[RedForceRising]

King Eric crowned the Premier League's best import, while Crown Prince Cristiano squeezes into the top 10
- The Daily Mail / Four Four Two

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo may be considered by many to be the greatest player in the world at the moment, but the Portuguese superstar still has some way to go to surpass fellow Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona in the list of the best foreigners to have played in the Premier League.

For despite plundering an amazing 36 goals for Sir Alex Ferguson's side this season, the 23-year-old is only ranked as the eighth best overseas player to play in England, way behind Cantona.

The Frenchman, who helped end the Reds' long title drought when he inspired them to the league crown in 1993, tops the list in FourFourTwo magazine ahead of Arsenal duo Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry.

Celtic great Henrik Larsson, who spent a brief few months at Old Trafford last season is fourth, while Chelsea wizard Gianfranco Zola makes up the top five.

Despite their tradition of bringing through homegrown players, United have the most players in the poll with 14, while Chelsea have 12 and Arsenal 9.

French players figure most in the list with 12, while there are 10 Dutch players, eight from Italy, six from Australia and five from Norway.

Fulham's current keeper Kasey Keller is ranked 100th on the list, although it's not clear if the compilers had run out of names by this point. It's rumoured Marco Boogers was 101st.

I happen to agree with the top three, but Zola deserves to be ahead of Henrik Larsson

 

[yangch0000]

wonders where is our ole? shld be in top 10

 

[red_devils4life]

I happen to agree with the top three, but Zola deserves to be ahead of Henrik Larsson.

Glad to see we could actually agree on something RFR. Call me biased or wadeva (I hate Le'Arse), I'd deffo' put Gianfranco Zola right after 'Eric the King' in that list of urs. Anyway, could I have the link to the whole list? That's provided if you hve it. Last but not least, 'Au Revoir Cantona'!!

 

[RedForceRising]

Glad to see we could actually agree on something RFR. Call me biased or wadeva (I hate Le'Arse), I'd deffo' put Gianfranco Zola right after 'Eric the King' in that list of urs. Anyway, could I have the link to the whole list? That's provided if you hve it. Last but not least, 'Au Revoir Cantona'!!

I suppose the actual article only appears in the mag, but here's the Daily Mail article
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...all.html?in_article_id=557271&in_page_id=1779

Here's a brief article and interview with the editor of Four Four Two regarding the best foreign imports to play in England's top flight:
http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfo...test-foreigners-in-british-football-ever.aspx

 

[red_devils4life]

I suppose the actual article only appears in the mag, but here's the Daily Mail article
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...all.html?in_article_id=557271&in_page_id=1779

Here's a brief artical and interview with the editor of Four Four Two regardin the best foregin imports to play in England's top flight:
http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfo...test-foreigners-in-british-football-ever.aspx

Thanks & thanks again for both the links.

 

[RedForceRising]

My Top 10 foreign imports in England's top flight:

1. Cantona
2. Solskjaer
3. Zola
4. Ronaldo
5. Henry
6. Schmeichel
7. Bergkamp
8. Klinsmann
9. Van Nistelrooy
10. Stam

(I'm fully expecting Evra, Vidic and Anderson to break into that top 10)

I probably should do a top 10 foreign man utd and non-man utd list.
It hurts to put a non-man utd player infront of a red legend!

 

[fazman]

my list is

1.cantona
2.henry
3.schmicheal
4.ronaldo
5.bergkamp
6.solskear
7.kanchelskis
8.drogba
9.zola
10.viera

 

[fazman]

I have to agree anyone who watched cantona knows how good he was to all the young united fans get the dvds and watch this man i once waited hours outside old trafford to get his autograph . Everyone waiting was waiting for cantona and while i was waiting for him a young player creeped out and signed autographs and guess who it was david beckham imagin that now he wouldnt get out people would be fighting to get his autograph

 

[red_devils4life]

Seeing you guys making a 'Top 10 Premiership's Import' list, I'm tempted to go for it myself...so here's mine:

1. Eric Cantona
2. Gianfranco Zola
3. Dennis Bergkamp
4. Thierry Henry
5. Peter Schmeichel
6. Patrick Vieira
7. Ruud van Nistelrooy
8. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
9. Cristiano Ronaldo
10. Paolo di Canio

 

[fazman]

Seeing you guys making a 'Top 10 Premiership's Import' list, I'm tempted to go for it myself...so here's mine:

1. Eric Cantona
2. Gianfranco Zola
3. Dennis Bergkamp
4. Thierry Henry
5. Peter Schmeichel
6. Patrick Vieira
7. Ruud van Nistelrooy
8. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
9. Cristiano Ronaldo
10. Paolo di Canio

not a bad list

 

[yangch0000]

cantona
bergkamp
schmeichel
henry
zola
solskjaer
ruud
vieira
ronaldo
and.....



SHEVCHENKO!!!!!!

 

[red_devils4life]

Was doin' absolutely fine until the last spot, which's a toss-up between the Hammers legend Paolo di Canio & Spurs duo. Namely, Juergen Klinsmann & David Ginola. However, still went for the Italian hitman in the end. And here's why, you wouldn't even think he's capable of doin all these. An immensely underrated chap

 

[scott 4 evra]

sorry lads but i'd hav ronaldo ahead of cantona. there's this whole past is betther than present attitude and eric the king never had as good a 2 seasons as ronnie. plus ronnie has played mor times than cantona. personally i would have. but honestly i tink no one made an impact yet like henry from 2001-2005, imo. but ronnies on his way.

