Superb Scholesy

[Scott]

Glad we've got him back #thumb#

[7even]

Yeah me too mate, he’s my favorite player. He never moans, always gets on with his job, never stalls over his contract, he basically does what’s expected of him and he does it so well. He’s never had an agent, has he? He is his own agent so to speak and I believe that’s why we’ve never had a problem with him.

[schmeichel1]

He's a fantastic player, great to see him return

[Scott]

Yeh, I've heard he just goes in their by himself or with his family to sort out his contract. Top fella.

And I cant believe how quickly he's recovered. Not just in terms of his eyesight, but how well he can play already! Looking forward to seeing him in action against next season.

[chiff]

I hope we can put last year's performances to illness/injury but he did not have a good season. How many goals did he score? And that as an aggressive attacking midfielder is part of his job and one he did so well before. I am not convinced that he is part of even our immediate future.
Like you, I think he has been fantastic, both as a player and as the sort of person we want at the club. Loyal and unselfish, a great team player.
BUT
We cannot afford passengers anymore. Ole's performances in 1999 - Scholes's performances for umpteen years up to 2004 are not what will win us the League. I know Teddy's nearly an OAP, but generally 20-30 are the peak years. So supposing we buy two top class midfielders - and admittedly I think we'll only get one, what's your midfield going to be. X & Y and then Ronaldo. OK . Then any one from Park, Giggs, Scholes, Richardson, Fletcher(?) O'Shea not counting Obi if he ever materialises, and I even think that SAF has got thoughts of Heinze as the Makelele. Otherwise, why buy Evra. And there's even Smiffee somewhere in this equation.
So yes, I hope that he does return - if he plays well! Otherwise, take of the rose-tinted specs of nostalgia and regrettably say - "Thanks a lot Paul- you've been great but....."

[onenedkelly]

The Manchester United team should have been built around Paul Scholes who for me was and still is one of the most natural gifted footballers of his generation and with a footballing brain too.
But what happens, we aquire Juan Sebastion Veron and play Scholes out of position which results in Scholes going on his first and one of his longest baron spells in front of goal.
I for one thought like the management that Veron would be a great investment, one of best midfielders in the World at the time but he couldn't cut it in the Premiership purely because of the pace of the game. (In C.L. games he shone through)
Looking back we didn't need Veron as Scholes would have grown and matured in that role in time to become THE best in the world in that position.
But we continued to change the basis of our team and our outlook of attack to accomadate for the Champions League..
Any other SUPERSTAR player would have been whinging about playing out of position every week but the shy retireing figure of Paul Scholes just got on with it as he put the club first b4 his own personal goals, a man who cut short his International career for the sake of the people who paid his wages, a noble and honourable man in a time when footballers took their eyes off the prize to persue their own ideas of what matters most, Bling and stardom.
Playing alongside three of the best midfielders in the world at the time, Becks, Keano and Giggs and now playing alongside a very much weaker midfield of either Park, Ronaldo, Fletcher, O'Shea and Giggs.
And what will happen when he's run out of Man U by the non loyal fans? Will he be in the papers saying whoever wants me come and get me, no he'll quietly slip out the back door and play for a club (Oldham) that doesn't carry the limelight and burden of a big club, where he will be adored for the all the right reasons, the fact there will never be another Paul Scholes

Posted during this season on 606 by myself when all the plastics were saying he wasn't good enough anymore

[7even]

Great post that mate and I entirely agree.

And I doubt he’ll be finished anytime yet. A goal drought he might be going through, but he’s been out injured, it’s expected and although he wasn’t banging them in before he got injured, he was beginning to find form again. His passing ability is something else and I personally can’t wait until next season, so he can start linking play up with Rooney.

