Redcafe's favourite Manchester United players.

Duncan Edwards.... so many plaudits. One I read recently which was news to me - in the 1957 European Player of the Year poll, Duncan (aged 20) came THIRD!!

He came behind Di Stefano (fair play..... at that point) and Billy Wright but ahead of Raymond Kopa, John Charles, Tommy Taylor, Lev Yashin, Gento, Blanchflower, Stanley Matthews :eek:

My Dad watched United through the 50's and 60's and said Duncan Edwards was as good as anything he ever saw including The Holy Trinity.

21... he'd have been 29 in 1966 (WC) and only 31 in 1968 (our EC win).... "what if" eh? :(
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
Duncan Edwards.... so many plaudits. One I read recently which was news to me - in the 1957 European Player of the Year poll, Duncan (aged 20) came THIRD!!

He came behind Di Stefano (fair play..... at that point) and Billy Wright but ahead of Raymond Kopa, John Charles, Tommy Taylor, Lev Yashin, Gento, Blanchflower, Stanley Matthews :eek:

My Dad watched United through the 50's and 60's and said Duncan Edwards was as good as anything he ever saw including The Holy Trinity.

21... he'd have been 29 in 1966 (WC) and only 31 in 1968 (our EC win).... "what if" eh? :(
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I dare say had it been different then it would have been a regular occurrence for us by that point.
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
Duncan Edwards.... so many plaudits. One I read recently which was news to me - in the 1957 European Player of the Year poll, Duncan (aged 20) came THIRD!!

He came behind Di Stefano (fair play..... at that point) and Billy Wright but ahead of Raymond Kopa, John Charles, Tommy Taylor, Lev Yashin, Gento, Blanchflower, Stanley Matthews :eek:

My Dad watched United through the 50's and 60's and said Duncan Edwards was as good as anything he ever saw including The Holy Trinity.

21... he'd have been 29 in 1966 (WC) and only 31 in 1968 (our EC win).... "what if" eh? :(
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Yeah, it's also one of the arguments I love to use while discussing his real level. He is, at the same time, over- and underrated. Some people want to think that it was only his potential that set him apart, but he already played 150 games for us and came thirteen in 1956 Ballon D'Or vote (aged 20) and 3rd in 1957 (not ahead of Kopa though, they have the same amount of votes)

One of the biggest "what if" in the history of football, really. It's entirely possible that England wouldn't have won the World Cup with him present, or we the EC in 1968, but it's not likely - he probably would've led both his country and club to more victories
 
Top Ten starts today, but first a look back at how we got here. (As requested by @RaptorSlo)

56.Anderson
56.Crerand
56. Gregg
56.Rossi
56. Shaw
56. Sherringham
56. Stapleton
56. Tevez
50. Herrera
50. Martial
50. O'Shea
50. Pallister
50. Rafael
50. Schweinsteiger
48. Di Maria
48. Mata
45.Saha
45. Sharpe
45. Strachan
44. Yorke
42.Petrucci
42. Smith
39. Coppell
39. Kagawa
39.Nani
36.Buchan
36. Taylor
36.Valencia
34.Chicarito
34.Viollet
32.Van Persie
32. Whiteside
30. Carrick
30. McGrath
29.Berbatov
28. Kanchelskis
27. Bruce
26. Stam
25. Park
24.VDS
23. Cole
22.Hughes
21. Irwin
20. De Gea
19. Neville
18. Solskjaer
17. Rooney
16. Evra
15. Vidic
14. Edwards
13. Nistelrooy
12. Law
11.Ferdinand
 
Ferdinand would have needed another three number 1 appearances on the list to crack the top ten. In the top ten itself there is a massive gap of at least 60/70 points for every position, so it's relatively straightforward who RedCafe appreciates the most, with only the difference between fifth and fourth being relatively close.

Number Ten coming up...
 
