Special players.....

[desmondo]

We don't have a special player any more. In the past there was a cantona , a keane , a ronaldo (or even bryan robson). United success has always coincided with one of these special players being in the team.

A special player is not just talented , they have a very special gift. What is this gift? They have the ability to take a match by the scruff of the neck and almost decide in their minds " my team is going to win" . It's almost as if they can get in a certain mood and by the sheer force of their will and presence on the pitch they can drive a team to victory. They are just unplayable in the right mood and cannot be stopped. If you think about it Cantona (single handedly winning the title 1996) , Keane (Juve away 99), Ronaldo (07,08) and Robson(barca 84+91) all had this special gift and presence. Other players that have this gift are Drogba and Gerrard. I'm sure you can think of others , but the point is that right now we don't have one. Rooney is almost a special player but just don't have the presence.

The Cantona era and then the Keane era , followed by the Ronaldo era cover a huge span of time. Big charactors , and all in their own way drove United to success. When i think of games we have floundered in this season I remember Cantona/Keane/Ronaldo/Robson and how they would have galvanised the team and turned things around. It doesn't happen with this team. I'm waiiting for the next "special " player.

Fergie needs to find him and find him quick. The 40 million or so we still have from Ronnie has to go on this
special player. The money is not important. Players like that are worth the risk of bankrupty.

[Keano!]

Rooney surely. A united team without him lacks so much. Maybe not as 'special' as the ones you named above, but he's still a special player for us.

[thekeanefella]

rooney is definitely a special player , he has the ability to change a game or create something out of nothing , unfortunately he hasnt been doing it often enough lately.

as for ronaldo galvanising the team , i dont think he was one for rallying the troops , he could win us a game single handedly and his talent is unquestionable , but if things werent going his way he was more likely to throw a strop than pull the team together.

i think a few big summer signings and we will be back firing on all cylinders again next season.

[NoxiousD]

Rooney is beginning to fall into the "standard forward" position more than the "special player", we have players capable of growing into that tag, like Morrison, Cleverley. Pogba and Obertan, but the closest we have right now is Valencia, which (not to be unfair to him) is poor, because he is a one trick pony, i have huge hopes for Cleverley (as does Ole according to MUTV)...

We need a Kaka type player, someone capable of picking the ball up 40 yards out, beating a player or three and smashing it home with aplomb, Hamsik, Kacar, Sanchez, Gourcuff, Costa, Defour, Witsel, Hazard, Ben Arfa are all possiblities but the ball is in Fergies court, why we haven't made a short term move for someone like Riquelme i will never know....

Before that moron CH comes in here claiming i play too much FM, i do actually watch the respective leagues of these players, even if only through highlights on late night TV, i keep up with Standard, Udinese, Bordeaux etc as they are my fave teams from these countries...

[sunchaser]

* waits for carlo and the true fans gang (copyright, mkay?) to come and call desmondo a glory hunter *

[Spoonman Red]

rooney is definitely a special player , he has the ability to change a game or create something out of nothing , unfortunately he hasnt been doing it often enough lately.

as for ronaldo galvanising the team , i dont think he was one for rallying the troops , he could win us a game single handedly and his talent is unquestionable , but if things werent going his way he was more likely to throw a strop than pull the team together.

i think a few big summer signings and we will be back firing on all cylinders again next season.

I agree on everything here.

[hdcantona]

Berbatov jk

[versa]

I have to agree with the OP we don't have one right now which could make a big difference as competition gets even tighter this season.

To me, the litmus test for a "special player" is one that performs independently from how the entire team is doing, has got that stature and aura to single-handedly inspires or carries the team forward and often gets something out of nothing for the team (mostly undeservedly, be it the winning goal or a desperate equaliser).

Unfortunately, I have to say that our closest possibility, Rooney, does not fall into this category of a "special player", at least not yet. Yes, he does have the potential to do so by his ability, intelligence, will, zest etc but let's be very honest, how often has he actually done that for us when the chips are down? Scoring a brace or a hat-trick when the team is on song or faultless in efforts and endeavours still does not really count under this "special" category in dire circumstances, if you know what I mean.

Gerrard has undoubtedly done so for Liverpool and so does Drogba for Chelsea most admirably. Ronaldo had of course done that for us countless times but certainly not Rooney as yet who disappears along with the team more often than inspires or carries the team on such occasion.

So who will step up to the fore?

[Kunlesky]

Berbatov jk

How can you go there? That boy can't galvanize a "Witch's Tit"...

[Kunlesky]

I have to agree with the OP we don't have one right now which could make a big difference as competition gets even tighter this season.

To me, the litmus test for a "special player" is one that performs independently from how the entire team is doing, has got that stature and aura to single-handedly inspires or carries the team forward and often gets something out of nothing for the team (mostly undeservedly, be it the winning goal or a desperate equaliser).

