Source: Manchester_EveningNews
OT Special: The Forwards
In March 1953 United manager Matt Busby bought 21-year-old centre forward Tommy Taylor from Second Division Barnsley for the bizarre fee of £29,999. But there was a method behind Busby's madness. He didn't want Taylor to carry the burden of being a £30,000 player. Yorkshire-born Taylor had come to Busby's notice after scoring 26 goals in his 44 league games with Barnsley. But that superb scoring ratio paled into insignificance compared to Taylor's achievements during his five years at Old Trafford. In 166 league outings Taylor netted no less than 112 times. Capped by England during his first season with the Reds, his scoring rate, incredibly, was even better with 16 goals in only 19 international matches. Devastating in front of goal, whether with his feet or his head, Taylor in that era was regarded as the finest centre-forward in England, let alone at Old Trafford. He was at the peak of his powers when, at the age of 26, he became one of the eight United players who tragically lost their lives in the Munich air disaster on February 6, 1958. Bobby Charlton was born on October 11, 1937, in Ashington, Northumberland, and was spotted early in 1952 playing for Northumberland Schools by United's chief scout Joe Armstrong. Charlton (inset) went on to play for England Schoolboys and despite offers from a host of major clubs the 15-year-old prodigy signed for United on New Year's Day of 1953. Charlton worked his way up the pecking order, scoring regularly for the youth and reserve sides before earning a senior debut against Charlton Athletic in October 1956. And so began one of the most staggeringly successful careers in the entire history of English football. The shy youngster from a North East mining village with thunder in both feet scored 199 goals in 606 league games during a glorious Old Trafford career which spanned two decades. Surviving the Munich disaster, Charlton went on to earn 106 caps. But there is still only one true "King" of Old Trafford - and his name is Denis Law. The craggy Scot with the flowing blond mane signed for the Reds from Italian club Torino in 1962 for a then British record transfer fee of £115,000. Not particularly tall for a centre forward at 5'9" and rather skinny, Law nevertheless won the vast majority of his battles both in the air and on the ground. Confrontational and feisty, Law was the original "fox in the box", snapping up chances when no chances seemed to be there. As a Red between 1962 and `73 he scored 171 goals in 309 senior appearances and in all competitions he netted 237 times from 408 matches. He is the only Scottish player in history to have won the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award in 1964 and he helped the Reds to First Division titles in 1965 and 1967. Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona was sold to United in November 1992 for just £1.2m. In the light of what was to come, that ranks with the record company which turned down the chance of signing up the Beatles in the 60s. Cantona is rightly regarded as the talisman who revived United's fortunes in the 90s, and enjoys iconic status at Old Trafford to this day. In the Frenchman's first two seasons the Reds went on an amazing run, winning the inaugural Premier League title in 1993. In landing that title Cantona became the only player ever to win back-to-back titles with different clubs. United retained the Premier League crown in the following season with the new idol of the Old Trafford fans, scoring two penalties against Chelsea in that season's FA Cup final win. In his seven-year career with the Reds Cantona scored 64 goals from 144 league matches and collected four Premier League titles including two League and Cup doubles. Born on October 24, 1985, in Croxteth, Liverpool, Wayne Mark Rooney was on Everton's books from the age of ten and was a regular in the Goodison Park first team by the age of 16. His potential was obvious from the start of his senior career and it became clear that Everton, with limited financial resources, were never going to be able to hang on to the Boy Wonder. Sir Alex Ferguson made his move for the best young player in English football just before the start of the 2004/05 season, bringing 18-year-old Rooney to Old Trafford for a whopping fee of £25.6m. Rooney made a sensational start to his United career by bagging a hat trick on his debut in a 6-2 Champions League victory over Fenerbahce. That season the Reds finished in third place in the Premier League with Rooney their top scorer with 11 goals. He was also named the PFA's Young Player of the Year. Each season since has seen Rooney get better and better, to the point where he is now irreplaceable for both club and country. Given the main striker's role following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Old Trafford Rooney has proved conclusively this season to be a world class goal scorer. At his current rate there is every chance of him becoming this season's leading Premier League goal scorer. And the good news for both United and England is that, still only 25, the best of Rooney is yet to come. Other great strikers for you to consider are David Herd, Mark Hughes, Brian Kidd, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