A shame that Stiles isn't on this list. Arguably our most important player (with Crerand) after the holy trinity in the sixties United vintage. Strangely endearing too, despite being a notorious hard man.
 
10. David Beckham.
10. David Beckham
236 points
i

Premier League Appearances - 237 (28)
Overall Appearances - 356 (38)
Premier League Goals - 62
Overall Goals - 85
Position - Right Midfielder

Some of you on this website reading this forum right now would not be here, would not be a Manchester United fan and would not even waste your time with this whole football malarkey without David Beckham. An entire generation of football fans call Beckham their favourite, there's a group of twenty something males in Engnd who can track their life based on the midfielder's hairstyles. (Is there anyone brave enough to admit they tried his mohawk?) He is an absolute icon of the game and one of the most popular footballers ever.

It all started in front of 16,649 fans on September 23rd 1992. Manchester United made the 200 mile trip to Brighton to take part in a League Cup second round game. Beckham had to settle for a place on the bench that day, however with 20 minutes left, Ferguson would tell Beckham to get ready, it was time for his debut. "I was so excited I bounced up of my seat and crack: I hit my head on the dugout" Beckham would later recall, his youthful exuberance didn't make much of a mark that night, but he had fulfilled a childhood dream of playing for Manchester United.

After this Beckham signed a professional contract with Manchester United in January 1993. His reserve exploits with players like Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes had made a name for the young London based midfielder and many clubs tried to sign David Beckham on loan. He would go to Preston on loan for a short period in the 1994/1995 season, before being recalled for the latter part of the season making his Premier League debut for the club in a game against Leeds United. Although the 1994/1995 season would end in disappointment for the Red Devils as they failed to win a trophy, David Beckham would start to establish himself in the first team and would make over ten appearances for Manchester United by the end of the season.

After the end of the 1994/95 season Sir Alex Ferguson made the unusual step of letting numerous first team players leave (Kanchelskis, Ince and Hughes) and didn't sign anyone to replace them. However, Fergie's massive faith in his young players was justified as United won a league and cup double. David Beckham established himself as United's right midfielder, playing forty times for Manchester United that season, and setting up a winning goal for Eric Cantona in the FA Cup final.

Beckham continued to play regularly for Manchester United and his work ethic and fabulous crossing ability meant that he had become a first team fixture at United at this point. However, his rise to stardom was quickened when facing Wimbledon in August 1996, when in the 90th minute of a match he noticed Neil Sullivan off his line and managed to lob him from inside his own half. That season would see Beckham be named PFA Young Player of the year and he would help Manchester United win the Premier League once again.

There was one more final piece to the puzzle and it came in 1997 after Eric Cantona's shock retirement. After the United legend retired, the coveted number seven shirt come up for grabs, and there was only one candidate who could truly carry the weight of the shirt. Nowadays David Beckham is known affectionately as DB7, but he only got this shirt almost five years after his first appearance in the Manchester United red.

There are so many great David Beckham moments at the club that this post could easily be twenty times as long. The clubs historic Champions League win in 1999 will be forever remembered by the club, and United's two last minute goals came courtesy of David Beckham corners. His accuracy with free kicks, corners and crossing meant that he would have incredible assissts through his Manchester United career, (my personal favourite, a peach of a first time cross for Dwight Yorke to head in at Anfield) and his goal scoring record wasn't bad as well.

Overall in his time at the club, David Beckham would win six Premier League trophies (he was only a first team regular for eight seasons at the club) a Champions League medal and Two FA Cups. It is a shame he didn't stay longer and really cement his legacy, and I think the only reason he is relatively low on this list is because unfortunately he doesn't have the longevity of other people higher up this list. Nevertheless a true legend of Manchester United football club and a player who will live long in the memory.
 
