Man Utd - Best Squad Ever?

The Running Man · 8 Oct 2008 at 18:33

So, im a big man utd fan, although i have been critical of the current playing staff, current manager etc, despite some sucess over the last couple of years.

but when i sat down and really thought about it, THIS is probably our BEST EVER Squad.

for instance, the defensive roll we have

R.Ferdinand - £30 million, potential england captain
Vidic - as good as Rio but only cost 8 million
Evra - we have a history of good left backs, any recently as good as Evra?
GNeville - strong performer, does it week in week out when not injured long term

Plus we have Wes Brown, some youngersters and our Brazilians! Stronger than Stam Silvestre May, Berg, Neville imo

Then we have the midfield, worth some staggering amount of cash;

Hardgreaves - £18milion Great midfield driver
Carrick - £18 million not keen but as a squad player he's better than someone like Kleberson
Anderson - £18 million proespect to be awesome
Scholes - not as good as he was:/
Giggs - again not as good as he was,
Ronaldo - best player in world (TM)? better than giggs in his prime.
Nani - £12million, good young, better than other squad players we;ve had like Cruyf, Blomqvist
Park - workeraholic not great player but as good as C/Blomq
Fletcher - i dont like him, but again better than like Djemba etc

overall best man utd midfield squad ever?

Strike Force

Rooney - £30million the future of english football (TM) he's good
Tevez - £30million the argentine Wayne Rooney
Berbatov - £30million (im gonna get slated) as mercurial with the ball as Eric?

you could say RVN + Rooney+ Saha + old ole but as a 3 or 4 was that as good at the time as our combination now?

So man for man, some classic players may be older but we now have more effective ones and more quality cover in key positions. Sure our opponent quality has increased but that doesnt mean we should discount the overall quality we have in our team?

Any thoughts on that or am i alone?

utajoker · 8 Oct 2008 at 18:40

better than the 1999 squad?

The Running Man · 8 Oct 2008 at 18:43

i think so yes. im not saying that our first 11 is the best it has ever been but the squad as a whole yep.

semi-pro waster · 8 Oct 2008 at 18:47

utajoker said:
better than the 1999 squad?

They don't have Schmeichel and that is always going to be a big miss, certainly the best goalkeeper I've ever seen and probably in the top three all time. He alone won and drew matches that should have been lost. Then of course you've got Roy Keane who through sheer force of will (and not a little bit of skill) would dominate the midfield.

Individually (i.e. player for player) this might be the best squad but I'm not sure if they are as good as a team as some of the previous ones.

atpbx · 8 Oct 2008 at 18:56

Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs was better than anything we could hope to field now.

Anders0n · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:01

What's this a Man United forum now?!

Up next: Will the treble of 1999 ever be repeated?

DanH84 · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:02

as a squad then probably, some of the individuals aren't as mercurial though. oh and schmikes obviously.

DanH84 · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:05

Anders0n said:
What's this a Man United forum now?!

Up next: Will the treble of 1999 ever be repeated?

something to chat about i guess, though i guess the thread title could be changed to is this man utds best squad ever so neutrals don't click thinking someone is saying that utd have among the greatest squads ever fielded on a football field. or perhaps more interestingly we could discuss the greatest squad ever and how current squads compare to some of the classics not just united but any team.

Clown · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:07

What they pay for isn't what they're worth.

<== United fan (I'm Asian and I live nowhere near Manchester, what can I say)

nft_99 · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:10

As a squad not quite as good as 1999, the best?

fergie's double winners 93-94 best united team i have seen

semi-pro waster · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:12

Anders0n said:
What's this a Man United forum now?!

Up next: Will the treble of 1999 ever be repeated?

Apparantly Man Utd don't have as many supporters on here as your lot according to this. So you guys should use your numerical advantage (and the fact that none of the Dons/Admins is keen on them) to get topics you do want here.

Pigeon_Killer · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:12

Probably is the best squad you've ever had but it's a long way away from being your best team.

Take out Ronaldo and you struggle for creativity and goals.

atpbx said:
Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs was better than anything we could hope to field now.

The best and most balanced midfield I've ever seen.

Tom0 · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:15

1999 was the best squad/team imo.

elroberto · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:26

atpbx said:
Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs was better than anything we could hope to field now.

The most complete midfield four I think I'll ever witness. Beckham was awesome back then...and the other three were even better!

andi · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:32

It is probably the deepest, I noted the other day that we now actually have options on the bench and in the squad who can come in and perform.

Shamikebab · 8 Oct 2008 at 19:57

We have a great selection of keepers as well. None as great as Schmeichel obviously but still better than most clubs.

G|mp · 8 Oct 2008 at 20:08

andi said:
It is probably the deepest, I noted the other day that we now actually have options on the bench and in the squad who can come in and perform.

Ripper · 8 Oct 2008 at 20:10

Aye, when everyones fit there will be some good players who don't even make the bench (even with 7 subs). That didn't really happen in 94, 96 or 99.

red11 · 8 Oct 2008 at 20:12

atpbx said:
Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs was better than anything we could hope to field now.

x2

I don't think we realised how lucky we were at the time.

JamesU2005 · 8 Oct 2008 at 20:23

Great squad but not a great team at the moment, in my opinion.

Without Ronaldo, Man Utd are nowhere near as good as they could be. They need to gel more as a team when Ronaldo is missing.