This compilation of all of Eric Cantona’s 82 goals for Manchester United is making the rounds today, and while it’s meant as a homage to the legendary French striker, it’s also a reminder he was perhaps more of a pioneer in England than an out-and-out World Class player.
Some observations. First, his Premier League legacy is almost certainly attached to his status as one of the first foreign players in the post-B-Sky-B English top flight to become a bona fide star striker at a major club. Notice the “Ooh La La” reference for his second goal in reference to his nationality; today in the polyglot Premier League, it would be laughable.
Second, many of his goals come from situations comparatively rare in the Premier League today, and reflect the counterattacking approach United were content to employ for years in a league not exactly known for its discipline in defense. One on ones with the goal-keeper, free-headers on the edge of the goal mouth, low rolling shots from a distance through four or five players, and misplaced passes from opposition defenders make up a significant chunk of his output. In many ways, his penalties are the most impressive goals; he seemed to have an uncanny ability to force the keeper the wrong way.
Cantona was an expert finisher to be sure, but it’s hard to see him in the same league as a Dennis Bergkamp or even an Alan Shearer for creativity. Even his famous goal against Sunderland on December 21st, 1996 seems to have taken on a certain gloss over time. While it is a finish of incredible quality, it is a chip following a few nice moves. Jon Champion hardly goes into hysterics.
This is not to take a dump on one of the most important players in Premier League history, but to note that, looking through the goggles of “official history,” Cantona’s whole output is greater than the sum of its 82 parts.
So much better than Bergkamp
Are you just re-posting everything in reddit.com/r/soccer?
I actually nicked this from James Dart’s twitter feed, but thanks as ever for the needless snark.
Speaking of needless snark, here’s a list for you:
Denis Law
George Best
Bryan Robson
Duncan Edwards
Bill Foulkes
Martin Buchan
Tommy Taylor
Roger Byrne
Since you’ve gone out of your way to try to slight Manchester United legends this week, you might as well keep going. Hopefully someone someone will notify me when you’re done being a bellend so I can get back to reading something useful on this site.
SB
I made an argument to which you can make a counterargument. And which Manchester United legends have I slated this week? And that list…great players all. I have a big soft spot for Law.
Sir Bobby Charlton hogs the spotlight for the “grating legacy” of trotting out former WC 66 players as “living icons”.
SB
That, you’ll note, was not a criticism of Sir Bobby, a player I very much admire, but the FA for hauling them out. I also wanted to stress my appreciation for him for breaking ranks with convention, which, if that didn’t come across, is my own fault.
Defensive much?
I agree with the crux of the article. At the time, Cantona was loved by Man Utd fans but the broader adulation didn’t actually happen until after he retired. His legend has grown since then.
Revisionism is great.
Nonsense. From 92-97 Cantona was arguably the most important player in the country and was heralded as such. He ended the drought, he secured the double, he won with the kids. Rather than adulation, he’s been attacked since retiring for his perceived failures in Europe, which I don’t remember Bergkamp or Shearer setting alight either.
You sir, deserve an upvote!
Perhaps Cantona is more important as a figure in the development of the PL for his contribution/character than the actual quality of his contribution?
For the record, there’s a video of every Newcastle goal of Shearer’s and it’s pretty hard (impossible) to say Cantona > Bergkamp or Shearer. Not to take anything away from Cantona’s goals.
I agree with the above completely. I was a little young to fully appreciate him, but for me it was the swagger and attitude he brought to United, as well as skill. There is more to a player than just goal reels.
Just a quick comment on Whittall. I enjoy most of the stuff he posts on here. He’s doing a great job of generating dialogue.
What a piss poor “piece” – the writer obviously isn’t old enough to have watched Cantona and how much he helped Utd become the team to beat. Cantona also played a big part in the development of youngsters.
Congrats, Whittall you have written a piss poor piece and you’ll get undeserved attention and clicks.
