Paul Scholes is a Manchester United legend and a model professional footballer. But bollocks to all that, Paul Scholes scores goals and for no other reason that, enjoy this video.
[VIDEO] Paul Scholes Goals – Just Because
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Fragile Man Utd have slim chance of silverware
Following my rather damning view on Manchester City’s chances of success this season, I thought it only fair I redress the balance by taking a long, hard look at my own club, Manchester United and be as honest as possible in my assessment.
We’re three games into the season now and, as ever, United sit comfortably just behind leaders and reigning champions Chelsea. Two comfortable wins against Newcastle United and West Ham have been countered by a 2-2 draw with Fulham, fast becoming our bogey club.
Having attended both the Newcastle and Hammers games (thanks to @naturalbornred), my initial view of the United team and squad is this; it’s as good as ever but is becoming increasingly reliant on veterans Giggs and Scholes as there appears to be a gap between them, the young talent, and the lack of highest quality from those who should be doing better.
Now, I’m not complaining. Giggs is and always will be my personal favourite and watching Paul Scholes is a joy. They cannot, I’m sure, play a 50+ game season, however, and as it stands they are the only ones providing the real guile and creativity to create goals.
Nani is getting there, Valencia stars in patches, Carrick appears to have forgotten how to play, Park is a battler and Anderson is yet to return. Only Darren Fletcher currently deserves a permanent place in the team alongside Scholes. We’re not short of players in the midfield, far from it, but none of them are as good or as consistent as the old men.
Returning to that Fulham game, it shone a light on a certain fragility in the United squad. The defence is not as settled as I would like. They days of Bruce, Pallister, Parker and Irwin are long gone but I look back at those times with fondness. I would love to have that stability right now.
I’d also like to not see Jonny Evans so often too, his positional sense is appalling. Thank God for the rock that is Vidic. Evra is right up there with the best left backs in the world, so no worries there but the choice for Vidic’s partner and a right back really is up in the air. I fear for Ferdinand’s footballing future, though it looks like he’ll be back very soon, and we need him. Chris Smalling, signed from Fulham last season, is promising so maybe there is reliable, solid cover there. At fullback either of the Brazilian Da Silva twins are great going forward, not so much defending. The less said about John O’Shea the better. Do we have to hope for the return of yet another veteran in Gary Neville?
Right now, I’d take it.
Finally, up front, where we are supposedly blessed with an embarrassment of riches. If Rooney was fit and in form, Owen could find his golden touch (and stay fit) and Hernandez prove to be the star we think he is capable of, we are indeed blessed. But right now, the only in form and reliable striker is…wait for it…Dimitar Berbatov!
This is a pleasing thing for me. Berbatov is a footballer to be indulged, no question, but such is his talent he should be and I’m pleased to see Ferguson trusting him.
And then there’s Bebe, who has made the 25-man squad despite not having played a minute of football for us, either at reserve or first team level. A £7.5m gamble of epic proportions…
That’s the team and I am naturally pessimistic when it comes to my club. I know full well this is a squad that is perfectly capable of challenging for honours on all fronts but you can’t ignore the weak spots. It was those that cost us the title last season, after all.
So how do I think we’ll do? Well, the League is Chelsea’s to lose, it really is. They are powerful, clearly full of goals and have the belief of champions. United will run them down, right to the wire and MAY pip them to the title should they suffer injury or crisis of confidence. But in all honesty, I think we’ll finish runner up to Abramovich’s toy once again.
In Europe we need Rooney back to his best to really challenge for the Champions League. His form will come as the season progresses, but he’ll need a rest at the right time – around Christmas, no doubt – and when it does I think we’re capable of reaching the semi finals. From there on, a huge slice of luck is required. Win it? No, probably not, not when Barcelona and Chelsea are looking so very strong.
In the Cups we’ll be looking to retain our League Cup with a combination of youth and a sprinkling of experience. Entirely possible while the rest of the Premier League dismisses the competition as a training ground or a distraction. The FA Cup is, of course, taken more seriously and is therefore harder to win. Chelsea will want to retain it and they consistently play a strong side in it. The likes of Spurs, Everton and Villa will want to win it too, so it’ll be a tough one. Possible…but unlikely as we chase the League and Champions League as a priority.
Fact is, we have one of the best teams in the country but it’s a fragile one with Rio made of glass, Rooney so vital and the world class players now facing their 40th birthdays in the not too distant future! There’s a slim chance of winning the League, but that’s more of a chance than Arsenal, Manchester City or Tottenham have.
One thing is for sure, United will be fun to watch. This is not a team or squad either used to or even capable of playing defensively so I expect goals at both ends, last gasp winners and a breathless end of season chase that will, sadly, end in disappointment. It’s all part of being a Red. And I love it.
Why the Paul Scholes love-in? Because he’s brilliant, that’s why
Sky Sports can’t get enough of Paul Scholes at the moment, nor can most of the rest of the media. It’s hardly surprising given the Ginger Prince’s start to the season.
A sublime display to beat Chelsea in the Community Shield was followed up by teaching Newcastle United a lesson – one they learned very well it seems, with their 6-0 demolition of Aston Villa last weekend. Then, to top it off, his 150th goal for Manchester United scored against Fulham in the 2-2 draw on Sunday was, as is fitting, a Scholes classic, hit like a rocket from 25 yards or more.
That hasn’t stopped a few criticising the Scholes love-in however and, to be fair, it has been a bit over the top and none would be more embarrassed by it than him. But surely, after all these years, all these games he has graced with his skill, vision and talent, we can now heap some praise on the quiet man of Manchester United?
