Does it count if I knew you were fishing?
Double points for you and yes I knew that you knew I was fishing so I'll let you off the hook. We all know that Fat Frank was the best and Iam not squidding .
How good was Paul Scholes?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Double points for you and yes I knew that you knew I was fishing so I'll let you off the hook. We all know that Fat Frank was the best and Iam not squidding .
No worries! Of course he was but our way of playing never offered protection to the midfield. In the second part of his career where he played as a deep lying playmaker, our system was based on a deep defense and quick transitions getting the ball as quickly as possible to the likes of Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo, Nani and Valencia. It was more like Barcelona in 2015 than their 2009-2011 version. What this meant is offensively, especially in the big games, Scholes's job was to spread those passes out and look for the wings and defensively, he was supposed to protect the back four by getting behind the ball. The likes of Xavi and Pirlo played in systems that always looked to keep possession and circulate the ball by offering much more passing options and making sure that they never get pinned back defensively. Being in Scholes's system makes it almost impossible to control a game from midfield with how spread out and/or deep the team's position on the pitch is.
Not in Serie A. Milan only won 1 league during that period (2003). They won 2 CL in that period, but I don't think Pirlo during that period eclipsed anything we've seen from Scholes.
The top midfielders were able to dominate affairs consistently for their teams, especially in league competition.
One of my all time favorite player.
But unwillingly, I will say Scholes was a level below Xavi and Pirlo.
But unwillingly, I will say Scholes was a level below Xavi and Pirlo.
Different class.
One of those players who probably is respected more now he’s retired.
Damn could we be doing with his style now.
One of those players who probably is respected more now he’s retired.
Damn could we be doing with his style now.
Paul Scholes was an amazing player, what usually happens is that we compare players so in scholes case he is compared to lampard and gerrad. Unfortunately england misused all of those players and played them in the wrong formation. Scholes was forced on the left hand side which meant he didn't showcase his passing as much and lampard and gerrard were forced into a two man midfield in which neither one of them were suited to a holding role as one of them would had to have done it.
Scholes was the best english midfielder of his time and on par with Xavi as Xavi himself has stated before. He could dictate tempo and one of those rare breed of footballers that sees the game better than others. On top of that he was a guy that just wanted to focus on the football side and was not botherd about all the glamour. There is a certain Mr Pogba that could learn a little from that.
Pogba is a totally different type of midfielder. Don't ruin what was an excellent summary of one of 're best
Don't bring Pogba into this. Scholes was one of the best footballers of his generation. Passing, scoring, movement, way above everybody else. But it was based on movement, awareness, and the team around him. Pogba is a totally different type of midfielder.
Scholes is a much more intensive player whenever he plays.
Scholes can defend and he shows aggression. This is backed up by 11 league title.
Scholes can also give good long shots goals, something that both Pirlo and Xavi can't.
There are some players who are just unsung heroes. They are just more intense and link up plays and win games for the teams. Never lazy.
Scholes is just one of those players who make things happen. He mentioned before that if he wasn't scoring or assisting a goal, he would considered himself as having a bad game.
What do you mean intensive? If you mean aggression, all 3 lacks aggression of a proper CM. But thats not their game.
Long shots - Pirlo is a master too. Even Xavi is quite good at it , maybe Scholes is a tad bit better at it. The thing is Xavi sees long shots as a potential ball losing situation and does not shoot often.
All 3 are playmaking CMs and in playmaking, passing, awareness, setting the tempo of game I think Xavi > Pirlo > Scholes.
And I am not holding Scholes' intl record against him here.
How is it possible that Scholes never won the Sir Matt Busby PotY award?
It took a long while before he was recognized as the world class player he was. Many seemed to be more bedazzled by Lampard and Gerrard, for some reason.
Don't think there's a single season you could say he was our best player that year.
Really left a bad taste in the mouth when Sven in order to accommodate Lampard/ Gerrard pushed him out wide. Mind you, it benefited us as he sacked off Ingerland, perlonging his club career.
No doubt - I agree completely.
Young Scholes was a masterful player, but I think some have a slightly less enthusiastic take ( this topic, it has to be said, does seem to endure ) as many maybe only saw him after he came out of retirement, when he was decent but not sublime.
In 00/01 over Sheringham or in 04/05 over Heinze maybe?
My fav player that ever kicked the ball for United. Didn't control games like Xavi but his influence on our game was massive.
E: Just imagine Scholes at his best next to Pogba and Matic in our Midfield. Would be the perfect solution for the "missed" player in midfield.
E: Just imagine Scholes at his best next to Pogba and Matic in our Midfield. Would be the perfect solution for the "missed" player in midfield.
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Definitely not 00/01. 04/05 is a good shout, who would have been the other contenders that season? Rooney maybe?
Scholes was great in loads of ways, a lot which are easy to describe. But, for me, one of his best attributes was when we went behind around the half-time mark. A lot of teams I root for in games, at all levels, find it hard to get going in that next 30 minutes or so. But Scholes used to redouble his efforts and demand the ball every time, delivering killer passes to build up an unstoppable momentum. He was also good at breaking up the oppositions’ play in those same types of games. Also, he was brilliant at receiving the ball whist under pressure by looking round and weighing everything up, at exactly the right time. This is difficult to do at any level. A true genius.
I think Heinze was voted player of the year that season by the fans. Scholes was great but I don't think he was at his peak in 2005. Other United players certainly had better seasons in 2005, including Rooney, in my opinion.
