[dimz]

Hmmm, making things tough on us Funky!

I think for me Rooney's an automatic choice, moreso than Ronaldo because i think Coppell's quote explains it all: "On the four occasions United have lost this season, he hasn't played." He brings so much to the table and that was stunningly evident in the FA cup tie at Villa.

Ronaldo is second. What 21 goals already? Need i say more?

Third one's tough......for me it's between Vidic and Rio......Vidic is one of my favourite current United players but i think Rio gets the edge here. Cant' really explain why. :s

[RooneyRules]

I would go for Rooney. Not just since I like him but because of the energy and motivation he brings to the team even when he's not playing well. He causes everyone to lift thier game. And ofcourse he can always smack in the back of the net. No wonder United have never lost when he's played this season.

[ROONEYGR]

In my opinion there is not THE MOST important player of the team.I think that Rio and Vidic together are the best but if you separate them they are not so good, so noone is so important.
As for attack Ronaldo cant always do it alone he wants Rooney to help him.So Ferguson when he wants to rest someone he ought to keep the balance.....

[GocartMozart]

First let me start off by responding to the common publicized comparison between Ronaldo and Rooney. There is no choice to be made here. It is absolutely an obvious choice to have Rooney. I look back to last season and I think of a fairly spotty campaign for the lad, but when he is needed, such as the Champions League, particularly against Roma and Milan, he before anyone else shifted into a new gear. I look to his desire and drive and I can't help but see Roy Keane. When shit hits the fan and we're faced with a stern challenge from an opposing team that will not be beat, there is one player who keeps us moving forward. One player that embodies what Manchester United has always been about. It's strange that this resilience is bottled in a scouse package, but regardless it is Rooney that we trust with the ball in the final minutes of a game, or when we are losing focus. His quality is undeniable and his statistics are there. If there is any other statistic needed, it is the effect of his absence on the team. Those stats have been posted previously, and go back before this season. It was true of last season as well. To me Rooney is United.

The unfortunate truth is that Ronaldo and Rooney, both rarely play well on the same day. It's happening more frequently of late, but i've certainly noticed that one or the other happens to shine, but rarely do they both step-up, or at least it seems that way. The real difference can be shown in other ways. I'll give an example. Against Reading, Evra was rarely able to bombard forward the way he did the previous week against Newcastle. On his rare run, there was one man who saw the danger (there were actually two, but Giggs was beaten to the task) and took up the position, stoping Reading from exposing our left flank. Rooney comes through in so many other ways, that are really invaluable. I think back to the Nike commercial where he takes over for the keeper, because he's not doing the job. The commercial accurately portrayed what it means to be Wayne Rooney, and what the red shirt is all about. These are also qualities Ronaldo, for all his brilliant skill, can not summon while he's sitting on the pitch complaining about a call. This might seem like excessive propoganda, but his quality is ever-present.

I've often argued that Rooney should be made the captain, particularly if the choice was between him and Rio. I'll stand by that, but Rio Ferdinand is without a doubt a leader for the club and has been massive. Gone are the days of his multi-match blunders. Gone are the days when he can't balance personal drama, and performances. Even his drug-test blunder is a distant memory. I use to be a fairly loud critic, but the quality of his contributions (although greatly magnified by Vidic) are undeniable.

The third spot is difficult for me to choose. I have a natural tendency to look to Ryan Giggs, and undoubtably when United need maturity and intelligent decision making he is an automatic inclusion. However it is obvious that he isn't able to keep a constant starting position due to his age. He is thus disqualified. The choice then comes down to Vidic or Ronaldo, and because of sheer numbers, I cannot remove Cristiano Ronaldo from my top 3. He's been just massive. His finishing has been fine, his presence is almost ominous and he does something that we don't pay much attention to. He takes people's eyes off of the other attacking players and lets them have a little more space. With this team, all it takes is a sniff at goal and because of this he improves the rest of the team. Now let me make it clear that I don't think he actually makes the rest of the team, elevate their game, but rather garners so much attention that it provides more space for the rest of the team. Against the best competition, it is that extra yard that is all Giggs, or Rooney, or Nani, or Saha need to finish. That paired with his disgustingly good stats that give him the automatic third spot. I'm sure that in the near future I'll be forced to increase his position.

Originally Posted by bezimeni

Ronaldo at the moment is our MVP. I think Tevez is forgotten on the short MVP selection list. He scored so many vital goals and covers the holes in the middle and even returns to help defense when needed. He would be tied nr.3 in my MVP choice list with Rooney. Ferdinand is 2nd. Sensational player in our defensive line up. Tough choice but at the moment I'd still say Ronaldo is without any doubt United's Most Important Player

i detest the use of the word MVP, but I have to agree with you about his importance at the moment.

Originally Posted by USAManUtd13

Scholes, Giggs and Rooney

explanations later...maybe

I'm still waiting on that explanation

[funkdoctorspock]

Here are my explanations...

1. Rio Ferdinand - The most slated and most hated by opposition fans. Quickiest quips about him... "the drug ban", "he gets into too much trouble" and my favourite "he's too lazy and has too many lapses".