The irony that some of that “attention” and “clicks” have been lauded on Richard by yourself is clearly lost on you.
i suspect the commentary for the second goal is dubbed on long after the event, possibly for the club channel; it may not necessarily be an authentic document of the time. but cantona was more than just any foreign player, he embodied the english idea of frenchness more perfectly than anyone. obviously the french didn’t see him in the same way.
actually, i thought watching the clip that he was even better than i remembered. i was aged 13-18 in the years he spent at man united. now in my thirties and subject to the ravages of age i have a greater appreciation of how exceptionally graceful he is, how rare it is to see a guy that size with feet that quick. the imagination, the variation and the power in those finishes. the power headers that always seem to come from a ryan giggs cross to the back post. and he knew how to celebrate a goal. remember the big rival at the time was alan shearer and you can see how rock & roll cantona looked by comparison.
but really, cantona was all about the assists. moments like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_uzU85htH4
“but really, cantona was all about the assists”
Ahhhh, Eric Cantona = Ron Francis. It all becomes so clear.
What’s that? Slow week due to international footy? Well let’s roll out the anti-Man Utd articles then!
As per usual, this is utter bollocks, polished off by a ridiculous assertion that Shearer was even remotely in Cantona’s class when it came to creativity. Back in your box, trollolol.
There are a couple of major flaws in this post.
1)You are judging Cantona on his goals alone. He was so much more than just a goal scorer. His technique was absolutely brilliant, had incredible vision, was strong as an ox, a hard tackler, helped out in the midfield and defense, was a natural leader, and more than anything, was one of those rare talents that could take a game and make it his own. He could produce those moments of brilliance that can unlock a tight game. He literally was the spark that made United tick.
Honestly – comparing Shearer to Cantona in the creativity department is so wrong. Cantona was a creative genius – Shearer was no where near him in that regard.
Honest question Richard – did you actually watch Eric Cantona play for United or are you basing this all off a YouTube highlight reel of his goals?
2)On the approach of your critique – surely it is only fair to gauge how good a player was within the context of how the game was played at the time. Should the greats the 60′s based on how they could fair in a modern Tiki Taka system? Should we question the greatness of DiStefano or Pele based on whether or not he could deal with modern zonal marking, much fitter defenses, or whether or not they could excel as a false 9? Of course not – so it’s hardly fair to gauge Eric based this way as well.
For a blog of world class writers such as James Horncastle, Michael Cox, Ben Lyttleton, Paolo Bandini. I have to admit this is one of the worse articles of 2012 written on a respected blog. Clueless.
OK I will have a go at a counterargument:
Firstly, look at the variety of goals Cantona scored, there are indeed tap ins, there are many headers (Shearer, Ferdinand ?) there are some beautiful touches and flicks, control in tight spaces and then shots produced that go in off the post, tucked right in the corner – hitting the postage stamp. There are goals from many angles and ranges.
There are a couple of beauties past David Seaman, a worldy vs Crystal Palace in the cup (Le Tissier would be proud of a couple of those). He was indeed also a penalty expert (Le Tissier again).
Let’s also remember the many assists as well as the 82 goals on this video, if you only saw this you would think he was an excellent #9 but he must have set up almost as many goals for others (I can’t find any solid assist stats, too early for these to be recorded?)
To address your final concern I might point out that a compilation of his goals alone is not going to showcase his creativity as much as a compilation of his assists would. So perhaps on that score you are looking in the wrong place? Did he score goals Bergkamp didn’t score? Yes, Bergkamp wasn’t really a fox in the box type poking them in from six yards. Does that make him better? No it makes him different and the comparison harder to make.
So he was what you might term a complete front player, he could arrive in the six yard box on the end of a cross from Giggs/Beckham or he could tee one up from the edge of the area, or lay the killer pass for Cole/Hughes to finish.
66 assists is the number commonly cited. Might not be dead on, but even if that is off either +-10 assists, the number is still astounding.
184 appearances, 82 goals and 66 assists. That is a ridiculous statistic….and highlights just how pointless judging a player like King Eric is on goals alone.
I personally wonder what the Birthdate field says on the drivers licenses of those calling out Richard for “never having seen Cantona play live”. Indeed, if they are even old enough to have licenses.
What do you expect people to think when this monstrosity is written ? This belongs on Bleacher Report. Garbage.
Old enough to have watched him play – many, many times. Thanks for asking though.
It’s pretty obvious Mr. Whittall never watched Cantona other than Youtube highlights.