[chiff]

I hope that I didn't sound as though I didn't agree with you when you say that Paul was great. I wish he could tackle but apart from that I do think very highly of him. The trouble is that I remember the Busby era and the back end of it reminds me so much of today. Then, as now, we had won in Europe with a fantastic team but then as now they were getting long in the tooth. And instead of phasing in replacements, the "Charltons" were kept on for just a little too long.......and it took us twenty years to recover.
I'm sorry but I've been saying for two to three years that we're heading the same way. Keane, brilliant as he had been, could not cut it for more than 15-20 matches per season. Giggs has flitted between very good and very, very average for two or three years and only the conversion to central midfielder has saved him in my eyes. And Scholes. I think that you are right in that his best position is behind the front two, linking and scoring 10-15 goals per season. But, correct me if I'm wrong, we don't play like that anymore. Rooney plays behind the striker in a kind of 4-4-1-1 role. Now if we're not careful, we're going to be playing in a 4-3-1-1-1 formation!!!!!
I know this has moved from a Scholes tribute to a wider topic. But this, in my opinion, is exactly what is wrong with England. Sven sees Beckham, Gerrard and Lampard as the best three midfielders in England. I disagree but I can see where he's from. BUT, they do not fit together. You simply cannot have Beckham and Gerrard in the same team because they occupy the same area. So one of them has to change and it's Gerrard. And now he meanders through a game not really knowing what he's doing and certainly not at his best. And that could be our problem too. No-one would argue in a million years that O'Shea is a better player than Scholes. But as a defensive midfielder he is. Who is better as a wide player, Ronaldo or Scholes? Now comes the crunch. Who is better -Paul or Rooney? Because that I think is the common ground. Attacking Midfielder/Striker/Link player. Who do you want?
I know you don't agree with me so I'll ask you the question; give me the formation with say Diarra or Riquelme that includes who we've got, assuming they're all fit. Not just 4-4-2 or whatever - but using whatever model you want. Assume they all play for Chelski if you like and see where you fit them - and then try it again assuming it's 2008 and they're all two years older.

[onenedkelly]

A well thought out post mate and totally agree that Uniteds failings in the Busby Era and the class of 99 was that we were Champions of Europe and we didn't do anythhing near as much as we should have done in signing new players immidiatly the season after, Can't recall exactly right now but Im pretty much sure we never did much to improve our squad and kept it basically the same.

Id have to take Rooney over Scholes now obviously, the thing is Scholes job was to create and score goals (Paul Scholes he scores goals) from midfield because we needed his influx of goals but now with Rooney in the team we could just play Scholes soley as a creater so I feel there is still a big part for him to play at United.

[onenedkelly]

Hey Chiff,

As for the England set up what do you think should be done with the midfield then? I agree that Gerrard does not play to his potential as he doesn't have the freedom and right to roam as he does for the Dippers.

Could it work with 3 across midfield in Cole Lamps Becks and give Gerrard a free role?

[chiff]

Gotta go out -but I think the problem might be Fat Frank. I've not really thought about it cos' I'm too busy advising SAF, but I'll have a think

[Sky Sports 1]

Some highlights of the little man:
www.footballissue.com/media/scholes01.php
;D
Been my favorite player for a long long time. A lots been made this season of why we've been slipping up against smaller mediocre clubs especially in the last half of the season when we needed the results most.
Scholes would have been that difference, his passing and shooting is top class as the stats show.

His influence off the ball is underestimated also, as Rooney said on soccer AM interview in the videos section, 'Scholesy is the best trainer, you know if he's on your team you always win.' He is that little difference, changes games in a matter of minutes and controls them gradually working up the pitch. We only complain at him when he's not scoring because we're used to him getting so many, more than most from midfield.
But he was scoring a lot of his goals when playing behind Ruud attacking mid and not in central midfield. Rooney is getting the goals Scholes used to and taking all the positions he used to meaning Rooney dictates the game upfront and Scholes from the back. Rooney gets the hype because he's young and English, Scholes did it all before but avoided the hype and kept quiet.

[Busby Boy]

The guys an absolute legend. Never let the fans down, never let the side down and is up there with the European greats of all-time. Zidane, who?...Gerrard and Lampard strive to be as good as Keane and Scholes, but the fact of the matter is they never will be, and I truely mean that! SCHOLES: THE RED LEGEND!

[Busby Boy]

''Sheer class...WORLD CLASS!'' - the final piece of commentary on the VT posted by rooneylicious. Sums him up!

[Busby Boy]

This is my third post on Scholesy lol...I just thought after reading one of the posts that:

SCHOLESY WILL NEVER PLAY FOR ANYONE ELSE BUT UNITED! inc. Oldham.

the same applies to Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.