booted it into the stands after he blew the whistle and that's what got him the card.
 
B20 said:
IIRC he booted it into the stands after he blew the whistle and that's what got him the card.
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I'd wager you recall wrong... I swear I remember it clear as day - I was fuming!

Unfortunately, I don't think Gifs/YouTube videos are available... so you'll just have to take my word for it!

Can anyone else back me up!?
 
I recall thinking that it's unbelievable how such an experienced player could make such a trivial mistake.

The rule about kicking the ball away was relatively new at the time, but still. Don't recall the decision being controversial.
 
It wasn't to the stands, but it was more than 5-10 yards. maybe 20 or 30, but certainly down the touchline. It was extremely harsh.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
I'd wager you recall wrong... I swear I remember it clear as day - I was fuming!

Unfortunately, I don't think Gifs/YouTube videos are available... so you'll just have to take my word for it!

Can anyone else back me up!?
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Yes. the ball had drifted a gnats arse over the line, Irwin played a legitimate pass unaware that the linesman had flagged behind him and Elleray sent him off for kicking the ball away. Completely farcical and even then Denis remained cool and calm.
 
Awesome fullback, didnt matter what side he played on he was brilliant at both. Took a mean ass freekick and penalty. He also never gave you any hassle off the pitch. A proper professional right to the core.
 
At any rate, I do think it's between Irwin and Cole as the best fullbacks of the PL era.

I'd probably pick Cole, but it's fine margins.

I'd have Cafu, Carlos, Zanetti and Maldini over either of them though.
 
B20 said:
At any rate, I do think it's between Irwin and Cole as the best fullbacks of the PL era.

I'd probably pick Cole, but it's fine margins.

I'd have Cafu, Carlos, Zanetti and Maldini over either of them though.
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The only things Cole was better at were self promotion and hiding the mobile phone ;)

Irwin was far better at defending than Cole and while there was none of the "look at me" swagger of Cole when he went forward he had a far better end product be it a cross or a shot. Would have been our main penalty taker but for Cantona and our main free kick taker but for Beckham.



He couldn't help it that he looked like an accountant and was so consistent that people forgot he was even there. The goal against Wimbledon around the minute mark in there is sublime, had it been Giggs or Ronaldo it would be replayed still.
 
B20 said:
I recall thinking that it's unbelievable how such an experienced player could make such a trivial mistake.

The rule about kicking the ball away was relatively new at the time, but still. Don't recall the decision being controversial.
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8:15 here. You'll see that it was a completely farcical decision.

Liverpool also got a nothing penalty in that game.
 
As a footballer, Irwin is better. But as a left back, Cole is a bit better imho.
 
B20 said:
The whistle had already gone. I don't think he's got much excuse.
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Seriously? He got past a challenge and knocked a short pass to a teammate. A second after the whistle. Do you honestly think he was wasting time or acting petulant?

It was a ridiculous sending off and you know it. Even more stupid than the Van Persie red in the Camp Nou.
 
Do you think he could hear the whistle and be sure it was Elleray's given all that noise? It's not like crowds don't whistle to try and influence play either. I know they say play to the whistle, but most play for a few seconds until it's clear others around them are pulling up.. As for carding him for kicking the ball away :wenger:, I fail to see how playing a pass to a teammate is kicking the ball away, it's playing on when you don't realise the play has been halted.
 
B20 said:
The whistle had already gone. I don't think he's got much excuse.
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If you look at how little the ball had gone over the line, how close to the whistle it was that he kicked it and how quick the ball is returned, its a joke of a decision.
 
Elleray was such a bad referee. I mean, we laugh at what we have now but the man was farcical :lol:
 
I agree...irwin knew what he was doing....honestly dont think it was worth a second yellow card but it was a silly thing to do
 
Ashley Cole has been the best full back I've seen in this league. Admittedly, I don't really remember much of Irwin.

People like to diminish the 'Golden Generation', but there is no doubting their individual class. Cole has been a phenomenal defender over the years.
 
Kag said:
Ashley Cole has been the best full back I've seen in this league. Admittedly, I don't really remember much of Irwin.

People like to diminish the 'Golden Generation', but there is no doubting their individual class. Cole has been a phenomenal defender over the years.
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Irwin was better
 
savais said:
I agree...irwin knew what he was doing....honestly dont think it was worth a second yellow card but it was a silly thing to do
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He didnt at all, he was running full pelt and the pass after the whistle looked completely instinctive.

Nothing like the normal yellow for kicking a ball away.
 
Flandall Ragg said:
Irwin was better
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Possibly, however, I can't quite shake the feeling that only a United fan would think so. Cole, on the other hand, is universally agreed upon as probably the best full back of his generation. Was Irwin held in the same regard through the mid 90's? Just curious, here.
 
Kag said:
Possibly, however, I can't quite shake the feeling that only a United fan would think so. Cole, on the other hand, is universally agreed upon as probably the best full back of his generation. Was Irwin held in the same regard through the mid 90's? Just curious, here.
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By who? And yes he was always considered best full back in the league.
 
Flandall Ragg said:
By who? And yes he was always considered best full back in the league.
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Well, I'm only going off my what strikes me as the general feeling - it's subjective, I know. I've always been given the impression that Cole has been regarded as one of the best, most consistent full backs in the game for a good decade. Personally, I can't think of a full back from that generation I'd pick instead.
 
Cole is right up there. But no chance did he reach the level and consistency Irwin reached between 92 and 99.
 
Hardly made any mistake in his time here, he was probably the most consistence and reliable player I've ever seen.
 
Isotope said:
As a footballer, Irwin is better. But as a left back, Cole is a bit better imho.
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Agree with this. I'd prefer Cole in a one-on-one battle with a top winger and his covering pace was invaluable in sweeping the defence. Never really rated him as a ball-player though, he was quick, nimble and adept at linking play up the flank. But Irwin had more refined delivery and made up for any physical limitations (compared to Cole/Carlos for example) with a lot of defensive nous. Definitely the standout pair of full-backs in the Premiership era.
 
Great player. Bargain buy. Leeds wanted to buy him in 92 but we kept him whilst nabbing Cantona on the same call. Love that he is still involved with the club and a proper transfer muppet.

Best PL LB of his era. Not quite Paolo Maldini who for me would have been top LB in the World during Irwin's time.
 
Bloody brilliant. He had no obvious weaknesses. We'd kill for his like again.
 
Very good player for us. (Though I can't help feeling he's been a little overrated in hindsight, people sometimes talk about him like he was an all-time great)
 
A very late developer. He only joined United when he was 24 and had only ever played in the old second division.

He turned out to be a world class FB in the end. He was quality the year of the treble.
 
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