Fergie’s Ultimate Premier League Team – Our Picks
Features, News | Harry | December 7, 2009 at 1:46 pm
As we approach the end of another decade of United dominance in the English game, with 6 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup titles, a Champions League trophy and even the Club World Cup, I thought it would be a good idea to look back at the United team in the Premier League era.
Since The Premier League began in 1992, United fans have been blessed with seeing numerous world class players grace the pitch at Old Trafford.
From imported icons like Peter Schmeichel and Eric Cantona, to academy graduates like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, United have never been short of talented stars.
The question is – How do you fit them all into one team without leaving anyone out. The answer is, as I have found, with great difficulty. Even after great thought, I have still had to omit some of United’s best Premier League performers.
Schmeichel
Neville Bruce Stam Evra
Beckham Scholes Giggs
Cantona Ronaldo Rooney
Subs:
Van Der Sar, Pallister, Vidic, Keane, Butt, Van Nistelrooy, Yorke.
I know that there will probably be loads of people out there that don’t agree with my selection, so I thought I’d have a go at trying to justify myself.
Firstly, I don’t think anyone can argue with my choice of goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel was by far and away the number one choice. The Great Dane was the best keeper in the world during his time at Old Trafford, and despite recent impressive performances from Edwin Van Der Sar, he was the only choice.
In defence, the likes of Neville and Stam were chosen on the back of impressive performances in the late 90’s, particularly during United’s epic treble winning season in 1999. Steve Bruce was chosen simply because he was the rock at the heart of the defence as United established their dominance in the Premier League’s early years. Patrice Evra may seem like a strange choice given that he has only been in the United side for three years, but his performances in that time and the fact that I couldn’t think of any alternatives that offered the same versatility as he does, meant that he earned his place.
In my eyes, there was no question of who to pick in midfield. The triumvirate of Beckham, Scholes and Giggs was central to United’s glory years at the end of the 90’s and beginning of this century. The only notable absentee is Roy Keane, United’s talismanic captain throughout their Premiership domination. This may seem like a pretty massive omission but it is for good reason. There were simply too many attacking options to choose from that I had to change the formation to a 4-3-3, and for me Keane was the one to go from United’s treble winners.
Lastly, in attack, Cantona, Ronaldo and Rooney. I don’t think anyone can argue with the inclusion of Cantona, his sheer presence and utter genius make him one of the first names on the teamsheet. Some may question my decision to pick Ronaldo as the focal point in attack, but the thing is you can’t argue with 84 goals in 196 appearances, from what was essentially a midfielder. My final pick was Wayne Rooney. Undoubtedly one of the most naturally gifted English players of all time, he had to be included in my United eleven. His all-action performances, eye for goal and awareness on the pitch make him a definite inclusion for me.
So, what do you think of my selection? Is this truly United’s best Premiership eleven or do you think that you can do better?
By Harry Veal
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lol.any team HAS to have keano in it!
I love Evra, he’s great… but in an all-time eleven there is no way he can keep out Denis Irwin. Maybe in three or four years and after he adds to his goal scoring stats he might stand a chance, but Irwin was almost the perfect player for his position.
I agree with Bossdem, no Keano is madness and you have noone who can tackle in the front 6.
I’d have right to left, Schmeichel, G.Neville, Stam, Rio, Evra, Ronaldo, Keane (C), Scholes, Giggs, Cantona, Van Nistelrooy.
Evra over Irwin, in that as much as Irwin was a superb defender, Evra is quite possibly the best in the world at his position, something Irwin never was. Rio/Stam combination has everything, Stam a much better player than Bruce or Pally I’m afraid and again Rio falls in the best players in the world in his position bracket before this season. Midfield doesn’t really need too much explanation. Cantona a genius, leader and figurehead and RVN’s goal scoring record is quite simply phenomenal. Rooney may edge out Cantona in time but not yet.
Subs: VDS, Irwin, Vidic, Beckham, Robson (Nicky Butt?!! Ahead of Captain fantastic?!!) Rooney and Solskjaer.
Simply CANNOT leave keane out. teams would walk through your midfield as there’s no defensive backbone to it. the reason scholes flourished so brilliantly was because keane mopped up EVERYthing. becks out and ronnie on to the right. i understand evra decision but i’d still go with irwin, he never has a bad game and only ever missed 1 penalty for utd. it seems you didn’t put as much thought as u shud have into it.
Schmeichel
Neville Stam Rio Iwin
Ronaldo Keane Scholes Giggs
Cantona
Rooney
BENCH:
VDS Evra Bruce Vidic Becks Robson Van Nistlerooy
I kind of realised after i posted it that my team was maybe a little too attacking and probably did lack the defensive backbone Keane would bring.
“LoneWolf” – the reason i chose Butt on the bench instead of Robson is because Robson was only in the Premier League with United for 2 years, whereas Butt was at the club for 12 years during the Premier League era. Thats why I picked him, although i agree that if my eleven wasnt just limited to the Premier League then Robson would have been in the team instead.
Also, I will try and do a Utd team for the past decade during this month so if people have ideas then post them on here or on the facebook group and i’ll try and do a better job of it this time. I promise Keane will be in the side this time.
I can see your reasoning, but my kind of take on it is to pick the best players available rather than longevity e.g. Evra over Irwin, Robson over Butt, Stam only made 79 appearances for United but is a better defender than the other players available in the premier league era like Bruce and Pally who were at United far longer. Robson was England and United captain and a fantastic player when fit, Butt was a good holding midfielder but not in the same league as a Robson.
Yeah I see your point, perhaps my decision making process was a little off with that. It should be more straightforward picking a team for the last decade, with the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney.
On a positive note, at least I managed to create some debate and get people talking, even if it was to rip my selection apart
I agree with the majority of the team, but I would definitely have Vna Nistelrooy in there – just look at his goalscoring record – it’s incredible. Here’s my team.
Schmeichel
Neville Stam Rio Iwin
Ronaldo Keane Scholes Giggs
Cantona
Rooney
I love Scholes but I wouldn’t have him in simply because of the other attacking talents we have had over the years. Cantona has to be in there – he was inspirational, as is Rooney, who you know will give 100% every game
Sorry about the last post, I copied and pasted from yours and forgot to make my changes!!!
My team would actually be:
Schmeichel
Neville Stam Ferdinand Irwin
Ronaldo Keane Giggs
Cantona Rooney
Van Nistelrooy