Best debuts for United

[1973Blade]

I can't steal yesterday's Match Of The Day podcast 'Best Ballon D'or winner' for obvious reasons!
So what was the best debut performance you've seen from a United player?
There are three from the same match, United against Sunderland in 1997. Vas Borbokis showed what a class player he was on the right hand side. When Wayne Quinn was announced in the side, I thought what is Spackman playing at'. By the end of the game I was thinking 'what a player we've got!'. For me, that game was Brian Deane's greatest performance for us (OK, it was his second debut for us). He was so powerful, and impossible to get the ball off.
Other debuts that are memorable, Mel Rees debut (I think) was against Liverpool. Simon Tracey was out and I remember thinking we would get well beaten, we won and Rees made 3 or 4 superb saves.
David Frain I remember (also against Sunderland in the 80s) being so good that I predicted he would play for England one day. Sadly he didn't repeat that performance again.
Finally I remember the first time I saw Peter Hetherston, against Barnsley in 1988. He was brilliant but unfortunately hit the woodwork about three times. We won with a last minute goal.

 

[Revolution]

Bobby Davison surely had the greatest debut of any Blades player.

 

[1973Blade]

Bobby Davison surely had the greatest debut of any Blades player.

That's true, I forgot that!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I can't steal yesterday's Match Of The Day podcast 'Best Ballon D'or winner' for obvious reasons!
So what was the best debut performance you've seen from a United player?
There are three from the same match, United against Sunderland in 1997. Vas Borbokis showed what a class player he was on the right hand side. When Wayne Quinn was announced in the side, I thought what is Spackman playing at'. By the end of the game I was thinking 'what a player we've got!'. For me, that game was Brian Deane's greatest performance for us (OK, it was his second debut for us). He was so powerful, and impossible to get the ball off.
Other debuts that are memorable, Mel Rees debut (I think) was against Liverpool. Simon Tracey was out and I remember thinking we would get well beaten, we won and Rees made 3 or 4 superb saves.
David Frain I remember (also against Sunderland in the 80s) being so good that I predicted he would play for England one day. Sadly he didn't repeat that performance again.
Finally I remember the first time I saw Peter Hetherston, against Barnsley in 1988. He was brilliant but unfortunately hit the woodwork about three times. We won with a last minute goal.

Rees and Borbokis were certainly ones that immediately stood out when I saw them (and you can add Quinn and McGrath into the same game for both having really good debuts). On the Deane aspect of that Sunderland game, I completely agree – I couldn’t believe he hadn’t picked up the MOTM award. I hadn’t really followed Deane’s career after he went to Leeds, but that game showed to me that the player we got back was a better all-round player than the one that had left – he was superb.

Out of those that I remember seeing at the games themselves, Hulse vs Liverpool is another – up against one of the top teams, had had plenty of our fans doubting he was good enough for the Prem, any doubts were extinguished by half time. Norwood‘s League debut last season vs Norwich also definitely highlighted we’d finally found someone to replace Coutts in the side.

 

[1973Blade]

Rees and Borbokis were certainly ones that immediately stood out when I saw them (and you can add Quinn and McGrath into the same game for both having really good debuts). On the Deane aspect of that Sunderland game, I completely agree – I couldn’t believe he hadn’t picked up the MOTM award. I hadn’t really followed Deane’s career after he went to Leeds, but that game showed to me that the player we got back was a better all-round player than the one that had left – he was superb.

Out of those that I remember seeing at the games themselves, Hulse vs Liverpool is another – up against one of the top teams, had had plenty of our fans doubting he was good enough for the Prem, any doubts were extinguished by half time. Norwood‘s League debut last season vs Norwich also definitely highlighted we’d finally found someone to replace Coutts in the side.

I can't remember who did get the Man Of The Match against Sunderland, was it Borbokis?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I can't remember who did get the Man Of The Match against Sunderland, was it Borbokis?

It was.

 

[Kop sufferer]

It was.

Kyle Naughton ?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Kyle Naughton ?

That’s a good shout. Plenty of us had been impressed with Sun Jihai – as soon as he was suspended Naughton came in and there was a collective “oh he’s much better” from that first game on.

And reminds me – Kyle Walker at the end of that season.

 

[Kop sufferer]

That’s a good shout. Plenty of us had been impressed with Sun Jihai – as soon as he was suspended Naughton came in and there was a collective “oh he’s much better” from that first game on.

And reminds me – Kyle Walker at the end of that season.

From memory Kyle Naughton made his debut 10/12 matches into the season.to which all around me said why has it took this long

 

[1973Blade]

From memory Kyle Naughton made his debut 10/12 matches into the season.to which all around me said why has it took this long

Was it at Huddersfield away in the League Cup, I remember he looked impressive?

 

[Paisley Blade]

Not sure whether it was actual debut or home debut , but I think it was v Watford in the game where Speed scored early and then Beattie from a Sharp cross ( during his Blackwell inspired career as a winger).

Naughton did play very well, but when you consider the name Bobby Davison you immediately realise this isn't a competition.

