Who is Fergie best ever big game player?

[Father Ted]

I think that's irrelevant to our question here. No doubt, Cantona's contribution to this club was immense. But the fact that he never really replicated his domestic form in Europe (and at the international stage) makes him less of a "big game" player IMO.

Hughes always seemed to pop up with goals when it mattered, and Robson was a big game player for us even before Fergie took over at the helm.

Fine then. Cantona was not a "big European game" player. But what about all the big games domestically he won single handedly? Do they not count?

Look at my previous post regarding the games where Cantona won by himself. 1996 alone in the second half of the season when we were 12 points behind Newcastle, he won a number of games by himself e.g. 1-0 wins over Newcastle, Arsenal and Spurs. Not big games? Not to mention 1-0 over Liverpool in the FA Cup final that year.

Eric Cantona was not the only reason why United fared poorly in our first years in the CL.

[listen_up_fergie]

Fine then. Cantona was not a "big European game" player. But what about all the big games domestically he won single handedly? Do they not count?


Yes they do count, but if it's a question of being Fergie's best big game player then Cantona's European form doesn't do him any favours.
But like you've pointed out, if we were to focus only on domestic competitions, then Cantona proved to be an incredibly reliable player in big games. In Europe, he was far from it. I guess that makes it even more debatable when considering who the best ever big game player under Fergie was - I think it's a toss up between Cantona and Hughes. If we were to consider Bryan Robson's contributions in the pre-Fergie era as well, I think he would deserve a mention as well.

[Stud83]

But really, how many European games did Cantona have a chance to impress himself in? Throughout his career he maybe played in 10 games in Champions league for us? Rooney already played in almost twice as many games for us. The most important game was probably against Porto, and Cantona led the team to a victory and semi-final. And we lost to eventual winners.

[SirManchester]

Cool, I love Europe. Hair Metal rules all. (I got confused because the arrow was pointing to Budapest)

In any event, despite Cantona not coming up big in Europe, it doesn't take anything away from how impactful he was. The problem was during his time we didn't exactly have such a great team for Europe. We certainly didn't play as great as we did domestically, and we can't blame Cantona for that. He came up big in England more than anyone else and that alone deserves merit.

[littleman]

In any event, despite Cantona not coming up big in Europe, it doesn't take anything away from how impactful he was. The problem was during his time we didn't exactly have such a great team for Europe. We certainly didn't play as great as we did domestically, and we can't blame Cantona for that. He came up big in England more than anyone else and that alone deserves merit.

Gah.. What is with all these narrow minded conceptions -- and it's not just SM.

Yes, no one denies Cantona was big and great in the EPL.

Just factor in Europe APPROPRIATELY, and then balance things out. I was from the post-Cantona era, in fact, post-treble. I don't know anything.

[Rei de Boston]

Whenever you talk about big game players the answer will will always be slanted towards offensive players. It's the glory positions and that one goal is the easiest to remember as time passes.

I don't believe in clutch or big game players. I believe in consistency. If you are good you are good. If you are great you are great. If you are not you are not.

There are a lot of good choices on this list but the big game player has to be Schmeichel. In all situations he was consistently great.

[Stud83]

Gah.. What is with all these narrow minded conceptions -- and it's not just SM.

Yes, no one denies Cantona was big and great in the EPL.

Just factor in Europe APPROPRIATELY, and then balance things out. I was from the post-Cantona era, in fact, post-treble. I don't know anything.

Was anyone big for us in Europe consistently post-treble? I don't think so.

[johno]

Regarding Cantona, I had a look back at his goals (thanks to rsssf.com).
He was the only United scorer in 17 games, 12 of which were wins (just league games, excluding cups). In 95/96 alone, he was the only scorer in 5 of United wins(remember the stretch of his 1-0 wins?) and also the only United scorer in 3 other games that ended up as draws.

See, that's why I made the statement about being important and being a big game player. Cantona's goals were vital - but were they big games?

Big Players are different from big game players. Of our current team Ronaldo and Rio are our biggest game players because against top opponents their play is improved they "step up." One could argue that in his time here Rooney has been more important than Ronaldo, but there's no question as to who plays better when we're facing a top 4 club or in a final or playing in the CL.

[benni...]

Was anyone big for us in Europe consistently post-treble? I don't think so.

Veron...?

Rio Ferdinand apart from a few games, one in which he was toasted by the best striker of this generation, or one of... (Ronaldo) he did reasonably well. Especially in big games for us in the league and in Europe (apart from Madrid) and partially Milan second leg.


What about him?

[Leto]

Is Keane suffering from performing as well in the smaller games as he did in the big? Remembering some of his Ireland games as well, he was a force of nature no matter who the opposition were.

I'm a bit bemused by the number of votes that Solskjaer's getting. Other than the '99 final, I'd have to look up any (let alone the many that would justify winning this accolade) big games where he made a definitive contribution. I'm sure that's partly due to me not paying as much attention as you guys, but offhand I'd place him below the likes of Giggs, Schmeichel, Stam, Scholes, Irwin, and maybe Yorke & Cole. I can't comment on Cantona, Bruce et al. since I didn't watch their primes.

[three lions]

No Beckham??:D Shouldn't he at least be on the list??

[Stud83]

Veron...?

Rio Ferdinand apart from a few games, one in which he was toasted by the best striker of this generation, or one of... (Ronaldo) he did reasonably well. Especially in big games for us in the league and in Europe (apart from Madrid) and partially Milan second leg.


What about him?

Rio was toasted when we played Chelsea last season, Real Madrid few years ago, and he wasn't that good against Milan either. And the last 2 were pretty much the only big games we had in Europe lately.

As far as Cantona - when you think back to the mid 90s and all of our greatest games, Cantona was the inspiration in almost every one - the great derby in 93, FA Cup in 94, including the final against Chelsea, 96 game against Newcastle, which won us the title, 96 FA Cup final against Liverpool, 97 against Porto, etc.

[yikchi]

When you think big-game, the first name come to mind is Cantona. However, he never did establish himself in European games based on what thing I read & what I vaguely remembered (specifically I remember Cantona missing chances in our home leg vs. Dortmund...) Like many previous posters has mentioned most of his great big games were in domestic league and cup play.

So I voted for Giggs who always seem to step in up in big games... a few moments that stood out:
1) Tying goal away vs. Arsenal when we won the league last time.
2) 1999 CL semi 1st leg injury time equalizer vs Juve.
3) THAT goal vs. Arsenal in FA cup.

This is only a few, i am sure there's more. But the three moments I list covered Domestic League & Cup and Europe...

[johno]

Is Keane suffering from performing as well in the smaller games as he did in the big? Remembering some of his Ireland games as well, he was a force of nature no matter who the opposition were.

I'm a bit bemused by the number of votes that Solskjaer's getting. Other than the '99 final, I'd have to look up any (let alone the many that would justify winning this accolade) big games where he made a definitive contribution. I'm sure that's partly due to me not paying as much attention as you guys, but offhand I'd place him below the likes of Giggs, Schmeichel, Stam, Scholes, Irwin, and maybe Yorke & Cole. I can't comment on Cantona, Bruce et al. since I didn't watch their primes.

I think the Ole situation is similar to Cantona. Ole scored many VITAL goals that became clutch performances but its not the same as stepping up your play in an important match. They both are/were great players who proved their worth time and again - but it doesn't mean they were big game players.