Here’s an outrageous thought that comes straight from the heart – Why? Because the head is certain to respond with so many valid, logical reasons against such an idea that it will never get past first base! Sad because romance has long disappeared out of the game, leaving hard headed pragmatism the one and only basis by which decisions are made…and maybe that’s the way it should remain in today’s multi million dollar football business.
What prompted this nostalgia with all its wonderful memories was the visit of Eric Cantona to Old Trafford on Sunday to watch United beat Liverpool. More than any other club in English football, Manchester United has been blessed with so many legends over the years that it would simply be unfair to select just one as the greatest. There really is no need to name anyone because those football greats are ingrained into the rich history of the club.
If the most influential had to be named however, the record books will undoubtedly suggest that The King will be almost impossible to go past. Cantona proved to be the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle that manager Sir Alex Ferguson had been patiently putting together in order to win the desperately wanted League title for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Ferguson was narrowly denied by a Cantona led Leeds United in his first season in English football but when Sir Alex somehow persuaded Leeds to part with the Frenchman for a mere £1.2 million in November the following season, a dynasty which still continues today was born. Just reflect for a moment on what Cantona achieved during his six seasons in England.
A Championship winning medal at Elland Road was followed by four at United in the next five seasons. The one and only time that Cantona failed to pick up a Premiership winning medal was when he was suspended for the final four months of the 1994-95 season following that infamous ‘kung-fu’ style kick at Crystal Palace. Few would have been prepared to bet against United picking up that extra single point required for another title during that long suspension....To the rest of the article