AUTHOR: – Stretford-end

Yes the title may leave me open for some criticism, however it is merely in response to a comment made by World Soccer editor Gavin Hamilton (a magazine that I do thoroughly enjoy reading) that the great Frenchman was a great player, but did not reach the heights of other great players.

I thought it was quite an interesting discussion, considering that I know some Reds that, although worship Cantona for what he did at Old Trafford, think that it was a kind of ‘right place right time right man’ situation.  Eric Cantona was made for Manchester United in 1992 and the club was made for him. He was the missing piece of the jigsaw in the search for Championship glory after 26 years, and in that year the Frenchman was free to display his sublime skill, flair and grace on the Old Trafford turf.

Any football fan, however blinkered, will clearly acknowledge the level of players such as Zidane, Maradona and Di Stefano – but there is no doubting that Cantona was inspirational to the ongoing success of Manchester United and the Premier League as a whole by helping to pave the way for the likes of Ronaldo, Henry and Zola as foreign stars gracing our league.