Sign Daryl Clark to replace, will be England's bench hooker for years to come. Cracking player.

Eric leaving hasn't stopped the song(s) Although I was gutted when he left, he was a truly influential player not unlike Monaghan in his pomp, moving us around and putting the opposition on the back foot, but, as they say life goes on and we all trust that a suitable replacement will be found...."the king is dead long live the king".

Well not quite yet, hopefully with at least another CC medal and a GF ring in his suitacse.

That rumour has been around for a while - good shout!

Whoosh

Fair enough HY.

in my defence, I didn't know if you were part of the anti wendyball brigade, rather than the tongue in cheek fraternity?

I'm 85% Wire(RL) 10% Man Utd(football) 3% Lancashire(cricket) 2% Anyone that plays against England (RU)

Always preferred RL, an infinitely more entertaining sport and it feels more communal than football.

Yes a fair enough point but its about being the best team when it counts i.e in the play offs. Thus "a team that were not the best team" can win the competition despite not being the best across the season.

I don't think that we will be the best team in the playoffs but will happily eat my words.

I am 95% Wire, 1% Arsenal & 4% whoever is playing Man U.

I would support any team (except Saints) against Man U.

My dislikes are 70% Saints, 25% Man U, 5% Any team that are playing the P & B.

Eric had also shown signs of decline, not massive decline, but in his last season he was not the great player he once was - similar to Monaghan now.

Like Monaghan he would have been able to hold his own in the team for a few more years and would still have retained the adoration of the fans out of respect for his former achievements but Eric was slightly mentally frail I think and he could not deal with not being the best.

United actually got more powerful up front after Eric left, with Sheringham coming in and Yorke. Whilst neither of them would have been the catalyst like Eric was, it was possible to replace the irreplacable. If you are Man United and have high ambitions.

It would have been interesting had the lobby from the fans been "lets replace from our own youth system" if United would have won the Champions League.

For a split second there I thought my Internet had played up and I was on a Manure fan site. Back to the subject, Michael, Michael, Michael, Michael, Michael, Michael, Michael Monaghan...

Looked like he got his confidence back a little today after those two dummies.

Two dummies - I must of missed that....

Oh, sorry, you mean McGoldrick and Gleeson.

Ha not those two lol.

Rolled back the clock today.

Rumours of his demise may be greatly exaggerated.

good to hear