Ole, when he was at the wheel...........
Our greatest ever “short term flings”
- Thread starter IRELANDUNITED
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If OP is putting Hererra with 5 year and Varane with 3 then I'm going Cantona and Stam.
I didn't think Larsson was that good at the time but I know Fergie loved him. Louis Saha gets a lot of praise for changing the way we played after Ruud left, and while we all know he was often injured he was fit and on the bench for a lot of Larsson's starts with Fergie preferring Henrik.
I didn't think Larsson was that good at the time but I know Fergie loved him. Louis Saha gets a lot of praise for changing the way we played after Ruud left, and while we all know he was often injured he was fit and on the bench for a lot of Larsson's starts with Fergie preferring Henrik.
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and zlatan and edi
Club should u-turn and offer Varane a one-year extension. Yes, gets injured but oozed class on Saturday. Foden and Halaand didn't get a look in
Larry White.
Zlatan. Over a decade too late unfortunately.
RVP, Larsson, Ibra, Cavani.
That's the sad one because his time here was short due to a horrific injury.
For those that don't know him, he joined in the early 70s and looked amazing. I'd look up classic games for Best, Law and Charlton, and I'd see him in some of them and he looked just as good. Sometimes even better! Granted, this was past the Holy Trinitys peaks, but that was still some achievement, in my opinion.
I really didn't know of him until I started watching classic games and it's a shame he's kinda forgotten about because he was incredibly talented. I'm not saying he would've reached Holy Trinity Balon d'Or levels, but I think he would've gone down as a fantastic player for us had he not suffered that injury.
My first thought. Never seen a player slot in so effortlessly. Him and Rooney were on each other’s wavelength instantly.
The Larsson one is always weird. I love his little cameo. But he only played ten times I think? Two goals was it?
It’s painted as a stroke of genius by Fergie and there’s a little in that. He added instant quality at a tricky period from what I remember. But I don’t remember his goals being that important. Did he have a winner in there anyway?
Regardless, the football romantic in me loved it of course. Wish he could have stayed.
It’s painted as a stroke of genius by Fergie and there’s a little in that. He added instant quality at a tricky period from what I remember. But I don’t remember his goals being that important. Did he have a winner in there anyway?
Regardless, the football romantic in me loved it of course. Wish he could have stayed.
Despite his rough start, I loved Blancs two season stint. Looked like the oldest and slowest player on the planet for his first handful of matches but really put in some solid and classy performances in his time here. Brought on a few younger players too.
Casemiro last season, was a lot of comparisons to the likes of Cantona and Keane. But it was a ‘short fling’ that turned into a tempestuous relationship with everyone now wanting rid.
Good shout. Far too much criticism when he was here.
Too many Larsson and Smith comments for my liking. Smith was just “ok”, no special qualities except running (unless late fouls on defenders counts as a quality). Larsson was an exciting loan at the time, but he didn’t play as well as some people want to remember him.
John Fitzpatrick I remember from the late 60's and early 70's, cracking player. Not sure if he fits into the parameters for this thread, as he was at Old Trafford for 10 years, but only played 117 times, before injury curtailed his career.
Fact: Fitzpatrick was United's first ever substitute, he replaced Denis Law in a match in 1965.
Fitzpatrick passed away in 2020, RIP John.
Fact: Fitzpatrick was United's first ever substitute, he replaced Denis Law in a match in 1965.
Fitzpatrick passed away in 2020, RIP John.
Can't believe no-one has mentioned William Prunier
if 3 years constitutes a short term fling I need to reassess my previous relationships.
3 in 13.
Premier League - the 3rd in a 4-0 win vs. Watford.
CL last 16 - United 1-0 Lille in the 81st minute. We'd won the away leg 1-0 too.
FA Cup 3rd round - the opener in a 2-1 win vs. Villa. They equalised, Solskjaer got the winner in injury-time.
Same for me.
Cavani for that post February 2021 period where he was carrying the team.
Fair. Poor memory. As I said, I knew I loved his time here. But it does seem a little over-egged. I’d not realised that two of the three were meaningful. Top player though. Remember being annoyed that he wouldn’t/couldn’t stay because of a promise he’d made.
Andy Goram.
Fergie's thing for Scotsmen
Fergie's thing for Scotsmen
In terms of goals he wasn't all that but we struggled a bit with Saha out and him coming in relieved us a bit instantly. Was a very solid foil for Rooney and Ronaldo One of the weirdest moves we have made in the transfer market, but also one of the best short-term.
Might not have taken to our club instantly, but he has always spoken highly of our fans, citing instant love from his debut match against Bournemouth. Also in typical Ibra fashion: "I'm not saying this to kiss ass, they were amazing"
Wout Weghorst
Definitely Les Sealey as previously mentioned.
Owen Hargreaves.
I’ll cheat slightly and include Mark Robins.
Owen Hargreaves.
I’ll cheat slightly and include Mark Robins.
Came here to say this. The very short time we had him was good fun. A Celtic legend. Great skill and movement.
Cavani and Ibra. Love that they both played for the club. Years too late unfortunately.
Blomqvist. Only proper season and he won a treble. Thought he was a really classy winger.
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Cavani was something. His performances in the Europa League alone were gripping.
I’d have to say Jaap Stam. Seems short enough? The greatest manager of all time in hindsight admits it was a mistake moving him on.
I’d have to say Jaap Stam. Seems short enough? The greatest manager of all time in hindsight admits it was a mistake moving him on.
William Prunier, what a player.
Can we say Hargreaves?
Forlan
Blanc
Larsson
Zlatan
Veron
Poborsky
Pique doesn't qualify, still almost feels like he was here less than 12 months.
Blanc
Larsson
Zlatan
Veron
Poborsky
Pique doesn't qualify, still almost feels like he was here less than 12 months.
Valdes was pretty good for those two games iirc
Someday we'll look back at our LVG/Woodward era and laugh about it because otherwise it'll be tears.
Someday we'll look back at our LVG/Woodward era and laugh about it because otherwise it'll be tears.
Goram is the first that springs to mind. He thought it was Coisty on the wind up when he got the call.
I was there for his debut. Was sad when he left alright.
Of course Larsson. His relationship with Rooney, if memory serves, was quite something. How many matches did he play? Can't have been that many.
But I'll go with Rangnick. I didn't enjoy the football, nor the results, but hearing him talk about how mismanaged this club was and how unsuited the squad was for the expectations put forth felt cathartic.
But I'll go with Rangnick. I didn't enjoy the football, nor the results, but hearing him talk about how mismanaged this club was and how unsuited the squad was for the expectations put forth felt cathartic.
Pique definitely counts! He was very good in the 2-1 game against Arsenal in 2008 where we effectively ended their chance at the title, which earns him a shout alone! That Hargreaves free kick as well
Never played another game for us after 26/05/99, remains a legend all the same. Something packed up in his knees, he had so much more to give.
Yes, he does count in my opinion. Rather than what his actual contract said, in practice he was like a star that was exceptionally bright and faded quickly as injuries took their toll.
I’m still amazed at SAF's scouting & selection ability, giving RVP the number 20 shirt with the seemingly psychic ability to say that this guy is going to be the catalyst for our 20th League win.
I think he's quite a complex character, he's a lot more emotional than you'd think and is almost method acting as this 'Zlatan' persona.
He's also very altruistic but is protective of his privacy.