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Is this Fergie's strongest Man Utd squad?

Premier League Manchester United

by Jonathan Stevenson - BBC Sport (U1987325) 12 November 2007

"I believe this is the strongest squad I have ever had".

Quite a statement coming from a manager who has won nine Premier League titles, five FA Cups and a Champions League trophy.

But that is how firmly Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes in his current crop of players at Old Trafford as he enters his 22nd year of management at the club.

It is quite a claim and one that cries out for closer inspection.

Ferguson, it could reasonably be claimed, has produced the third iconic side of his tenure - after the Double-winning side of 1993/94 and the treble winners of 1998/99.

Hitting back after two years of Chelsea dominance to win the Premier League for the ninth time last season, Ferguson now has a squad of extraordinary talent at his disposal.

But is it better than the sides of the 1990s? Let's look at the players who made up those squads and compare it to the men who currently don the famous red and white strips.

1994: Schmeichel, Parker, Irwin, Bruce, Pallister, G Neville, Robson, Ince, Keane, Scholes, Kanchelskis, Giggs, Sharpe, Cantona, Hughes, McClair, Dublin.

1999: Schmeichel, G Neville, P Neville, May, Irwin, Brown, Johnsen, Stam, Keane, Scholes, Butt, Blomqvist, Beckham, Giggs, Solskjaer, Cole, Yorke, Sheringham.

2007: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, G Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, O�Shea, Silvestre, Pique, Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Giggs, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Rooney, Tevez, Saha.

There are undoubtedly familiar Ferguson traits running through each of the squads: a dominant keeper; a central defensive partnership with real understanding; pace down the flanks; and craft in attack.

The 1994 side was one many Manchester United fans will always hold dear to their hearts because not only did they win the double for the first time but it was largely the squad that the season before had won the title for the first time in 26 years.

In 1999, David Beckham and co sealed a historic treble to write their names into football folklore forever.

Yet Ferguson feels the class of 2007 may have greater potential. "It is difficult to know when to stop when talking about our important players," he eulogised.

So, do you agree with Ferguson? Do you think this United squad is stronger than his previous line-ups?

Would you have Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic as your centre-half partnership over Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister?

Would you have Owen Hargreaves as your all-action midfielder instead of Roy Keane or Bryan Robson.

Would you pick Cristiano Ronaldo to fire in crosses from the right wing rather than Beckham or Andrei Kanchelskis?

Would you go for the devastating link-up of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez up front or would you choose Eric Cantona or Mark Hughes in their place?

For what it's worth, this would be my number one team from the above options (although I would also give a special mention to Ruud van Nistelrooy, unfortunate to play from 2001-2006).

Schmeichel, G Neville, Evra, Stam, Vidic, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, Giggs, Cantona, Rooney.

But it's not really about me. Tell us which of the squads you think is Fergie's best and, while you're at it, whack us over your Fergie XI too.

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comment by Jamez-The-Great (U10418246)

posted Nov 19, 2007

GK: Schmeichel
RB: Irwin
CB: Stam
CB: Vidic
LB: Pallister
RM: Ronaldo
CM: Keane
CM: Scholes
LM: Giggs
ST: Cantona
ST: Rooney

(But I Think Solskjaer, Ferdinand, Beckham, Yorke, Cole And Van Nistlerooy Should All Be Mentioned Aswell)

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comment by TheBlackManU- This is the number of my siblings---> (U10168046)

posted Nov 20, 2007

Medieval-Evil, you suprise me when you say Tevez isnt world class (??). Did you watch the last world cup? Are you aware of a tournament called "Copa America"?..and are you aware that it is highly competitive and rated world class by FIFA? Let us be more pragmatic and noit just critisise. Tevez is world class and so is Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson and the rest of the pack. Get your facts right before you publish NonS#ns$

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comment by dadon4eva (U10486335)

posted Nov 24, 2007

Schmeichel gary neville evra stam vidic giggs ronaldo keane scholes rooney cantonna!!!
SUBZ
vandersar irwin bruce pallister hughes yorke cole ince sheringham solkjaer nani tevez saha

MANCHSER UNITED R DA BEST

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comment by Berba The red Devil! (U9546901)

posted Nov 26, 2007

lets just see at the end of the season!!!!!!!!!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!

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comment by KKCumbria (U10735348)

posted Dec 29, 2007

We've been lucky to see some fantastic players in SAF's time at United. I can't believe some people would leave out Dennis Irwin though. Although Evra & some of the others mentioned are worthy of praise, we shouldn't underestimate Irwin's contribution. 9/10 week in-week out & a major player in some of the club's finest moments. Without question the finest full-back I've seen at United.

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comment by U9090063

posted Dec 29, 2007

What's missing from the side is the Leadership authority of Roy Keane in the middle in games where United isn't have the best of games in.

Scholes and Hargreaves are quiet figues,
Anderson doesn't speak English and would probably lacks experience, maturity and responsibility to deal with the situation. Carrick waves his hands about to try to get the ball. Which leaves Fletcher and O'Shea, who have leadership experience at international level but not perhaps the respect of their team-mates.

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comment by Marty_McSuperFly (U10809713)

posted Jan 11, 2008

Why has nobody mentioned Mark Hughes?! The man was/is the epitome of "Legend". Ok, he wasn't a prolific goal scorer but not many players since have shown anywhere near as much desire, determination, and commitment in a United shirt as him (Keano excluded!).

Fergie's replacement for my money!

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comment by evboateng (U10831996)

posted Jan 14, 2008

to me Fergie's may be right but he have to wait till the end of this season talking of the league,fa cup and the major champions league then he can say all this .even if they win the league and the fa cup and didn't win the champions league i still see it to be like the old class ..in 1999 i'll say was the best so this team have to do some thing extra-o .win all this and win the toyota cup then he can say this is his best ever team.because this is the only cup that i haven't see manU lifting it before.
thank you

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