I don't think any other signing has had as much of an impact on a club as him.
That's not to say though that SAF wouldn't have got us there. He probably would. It was SAFs intuition that gave us Eric remember.
Of course you could argue that it was Irwin who was the best signing. Not only because he was excellent himself but, without him, that call would never have come from Leeds...
Cantona had 6 years in the England. 1 with Leeds and 5 with us.
He won the league 5 times out the 6 years, including one with Leeds, and the only year he didn't win it was the year he was banned for 8 months. Even that went down to the final day too.
For me he will always be the greatest signing we made.
Cantona
Keane
Big Pete
All great signings
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 4 minutes ago
Cantona had 6 years in the England. 1 with Leeds and 5 with us.
He won the league 5 times out the 6 years, including one with Leeds, and the only year he didn't win it was the year he was banned for 8 months. Even that went down to the final day too.
For me he will always be the greatest signing we made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The thing is, even the year he missed, we should have won the league, we really blew it against West Ham and then of course the Cup final against Everton. But it's hard to argue that given his influence, and even back then a relatively cheap fee, that he's not been our best signing.
Best signing ever is surely Messi or Pele?
Signed for nothing and literally set the records for most goals scored for a club.
From a PL pov, obviously Henry.
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
Yes, he was more than just a signing to improve the side, he changed the entire culture at the club and without him you could argue all the success that happened after wouldn’t have happened. We’ve signed better players but none as important as Eric.
Pele never won the CL with Santos.
He was our best signing for the reasons given.
Next best RVP who won us a title in a poor team.
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 8 minutes ago
Best signing ever is surely Messi or Pele?
Signed for nothing and literally set the records for most goals scored for a club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Messi doesn't count as a signing when they had him as a 14 year old.
Best player ever for me though but that's not what the question was.
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 15 minutes ago
Cantona had 6 years in the England. 1 with Leeds and 5 with us.
He won the league 5 times out the 6 years, including one with Leeds, and the only year he didn't win it was the year he was banned for 8 months. Even that went down to the final day too.
For me he will always be the greatest signing we made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I believe that he had won 2 of the previous 3 league titles in France too (with Marseille). He also lead Montpellier to the league cup whilst on loan there during that period, as well as falling out with half the team after throwing his boots in the face of one of the other players.
What a guy.
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 3 minutes ago
Yes, he was more than just a signing to improve the side, he changed the entire culture at the club and without him you could argue all the success that happened after wouldn’t have happened. We’ve signed better players but none as important as Eric.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's the thing, there have probably been a number of better players that have played in the EPL generally as well as Utd skillwise, but in terms of influence and impact, he was second to none.
Don't get me wrong, Eric of course was skillful, but he turned out to be a bigger influence than anyone could have imagined
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 59 seconds ago
He was our best signing for the reasons given.
Next best RVP who won us a title in a poor team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RVP better than Irwin? Not for me. I'd have Schmeichel and probably Ole above RVP too.
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The people on that thread were absolute cretins and/or never actually saw Cantona play
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing tangible?
I guess you know more than SAF.
When Eric Cantona came - he was a messiah, He transformed us. The confidence factor. There's no question about that.'
comment by Robbb Pochettino (U22716)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The people on that thread were absolute cretins and/or never actually saw Cantona play
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Could be that, could be that they’re able to be more objective.
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Robbb Pochettino (U22716)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The people on that thread were absolute cretins and/or never actually saw Cantona play
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Could be that, could be that they’re able to be more objective.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No-one is saying he was the best player. But for me there is no doubt that he was our best/most influential signing.
Jean-Alain Boumsong.
Free transfer was different class for 6 months.
Sold for 9m when that was still a lot of money and then turned into a complete donkey.
As others have said Cantona was a transformational signing for the club. Fergie with the resources at his disposal would have eventually won the league (quite possibly making the extra effort required to sign Shearer if we hadn't got Cantona) but it was Cantona who brought a swagger and glamour to the success of the club. Other, better players went on to achieve more than him, but I'm not sure we would have signed them had we not signed Cantona first.
Ole deserves a shout too. Picked up for £1.5m for absolutely nowhere and went on to become a club legend and scored the most famous goal this club is likely to ever score.
Not many players can say they scored the goal to seal the treble. The first of its kind in England too at the time.
Cristiano Ronaldo for me.
League and champions league. We probably should've won another treble, to this day I don't know how we lost to that Portsmouth side. 42 Goals in that time ridiculous.
What happened after he left, only Ferguson to blame. He could've used that money and replaced him with stellar players that would've challenged Barcelona more so in my opinion, but we went into that second final with likes of Giggs in midfield.
Sign in if you want to comment
Was Cantona the best signing ever?
Page 1 of 3
posted on 22/5/24
Slabhead
posted on 22/5/24
I don't think any other signing has had as much of an impact on a club as him.
That's not to say though that SAF wouldn't have got us there. He probably would. It was SAFs intuition that gave us Eric remember.
Of course you could argue that it was Irwin who was the best signing. Not only because he was excellent himself but, without him, that call would never have come from Leeds...
posted on 22/5/24
Ronaldo.
posted on 22/5/24
Cantona had 6 years in the England. 1 with Leeds and 5 with us.
He won the league 5 times out the 6 years, including one with Leeds, and the only year he didn't win it was the year he was banned for 8 months. Even that went down to the final day too.