Good call with 2011 but I still think it's in Sheringham's favor. Didn't he win the PFA player of the year? I'm not focused on his goals either. He was simply a better player than Yorke and Cole that year. His build up play was insane. Having said that, Scholes and Beckham were also fantastic that season.
Pirlo better than Scholes, SMH.
IMO, Paul Scholes is one of the main reasons why our team was so consistently successful in his time at the club. Scholes is one of the greatest midfielders of all time, technically gifted, the best understanding of position and space, the best passing range I have ever seen, he was a corner stone in our success, I think the fact that he retired at the same time with SAF was a big blow, and our failure to replace him is the main problem hindering our return to what we use to be.
I'm still astonished that we let Toni Kroos slip away. He was the only one who could fill the void left by Scholes retirement.
IMO, Paul Scholes is one of the main reasons why our team was so consistently successful in his time at the club. Scholes is one of the greatest midfielders of all time, technically gifted, the best understanding of position and space, the best passing range I have ever seen, he was a corner stone in our success, I think the fact that he retired at the same time with SAF was a big blow, and our failure to replace him is the main problem hindering our return to what we use to be.
I'm still astonished that we let Toni Kroos slip away. He was the only one who could fill the void left by Scholes retirement.
Paul scholes is a really effective player and this is backed up by man united consistent performances in the league, fa cup and euro cup. Find some players who has won more than 10 league titles or at least 7 league titles and we can then compare.
Of course, you can say that Zidane and Pirlo were better playmaker than scholes but Scholes is far better defensively and a harder tackler than both. Scholes also play very hard in almost all the matches. He just wins games.
The same way, I can also argue that Kante has a better season at Leicester than Zidane when he could not win the title at real. Zidane could only won 1 league title at real as a player while Scholes was winning league titles consistently.
On the international front, it can be argued that France and Italy had better players who also had more positional discipline while Scholes was in an England side that was fully of glory hunters. Of course, they win on the international front but scholes beat them both on the domestic front.
So nope, imo Scholes is way better than Pirlo. He just wins games most of the time. The only time you see united really lose is by away goal rules or penalty kicks.
Of course, you can say that Zidane and Pirlo were better playmaker than scholes but Scholes is far better defensively and a harder tackler than both. Scholes also play very hard in almost all the matches. He just wins games.
The same way, I can also argue that Kante has a better season at Leicester than Zidane when he could not win the title at real. Zidane could only won 1 league title at real as a player while Scholes was winning league titles consistently.
On the international front, it can be argued that France and Italy had better players who also had more positional discipline while Scholes was in an England side that was fully of glory hunters. Of course, they win on the international front but scholes beat them both on the domestic front.
So nope, imo Scholes is way better than Pirlo. He just wins games most of the time. The only time you see united really lose is by away goal rules or penalty kicks.
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Best midfielder in England I've ever watched (yes better than Gerrard and Lampard), I rate him as highly as Xavi.
He was a great technical player with some obvious physical flaws that needed to be worked around when setting the team up.
Putting a midfielder with his vision and passing range on the left wing is beyond a joke. No wonder Sir Alex postponed his retirement rather than letting Sven get his mitts on his team.
Putting a midfielder with his vision and passing range on the left wing is beyond a joke. No wonder Sir Alex postponed his retirement rather than letting Sven get his mitts on his team.
That's very interesting, as Viera and Henry said the same. Scholes was the one they feared the most
Well he was clearly a great player.
Probably my favourite memory of him was from probably about 10 years ago in a champions league game I believe.
I'm not a Man Utd fan myself but a lot of my friends are, so we were about 8 of us round my mates place watching the game. Scholes had been on the end of a dodgy tackle and was down. He got back up, then the commentator said the immortal words "and Paul Scholes is walking a little gingerly".
We had had a few beers at this stage, and collectively lost our shit.
Very funny, but I suppose at some level you probably had to be there, and a suppose its more a commentary anecdote than a Scholes anecdote but fantastic player nonetheless.
Probably my favourite memory of him was from probably about 10 years ago in a champions league game I believe.
I'm not a Man Utd fan myself but a lot of my friends are, so we were about 8 of us round my mates place watching the game. Scholes had been on the end of a dodgy tackle and was down. He got back up, then the commentator said the immortal words "and Paul Scholes is walking a little gingerly".
We had had a few beers at this stage, and collectively lost our shit.
Very funny, but I suppose at some level you probably had to be there, and a suppose its more a commentary anecdote than a Scholes anecdote but fantastic player nonetheless.
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He also named United as a team he regretted not playing for, and said he turned down a chance to play for us.
He also said this
The whole thing is gold. Worth a brief hijack
Last one
All the talk about Scholes has just reminded me of how brilliant he was.
We've got a bunch of midfielders now but I can't think of any that come close to what Scholes was on an average day.
We've got a bunch of midfielders now but I can't think of any that come close to what Scholes was on an average day.
No idea mate. Just saw the video on YouTube and had to share. Maybe the maker can let you know if you drop a comment?
Shazam(ed) it. Philip Glass! I have a bunch of stuff by him, but hadn't heard this one. Thanks
Philip Glass: Dance VIII (In the Upper Room)
How good was Scholes? I'd back him to get into our starting 11 today after a few months getting into shape. The suggestion really isn't that preposterous.
If only Pogba could produce half Scholes...
Wouldn't be the worst thing for him to try and take on Scholes' general attitude from his playing days. Would be perfect for him.