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Joga Bonito said:
A shame that Stiles isn't on this list. Arguably our most important player (with Crerand) after the holy trinity in the sixties United vintage. Strangely endearing too, despite being a notorious hard man.
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Yeah, there was some really big names left out of the list. Shows how many legends we have. Foulkes made almost 700 appearances for the club and isn't in the list!
 
anant said:
I demand a recount by combat:p! There is no way he doesn't feature in top 10!!!
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Its weird because i'd have him outside the top 50. Played during our first lull of the prem era and was a bit of a prick by all accounts. Never took to him really.

Obviously a great player but i never liked him. The opposite of welbeck in many ways!
 
nokillingmoths said:
Its weird because i'd have him outside the top 50. Played during our first lull of the prem era and was a bit of a prick by all accounts. Never took to him really.

Obviously a great player but i never liked him. The opposite of welbeck in many ways!
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You didn't like Ruud? Of all my friends who are Utd fans, everyone loved him
 
nokillingmoths said:
Its weird because i'd have him outside the top 50. Played during our first lull of the prem era and was a bit of a prick by all accounts. Never took to him really.

Obviously a great player but i never liked him. The opposite of welbeck in many ways!
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The same. Not really outside top 50, but definitely a lot lower. Great player that I liked, but definitely not ahead of the likes of Evra, Vidic, Irwin, Ole etc...
 
Twigginater said:
I have to admit, he was a great player but wouldn't get in my personal top thirty players I've seen...
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I love players who are consistent. Ruud was possibly the most consistent striker I've seen(Although I was born in the 90s so I've not seen a lot of Batistuta, and don't remember a lot of Ronaldo at his peak/at his Barcelona and Serie A days), so I love that guy
 
anant said:
I love players who are consistent. Ruud was possibly the most consistent striker I've seen(Although I was born in the 90s so I've not seen a lot of Batistuta, and don't remember a lot of Ronaldo at his peak/at his Barcelona and Serie A days), so I love that guy
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One thing that holds him back is the exceptional football we played right after he was dropped with Saha up front. I remember thinking he was a great fantastic poacher but someone who maybe held others back at the time.
 
Twigginater said:
One thing that holds him back is the exceptional football we played right after he was dropped with Saha up front. I remember thinking he was a great fantastic poacher but someone who maybe held others back at the time.
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Fair Enough. Not many thought We'd win the league in 06/07 after we sold him, but we were exceptional that season. But to be fair to him, our defence during that time wasn't that good and we were getting top 2-3 finishes due to his goals
 
Twigginater said:
One thing that holds him back is the exceptional football we played right after he was dropped with Saha up front. I remember thinking he was a great fantastic poacher but someone who maybe held others back at the time.
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Yeah we were pretty one dimensional with him up top. I was quite pleased when we sold him really. Fantastic player for us, but i never think back to when he played, and hold players like Saha with much more fondness. Weird i know.
 
nokillingmoths said:
Yeah we were pretty one dimensional with him up top. I was quite pleased when we sold him really. Fantastic player for us, but i never think back to when he played, and hold players like Saha with much more fondness. Weird i know.
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I'm pretty much the same...

I'd also have Beckham nowhere near my top ten, but recognise how good he was.
 
Twigginater said:
I'm pretty much the same...

I'd also have Beckham nowhere near my top ten, but recognise how good he was.
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Ah you see now we differ. I love that man as much as my fiancè. Was devastated when he left.

Not sure if i actually put him in my top 10 though... ha.
 
nokillingmoths said:
Ah you see now we differ. I love that man as much as my fiancè. Was devastated when he left.

Not sure if i actually put him in my top 10 though... ha.
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If you love him as much as your fiancé, and there's ten people you love more than him from Man United....

your poor future wife. ;)
 
Twigginater said:
10. David Beckham
236 points
i

Premier League Appearances - 237 (28)
Overall Appearances - 356 (38)
Premier League Goals - 62
Overall Goals - 85
Position - Right Midfielder

Some of you on this website reading this forum right now would not be here, would not be a Manchester United fan and would not even waste your time with this whole football malarkey without David Beckham. An entire generation of football fans call Beckham their favourite, there's a group of twenty something males in Engnd who can track their life based on the midfielder's hairstyles. (Is there anyone brave enough to admit they tried his mohawk?) He is an absolute icon of the game and one of the most popular footballers ever.

