To celebrate Sir Alex Ferguson's 25 years as Manchester United manager SkySports have been asking readers to vote for a best ever XI to play for Fergie during his tenure at Old Trafford.
You have been voting in your thousands but there were still a host of top players who missed the starting eleven.
Here are those that made the cut. Can you imagine the fees required to put that team together?
GK: Peter SchmeichelWe expected Edwin van der Sar to run him close but the great Dane was your unanimous choice between the posts. As a last line of defence Schmeichel will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
RB: Gary NevilleMr Manchester United was always going to be a shoo-in for the right-back berth. He's trying his best to be impartial on Sky Sports but it can't be long before he breaks out with a 'Gary Neville is a red, he hates...' chorus.
CB: Nemanja VidicThe big Serbian is one of only two members of the current United side to make the cut as he topped the votes at the polling stations. His importance to Sir Alex's side has most been noticed in his absence at various points this season.
CB: Jaap StamIt was a close call between Stam and Steve Bruce to partner Vidic but it is the Dutchman who edged out the now Sunderland manager. There's not too many strikers who'd relish a physical battle against a Stam-Vidic partnership.
LB: Denis IrwinMr dependable cast more votes than any other full-back and such is his versatility will start at left-back despite being right footed. The affable Irishman is arguably the least celebrated of his team-mates but is no less important.
RM: Cristiano RonaldoWhat more can be said about Mr Ronaldo? During his time at United he grew from being a hugely skilful but infuriatingly inconsistent winger to arguably the most effective player in world football. He has a lot to thank Sir Alex for. David Beckham will have to settle for a spot on the bench.
CM: Roy KeaneTaking the captain's armband is the player closest to his manger in terms of accepting nothing less than the highest possible standards. Keane was always Ferguson's on-field lieutenant and it is testimony to just how good he was that Bryan Robson was blown out of the water in terms of votes collected.
CM: Paul ScholesLining up alongside his old partner in the centre of the field is a player Ferguson ranks as one of the finest to ever wear a red devil on his chest. Every great side needs a great playmaker and England has produced none better than Scholes.
LM: Ryan GiggsMany players have attempted in vain to oust Giggs from the left wing spot and thus it was no surprise when the Welshman was voted into Ferguson's best XI. He remains a class act and behind Fergie is perhaps the figurehead most synonymous with the club today.
CF: Eric CantonaThe catalyst for Fergie's modern empire is back and we wouldn't bet against him taking the no.7 shirt from Ronaldo either. Cantona attracted almost twice as many votes as any other striker and is unrivalled in his popularity amongst the Old Trafford faithful.
CF: Ruud van NistelrooyIt was a close run call between van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney as to who would partner Cantona in attack but at the time of going to press there is no place for the Englishman. Van Nistelrooy's brilliant strike-rate has edged him just ahead of the man who is the club's modern day talisman.
The 11 players who almost made it:
Edwin van der Sar, Gary Pallister, Rio Ferdinand, Steve Bruce , Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wayne Rooney, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, David Beckham.
You have been voting in your thousands but there were still a host of top players who missed the starting eleven.
Here are those that made the cut. Can you imagine the fees required to put that team together?
GK: Peter SchmeichelWe expected Edwin van der Sar to run him close but the great Dane was your unanimous choice between the posts. As a last line of defence Schmeichel will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
RB: Gary NevilleMr Manchester United was always going to be a shoo-in for the right-back berth. He's trying his best to be impartial on Sky Sports but it can't be long before he breaks out with a 'Gary Neville is a red, he hates...' chorus.
CB: Nemanja VidicThe big Serbian is one of only two members of the current United side to make the cut as he topped the votes at the polling stations. His importance to Sir Alex's side has most been noticed in his absence at various points this season.
CB: Jaap StamIt was a close call between Stam and Steve Bruce to partner Vidic but it is the Dutchman who edged out the now Sunderland manager. There's not too many strikers who'd relish a physical battle against a Stam-Vidic partnership.
LB: Denis IrwinMr dependable cast more votes than any other full-back and such is his versatility will start at left-back despite being right footed. The affable Irishman is arguably the least celebrated of his team-mates but is no less important.
RM: Cristiano RonaldoWhat more can be said about Mr Ronaldo? During his time at United he grew from being a hugely skilful but infuriatingly inconsistent winger to arguably the most effective player in world football. He has a lot to thank Sir Alex for. David Beckham will have to settle for a spot on the bench.
CM: Roy KeaneTaking the captain's armband is the player closest to his manger in terms of accepting nothing less than the highest possible standards. Keane was always Ferguson's on-field lieutenant and it is testimony to just how good he was that Bryan Robson was blown out of the water in terms of votes collected.
CM: Paul ScholesLining up alongside his old partner in the centre of the field is a player Ferguson ranks as one of the finest to ever wear a red devil on his chest. Every great side needs a great playmaker and England has produced none better than Scholes.
LM: Ryan GiggsMany players have attempted in vain to oust Giggs from the left wing spot and thus it was no surprise when the Welshman was voted into Ferguson's best XI. He remains a class act and behind Fergie is perhaps the figurehead most synonymous with the club today.
CF: Eric CantonaThe catalyst for Fergie's modern empire is back and we wouldn't bet against him taking the no.7 shirt from Ronaldo either. Cantona attracted almost twice as many votes as any other striker and is unrivalled in his popularity amongst the Old Trafford faithful.
CF: Ruud van NistelrooyIt was a close run call between van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney as to who would partner Cantona in attack but at the time of going to press there is no place for the Englishman. Van Nistelrooy's brilliant strike-rate has edged him just ahead of the man who is the club's modern day talisman.
The 11 players who almost made it:
Edwin van der Sar, Gary Pallister, Rio Ferdinand, Steve Bruce , Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wayne Rooney, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, David Beckham.
0 comments:
Post a Comment