RedCafe's top 20 Manchester United players of all-time results

[711]

George Best is the best player ever. But everyone sees the game differently.

As someone who loves playing football, he is the one player I'd love to have on my team.

He's the player I'd love to have been.

 

[Rood]

1. Cristiano Ronaldo-1012
2. Paul Scholes-866
3. Ryan Giggs-782
4. George Best-763
5. Eric Cantona-710
6. Bobby Charlton-656
7. Roy Keane-555
8. Bryan Robson-408
9. Peter Schmeichel-341
10. Duncan Edwards-235
11. Denis Law-215
12. Wayne Rooney-119
13. Rio Ferdinand-113
14. David Beckham-104
15. Ruud Van Nistelrooy-100
16. Dennis Irwin-60
17. Edwin Van Der Sar-25
18. Gary Neville-19
19. Norman Whiteside-12
19. Paul McGrath-12

good job Cheesy - out of interest, which players just missed out?

 

[Cheesy]

good job Cheesy - out of interest, which players just missed out?

Vidic finished with 11 points; he was closest to getting in. Coppell got 10 points too.

 

[Cheesy]

To be honest though there weren't that many who really 'missed out' as I overestimated the diversity in voting. I've learned though and the new current players thread will do much better due to top 20s being allowed.

 

[Badunk]

He's the player I'd love to have been.

That, too.

 

[Denis' cuff]

I guess I go back to the question I posed in the voting thread. Did anyone who saw Best play live not place him first (or second if they were old enough to recall Edwards as well).

To me, Best really was all that - up there with Maradona, ahead of Cruyff and the like - and indeed ahead of Charlton and Law. Globally, he was denied the recognition that a WC could have brought but watching him, you knew you were seeing an extraordinary player. Almost a once in a lifetime player.

Almost, because if Ronaldo had stuck around for longer then perhaps he could have matched him and almost, because I remain an optimist that I'll see another one.

Interesting comparisons Jo. Agree, Best was up there with the elite; di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, probably Messi. and certainly ahead of Charlton, Law, Ronaldo, who for me were a tier below the absolute cream.

Charlton was consistently brilliant on an international stage, European competition and obviously domestically. I feel a bit rotten not putting him right up there but there we are. Not to denigrate Giggs but he really isn't even in touching distance of Bobby, who was consistently brilliant at the highest level for years. Giggs has had a great career but has only sporadically touched the heights of some of those and is 3rd tier for me. Same with Keane - probably the Oirish thing on here. Big Dunc has to be right nr the top so I would probably put him just behind George in 2nd - largely because I never saw him and so little footage exists.

Is it not a bit disingenuous to call Charlton a midfielder? I thought he generally played as an inside-forward, and played on the wing just as often as he played as a midfielder? Not that that takes away from his record in anyway, nor does it change Mockney's point...just curious how the older ones would see him. Was he like a Lampard who burst forward from deep, a #10 who drifted all over like Cantona or a supporting forward like Rooney?

yep - definitely an inside forward or was sometimes referred to as a deep-lying cf in his latter years when he was at his best. Rooney's movement and the way he roams reminds me very much of Bobby but Bobby had a bit more flair and lovely graceful movemet and less aggression. That goal vs Mexico typifies him so much (not that he did that every week and was capable of putting it in rowZ) he would almost lazily move forward swaying one way or another and then he had an explosive pace to just go up a couple of gears and ...bang. Most would probably agree he was wasted in his early years on the wing.

 

[Denis' cuff]

surprised (or maybe not) Martin Buchan doesn't feature.

These lists are a bit hard. It's no wonder people disagree when I can't even fookin well agree with myself. You make a list and have another look at it, then change it.

1 George
2 Big Dunc
3 Sir Robert


The rest is too hard.

 

[SharkyMcShark]

I think this is more an indictment of the "I will only vote for players I've seen" attitude that you see a lot in these 'all time best' polls. No one can seriously think that Ronaldo is better than Best

 

[Cheesy]

Since this is done make sure to vote in the current footballers thread. Been a slow start in there so all votes would be appreciated.