A Complete Explanation Of Everything

Goalie - Peter Schmeichel

The legendary Dane, was a bit of a twat. But he was also the most imposing physical specimen ever placed between the sticks in the Premiership ever, a fine shot stopper, the king of the one on one and an absolute legend at clearing out the box when a cross was flighted in. Regularly, he'd render unconscious one of his own defenders... Take the ball, take the man, take everything!

Understudy: Edwin Van Der Sar

Right-back - Gary Neville

It can only be the Neviller... Absent for a season plus now, the slightly tached one has been missed. Awful going forward but not quite as bad as Paul Parker, the man lives and breathes United clearly. His strength is his ability to windup scousers immeasurably and Patrick Vieira although he needed Keano to save his ass on that occasion... As Roy remarked, "There'd probably be a queue..."

Understudy: Wesley Brown

Centre-back - Nemanja Vidic

Probably centreback, is the toughest position on the team because there are four or five in with a reasonable shout. Jaap Stam won't even appear for example and he was a top player. Vidic gets the nod because in an era of super athleticism, he still performs the Steve Bruce role with aplomb and more style than Steve could manage. Great player though, Brucie...

Understudy: Steve Bruce

Centre-back - Rio Ferdinand

Sheer pace gets Rio in here ahead of Pally. Gary Pallister was a giant amongst men, a scorer supreme of own goals and generally, just a legend. I'll always remember his late freekick against Blackburn which rounded out the scorers over the season for the first eleven. Pally should have been in here ahead of Rio but because pace is a concern in the modern game, Gary is plying his trade probably at his old club, Boro'

Understudy: Gary Pallister

Left-back - Denis "Dinny" Irwin

The ultimate professional, a model of consistency, boredom personified. A decent free kick and a soft spoken Cork accent. Once again, another legend and the bargain purchase of Ferguson's entire career, including Cantona!

Understudy: Patrice Evra

Rightwing - Cristiano Ronaldo

A tough choice, not! Except for Andrei, sentimentality would have Kanchelskis in but the boy from Madeira can't be denied... He rolls in all the qualities (good and bad) of Becks and the Ukrainian express. The Portugese winker ain't done yet but will he still be at Old Trafford in two / three years hence, his legacy is dependent really, that and a Champions League medal buys you immortality Cristiano...

Understudy: Andrei Kanchelskis / David Beckham

Centre-midfield - Roy Keane (Captain)

There was an argument made once, if humanity had to play for it's fate, one football match against an alien race, if you wanted to win you would put the likes of Zinedine Zidane etcetera into the centre of the park. The punchline or the everlasting testimony to Roy was the acknowledgement that if you didn't want to lose, you'd play Roy Keane... Sheer guts, determination and bloody mindedness...

Understudy: Phil Neville

Centre-midfield - Paul Scholes

The ginger one. He scores goals, etc. He's changed his game alot over the years but he remains a cute passer, a terrible tackler and a shy reticent man. He lets his boots do the talking and they've spoken eloquently over the years...

Understudy: Juan Sebastian Veron

Left-wing - Ryan Giggs

Is George Best the old Ryan Giggs... The hairy chested one, still swinging that jersey over his head at Villa Park, not so much beatlemania as football mania at that point, he'd left the screeching girls behind at that point, he was at his best. No time to think, get the head down and motor and celebrating, he could have run out of Villa Park and I think everybody might have followed...

Understudy: Lee Sharpe

Centre-forward - Eric Cantona

Eric Le Roi. He represents the essence of a Red Devil, the artistic soul of the club in as much as Keane was the embodiment of the fierce determination. Both had the tendency to boil over and yet Eric, at his imperious best had the ability to make time and the world stand still.

Understudy: Mark Hughes

Centre-forward - Wayne Rooney

There's still plenty to come from Wayne but given the other options, he seems to sit well within this team. The Dutchman glowers over his shoulder and the Cole / Yorke partnership are in literal disbelief... Rooney has however proven himself as the team player beyond compare of that lot, Andy Cole changed his game substantially at United and became a great footballer and goalscorer, Dwight shone for a season and a half, similar to Ruud before making the team less than the sum of it's parts... Rooney is an exponential factor however despite his Ruud like qualities in front of goal at times... A short tribute to the understudy, the king of the understudies. The baby faced assassin was the most lethal bench player known to modern football, scored the winner in Barcelona and had his career tragically cut short,a genuine team and squad player, Ole Gunnar will also be remembered as one of the smiling faces of football...

"You are my Solskjaer, my only Solskjaer, you make me happy, when skies are grey!"

Understudy: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Honourable Mentions: Jesper Blomqvist; Les Sealey; Brian McClair; Mark Robins; Ruud Van Nistelrooy; Andy Cole; Dwight Yorke; Nicky Butt