The moment he compares Shearer to Cantona is when you just stop and laugh. Poor comparison.
A little late to the debate here…
To evaluate any artist on the basest part of their output, say number of records sold, or how many paintings they created, is to miss the point entirely.
I suppose, given the premise – to judge his class via his goal-scoring feats – there is some merit. Shearer was more prolific and powerful; Bergkamp more cerebral and calculated – the interview he did a while back digesting some of his classics was brilliant.
But as we all know goals are overrated anyhow.
The majesty of Cantona was just that; the man. He exuded class at a time when the average footballer projected little more glamour than the blue collar workers who watched them. He helped spur a revolution in the game – if Best was the first playboy footballer, Cantona was the first modern celebrity.
As regards the quality of the defending, I’m led to believe that English football at the time could be as muddy as the pitches on which it was played; Cantona combined the technique of the continental with the ability to perform at the breakneck speeds required to circumvent the physicality of the day.
His assertion helped build a dynasty; Manchester United were a big club before, but they weren’t United.
I could go on, but have spent enough time already; somebody should write a book on this…
Good to see Ken Early in the comments section.
Ugh, Man United fans are such cry babies…
Damnit, where’s the “Like” button?
Curse them for giving a counter-opinion. How dare they.
Agreed with that Chris W…never stop taking the piss out of other club’s or player’s expenses!
It’s like that for every club, not Man u fan btw.
Same thing happened when EDR criticized Arsenal/Chelsea
If you see a post/blog/article criticizing your team, you’re most likely going to post some hateful comment.
Just look at most of the comments on this blog.
Goodbye FootyBlog, it’s been nice knowing but your editor is an idiot, and has driven me from the best source for football content. The Footy Show crew is barely hanging on now, if it wasnt for James and KJ, I would make the permanent switch to Fox Soccer or ESPN FC, fucking hell I’d rather go to canadasoccer.com at this point. I suggest anyone reading this do the same, this is a sinking ship, and Dobby and Dunlop made the right move. Good transfer boys, hopefully you got room for Sharms and KJ
That seems a bit harsh, the blog still offers up great content, presented by the editor.
The problem with this piece on Cantona is that it seems to be based on youtube video’s of his goals, which don’t really shows Cantona’s overall influence. You need only speak to anyone who watched him play to get some understanding how influential he was.
The blog should be allowed to give an opinion, at the same time, the readership should be allowed to give a counter argument (without descending into childishness; I was guilty of this myself) without being branded a “crybaby” or a “troll”.
Of course, when talking about football, it is never that easy.
My comment has nothing to do with United, or Cantona, or this particular post, but rather comes from my experiences with this Blog over the last 3 years. In the last 12 months the Footy Show blog went from being the only place I checked for all things football to the last place possible I want to go. That has nothing to do with the talent, the acutal talent Sharms and KJ, and everything to do with the changes that have been made.
It is BEYOND painful to say that I would rather have Dunlop at this point, but if it meant bringing back Punners and Dobby or keeping Whittall, the choice wouldn’t even register. RIP Footy Blog, long live Sharms KJ Dobby and Punners.
Agreed, too many changes in such a short time. Losing Dobby/Punners was bad, even though some of their football knowledge was a bit weak. They brought a sort of casual feeling to the footy show, though I do enjoy having Cox/Bandini/etc.
I do miss the old footy show, however I sure as hell am not going to follow ESPN/TSN/Sportsnet. Foxsoccer became a lot better than it used to be 3-4 years ago so might just follow that a bit more.
You must have really cried over the departure of Joe Ross, then. Funny guy with a style that built this thing up.
He only playes in England 5 full seasons….won the League 4 times & the year he didn’t he was suspended from January! Says it all really!
Full disclosure; I’m a United fan, and disagree with much of this piece, for the reasons that many have already stated—judging Cantona on his goals alone doesn’t do the man any sort of justice. However, some the reactions are a little hyperbolic for my taste. Richard Whittall has actually written a lot of decent stuff in the past, and whether you disagree with his opinions, for the large part he expresses them articulately and back them up with solid logic. Again, I disagree with opinion expressed in this piece, but this is far from being the Bleacher Report. Come on people, take a deep breath.