It all started in front of 16,649 fans on September 23rd 1992. Manchester United made the 200 mile trip to Brighton to take part in a League Cup second round game. Beckham had to settle for a place on the bench that day, however with 20 minutes left, Ferguson would tell Beckham to get ready, it was time for his debut. "I was so excited I bounced up of my seat and crack: I hit my head on the dugout" Beckham would later recall, his youthful exuberance didn't make much of a mark that night, but he had fulfilled a childhood dream of playing for Manchester United.

After this Beckham signed a professional contract with Manchester United in January 1993. His reserve exploits with players like Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes had made a name for the young London based midfielder and many clubs tried to sign David Beckham on loan. He would go to Preston on loan for a short period in the 1994/1995 season, before being recalled for the latter part of the season making his Premier League debut for the club in a game against Leeds United. Although the 1994/1995 season would end in disappointment for the Red Devils as they failed to win a trophy, David Beckham would start to establish himself in the first team and would make over ten appearances for Manchester United by the end of the season.

After the end of the 1994/95 season Sir Alex Ferguson made the unusual step of letting numerous first team players leave (Kanchelskis, Ince and Hughes) and didn't sign anyone to replace them. However, Fergie's massive faith in his young players was justified as United won a league and cup double. David Beckham established himself as United's right midfielder, playing forty times for Manchester United that season, and setting up a winning goal for Eric Cantona in the FA Cup final.

Beckham continued to play regularly for Manchester United and his work ethic and fabulous crossing ability meant that he had become a first team fixture at United at this point. However, his rise to stardom was quickened when facing Wimbledon in August 1997, when in the 90th minute of a match he noticed Neil Sullivan off his line and managed to lob him from inside his own half. That season would see Beckham be named PFA Young Player of the year and he would help Manchester United win the Premier League once again.

There was one more final piece to the puzzle and it came in 1997 after Eric Cantona's shock retirement. After the United legend retired, the coveted number seven shirt come up for grabs, and there was only one candidate who could truly carry the weight of the shirt. Nowadays David Beckham is known affectionately as DB7, but he only got this shirt almost five years after his first appearance in the Manchester United red.

There are so many great David Beckham moments at the club that this post could easily be twenty times as long. The clubs historic Champions League win in 1999 will be forever remembered by the club, and United's two last minute goals came courtesy of David Beckham corners. His accuracy with free kicks, corners and crossing meant that he would have incredible assissts through his Manchester United career, (my personal favourite, a peach of a first time cross for Dwight Yorke to head in at Anfield) and his goal scoring record wasn't bad as well.

Overall in his time at the club, David Beckham would win six Premier League trophies (he was only a first team regular for eight seasons at the club) a Champions League medal and Two FA Cups. It is a shame he didn't stay longer and really cement his legacy, and I think the only reason he is relatively low on this list is because unfortunately he doesn't have the longevity of other people higher up this list. Nevertheless a true legend of Manchester United football club and a player who will live long in the memory.
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:drool: had it all, rare combination of skill, hard working and passion.
Btw the Wimbledon goal was in 1996, no?
 
I love Ruud, if we hadn't been a bit in transition back then than his already impressive goal scoring record would have been even better.
 
Thanks for the recap. Easier to see who was left out this way.

Surprised someone like Butt didn't even get one vote. Sure he was mostly just a backup midfielder, but still a great contributor to a great team.
 
Twigginater said:
When I was researching him I just watched as much as I could on Youtube.

I really like this video, it's amazing.

, have a look at a lot of players on the list.
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My god, watching that video reminded me that there's a tour guide at OT to this very day (unless he's died in the last few months) who's watched every United match at OT since 1948. Incredible.
 
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