Did Cantona retire too early?

This whole Beckham extravaganza brought his exit back to mind. Considering he was 31, the same age as Beckham is now and a lot of people think that going the US is wasting his ability.

You could also look at Giggs and Scholes, 33 and 32, maybe not what they were but still top class footballers contributing in a team pushing for trophies.

Cantona had just had an average season by his standards, but is still came out of nowhere. Probably perfectly suited to his character, but he could still have been a valuable player with his football brain and influence.

no. nft.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

This whole Beckham extravaganza brought his exit back to mind. Considering he was 31, the same age as Beckham is now and a lot of people think that going the US is wasting his ability.

You could also look at Giggs and Scholes, 33 and 32, maybe not what they were but still top class footballers contributing in a team pushing for trophies.

Cantona had just had an average season by his standards, but is still came out of nowhere. Probably perfectly suited to his character, but he could still have been a valuable player with his football brain and influence.

His timing was perfect, he wasn't performing as we know he could and decided he would go out at the top.
Best way in my opinion

He was older than 31 in football years. Not the fittest by then.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

Did Cantona retire too early?

that mattered on that, or ever will.

and any other exit would have been worse

i like my memories, and i'm glad i don't have to be selective with eric.

Originally Posted by Grimson

He was older than 31 in football years.

How long is a football year exactly Grimson. made me laugh that did. Is it like dog years or something? He was pretty spritely for a 248 year-old

Originally Posted by Tumescent Throb

How long is a football year exactly Grimson. made me laugh that did. Is it like dog years or something? He was pretty spritely for a 248 year-old

You know what I mean. Some players at 31 are still playing like they're 25. Teddy was one. Eric probably wasn't the keenest on strength training, diet, etc.

Originally Posted by borsuk

and any other exit would have been worse

i like my memories, and i'm glad i don't have to be selective with eric.

Would you have liked Giggs and Scholes to have retired by now as well?

As for his fitness, was there not a "lowest body fat in the league" stat about Cantona?

He has an average season, still remember the semi-final against Dortmund when he looked a shadow of himself, missing chances and being off the pace, but others have shown that it is possible to come back.

His decision in the end of course, if he had lost the will to play then he was right to retire.

yes and no

Originally Posted by Tropical

that mattered on that, or ever will.

Originally Posted by Grimson

You know what I mean. Some players at 31 are still playing like they're 25. Teddy was one. Eric probably wasn't the keenest on strength training, diet, etc.

Yeah he couldn't be bothered to fight it any more could he. Wanted to enjoy the good things in life again

I think he went too early. To go back to the Scholes analogy; Scholes could have retired at the end of last season saying he wasn't putting the performances in. Not many would have argued either. Now look at the football he's playing though, it would have bene a huge waste if he'd retired last season. Just like it was a waste for Cantona.

I'm not saying he should have done it differently, he should please himself, but he did retire too early and he could have contributed a lot if he'd stayed.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

Would you have liked Giggs and Scholes to have retired by now as well?

no. i'm not suggesting he should have retired, just that his career was superb, and i don't regret anything about it. no need for what ifs.

He went at the right time.

Originally Posted by Father Christmas

I assume Trop means Eric's opinion was the only one that mattered.

But you see, you can't quote Trop or borsuk, because of their habit of typing the first part of the post in the subject line, in a contrived attempt to add gravitas.

It's the equivalent of fiction writers using "he said" to introduce a dramatic pause, i.e.:

"It's not my fish," he said. "It never was, and it never will be."

who's got my fish, you sonofabitch.

No. Went out at the top untarnished.

Would probably have gone on to be be labeled a '@#%&!' by some of the divs on RI.

useless French @#%&! cost us the 1997 European Cup with all them sitters against Dortmund...should've stayed at Lids

Originally Posted by £#%&! KFC

useless French @#%&! cost us the 1997 European Cup with all them sitters against Dortmund...should've stayed at Lids

*ba-dum tish*