Bottom line is this. He is by far the best defender in the EPL and an argument can be made for top defender in the world. Matched up on a regular basis silencing the oppositions top striker/threat, skilled with the ball and can be utilitzed bringing the ball up the pitch and in attacks. Makes the backline play stronger.

The drug ban was an error on his part which he admitted, regretted and apologized for. The getting into too much trouble is a slight exaggeration and the vast majority of footballers find themselves in these situations. Yes, the Christmas party that Rio put together, wasn't the brightest of ideas, but no ones perfect. He is the backbone of United's defense. Its evident when he's not in the lineup. He provides a calmness and composure back there, that radiates to the other defenders.

Rio's and Vidic's central partnership has grown by leaps and bounds because of this.

2. Wayne Rooney - As GoCartMozart mentioned, Rooney's desire, ability to shift to a new gear when the going gets tough and his fiery attitude a la Keane, is the embodiment of Manchester United football.

Take Rooney out of the lineup and the team doesn't play nearly as well. This was made evident through Roo's injury in November.

Team energizer bunny and should point out that every game he hasn't played in, United has lost this season. I don't think this is a coincidence.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo - Has transformed his game right before our eyes over the last two seasons. Almost gone are the selfish moments, diving, complaining to the ref that were always part of his game. Now, he is a team player, confident in taking over games, a balance between tricks and fundamental play.

The amount of goals he has scored over 2 seasons is no fluke. In fact, I'm going to say it right here. He'll finish off the season with at least 35 goals in all competitions. For a winger, that is astounding.

This three spot was a little difficult for me to select, especially with the questions presented. As much as I respect Ronaldo's game, we have so many quality wingers that can be subbed in and as long as the first 2 players I mentioned are involved in the match, United play up to there high standards. However, with Ronaldo playing, United are able to change how they play quickly and confidently. Quick example. When Ronaldo plays, the interchanging of wing play between Ronaldo and Giggs occurs more. It unsettles defences and causes more scoring opportunities. When another winger is in for Ronaldo, the interchanging becomes less. Not to say that the opportunities don't stay the same, but the extra dimension/look in United's attack disappears.

[Alex]

Rooney - Heart and soul of United. Showed that when he came on the pitch in the last FA Cup match, the whole team responded to his intensity.

Ronaldo - Let's face it, the kid is magic. Has proved time and time again that he can score anywhere on the pitch.

Vidic - In my opinion, he solidifies the back four. Second to none in his tackling ability and a great enforcer!

[USAManUtd13]

Originally Posted by GocartMozart

I'm still waiting on that explanation

Here's the problem I have: When I read "most important player", I take it as more than simply statistics. People probably read my 3 choices and scoff because Ronaldo is not included. I think it's warranted, though.

Ronaldo is a great player, but he's great individually. Ronaldo does improve the entire team with his play, but it's simply by drawing off defenders; I don't feel that he motivates the team mentally at all, which is important. In fact, at times I'd argue that he does a great deal of demoralizing with his antics (pouting, complaining, diving...). Players like Scholes, Rooney, and Giggs inspire the players around them. 2 games THIS year are perfect examples. Rooney comes on in the 75th(ish) minute after United have looked dead the whole game and his play changes the entire atmosphere of the team; passes are crisper, play is quicker, everything is more fluent and it can be attributed to Rooney's passion, skill, and class. Same can be said for Giggs in the last game. He came on for Park in the second half and United looked like a different team from there on out. Chances came with ease for the remainder of the game and United ended up scoring twice in the second half. Scholes falls into this same category. He may go about it modestly, but he's an obvious team leader. One big reason I think Carrick has struggled a fair amount this season is because he doesn't have Scholes paired with him. Again, it goes back to what the player does that makes the rest of the team better. Scholes has it, Giggs has it, and Rooney has it.

[kaihnsn]

Arghh...tough choice for me. Well for me the most obvious is:

Vidic - he add more steel to defend. No nonsense type of defender.

VDS - he gives the confidence to defender with his experience and calmness.

Ronaldo - just can't stop scoring and the best thing is he gives the entertainment
the way once Cantona often did.

But one thing I miss most about current United team is midfielder in the mould of Keano. When I watch United game in the 90's I'm perplexed why he was not among the Footballer of the Year?

[Silas "Subpoena" Awaketh]

I'd say Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo, in that order.

Like the Reading manager said, in all of the United's loss, Rooney was absent, and so was he when we had our 1-0 games, until he came back with a winner against Roma. And then we had 4-0s for a some time, with Rooney being in hot form (until his injury).

Many of Ronaldo's goals would've been scored by some other player anyways had he opted to pass, but because he feels that he should be the one to score, he took all the chances.

Then, we wouldn't have won all those 1-0 games had it not been for Ferdinand. He's reponsible for many of United's wins as much as Ronaldo or Rooney are. Not to mention he looks like Snoop Dogg.

[BigMic]

Originally Posted by kaihnsn

But one thing I miss most about current United team is midfielder in the mould of Keano. When I watch United game in the 90's I'm perplexed why he was not among the Footballer of the Year?

They don't make Keano's any more.Keano is the best defensive midfielder ever to have played in the Premiership.You are a bit wrong because Keano won the PFA Footballer of the Year in 2000.