Eric Cantona

[Pvt. Hudson]

Was he really as good as people made him out to be?

Personally I thought he wasn’t that great a player. He scored some amazing goals while he was at Man U and one that comes to mind was the chip over the Sheffield Utd keeper then the turn round celebration. That always annoyed me as I hated Man U.

He had a screw loose and nobody will ever forget that night at Selhurst Park when he kungfoo’d that guy. What the feck was the seagulls chasing the trawlers crap all about?

One thing for sure is that John Brown had him in his pocket that night at Elland Road and let him out briefly for their goal.

He wasn’t that good was he?

 

[Jdb2005]

He was a superb footballer. Unreal first touch and seen passes and movement well in advance

 

[thelivibluenose]

Always remember him as a superb player was just a level above anything else in England at that time. However he was certainly bat shit crazy

 

[Wacaktb]

An absolute majestic footballer, was gutted when he just walked away from the game.
Probably still my favourite ever epl footballer

 

[Geoff Hurst]

Cantona was a great player albeit a player with a screw loose

 

[Stuart_WATP]

Excellent player, just naturally gifted. Not full of pace or anything but technically amazing. Bit like Le Tissier, could score out of nothing

 

[Superrangers]

Excellent player, just naturally gifted. Not full of pace or anything but technically amazing. Bit like Le Tissier, could score out of nothing

Yep, Le Tissier is a valid comparison, both very talented but not the quickest over the ground, both had a good range of passing and a very good shot.

 

[jimbear]

Was he really as good as people made him out to be?

Personally I thought he wasn’t that great a player. He scored some amazing goals while he was at Man U and one that comes to mind was the chip over the Sheffield Utd keeper then the turn round celebration. That always annoyed me as I hated Man U.

He had a screw loose and nobody will ever forget that night at Selhurst Park when he kungfoo’d that guy. What the feck was the seagulls chasing the trawlers crap all about?

One thing for sure is that John Brown had him in his pocket that night at Elland Road and let him out briefly for their goal.

He wasn’t that good was he?

I share your opinion of Cantona which is based on the games he played against us in which he was not very successful. I would say, however, that he did seem to make an enormous difference to Man U after he signed from Leeds and their supporters genuinely idolised him.

 

[bpfurian]

Smashing player but mad as %^*&

 

[Bribrox]

Very good player. I doubt SAF would have put up with him if he wasn't, never mind build his team around him.

 

[Walt Longmire]

He was a very special player.

I don't think that's even up for debate.

 

[SpikeRFC]

He was a class act, and crazy with it. The two very often go hand in hand!

 

[govwalker]

A great player.

Also a Huguenot

 

[Fourladshadadream]

Fantastic player.

But over 2 games he wasn’t good enough in the Battle of Britain.

Rangers won home and away.

 

[CR7]

Is his record in England not like, won the league every season except the season he got suspended for fly kick against palace

 

[CoplandRoad]

Played for the English champions when we beat them home and away.
Top player.

 

[minder]

Sir Alex built a team around him.He was a special player who didn’t give a f*ck.
If he had played for us he would have been in our greatest ever 11

 

[Shongo]

He was a superb footballer. Yes we had the Sky live games back then when at Utd but it wasn't like now when you get to see many more games per season meaning you were more reliant on MOTD highlights which I recall was sometimes only a few EPL matches in the early days of the league (as it is now) as Sportscene was also on the Saturday night.

The letter SAF sent him on retiring shows you how much he regarded him as a great player.

 

[Professor Yaffle]

Sir Alex built a team around him.He was a special player who didn’t give a f*ck.
If he had played for us he would have been in our greatest ever 11

So would Pele, Messi, Cruyff and Ronaldo.

 

[Smkz23]

Was he really as good as people made him out to be?

Personally I thought he wasn’t that great a player. He scored some amazing goals while he was at Man U and one that comes to mind was the chip over the Sheffield Utd keeper then the turn round celebration. That always annoyed me as I hated Man U.

He had a screw loose and nobody will ever forget that night at Selhurst Park when he kungfoo’d that guy. What the feck was the seagulls chasing the trawlers crap all about?

One thing for sure is that John Brown had him in his pocket that night at Elland Road and let him out briefly for their goal.

He wasn’t that good was he?

Don’t think you can say Bomber had him in his pocket, if not for Goram he would have hit a hat-trick that night.

 

[minder]

So would Pele, Messi, Cruyff and Ronaldo.

To be fair we could have afforded Cantona at that time

 

[Getstiffed]

Defo in the top 10 best players ever to play in the premiership era

 

[Grsmith]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1084581424458539010

mentalist

 

[Professor Yaffle]

To be fair we could have afforded Cantona at that time

You may have a point. Though with the English sides back in Europe the tide stsrted turning against us slowly at first and now its fucked up completely.

The only chance of a world star now is discovering them before they really make it huge.

Such a shame what money has done to football but it is what it is.

Cantona was great. Sent off at Ibrox i believe too

 

[Tomted]

Yes, Cantona was an outstanding player and unlike many overseas players, he was a guy who played for the jersey at his clubs.

 

[Mad John]

if anybody thinks that Cantona wasn't that great a footballer the they know nothing about football .

a majestic player . Gallus as f*ck .

although he did do me out of a few quid with his goal v us at elland road . still won 80 though .

 

[TN8]

Bit of a mental OP.

 

[Al Needham Loyal]

Was he really as good as people made him out to be?

No.

He was better.