It’s not that his gifts haven’t been recognised over the years, but such is the nature of the man himself and even his style of play, he has always been more of an afterthought behind flashier, more spectacular players. Players like Cantona, Giggs, Beckham and Ronaldo. But it is Scholes that has helped those players reach those heights, operating in the centre and feeding them perfectly placed pass after perfectly placed pass.
In 2008/09 Ryan Giggs won the PFA Player of the Year award almost as recognition for his years of service rather than what he had achieved that season. This year, Scholes looks likely to do the same – at least according to Richard Keys anyway.
It wouldn’t be an injustice, but it is a little unfair on players who will, no doubt, play more than him, score more than him and possibly win more than him. Who would begrudge him the award really though, bar the usual cynics? Scholes is revered across football from within football and that is what counts, far more than any opinion of a journalist, pundit or fan.
Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest midefielders of all time, recently said that one big regret he has is not playing alongside Paul Scholes. Many managers and players have said he is the best central midfielder the Premier League has seen. He is, without exception, held in the highest regard by his peers. Even those who have experienced the one downside to his game…his tackling!
Except if you believe Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp, Scholes has no problem tackling. He is, in fact, a nasty little sod when the mood takes him and those ‘late challenges’ are calculated risks meant to perturb the opposition player and give Scholes the freedom he craves in the middle of the park.
It’s a theory I agree with, as it happens, but far from make me think less of him, it actually raises my opinion of him. Perhaps that shouldn’t be the case. Yet I can’t help but feel that that streak of wickedness is something of a throwback to a golden age of football, the Norman Hunter type of football. With Scholes it’s coupled with the aforementioned talent and skill of the modern game and that, for me, makes him a very special player indeed.
One club, 646 games, 150 goals (and counting), 18 major trophies, 35 years old and still going. Such is his form at the moment that Fabio Capello wants him to come out of international retirement, no doubt hoping Scholes will save his own career. With 66 caps and 14 goals he certainly could, but I don’t see that happening.
Point is, yes, the current love for Scholes is a little over the top and, as I said, will be a huge embarrassment for him, but in all honesty, we’re all just making up for the times he hasn’t got the recognition he has so richly deserved. It won’t last forever, probably not beyond August (unless he really does have another 20-goal, trophy-laden season), so for those of you NOT loving the love-in, just be quiet for a bit and let us enjoy the swansong season (maybe!) of a brilliant, brilliant player.
Love him or hate him, you WILL miss him when he’s gone.
Man United beat Chelsea – does it matter?
In the big scheme of things, no. Psychologically, yes, it means a lot. The smile on Sir Alex Ferguson’s face at the end of the Community Shield told how much it matters.
The 3-1 victory at Wembley was Fergie’s first against Carlo Ancelotti and sends a message to Chelsea that they may have just got the better of Manchester United last season, but they have by no means gone away. Even with a side you wouldn’t consider to be their strongest first XI, United pretty much dominated the game and were certainly the most potent attacking force.
Chelsea will rightly remain firm favourites for the title this season, their strength in depth and experience will see to that. But United, who are still relying on some seriously old heads in Giggs and the untouchable Paul Scholes to guide the ‘youngsters’, will push them all the way.
This one match means nothing for a season long campaign – how the respective teams fare against the likes of Stoke City and Wolves on a wet and windy day in November will ultimately determine where the title heads this season. But when it comes to the head to head matches between the two something has changed.
United will now believe they can win, whereas last season it seemed like there were elements of doubt. Chelsea will now have those doubts, having been handed a lesson here for the first time. Of course, Chelsea’s pre season has been littered with defeats and this will only count as one more of those. When the real thing kicks off they will be a different animal, but still, this was their biggest rivals beating them at Wembley and lifting the first silverware of the season.
It must have an effect, no matter how little.
Chelsea have work to do, not least at the back, where they have been traditionally strong. Ashley Cole was disappointing on the day and Terry et al played far too deep, giving United opportunities to get at them, demonstrated when the highly impressive Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored his first competitive goal for the club.
Unmarked in middle, he was found by Valencia, who had beaten Chelsea’s too deep offside trap. What happened next wasn’t for the scrapbook as he fluffed his shot, only for the ball to rebound off his face and into the goal. 2-0 United, whatever.
The opening goal was of far better quality, Scholes’ long ball out to Rooney on the right was immediately put across goal for Valencia to sweep in, the Chelsea defence again AWOL.
Chelsea did pull one back through Kalou after good work from Drogba and it could have been a nervy last ten minutes or so for United had Berbatov not settled the tie with a beautiful chip over Hilario. For Berbatov it was an important goal. He really needs a good season to endear himself to the United faithful.
Man of the Match and the stand out player on the day though was Paul Scholes. He ran the show from the middle and it must be a concern for Ferguson and United’s supporters that their main man is 35. The goals have dried up over the last few years in number, but not in importance – witness the derby against Manchester City last season – and his influence remains intact also.
A replacement is needed and fast, but perhaps not for this season, which could be one of high significance. It is likely it will be Scholes’ and Giggs’ last in football (though you wouldn’t actually put money it!) and what a season it would be if they could lift the Premiership again, making it 19 for United, surpassing Liverpool in the process.
Good omens, too, in the partnership between Hernandez and Berbatov. Both on as second half subs for Rooney and Owen, who did ‘ok’, they forged an understanding almost immediately and, of course, both grabbed a goal. If Rooney is injured or out of form, you now feel that he might not be missed as much as he was last season. We’re yet to see Rooney partner the Mexican, but that has mouthwatering possibilities too.
There’s a long way to go yet, hell, we haven’t even got started, but on this performance United have every chance, while Chelsea need to get that defence back to its uncompromising best. Oh yes, the new season buzz is back.