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Today's Manchester United squad can be better than Fergie's 1999 treble shooters
Just how do Rooney and Ronaldo match up to Beckham, Yorke and Cole? There may not be much in it but with even more pressure on teams today, the current side have the edge.
by Jason Willis on 15 May 2008
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Many questions have been raised this season as to which Manchester United team is the better, the 1999 or the 2008?
With the Champions League final looming now would be a better time than ever for the current crop of players to stake claim to this title.
The general consensus is that the ’99 team were older than the current. This on some level is true, but not to the extent that many believe. They did have the older players like Peter Schmeichel and Dennis Irwin, 35 and 33 respectively with Ronny Johnsen being the only other player over 27 in the first team.
In today’s team there is Edwin van der Sar, 37, Wes Brown, 28, Rio Ferdinand, 29, Paul Scholes, 33, Owen Hargreaves, 28 and Ryan Giggs 34 - all over the age of 27. The reason the current Manchester United team is described as younger is due to the fact that at 24, David Beckham and Paul Scholes were the youngest players in ’99 compared with Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Anderson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani. This shows that age should not be the deciding factor in answering this question.
Comments (5)
by franco mizzi on May 15, 2008
The team of 99 had a nucleus not only of British players but of home grown talent. I could mention them but all know who they are. Therefore those players were appreciated more by us supporters and yes we were proud of them. Todays crop come from all over place so most of them had to win over the supporters and how most of them have. Ronaldo is adored, Rooney not far behind, Tevez is idolised, young Anderson you have to love, Nani is getting there and Hargreves well he's such a battler and clever on the ball, will play anywere for the team that he is admired and I believe he has won the fans over in his own quite way. Squad wise there is no comparison 2008 win hands down. Team is harder to pin down but I still would go for 2008 as unlike the 1999 team who could only play in a 4-4-2 formation, really, these lads can play 4-5-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1 easily. This is what one has to look at to judge the 2 eras.
by Christovski on May 15, 2008
Hargreaves is 27, not 28. Just nitpicking here.
by James on May 15, 2008
Well done mate you hit the nail on the head
by Who cares? on May 16, 2008
Nice article mate , But I doubt any team how ever good they may be won't be able to complete the treble. For that you need a top top squad , with the right balance of youthfulness , experience , grit , flair , craft ,bullishness and a great manager.With that bit of luck. And I doubt this is possible in this day and age. And if its ever to happen again , I bet only United could do it. I won't be arsed into comparing these squads as to the number trophies won in an year. Rather trophies won of the course of the decade. The class of 1999 had nearly 6 premiership crowns , 2 FA Cups and a Champions league. Thats 9. while this one already has 2 Premiership trophies and 1 FA Cup. To put them selves on par with the cream of 1999 they need to win the Holy grail.
by soccerfanbase.com on May 16, 2008
spot on is all I have got to say it is just unfortunate that this team will not win a treble and then I have my fear from Ronaldo all football lovers are invited to join soccerfanbase.com for the best of news update and forum discussion
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