1. henry
2. ronaldo
3. larsson
4. cantona
5. zola
6. bergkamp
7. solskjaer
8. di canio
9. schmeichel
10. juninho.

 

[man.utd.singh]

Wait Wait, Can we not include Best? he came from ireland

 

[antdevil78]

sorry lads but i'd hav ronaldo ahead of cantona. there's this whole past is betther than present attitude and eric the king never had as good a 2 seasons as ronnie. plus ronnie has played mor times than cantona. personally i would have. but honestly i tink no one made an impact yet like henry from 2001-2005, imo. but ronnies on his way.

1. henry
2. ronaldo
3. larsson
4. cantona
5. zola
6. bergkamp
7. solskjaer
8. di canio
9. schmeichel
10. juninho.

larsson....u sure???

 

[scott 4 evra]

oops sorry, thought it was britian take larsson off that list.

 

[red_devils4life]

sorry lads but i'd hav ronaldo ahead of cantona. there's this whole past is betther than present attitude and eric the king never had as good a 2 seasons as ronnie. plus ronnie has played mor times than cantona. personally i would have. but honestly i tink no one made an impact yet like henry from 2001-2005, imo. but ronnies on his way.

1. henry
2. ronaldo
3. larsson
4. cantona
5. zola
6. bergkamp
7. solskjaer
8. di canio
9. schmeichel
10. juninho.

Seriously, you don't think that Eric Cantona's the best Premiership import ever?
FFS, Cantona is often regarded as having played a major talismanic role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing powerhouse and he enjoys iconic status at the club. In 2001 he was voted their player of the century, and to this day United fans refer to him as "King Eric".

United's season had been disappointing up to Cantona's signing. They had had problems scoring goals: Brian McClair and Mark Hughes were off form, and summer signing Dion Dublin had broken his leg early in the season. He quickly settled on the big stage at Old Trafford, however, his subtle skills and flair for the unexpected option blossoming within the framework of a gifted side with many willing runners to feed from his delightfully weighted chips and flicks into open spaces. Certainly United supporters clasped him to their hearts as a cult hero and his contribution to successive Barclays Premiership titles has been an immensley significant one. Not only has he created a fresh dimension in attack by his sharp, eagle-eyed vision and self-confidence, but he also proved an inspiration to his talented team-mates who have responded with aplomb to his uplifting and unique brand of unforgettable soccer sorcery. Eighteen Premiership goals and four in the FA Cup - which included two elegantly sidefooted pressure penalties in the final against Chelsea - was Eric's "magnifique" contribution to the Red Devils domestic double winning-season. The fiery Frenchman cut a very impressive figure throughout 1993/94 and fully warranted his PFA Player of the Year award.

In the following season Cantona became infamous for an incident that occurred on 25 January 1995. In an away match against Crystal Palace, after being sent off by the referee for a vengeful kick on Palace defender Richard Shaw (after Shaw had pulled his shirt), he launched a 'kung-fu' style kick against a Crystal Palace fan, Matthew Simmons. Manchester United eventually lost the Premiership title to Blackburn Rovers due to his lenghty absence while serving his ban. Eric Cantona accepted his punishment and came back a reformed character to help United win the famous back-to-back domestic Doubles in 1995/96.

The Nike advert said it best: '1966 was a great year for English football. Eric was born.' No other Premiership player can match Cantona's iconic status and that's why King Eric had to be our No.1. He was so great partly because he believed he was great. The upturned collar, the arrogant strut, the disdainful way he brushed aside defenders… the self-belief of the man was awesome. When he played, you just couldn't take your eyes off him. And at the end of every full season he played at Old Trafford, there was the same outcome: Man Utd, Premiership champions. Who could ask for more?

Here is the absolutely fantastic 13 match run in for the Double Double:
Eric scores in 9/13 games, 5 of them match winning goals!

 

[fazman]

sorry lads but i'd hav ronaldo ahead of cantona. there's this whole past is betther than present attitude and eric the king never had as good a 2 seasons as ronnie. plus ronnie has played mor times than cantona. personally i would have. but honestly i tink no one made an impact yet like henry from 2001-2005, imo. but ronnies on his way.

1. henry
2. ronaldo
3. larsson
4. cantona
5. zola
6. bergkamp
7. solskjaer
8. di canio
9. schmeichel
10. juninho.

in all seriousness larsson played a handfull of games so doesnt deserve to be in the top ten

Ronaldo How??????????????????????????????
Cantona Greater Than Him Million Time Milloi9in Time Better
He Do Every Thing And Nonselfish
For Me
Cantona Is The Geartest Player Who Ever Played For Manchester United
And In My Top 3 Vip Manchester United He Is The Second
1.sir Alex Feruson
2cantona
3.busby

I dont believe you've ever seen cantona play football abo !! you just go with whatever topic we talk about if red devil said karel poborsky was our greatest player you would be lording him

 

[abojodeh]

Cantona End Of Talk
It Is Cantona The King Of The Epl

 

[red_devils4life]

in all seriousness larsson played a handfull of games so doesnt deserve to be in the top ten

I dont believe you've ever seen cantona play football abo !! you just go with whatever topic we talk about if red devil said karel poborsky was our greatest player you would be lording him

Agreed about the Larsson part, how could ppl actually put Larsson onto the list when he only payed a handful of games for United...probably less than 10.