In recent years, who has made the biggest impact on English football ?

Abramovic at Chelsea?
Venger at Arsenal?
Cantona at Manchester United?
Beckham at Manchester United?

others ?

Very odd that you pick two staff/owners at other clubs but the players at ManU?

I'd say Ferguson has as big an impact over a longer term than either Venger or Abramovic.

Abramovic didnt really make the impact IMHO - his money was there with the previous manager (whose name escapes me), but it was until Mourinho got here that they started to show the promise of the investment.

I think in recent years it'd be a close thing between the three managers, but depending on the timescales any one of them could lay claim to it.

Long term - Ferguson and he's still doing a great job for Man U
Medium term: Venger and again still doing a great job.
Fairly Recent: Mourinho.

So with that I'd like to say (and it will sound like fence sitting - but really it isnt) I'd say that without all three or at least two of them the league would not be as exciting and there wouldnt be the interest in the English leagues that there is now. Without at least two of them the competitive nature wouldnt be there and I think in some ways that would diminish all of their acheivements a little. To be a great manager in the midst of mediocrity is still an acheivement, but to be a great manager in the company of equally great managers is even more of an acheivement.

All IMHO of course.....


GMcD

Sir Awex Ferguson has been very SUCCESSFUL at Man Utd, but he has not changed the face of English soccer.

Cantona and Beckham certainly made a big impact. Beackham is a brand to himself and more important than Sir Alex.

Here is a player name to throw at you then - and HE certainly DID have an impact on English football and transfers in general -
- Jean-Marc Bosman!

Sepp Blatter - Been holding back european football for what seems like decades!!