Happy Birthday Ruud

Originally Posted by ziggyman17

true..........but fergie ran him into the ground, playing him as a lone forward....

He played as a lone forward for the vast majority of his career, 4-3-3 was his bread and butter in Holland.

That 02/03 title win would be second to 06/07 as my favourite of this milennium. Ruud was incredible in that run, but so were Giggs and Scholes(and Ole), really turned it on. Barthez was the problem in Europe, look back at those Madrid ties and the keepers were the main difference, Casilas was making save after save while Barthez was letting very simple goals in.

Best finisher I think I've seen for Utd

Wonder where we would have finished this season with him in the side

Originally Posted by Sparky***

It's incredible looking back how we won that title in 2003. We'd only managed to win 10 games by January and generally looked inconsistent.

Then suddenly we went into the spring and started pulverising everyone. That 6-2 away at newcastle at a time when Newcastle were actually a good side. Out of the last 16 games we won 13 and drew 3.

Incredible season.

Remember the three in a row of beating Newcastle, Liverpool and arsenal in a row including the Forman double at anfield.

Scholes last minute at home to Sunderland, Forman last minute at home to Chelsea from a wonderful veron pass, 2-2 at Highbury when they could have robbed us with a deflection and a goal that was a full yard offside when we were the best team in the country.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

He played as a lone forward for the vast majority of his career, 4-3-3 was his bread and butter in Holland.

That 02/03 title win would be second to 06/07 as my favourite of this milennium. Ruud was incredible in that run, but so were Giggs and Scholes(and Ole), really turned it on. Barthez was the problem in Europe, look back at those Madrid ties and the keepers were the main difference, Casilas was making save after save while Barthez was letting very simple goals in.

£#%&!ing hated that midget @#%&!

2 of Ronaldo's 3 should have been saved comfortably
Great performance my arse

Originally Posted by TheFatGoth

Like most of our players he was better at Madrid

https://youtu.be/bzKSK-aAAXs

Bale, Modric... struggling to think of any others tbh

Forman

Originally Posted by ZiggyStardust

£#%&!ing hated that midget c***

2 of Ronaldo's 3 should have been saved comfortably
Great performance my arse

The narrative at the time was that Utd had been outclassed. Madrid did play some lovely stuff and there were periods, especially in Spain where they were showboating a little, but the amount of chances Utd missed, home and away Had far more chances than Madrid over the 2 legs, Barthez

Could have won all 3 of those ties against Madrid, 2000 was a proper screw up when Utd were the superior side, one of those years when we should have been adding to the CL total.

Originally Posted by AnthonyMartial

Incredible season.

Remember the three in a row of beating Newcastle, Liverpool and arsenal in a row including the Forman double at anfield.

Scholes last minute at home to Sunderland, Forman last minute at home to Chelsea from a wonderful veron pass, 2-2 at Highbury when they could have robbed us with a deflection and a goal that was a full yard offside when we were the best team in the country.

What a guy, meet him in Sainsburys Altrincham, and thinking what a tall bastard, 10 million to real madrid was a shocking fee

Originally Posted by ziggyman17

true..........but fergie ran him into the ground, playing him as a lone forward....

this - injuries to ole didn't help and diego's inability to score , killed ruud's legs.

Originally Posted by 20 times

Forman

We were brilliant on Pro Evolution Soccer that year

Originally Posted by Tiberian

The narrative at the time was that Utd had been outclassed. Madrid did play some lovely stuff and there were periods, especially in Spain where they were showboating a little, but the amount of chances Utd missed, home and away Had far more chances than Madrid over the 2 legs, Barthez

Tbh they battered us for substantial spells in Madrid but we still had that late chance to make it 3-2 - different tie then

Originally Posted by red in cumbria

Tbh they battered us for substantial spells in Madrid but we still had that late chance to make it 3-2 - different tie then

Was that beck Ham?

Fell to him inside the box on the right and he had time but put it wide.

Thought he would score with his shooting.

Originally Posted by AnthonyMartial

Was that beck Ham?