Sir Alex Ferguson's current crop of stars are grabbing the headlines, but how do they compare to the treble-winning Manchester United side of 1999?
Ferguson's class of 1999
Peter Schmeichel: Fergie called him 'bargain of the century', others simply the best goalkeeper ever; went out on the high of Barcelona.10/10
Gary Neville: Already an established international, a home-grown player who could be relied upon in defence and on the overlap down the right wing. 9/10
Jaap Stam: Voted best defender in Europe in 1999; strong and calm, his importance to United recognised fully after his departure. 9/10
Ronny Johnsen: One of the unsung and almost forgotten heroes; a defensive midfield anchor man of great ability and value. 8/10
Denis Irwin: One of the corner-stones, and arguably one of the game's greatest full-backs for his work-rate, versatility, dependability and unflappability. 9/10
Ryan Giggs: The consummate professional, and outstanding wide player, had already developed into one of the more mature senior members of the squad. 9/10
Nicky Butt: Often overshadowed in United's midfield, where he was seen as Keane's stand-in, but always committed, eager and understated. 8/10
David Beckham: Dead-ball skills underlined with corners that led to United's goals; already on way to superstardom despite deputising in central midfield. 9/10
Jesper Blomqvist: Talented Danish winger brought in as back-up to Giggs, but Barcelona was his last game before succumbing to another injury. 7/10
Andy Cole: At his goalscoring peak, playing a key role throughout the season in an almost telepathic partnership with Dwight Yorke. 9/10
Dwight Yorke: Top league goalscorer, his prolific understanding with Cole brought the strikers 53 goals between them during the season. 9/10
Teddy Sheringham: Limited opportunities at 33, but still scored crucial goals in the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League. 7/10
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: At height of his supersub days, coming off bench to score majority of his 20 goals, including winner against Bayern Munich. 8/10
Roy Keane: Gave one of best performances of career in the semi-final in Turin, but a booking ruled out of final. 9/10
Paul Scholes: Key midfield partnership with Keane which allowed him to get forward to make and score goals, but missed final through suspension. 9/10
Total: 129 / 150
Ferguson's class of 2008
Edwin van der Sar: Made most of season in which he was expected to be usurped by Ben Foster, and given some creditable performances between injuries. 8/10
Wes Brown: Limited opportunities at his preferred centre-half position, but has deputised for
Neville: at full-back in typically no-nonsense style. 8/10
Rio Ferdinand: Has become the dominant, classy, unruffled centre-half that had been expected of him throughout his career, though not always delivered. 9/10
Nemanja Vidic: The modern-day Steve Bruce to Ferdinand's Gary Pallister; has physical presence and great heading ability at both ends of pitch. 9/10
Patrice Evra: Overcome a mixed start, the former winger has turned into a quick and committed left-back, always looking to go forward. 8/10
Paul Scholes: Keane's departure allowed him to grow as a player, and become the team's pivot; seems to see things before other players. 10/10
Cristiano Ronaldo: Simply the most complete player around: equally adept in the air as on the ground, and takes a wicked free-kick. 10/10
Owen Hargreaves: Not quite Keane's successor yet, but his tenacious approach is ideally suited to the holding midfield role he occupies. 8/10
Ryan Giggs: Still around first-team squad, but some indifferent performances suggest that, at 34, anno domini is starting to catch up. 7/10
Wayne Rooney: Has a football brain beyond his 22 years; sizes up situations in an instant and invariably does the right thing. 9/10
Carlos Tevez: The darting, willing, charismatic striker has developed an excellent rapport with Rooney and Ronaldo, and scored his share of goals. 9/10
Nani: Potential there for all to see: could be another Ronaldo if he curbs tendency to get carried away and showboat. 8/10
Anderson: An assured playmaker of deceptive strength, he has improved game by game, and could prove the discovery of the season. 8/10
Michael Carrick: Still a bit of an enigma; dominant on his day, but not really made the holding role his own yet. 7/10
Darren Fletcher: Injury has hampered a season in which he was starting to challenge the galactios for a regular place in midfield. 7/10
