What about Lampard, Keane, Vieira and Silva? Fans question Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher’s top five Premier League signings… with NO room for Ronaldo alongside Vardy, Cantona and Co
- Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville picked their all-time list of league signings
- The transfers had to take place in the Premier League era from 1992 onwards
- Jamie Vardy and Eric Cantona were picked as the top-two pound-for-pound buys
- Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vincent Kompany completed the top-five
- But some users on social media could not believe Frank Lampard wasn’t included
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville’s list of best-ever signings in the Premier League has triggered much debate on social media, including their selection of Jamie Vardy and Eric Cantona as the top two.
Since the top-flight’s inception in 1992, there have been a number of bargain buys and Carragher and Neville rattled down the best pound-for-pound transfers in the Premier League era on Monday Night Football.
In their top-five was Alan Shearer (specifically his move from Southampton to Blackburn), Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vardy and Vincent Kompany, but some fans online were dumbfounded as the likes of Frank Lampard missed out.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville compiled their list of the top-five Premier League signings
Vardy (left) and Cantona (right) were picked as the best signings of the Premier League era
‘I think those five are right,’ Neville insisted on Sky Sports. ‘Those five, the impact they had on those clubs. We cannot imagine – Leicester winning the league!’
Carragher added: ‘Vardy has been there the longest (at Leicester) – and was the Golden Boot winner last year.’
When pressed to pick a No 1 though, ex-Manchester United defender Neville plumped for French forward Cantona, saying: ‘I think Cantona is the most iconic Premier League signing, in terms of what he did to Manchester United, the Premier League record they had after winning it that first time.
‘£1.2m from Leeds? Massive rivals – to me that can never be eclipsed in terms of signings.’
Former Liverpool centre back Carragher, on the other hand, was slightly more torn: ‘I think it’s a toss-up between Cantona and Vardy…
Carragher and Neville came up with this top-five list of signings in the Premier League era
‘When you talk about signings it’s where he [Vardy] came from – non-league football to the Premier League and winning the league. Man United will always win leagues of European Cups…
‘Leicester won’t win the league again, sorry Leicester fans! It’s the most miraculous story I think I’ve ever seen! I’m going to go with Jamie Vardy.’
Carragher did admit, however, that they had a tough time deciding on which Leicester player to include with Kasper Schmeichel, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez all worthy of praise.
Shearer ‘definitely’ had to be on the list, insisted Neville. Carragher, meanwhile, revealed it was the legendary striker’s switch from Southampton to Blackburn and not his move to Newcastle that earned him a spot on the list.
Carragher said he won his place on the shortlist because ‘he took Blackburn to the title’. Shearer scored 34 goals in the 1994-95 campaign to help Kenny Dalglish’s side to first place.
However, the views of Sky Sports’ star duo prompted much debate on social media, with ex-Chelsea midfielder Lampard the most obvious player to miss out.
Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard was seen as the player most unlucky to miss out
Fans on social media questioned the all-time list, most notably the absence of Frank Lampard
Lampard signed for the Blues for £11m from West Ham in 2001, and went on to win three Premier League titles, one Champions League and four FA Cups, as well as become the club’s all-time record goalscorer.
One fan noted: ‘Frank Lampard for £11mil from a London rival….. Won everything, top scorer for club, most goals for a midfielder in PL history, 4th most PL assists ever etc. Criminal to have Kompany over him.’
Another asked: ‘Roy Keane?’ while one threw more names into the mix: ‘I would put Lampard, Ronaldo, Vieira and David Silva in front of Kompany even though he is Mr City.
‘Spectacular man, but I feel like the other ones had greater impacts.’
With a huge range of options throughout the 29 years since the league’s inception, the debate will continue on social media.
Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira were also highlighted as having missed out on the top-five