A proper genius who could turn any game almost at will.

 

[minder]

You may have a point. Though with the English sides back in Europe the tide stsrted turning against us slowly at first and now its fucked up completely.

The only chance of a world star now is discovering them before they really make it huge.

Such a shame what money has done to football but it is what it is.

Cantona was great. Sent off at Ibrox i believe too

He sure was.I may be wrong but I think it was an incident with Steven Pressley but my memory isn't as good as it once was.

 

[Hexham Blue]

Wonderful player, a combination of skill and self belief that gave him an air of arrogance that was totally justified. The 90s Souness for me. Loved watching him play the game.

 

[Jjbscotty]

Cracking beach player

 

[RFCStu]

Was he really as good as people made him out to be?

Personally I thought he wasn’t that great a player. He scored some amazing goals while he was at Man U and one that comes to mind was the chip over the Sheffield Utd keeper then the turn round celebration. That always annoyed me as I hated Man U.

He had a screw loose and nobody will ever forget that night at Selhurst Park when he kungfoo’d that guy. What the feck was the seagulls chasing the trawlers crap all about?

One thing for sure is that John Brown had him in his pocket that night at Elland Road and let him out briefly for their goal.

He wasn’t that good was he?

The impact of Cantona at Man U wasn't just his performances on the park but the turning of heads towards the extra training and practising. Basically the class of 92 watched him and were totally inspired, watch the documentary.

I genuinely believe Stevie G and his staff could have a similar impact on our young players.

 

[azoots217]

Magic but mental

 

[top_cat]

He was f.ucking immense.

 

[Beanyrfc79]

Ooh Ahh Huistra fck yer Cantona

 

[Arkanoid]

I think the Le Tissier comparison is slightly doing him an injustice, would have him more in the Bergkamp category myself

 

[RabSpackman]

An incredible footballer - skilful, strong, absolutely mental and a soldier for his team.

The way that he inspired the youngsters at Manchester United to train & practice harder and longer as well, and they inspired a generation... He influenced a complete change in mentality in English/British football.

 

[Stuart_WATP]

I think the Le Tissier comparison is slightly doing him an injustice, would have him more in the Bergkamp category myself

Le Tissier was superb, Bergkamp better of course but both good comparisons

 

[icrfc]

He was a great player but a young Steven Pressley had him in his hip pocket in a Makita Cup game at Ibrox, so much so that Cantona was sent off after coming on as sub.
Coincidentally, I was staying in the Moat House that night and the fire alarm went off at 4am and Cantona ended up standing beside me in the car park.

 

[Rickymck]

You haven't seen enough of him then. Naturally gifter player.

 

[devilman]

He wasn't the full shilling but by %^*& he was some player. He had skill and the gaul to pull of the amazing. Very good.

He had that good bit of nutter that it made it interesting to watch.

Also, how he's out of football he is still cool as %^*&.

 

[derbyloyal]

2nd best player I've ever seen live after Zidane. I was at Brammall Lane when he scored that chip against Sheffield United in 1995, I'd never seen anything like it. He had the swagger, the skills, the charisma, unbelievable player.

 

[derek145]

I would liken in him to Ronald De Boer in that he made everything look effortless, fantastic player

 

[Rudiger]

Was he really as good as people made him out to be?

Personally I thought he wasn’t that great a player. He scored some amazing goals while he was at Man U and one that comes to mind was the chip over the Sheffield Utd keeper then the turn round celebration. That always annoyed me as I hated Man U.

He had a screw loose and nobody will ever forget that night at Selhurst Park when he kungfoo’d that guy. What the feck was the seagulls chasing the trawlers crap all about?

One thing for sure is that John Brown had him in his pocket that night at Elland Road and let him out briefly for their goal.

He wasn’t that good was he?

Eric Cantona was shite at football.

I might not have read a more stupid post on this forum.....and that's saying something

 

[loyd_grossman]

He sure was.I may be wrong but I think it was an incident with Steven Pressley but my memory isn't as good as it once was.

 

[SGL]

He was the sort of footballer who made his teammates better. Incredible technique and wonderful vision for movement.

Ferguson got him and tolerated the 'uniqueness' because he knew that Cantona was the key to lifting that team to the next level.

 

[walt mcmurty]

It has been said that every genius is on the point of madness , Cantona was indeed a genius player .

 

[The Pink Panther]

Truly magnificent! Class, charisma and an abundance of talent. Shame he retired as early.

 

[The Pink Panther]

Is his record in England not like, won the league every season except the season he got suspended for fly kick against palace

Correct - 5 titles in 6 years with the exception of the ‘king-fu’ season.

What’s impressive is that United were languishing well off the pace before he arrived his first season and having signed in November, he didn’t make his debut until December. When he came back in October 1995, after 8 months out, he had struggled for form and United ended up at least 10 points behind Newcastle. I think many had doubted SAF’s decision to persevere with him. But as the great manager he was, he knew a fully fit Cantona could raise the level of this young team. The decision was vindicated.

Shame he retired at 30.

 

[skyelander]

Incredible to think how young he was when he retired. Think he'd just had enough by then. What a cracking player though. One of THE very best and the missing piece for that Man Utd team at the time. He had his demons of course and did so long before he went to Leeds. That's probably what made him the genius he undoubtedly was. S.A.F. obviously managed him completely differently from any of his other players because he knew he was the key to everything. I'm sure Cantona was never on the receiving end of the hair dryer let's put it that way .