For me he will always be the greatest signing we made.
posted on 22/5/24
Cantona
Keane
Big Pete
All great signings
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 4 minutes ago
Cantona had 6 years in the England. 1 with Leeds and 5 with us.
He won the league 5 times out the 6 years, including one with Leeds, and the only year he didn't win it was the year he was banned for 8 months. Even that went down to the final day too.
For me he will always be the greatest signing we made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The thing is, even the year he missed, we should have won the league, we really blew it against West Ham and then of course the Cup final against Everton. But it's hard to argue that given his influence, and even back then a relatively cheap fee, that he's not been our best signing.
posted on 22/5/24
Best signing ever is surely Messi or Pele?
Signed for nothing and literally set the records for most goals scored for a club.
posted on 22/5/24
From a PL pov, obviously Henry.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
posted on 22/5/24
Yes, he was more than just a signing to improve the side, he changed the entire culture at the club and without him you could argue all the success that happened after wouldn’t have happened. We’ve signed better players but none as important as Eric.
posted on 22/5/24
Pele never won the CL with Santos.
posted on 22/5/24
He was our best signing for the reasons given.
Next best RVP who won us a title in a poor team.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by #LiquidGenius (U20571)
posted 8 minutes ago
Best signing ever is surely Messi or Pele?
Signed for nothing and literally set the records for most goals scored for a club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Messi doesn't count as a signing when they had him as a 14 year old.
Best player ever for me though but that's not what the question was.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 15 minutes ago
Cantona had 6 years in the England. 1 with Leeds and 5 with us.
He won the league 5 times out the 6 years, including one with Leeds, and the only year he didn't win it was the year he was banned for 8 months. Even that went down to the final day too.
For me he will always be the greatest signing we made.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I believe that he had won 2 of the previous 3 league titles in France too (with Marseille). He also lead Montpellier to the league cup whilst on loan there during that period, as well as falling out with half the team after throwing his boots in the face of one of the other players.
What a guy.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 3 minutes ago
Yes, he was more than just a signing to improve the side, he changed the entire culture at the club and without him you could argue all the success that happened after wouldn’t have happened. We’ve signed better players but none as important as Eric.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's the thing, there have probably been a number of better players that have played in the EPL generally as well as Utd skillwise, but in terms of influence and impact, he was second to none.
Don't get me wrong, Eric of course was skillful, but he turned out to be a bigger influence than anyone could have imagined
posted on 22/5/24
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 59 seconds ago
He was our best signing for the reasons given.
Next best RVP who won us a title in a poor team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RVP better than Irwin? Not for me. I'd have Schmeichel and probably Ole above RVP too.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The people on that thread were absolute cretins and/or never actually saw Cantona play
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing tangible?
I guess you know more than SAF.
When Eric Cantona came - he was a messiah, He transformed us. The confidence factor. There's no question about that.'
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Robbb Pochettino (U22716)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The people on that thread were absolute cretins and/or never actually saw Cantona play
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Could be that, could be that they’re able to be more objective.
posted on 22/5/24
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Robbb Pochettino (U22716)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Ronaldo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah. Cantona was more important to the club. His signing got us over the line to get that first title after a long spell in the wilderness. He was a talisman and his presence took the pressure off the kids, whilst giving them someone to look up to. Winning that title and becoming regular winners just as the PL era took off was massive for the club in terms of the revenue it brought in; allowing us to invest in the squad and continue strengthening.
There is an argument that Ronaldo was the better player (during his time at United), but Cantona was 100% the better signing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I mean I kind of get it but from the outside it’s Ronaldo for me.
2008 alone he was the leagues top scorer and the CL top scorer and Utd won both.
You can see from that overrated thread a while ago, just about everyone out side of Man Utd thinks Cantona, while an exceptional player, is thought of a bang overrated and in response you get lots of stuff said using words like ‘galvanised’ without much tangible at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The people on that thread were absolute cretins and/or never actually saw Cantona play
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Could be that, could be that they’re able to be more objective.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No-one is saying he was the best player. But for me there is no doubt that he was our best/most influential signing.
posted on 22/5/24
Jean-Alain Boumsong.
Free transfer was different class for 6 months.
Sold for 9m when that was still a lot of money and then turned into a complete donkey.
posted on 22/5/24
As others have said Cantona was a transformational signing for the club. Fergie with the resources at his disposal would have eventually won the league (quite possibly making the extra effort required to sign Shearer if we hadn't got Cantona) but it was Cantona who brought a swagger and glamour to the success of the club. Other, better players went on to achieve more than him, but I'm not sure we would have signed them had we not signed Cantona first.
posted on 22/5/24
Ole deserves a shout too. Picked up for £1.5m for absolutely nowhere and went on to become a club legend and scored the most famous goal this club is likely to ever score.
Not many players can say they scored the goal to seal the treble. The first of its kind in England too at the time.
posted on 22/5/24
Cristiano Ronaldo for me.
League and champions league. We probably should've won another treble, to this day I don't know how we lost to that Portsmouth side. 42 Goals in that time ridiculous.
What happened after he left, only Ferguson to blame. He could've used that money and replaced him with stellar players that would've challenged Barcelona more so in my opinion, but we went into that second final with likes of Giggs in midfield.
Page 1 of 3