Who was the best PL player in the 90's?

Scandi Red

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In the other thread (top 3 PL players) there are 4 recurring names: Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney and Salah.

It's hard to disagree with any of those, but none of them are from the 90's. Henry joined Arsenal in the 99-00 season, but that's a bit too late to count him.

So, who was the best PL player in the 90's?

Giggs? Cantona? Beckham? Keane? Scholes? Schmeichel? Shearer? Vieira? Owen? Or perhaps someone else?
 
Shearer always gets criminally underrated in these and best of all time discussions maybe because of his longevity or because he chose to go to Newcastle over us. He was an insane player. We’d probably have won another 2 or 3 titles and CLs with him under Fergie.

For the 90’s for me it’s him, then Cantona, then hard to pick between Giggs and Keane for 3rd.
 
I don't really think you can rate any player as the best player because they all do different things so its not a completely fair comparison. I prefer best per position or area of the pitch.

Keeper would be Schmeichel or Seaman
Fullback I would pick Irwin or Winterburn
Centre back Adams or Pallister
Winger I would pick Giggs all day
Centre Mid Keane or Scholes
Striker has to be Shearer
 
Some strong contenders, but Cantona takes the #1 spot for me.

We'd have had 5 in a row if he hadn't kicked that muppet. Not to say he didn't deserve it, mind.
 
It's extremely hard to describe to someone who wasnt around at the time just what Cantona brought to Manchester United and the game of football.
He was influential, charismatic, talented etc but there was something more than that... an aura that tied in with a lot of cool things that were happening culturally at the time, in Manchester and beyond. Cantona was more than just a football player and he changed the course of United history. I wish he hadnt retired when he had. Another couple of years and he may well have won a World cup for France and led us to the treble.
 
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Shearer was the best player in the 90s and widely regarded so at the time. He was the most dominant and decisive player in the league for several years.

After that, it's probably Cantona and Bergkamp when you consider quality and impact, in whatever order is your preference.
 
It's clearly Shearer.

Then Cantona.
 
These aren’t going to be popular picks because of how they turned out but I was in awe of their skill and entertainment

Gazza & LeTissier

Not sure if have them first but they should be in the discussion
 
Shearer was scary good. It's out of him and Cantona.
 
Totally unbiased but.... A PL 90's XI would contain at least 8 United players right?
 
golden_blunder said:
These aren’t going to be popular picks because of how they turned out but I was in awe of their skill and entertainment

Gazza & LeTissier

Not sure if have them first but they should be in the discussion
Click to expand...

Gazza doesn’t really qualify as he left the league before the premier league started and I don’t think anyone thinks his Middlesbrough spell would put him up there. A case of what could have been if he’d stayed in England, especially with Fergie as manager.

Le Tiss has a decent argument for being in the top 5 premier league players of the 90s. Amazing talent. Hard to put him above the likes of Shearer, Cantona etc though.
 
portrushred said:
It's extremely hard to describe to someone who wasnt around at the time just what Cantona brought to Manchester United and the game of football.
He was influential, charismatic, talented etc but there was something more than that... an aura that tied in with a lot of cool things that were happening culturally at the time, in Manchester and beyond. Cantona was more than just a football player and he changed the course of United history. I wish he hadnt retired when he had. Another couple of years and he may well have won a World cup for France and led us to the treble.
Click to expand...
Very much so.
 
Eric, such a pivotal player in United's resurgence.
 
Doracle said:
Gazza doesn’t really qualify as he left the league before the premier league started and I don’t think anyone thinks his Middlesbrough spell would put him up there. A case of what could have been if he’d stayed in England, especially with Fergie as manager.

Le Tiss has a decent argument for being in the top 5 premier league players of the 90s. Amazing talent. Hard to put him above the likes of Shearer, Cantona etc though.
Click to expand...
Yeah fair re gazza

Le Tissier, first midfielder to score 100 goals in the PL.
ended up with more goals than most attackers

The quality of the goals, unbelievable

And all at Southampton
 
Cantona. The only time he didn’t win the league was when he couldn’t play.

He was strong, skillful, creative, a workhorse and he could score goals, all in the same player.

There was no one as complete as him and no one as influential as him in the history of the PL. Definitely the very best of the 90s for me.
 
Struggling to see how Shearer beats Cantona.

Cantona inspired Leeds to first title in 28 years. The following season he left and they didn’t win the league.
He came to United and won league first time in 26 years. Then inspired first ever double. Following season he got ban and we didn’t win league. 95/6 he return and we win second double. The season after league again….then retired and guess what…next season we didn’t win league.

In addition is indelible mark left on young players and example that carried forward for years…the bedrock for everything that follow.

Shearer won 1 trophy and scored goals.
 
Bergkamp (or Juninho) my favourite non Utd PL player to watch from the 90’s, him and Cantona would be the perfect foil for the wide forwards in a modern 4-3-3.
 
United split votes lead to it being Shearer clearly....
 
Cantona by a mile.

In the 90s you could go to any park in the country and there would be kids there playing football with their collar up. Nobody since has transcended the sport the way he did.
 
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