 

[Wobbly Blade]

I can't steal yesterday's Match Of The Day podcast 'Best Ballon D'or winner' for obvious reasons!
So what was the best debut performance you've seen from a United player?
There are three from the same match, United against Sunderland in 1997. Vas Borbokis showed what a class player he was on the right hand side. When Wayne Quinn was announced in the side, I thought what is Spackman playing at'. By the end of the game I was thinking 'what a player we've got!'. For me, that game was Brian Deane's greatest performance for us (OK, it was his second debut for us). He was so powerful, and impossible to get the ball off.
Other debuts that are memorable, Mel Rees debut (I think) was against Liverpool. Simon Tracey was out and I remember thinking we would get well beaten, we won and Rees made 3 or 4 superb saves.
David Frain I remember (also against Sunderland in the 80s) being so good that I predicted he would play for England one day. Sadly he didn't repeat that performance again.
Finally I remember the first time I saw Peter Hetherston, against Barnsley in 1988. He was brilliant but unfortunately hit the woodwork about three times. We won with a last minute goal.

Tony Dawes away at Blackburn in 1986, scored both goals in the 2-0 win and I got my lovely wife's engagement ring the same day at Prestons of Bolton. Luckily the Mrs has done better than Tony Dawes since then.

 

[Digs blade]

Was it at Huddersfield away in the League Cup, I remember he looked impressive?

Yes I think it was. I think he came on as a late sub and played on the right wing. Decent little cameo but I wasn’t blown away

 

[Cheesebored]

 

[Tony]

16th Feb 1968, Spurs at home. TC debut and he scored. Played a blinder too.

 

[RossoDeltic]

Tomlinson saved a penalty on debut.
Glyn Hodges, maybe not for persoanl performance, but for the galvanizing effect he had on the club after the Derby County match.

 

[Blade for Sale]

Did Mel Rees make his debut in the 2-0 Deano lob win v Liverpool? I recall he made some great saves in that game and proceeded to perform magnificently for us until fate played its nastiest card imaginable.

 

[Silent Blade]

Tomlinson saved a penalty on debut.
Glyn Hodges, maybe not for persoanl performance, but for the galvanizing effect he had on the club after the Derby County match.

That was his home debut. His debut was a week before in the 2-0 defeat at Man City

 

[bladestrivia]

Tony Dawes away at Blackburn in 1986, scored both goals in the 2-0 win and I got my lovely wife's engagement ring the same day at Prestons of Bolton. Luckily the Mrs has done better than Tony Dawes since then.

Was going to say the same not to far a proper day on the piss and a rare away victory under the clown Mckewen,anyway my Tony Dawes story is mates used to say I looked like himyes I know after the Hull game on Boxing Day the game we’re Beagrie did the back flips we went to Berlins at night I pulled this bird joking pretending to be Tony Dawes went with her for about a month when I eventually told her we split up I wonder why . Back to the partnerships Deane and Agana get my vote the highlight being the 6 goals v Chester with both getting hat tricks

 

[bladestrivia]

Sorry just seen I put about partnerships in my post and it’s about best debuts anyway another great debut Steve Neville away at Millwall 2 goals and I was convinced we had signed the new Kevin Keegan think we won 4-1 ?

 

[Isiah]

16th Feb 1968, Spurs at home. TC debut and he scored. Played a blinder too.

Some excellent debuts remembered but your dead right Tony nothing beats that one.
18 years old, Spurs side including Greaves, Chivers, Gilzean, Jennings etc. scored a goal and slotted into that Blades team as though he had been there for ever.
Absolutely brilliant.

 

[RossoDeltic]

Thinking back, Vonk and Patterson looked good. Did Patterson make his debut at Stoke City. Not sure about Vonk

 

[killyblade]

TC for me too, although Danny Webber's against Leeds was pretty good too

 

[bromtom]

Wilder signings wise, Norwood for me.

Carabao Cup game against Hull, we'd been pretty shite up to that point, clearly missing Coutts still but within a few minutes I could tell we'd be reyt, and we obviously were.

Not even a missed penalty dampened my excitement.

 

[Brian Deane]

Rooney debut ..... bagging a hat trick

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Bobby Davison surely had the greatest debut of any Blades player.

Feels like end of thread that

 

[Ivanhoe]

A recent one must be Clayton Donaldson who didn’t do too bad, bagged 2 away to S’unlan..

 

[Bath Blade]

Paul Furlong back in about 2002, scored two on his debut on loan then got injured shortly after and disappeared.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Some excellent debuts remembered but your dead right Tony nothing beats that one.
18 years old, Spurs side including Greaves, Chivers, Gilzean, Jennings etc. scored a goal and slotted into that Blades team as though he had been there for ever.
Absolutely brilliant.

Truly outstanding and never to be equalled , let alone surpassed .

My numbers 2 and 3 would be Doc Pace and Vas Borbokis .

 

[Hague Blade]

One I remember, randomly, was David Frain. Was home game, mid 80's. Never did much, but I recall being dead impressed by his debut.