Total: 124 / 150
- By Martin Smith
1:19pm BST 10/04/2008
The Telegraph
Ferguson's class of 1999
Peter Schmeichel: Fergie called him 'bargain of the century', others simply the best goalkeeper ever; went out on the high of Barcelona.10/10
Gary Neville: Already an established international, a home-grown player who could be relied upon in defence and on the overlap down the right wing. 9/10
Jaap Stam: Voted best defender in Europe in 1999; strong and calm, his importance to United recognised fully after his departure. 9/10
Ronny Johnsen: One of the unsung and almost forgotten heroes; a defensive midfield anchor man of great ability and value. 8/10
Denis Irwin: One of the corner-stones, and arguably one of the game's greatest full-backs for his work-rate, versatility, dependability and unflappability. 9/10
Ryan Giggs: The consummate professional, and outstanding wide player, had already developed into one of the more mature senior members of the squad. 9/10
Nicky Butt: Often overshadowed in United's midfield, where he was seen as Keane's stand-in, but always committed, eager and understated. 8/10
David Beckham: Dead-ball skills underlined with corners that led to United's goals; already on way to superstardom despite deputising in central midfield. 9/10
Jesper Blomqvist: Talented Danish winger brought in as back-up to Giggs, but Barcelona was his last game before succumbing to another injury. 7/10
Andy Cole: At his goalscoring peak, playing a key role throughout the season in an almost telepathic partnership with Dwight Yorke. 9/10
Dwight Yorke: Top league goalscorer, his prolific understanding with Cole brought the strikers 53 goals between them during the season. 9/10
Teddy Sheringham: Limited opportunities at 33, but still scored crucial goals in the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League. 7/10
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: At height of his supersub days, coming off bench to score majority of his 20 goals, including winner against Bayern Munich. 8/10
Roy Keane: Gave one of best performances of career in the semi-final in Turin, but a booking ruled out of final. 9/10
Paul Scholes: Key midfield partnership with Keane which allowed him to get forward to make and score goals, but missed final through suspension. 9/10
Total: 129 / 150
Ferguson's class of 2008
Edwin van der Sar: Made most of season in which he was expected to be usurped by Ben Foster, and given some creditable performances between injuries. 8/10
Wes Brown: Limited opportunities at his preferred centre-half position, but has deputised for
Neville: at full-back in typically no-nonsense style. 8/10
Rio Ferdinand: Has become the dominant, classy, unruffled centre-half that had been expected of him throughout his career, though not always delivered. 9/10
Nemanja Vidic: The modern-day Steve Bruce to Ferdinand's Gary Pallister; has physical presence and great heading ability at both ends of pitch. 9/10
Patrice Evra: Overcome a mixed start, the former winger has turned into a quick and committed left-back, always looking to go forward. 8/10
Paul Scholes: Keane's departure allowed him to grow as a player, and become the team's pivot; seems to see things before other players. 10/10
Cristiano Ronaldo: Simply the most complete player around: equally adept in the air as on the ground, and takes a wicked free-kick. 10/10
Owen Hargreaves: Not quite Keane's successor yet, but his tenacious approach is ideally suited to the holding midfield role he occupies. 8/10
Ryan Giggs: Still around first-team squad, but some indifferent performances suggest that, at 34, anno domini is starting to catch up. 7/10
Wayne Rooney: Has a football brain beyond his 22 years; sizes up situations in an instant and invariably does the right thing. 9/10
Carlos Tevez: The darting, willing, charismatic striker has developed an excellent rapport with Rooney and Ronaldo, and scored his share of goals. 9/10
Nani: Potential there for all to see: could be another Ronaldo if he curbs tendency to get carried away and showboat. 8/10
Anderson: An assured playmaker of deceptive strength, he has improved game by game, and could prove the discovery of the season. 8/10
Michael Carrick: Still a bit of an enigma; dominant on his day, but not really made the holding role his own yet. 7/10
Darren Fletcher: Injury has hampered a season in which he was starting to challenge the galactios for a regular place in midfield. 7/10
Total: 124 / 150
- By Martin Smith
1:19pm BST 10/04/2008
The Telegraph
