Burton, Butler, and Beesley

It's funny how some names resonate with footballing ineptitude, while others are only associated with the highest quality.

Has anyone decent ever played for United with the surname Robinson? On the basis of the most recent candidates, Marvin and Trevor, you would have to say not. There was also Dave Robinson, a woeful Geordie striker who had a few games for us in the dark days of the mid-90's and, er, I can't think of anymore. If you can remember any Robbo's that buck the trend, then let me know.

By contrast, if you turn up at the Abbey sporting the last name Butler then you've got more than half a chance of a decent Cambridge career. I'm too young to remember Peter Butler, but anyone who can go on to manage those giants of the Malaysian Premier League, Kentalan FA, must've had something about him as a player. Then there was Sir Steve Butler, and more latterly Martin Butler, who will be back tomorrow leading the line for Roy McFarland's Burton Albion.

Butler (M) remains one of my favourite ever United players, and the memories of him, Shaggy, and Trevor Benjamin tearing up Division Three defences are some of the best I have of my time as a United fan. But it is worth remembering that in his first season with the club he struggled, both with finding form and getting over a string of injuries.

I say this because a lot of people have been getting on Mark Beesley's back lately. Admitedly Bees, whose season is probably now over following hip surgery, has been a bit pants recently. But he is clearly a classy player, as he has shown in flashes during his United career thus far, and I hope our supporters will be patient when he returns to the fray. Players are not always instant hits when they join a club, and I think someone of his obvious talent is worth perservering with for a bit longer.