Top 5 at 5: United goal scorers

Man United have been blessed with a wealth of talented goal scorers. From Denis Law to Wayne Rooney we don’t usually struggle to get goals.

In my 21 years I have been lucky enough to see some real goal scorers ply their trade at Old Trafford so join me as I count down the top 5 United goal scorers of my time.

The list is not in order and as well as goals I will be taking ability into account.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy For me there was no other striker that was going to be mentioned first. A predator in the box with an uncanny ability to find the net with both his head and feet, Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelroo? or Ruud Van Nistelrooy as we knew him was a goal machine. In his 5 years at the club he broke all manner of records including our European goals record (he hit 38) and a monstrous 44 goals in the 02/03 season. Although he left the club in less than happy circumstances he is still a fan favourite and you just wonder if he would have scored more than 150 goals if not for injury.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Many people hold Ole in high regard for sentimental reasons, who wouldn’t love him after that goal in the Nou Camp, but amidst all he was in a GREAT striker. Solskjaer scored 126 goals aided by his movement, ability to be in the right place at the right time but most importantly to read a game from the bench and exploit what he saw when he came on. This saw him labelled a ‘super sub’ (wrongly he started in 217 of his 367 games) but what however you saw him, don’t forget he was a great goal scorer.

Wayne Rooney Some may see this as a funny inclusion as he has only really hit the kind of goal scoring form we knew he could this season but the fact that he has hit that form means he earns his place. Deadly with feet from long and short range, this season he has added aerial prowess to his game and thus raised the barrier in terms of goal scoring. One of the most talented players England has produced in recent years, as well as being a goalscorer Rooney is still capable of producing the spectacular.

Andy Cole Although not every one’s cup of tea, a goal every other game means he was a cert for this list. Cole got off to a slow start at United but when he found his feet he was a problem for defenders. A pacy predator, in our treble winning 98/99 season Cole took his game to another level when he struck up an almost telepathic partnership with Dwight Yorke as the two scored 35 goals in the league alone between them.

Cristiano Ronaldo Not an out and out striker but I never said that was my criteria! Able to score both with his feet and his head, Ronaldo racked up goals from set pieces, the penalty spot and open play like it was nothing. In his final 3 seasons at the club you could see the progression as he matured and the goals soon followed, his 42 goals in our double winning 07/08 season is still something to marvel as he put teams to the sword mercilessly.

HAVE YOUR SAY! This is just my opinion and many of you will have seen goal scorers from an era different to mine. Even if your my age your top 5 may differ but feel free to let me know yours!