Unfortunately, I have to say that our closest possibility, Rooney, does not fall into this category of a "special player", at least not yet. Yes, he does have the potential to do so by his ability, intelligence, will, zest etc but let's be very honest, how often has he actually done that for us when the chips are down? Scoring a brace or a hat-trick when the team is on song or faultless in efforts and endeavours still does not really count under this "special" category in dire circumstances, if you know what I mean.

Gerrard has undoubtedly done so for Liverpool and so does Drogba for Chelsea most admirably. Ronaldo had of course done that for us countless times but certainly not Rooney as yet who disappears along with the team more often than inspires or carries the team on such occasion.

So who will step up to the fore?

Rooney's problem is basically maturity. Whenever he starts fuming, all his skills tend to fade out and he basically turns to ox-powers instead of box-trickery and muscling in the opponents box. He may or may never get there in few years. He cuts the figure of frustration in games too quickly and generally I only expect a goal per game from him when he can. The rest is iffy...

We lost top talent in Ronaldo and holy spirit in Tevez [a player that chases the lost course and inspire players around him to raise their game]. Mostly though, our problem in games that we've lost I must say can boil down to lack of leadership and communication. The last goal we conceded against Fulham had the defender ball watching while the midfield [Anderson in particular] could have block Zamora [is it?] from receiving the pass and taking the shot.

[versa]

Rooney's problem is basically maturity. Whenever he starts fuming, all his skills tend to fade out and he basically turns to ox-powers instead of box-trickery and muscling in the opponents box. He may or may never get there in few years. He cuts the figure of frustration in games too quickly and generally I only expect a goal per game from him when he can. The rest is iffy...

We lost top talent in Ronaldo and holy spirit in Tevez [a player that chases the lost course and inspire players around him to raise their game]. Mostly though, our problem in games that we've lost I must say can boil down to lack of leadership and communication. The last goal we conceded against Fulham had the defender ball watching while the midfield [Anderson in particular] could have block Zamora [is it?] from receiving the pass and taking the shot.

For an honest appraisal and nothing near to a bashing, I am afraid it is true thus far which is also why he has not done for us what Ronaldo had been doing for us in circumstances as such. And the truth hurts. But that does not mean he can't be a "special player" for us if he matures further not to let the circumstances affect his play. In that aspect, Ronaldo's maturity is definitely beyond his years and that of Rooney.

I was just thinking of him. No, no... heaven forbids.

[FozzyBear]

Our next special player is sitting on the bench, his names Nani... :\
Kidding, Obertan.

[Stimpy]

Noxious, Sanchez and Costa are definately not Special Players, not yet atleast...

[mrmaker21]

what's wrong with everyone??? It's Christmas! we still have Evra..put him on the wing or in midfield and this guy will will us everything.....tis the season to be jolly.....where's my mulled wine gone?

[JJtheRed]

Agree with OP - we don't seem to have a player with an aura...
Rooney had the 'boy that plays like a man' thing going on, but he's not a boy anymore - its slipping a bit.
Berbatov has the tools, but as people here keep pointing out he's left them in his van....

We need a player that the rest of the leauge worry about playing against - either for health reasons, like Keano or because they can change games with a bit of magic like Best, Cantona, Ronaldo, Yorke'n'Cole, even Becks...

[Mr United]

Well special player thread...,

I think it's about time to develop a player who can be a real talent, which is obertan...I see him as a real prospect for the future of manchester united...Hopefully, anderson will be a great prospect too.....

[NoxiousD]

Noxious, Sanchez and Costa are definately not Special Players, not yet atleast...

I said potentially, Sanchez especially definitely has the potential to be

[Keano!]

rooney is definitely a special player , he has the ability to change a game or create something out of nothing , unfortunately he hasnt been doing it often enough lately.

as for ronaldo galvanising the team , i dont think he was one for rallying the troops , he could win us a game single handedly and his talent is unquestionable , but if things werent going his way he was more likely to throw a strop than pull the team together.

i think a few big summer signings and we will be back firing on all cylinders again next season.

I agree. How Rooney can not be classed as a special player amazes me. The lad changes games for us as you've said. Other teams would adore a Rooney in their team. Imagine all those years ago Rooney had joined Liverpool, he'd be our most hated rival player without question.

The fact he gets booed at virtually all our away games shows that the opposition fans see him as a big threat and try to rile him up. He's without doubt a special talent.

[DSG]

For those of you that think Rooney is truly a "special player", I'd offer this up: If people are debating whether or not he's special, he's clearly not. I think that the really special players define an era and drag a side to glory at times. Special players are annointed by consensus.

Before you get ruffled, it doesn't mean he won't become a special player, he's just not at this point in his career.

[christianoharleiro]

Before that moron CH comes in here claiming i play too much FM, i do actually watch the respective leagues of these players, even if only through highlights on late night TV, i keep up with Standard, Udinese, Bordeaux etc as they are my fave teams from these countries...

Obsessed. Still an FM fanboy and you know it.

Cardiac arrest, not drugs

and i'm the moron?



back on topic, agreed with some of the others, Rooney is not a special player.