Manchester United's fans can take solace from the fact that, with acouple of notable exceptions, the Scot's judgment tends to be flawless.
Eric Cantona (Leeds, £1.2 million, 1992)
Success Rating: 10/10
Sir Alex Ferguson famously chanced his arm asking Howard Wilkinsonabout the troublesome Frenchman, brought him across the Pennines for acut-price fee and accidentally signed one of United’s all time greats.
Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham, £3.5 million, 1997)
Success Rating: 9/10
The Spurs striker was already in his 30s when Ferguson brought him toOld Trafford as an experienced hand to guide his crop of youngsters,but he went on to help United to three titles and, famously, theChampions League.
Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, £12.6 million, 1998)
Success Rating: 7/10
Ferguson smashed United’s transfer record to bring the Aston Villaforward to Old Trafford, but his almost telepathic partnership withAndy Cole became one of the most prolific in United’s history.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV, £19 million, 2001)
Success Rating: 8/10
Another record signing – for a few days at least – came complete withthe scorn of Harry van Praag, the PSV chairman, but van Nistelrooyprovided a stunning 95 goals in 150 games over five years at OldTrafford.
Juan Sebastian Veron (Lazio, £28.1 million, 2001)
Success Rating: 4/10
Ferguson’s biggest mistake. Veron failed to settle into the moreadvanced role the Scot handed him after his British record move and wassold to Chelsea after two underwhelming years for half of his massivefee.
Rio Ferdinand (Leeds, £30 million, 2002)
Success Rating: 9/10
For the second year in a row, Ferguson broke the British transferrecord to make the former Leeds man the world’s most expensivedefender. The risk paid off, though, as Ferdinand blossomed intoarguably the finest centre back on the planet.
Kleberson (A Paranaense, £6 million, 2003)
Success Rating: 2/10
Looked reasonably impressive in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning side,but seemed a strange choice as a replacement for Roy Keane.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting Lisbon, £12.6 million, 2003)
Success Rating: 10/10
It may look a paltry sum now, but, for an unproven teenager signed onthe recommendation of players impressed after a friendly, Ronaldo’s feewas comparatively high. He proved to be more than worth it.
Wayne Rooney (Everton, £25.6 million, 2004)
Success Rating: 9/10
Another hefty sum for a teenager with just two complete seasons ofPremier League football under his belt, but a hat-trick on his debutagainst Fenerbahce augured well.
Henrik Larsson (Helsingborgs, Loan, 2007)
Success Rating: 6/10
It is hard to categorise the two-month loan which brought the veteranSwede to Old Trafford as a risk. Larsson wanted a swansong in one ofEurope’s top leagues and, while he hardly set the world alight with hisperformances, provided invaluable cover and a touch of class as Unitedregain the title. |
發表於 2009-7-4 12:18 PM
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