The fabled Manchester United number 7 shirt
- Thread starter SDF
- Start date
We don't really, but this is a cool article on the history of our shirt numbering:
https://www.squadnumbers.com/2018/10/07/rangers/
https://www.squadnumbers.com/2018/10/07/rangers/
My comment was regarding him as the No.7 for Man Utd and I wouldn't put him in the same bracket as Ronaldo or Cantona. I didn't say he wasn't a decent player.
I also wouldn't put him anywhere near Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard and they didn't win anything for Real Madrid?
I'm interested to know the players he was better than that you would class as Iconic??
I also wouldn't put him anywhere near Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard and they didn't win anything for Real Madrid?
I'm interested to know the players he was better than that you would class as Iconic??
In no world was Beckham ever the best player on the planet. No chance should he be winning a player of the year award. He was a good player and a world class specialist. Top clubs signed him because, whilst he was good and obviously brought something to the team, he was also a global brand, and whatever money they had to pay for and to him, was being made back tenfold.
Everyones entitled to their opinion but without checking their stats I reckon Beckham achieved much more in the game than Cantona who I reckon was pretty over rated (my opinion). Beckam played for the biggest clubs in football for a reason.
Cantona could be a right lazy B when it suited him where as Beckams workrate was exceptional.
Cantona could be a right lazy B when it suited him where as Beckams workrate was exceptional.
Fair point mate, but for a couple of seasons at Manchester United, Cantona was the first name on that team sheet. I don't think you could say the same about Beckham at any stage in his career, for any club he played for. Albeit he did play at great clubs, we'll disregard PSG and AC as he played about a dozen games each for them.
I think phenomenal is a bit OTT - I’d personally reserve that for the likes of Messi, Zidane, both Ronaldos, Ronaldinho, etc - but tremendous, definitely.
I think the problem he had was that his celebrity began to outstrip his abilities as a footballer, so that despite being arguably the most recognisable footballer in the planet (certainly the most photographed), he was far from being its best.
I think the problem he had was that his celebrity began to outstrip his abilities as a footballer, so that despite being arguably the most recognisable footballer in the planet (certainly the most photographed), he was far from being its best.
I'd have him ahead of the likes of Shearer, Ian Wright or the likes.
Lampard and Gerrard too, and that's not to play down their ability. He achieved more than them overall, which really is the difference in this regard. It's why Totti won't be considered in quite the same bracket as Pirlo for example.
Your comment was that he wasn't an iconic footballer, but a celebrity. This is a player who won 6 Premier League titles, La Liga, Ligue 1, a Champions League, was runner up for the Ballon D'Or, Real Madrid player of the year in 2006, UEFA Club footballer of the year in 99, England player of the year in 2003.
That's an iconic footballer. Maybe he didn't have the ability levels of some you mention, but it's about far more than that.
Lampard and Gerrard too, and that's not to play down their ability. He achieved more than them overall, which really is the difference in this regard. It's why Totti won't be considered in quite the same bracket as Pirlo for example.
Your comment was that he wasn't an iconic footballer, but a celebrity. This is a player who won 6 Premier League titles, La Liga, Ligue 1, a Champions League, was runner up for the Ballon D'Or, Real Madrid player of the year in 2006, UEFA Club footballer of the year in 99, England player of the year in 2003.
That's an iconic footballer. Maybe he didn't have the ability levels of some you mention, but it's about far more than that.
While I agree about overall impact and career, Cantona came into United when they didn't have a superstar, they didn't and hadn't for decades had a genius on the ball.
I think that is what makes the Utd fans minds up about him, the timing of his arrival, what they went on to achieve following his arrival and departure, I think they link it to him.
On his day Cantona was a genius, the problem was he was a mental case and wasn't as consistent as later year players, in his day 1 in 3 was a good rate for a big performance.
I think that is what makes the Utd fans minds up about him, the timing of his arrival, what they went on to achieve following his arrival and departure, I think they link it to him.
On his day Cantona was a genius, the problem was he was a mental case and wasn't as consistent as later year players, in his day 1 in 3 was a good rate for a big performance.
And above all a very fit athlete. Guy was a machine, had a great engine and recovered from injuries quite quickly (if you can recall how quickly he healed from the broken metatarsal before a big tournament for England)
I think how much of an icon he was off the park actually detracts from how good he was on it.
I think how much of an icon he was off the park actually detracts from how good he was on it.
Always found it the opposite. Think his overall fame and his CV tricks people into thinking he was a lot better than he was. Brilliant for United, spent decent time on the bench for Madrid in a spell in which they weren’t successful, AC were no great shakes when he went there and it was a loan deal, and PSG are a club barely more than a few decades old with whom he played a meagre 10 games for.
I think anyone who doesn’t think a club like AC took him on loan for shirt sales, exposure and all the rest of it too, would be a little naive too.
I know he’s massively popular here though so I’m sure that won’t be a popular view.
I think anyone who doesn’t think a club like AC took him on loan for shirt sales, exposure and all the rest of it too, would be a little naive too.
I know he’s massively popular here though so I’m sure that won’t be a popular view.
Who's even mentioned Ian Wright??? You're doing Shearer a disservice too as he could have played for any team Beckham was in easily.
You are entitled to your opinion, but to say he's better than Gerrard and Lampard especially is outrageous! These players dragged teams with them and were more influential in a more demanding role than Beckham could ever be, and Beckham played in an iconic Man United team......that's why he has all of these honours, it's not down to his influence on the team, as I said earlier he's never been first name on a team sheet in his life.
He played four seasons at Madrid and made about 120 appearances in that time, hardly what you would call a stalwart of the team if you think of the games they would play in a season?
I'm not saying he wasn't a great player, but when it comes to the fine margins of the greats at the top end of football past and present, I wouldn't have Beckham anywhere near it!
You are entitled to your opinion, but to say he's better than Gerrard and Lampard especially is outrageous! These players dragged teams with them and were more influential in a more demanding role than Beckham could ever be, and Beckham played in an iconic Man United team......that's why he has all of these honours, it's not down to his influence on the team, as I said earlier he's never been first name on a team sheet in his life.
He played four seasons at Madrid and made about 120 appearances in that time, hardly what you would call a stalwart of the team if you think of the games they would play in a season?
I'm not saying he wasn't a great player, but when it comes to the fine margins of the greats at the top end of football past and present, I wouldn't have Beckham anywhere near it!
Beckham was a sensational player.
Cantona receives ridiculous levels of recognition for some who only really turned up for about 3 years of a pretty short career.
Cantona built a brand that the player never quite lived up to - a cracking look with the collar, decent Nike adverts, that Sunderland goal and celebration, kicking some lady's front bottom and dragging a team to a title while another imploded - could think of about 30 players during the EPL era I would have before him and Beckham is one of them.
Cantona receives ridiculous levels of recognition for some who only really turned up for about 3 years of a pretty short career.
Cantona built a brand that the player never quite lived up to - a cracking look with the collar, decent Nike adverts, that Sunderland goal and celebration, kicking some lady's front bottom and dragging a team to a title while another imploded - could think of about 30 players during the EPL era I would have before him and Beckham is one of them.
