Reds' best defence?

16/11/2011 10:00, Report by A Marshall, L Kane


Defensive candidates:

Arthur Albiston (1974-1988)

Steve Bruce (1987-1996)

Martin Buchan (1971-1983)

Roger Byrne (1951-1958)

Noel Cantwell (1960-1967)

Johnny Carey (1937-1953)

Tony Dunne (1960-1973)

Patrice Evra (2006-present)

Rio Ferdinand (2002-present)

Bill Foulkes (1952-1970)

Denis Irwin (1990-2002)

Gary Pallister (1989-1998)

Jaap Stam (1998-2002)

Nemanja Vidic (2006-present)

The final back four on Manchester United's Greatest Ever XI DVD, as selected by fans on the club's official websites, is bound to generate plenty of debate.

Current centre-back pairing Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were voted into the line-up ahead of some fierce competition from the likes of Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce and Bill Foulkes. Gary Neville secured the right-back berth as reward for his sterling service at Old Trafford with Denis Irwin appearing on the opposite flank, reflecting his enduring popularity with the United faithful.

"I think what Vidic and Rio have done over the years has been quite remarkable," enthused Lou Macari, one of four legends discussing the fans' team on the new DVD. "If you look at the two of them, they're both commanding but Rio is as cool as you like under pressure and that type of centre-back is a dying breed. There are a lot of different centre-halves in the Premier League now but none are as good as Vidic and Rio."

Former skipper Bryan Robson commented on the full-backs: "Denis Irwin was the 'Quiet Assassin' as we used to nickname him because he was a really unsung hero. Gary Neville was Mr Consistent as far as I was concerned as you knew what you were getting out of him every time he went onto the pitch."

source : Manutd

Schmeichel in Greatest XI

Peter Schmeichel was selected as goalkeeper for Manchester United's best-ever team, from the following candidates:

Ray Wood (1949-59): 208 games
Harry Gregg  (1957-66): 247 games
Alex Stepney  (1966-78): 539 games, 2 goals
Peter Schmeichel (1991-99): 398 games, 1 goal
Edwin van der Sar (2005-11): 266 games

Manchester United Greatest Ever XI, the official four-disc DVD set, is out now.

15/11/2011 09:00, Report by A Marshall, M Shaw

Peter Schmeichel has been voted Manchester United's best-ever goalkeeper by fans on ManUtd.com, polling 66 per cent to emerge as the clear victor ahead of contenders such as Edwin van der Sar and Alex Stepney.

'The Great Dane' is therefore the first player in the Reds' Greatest Ever XI, the subject of an official new DVD set released this week. The 1991 arrival from Brondby proved to be one of Sir Alex's finest signings and he bowed out of Old Trafford at the very top by captaining the Treble-winning team to Champions League glory in 1999.

"He was a huge guy with real presence," says former team-mate Bryan Robson, one of four pundits appearing on Greatest Ever XI. "He was brave and a great kicker of the ball. He was also a great athlete and had everything really.

"He was a real talker - sometimes a bit too much! If anyone had a shot from 35 yards out, 'Schmikes' would be shouting at you saying 'Any chance of closing him down?!'"

Also shortlisted for the position of goalkeeper were Ray Wood, Harry Gregg, Alex Stepney and the recently retired Edwin van der Sar.

source : Manutd

Eric paired with Sir Bobby

18/11/2011 11:01, Report by A Marshall, S Muncaster

Leading striker candidates:

Eric Cantona (1992-1997)

Sir Bobby Charlton (1956-1973)

Mark Hughes (1983-1986 & 1988-1995)

Denis Law (1962-1973)

Wayne Rooney (2004-present)

Jack Rowley (1937-1954)

Tommy Taylor (1953-1958)

Dennis Viollet (1953-1962)

Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001-2006)

The Greatest Ever XI four-disc DVD is out now.

United's Greatest Ever XI is completed by the two strikers and, again, some quite brilliant forwards have obviously been left out.

The fans who voted on ManUtd.com for their best side opted for Sir Bobby Charlton and Eric Cantona in the forward roles, ensuring two of the greatest goalscorers in the club's history - Denis Law and Ruud van Nistelrooy - are left on the sidelines, along with current favourite Wayne Rooney.

Lou Macari, who played with Law for both United and Scotland, joked: "I suppose the fact he has two statues at Old Trafford is slight compensation for him!"

Law's tally of 237 goals for the Reds is only bettered by Sir Bobby while deadly Dutchman van Nistelrooy bagged an incredible 150 in only 200 starts. However, Cantona's contribution to the great success story under Sir Alex can never be underplayed as he proved the catalyst when arriving from Leeds for a cut-price fee in 1992.

Scholes and Keane selected

Leading midfield candidates:
David Beckham (1992-2003)
Johnny Berry (1951-1958)
George Best (1963-1974)
Eddie Colman (1955-1957)
Steve Coppell (1975-1983)
Paddy Crerand (1962-1970)
Duncan Edwards (1952-1957)
Ryan Giggs (1991-present)
Roy Keane (1993-2005)
Billy Meredith (1906-1921)
David Pegg (1952-1958)
Bryan Robson (1981-1993)
Cristiano Ronaldo (2003-2009)
Paul Scholes (1999-2011)
Nobby Stiles (1960-1970)

The Greatest Ever XI four-disc DVD is out now.

17/11/2011 09:47, Report by A Marshall, S Muncaster

The midfield selection for the fans' Greatest Ever XI, as discussed on a new four-disc DVD, is certain to stir plenty of controversy.

"Captain Marvel" Bryan Robson was a surprise omission in the engine room, along with the peerless Duncan Edwards, as Roy Keane and Paul Scholes got the nod from those who voted on ManUtd.com.

"I think the lads on the DVD did me proud the way they bigged me up, saying I should be in the team, but Scholesy and Keaney are great players," said Robson. "It's just nice to be on the list. Straight away, everyone's talking about 4-4-2 and that's good if everyone has got the same formation. But I wouldn't play Bobby Charlton as a centre-forward. He'd be in central midfeld for me."

The competition was intense for a place on the flanks as well, with George Best and Ryan Giggs edging out the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.

"Cristiano is a great player but one thing I would not dismiss is Best and Giggs both being in that team as wide players," added Robson. "I do think it was a very close shout as to whether Beckham and Ronaldo should be in there."

source : Manutd