After Paul Scholes’ shock decision to come out of retirement in January, Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed our veteran midfielder should carry on for another season.
“I haven’t discussed Paul’s future with him but on the evidence we have seen at the moment there is no reason why he shouldn’t (stay another year),” said Ferguson. “When I said to him last year you’ll give me 25 to 30 games it wasn’t enough for him. But I think he may look at it differently now. He knew right away when he went coaching with the reserves and took part in the sessions he could hack it. He came to me and said he’d made a mistake. The evidence we are seeing now is he is right. His form has been fantastic.”
After having a conversation with the manager last year, Scholes decided he was going to retire because he didn’t think he would play in enough games. He’s clearly realised that playing in no games is worse than not playing in enough games. He has played just a month’s worth of football but has already scored more goals than he did all of last season. Based on his contribution so far, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be playing again next year.
Man Utd News 24/7
Which means… we probably won’t be signing a midfielder this summer then!
Yep No big midfield signing for another year. SMH.
He is the greatest player I have ever seen on and off the pitch.
Sensed it as soon as Paul returned to action. Between this, Ando being given another chance and the hope that Fletcher will return, I seriously doubt we will sign a midfielder. Again.
just love ‘im
Pallister gave an interview to the BBC saying that Redknapp should talk Scholes into playing for England. Now Fergie is saying he should stay on at United. On that evidence, Scholesy has got to like his chances of being good to play. Scholes quit England in 2004 with 66 caps. Skuttlebut was that he was done playing out of position for the likes of StevieMe. Think he could do england but only if they played him in the center of the park. Let Gerrard sit for a change!
But in all seriousness, I hope Scholes retires at the end of the season, but stays in shape for another comeback in Jan 2013. His old bones need the rest and the youngsters need the opportunities to shine. Best of both worlds. Don’t give a fig if he plays for england.
Guess all will be revealed in time. I think Scholes will stick with United one way or the other.
Who needs Scholes?….we got POGBA!
….oh, wait
Well, there was no evidence we were going to buy a midfielder anyway. All depends on how Fletch gets on over the pre season. I’m sure that will partly dictate our plans this summer in the market. Fergie might have to shift a few before signing anyone. Same as last season. If players could stay fit for longer would help our cause. Pipe dreaming again! Scholes is magic though. What a player!
Being Scholes’ biggest fan the next statement will bring offence to myself aswell.
How long can we continue to rely on Legends like Scholes and Giggs?
The longer they are around, the more dependant we have become on them which is to their credit. It will be an impossible job for United to maintain its stability and performances season by season let alone without Sir Alex Ferguson but with these guys absence aswell. if the scenario should occur we lose Giggs, Scholes & SAF, perhaps Rio & another in the same summer or over two seasons, What kind of a task will the next manager be facing? How the next manager potentially deals with this situation hypothetically will be a catalyst / trigger for the direction we are heading (on top or a big almighty drop.)
The best thing would be that SAF allows the lads to retire in his tenure, bring in the replacements, establish them as the new blood + spine, then to all our regret, step down when ready for the next manager to inherit a squad that contain the future (De Gea, Twins,Evans, Smalling,Jones, Anderson,Clevs,Welbeck etc.)
I love Scholes, he’s my hero & his return brought me to tears, but SAF has to be the man to deal with his retirement aswell as of Giggsy,Rio etc. Plus with the Glazers = “Not any value” Policy, SAF is our White Knight (lol)
Should Scholes continue?
I don’t know what to say, my mind is conflicted and my Heart screams “more from scholes”. Time has flown, incredibily fast and careers look so short looking back.
The loss of of Scholes,VDS, Nev this summer was hard to swallow.
Its going to get even more harder now, cherish the last 20 years I sure will.
United Till I Die
I get the concern that we can’t seem to ID good players at a decent price. But legendary players retiring too early is equally criminal. Alfredo di Stefano retired from Real Madrid at 38 and played a couple more years after that. With Giggs and Scholes it could be the same. Let their bodies tell us and them when it is time. Bring in the Yoga and the salve, whatever it takes! Maybe TCleverley, Tunni and the rest will come on by then, maybe not. Fascinating to watch it play out. I don’t feel there has to be a next Scholes, but I can’t wait to see what Tom and Danny make of themselves. Always moving forward, always rebuilding. But don’t see any reason to kick out talent that is ready to do the job as well.
Paul Scholes, Get in there son! We need ya to put in another shift for the shirt. Still not many who can lay a glove on ya.
Clint – I know what you mean, but, if they are good enough to perform, then let’s not worry about their age just yet. I imagine Giggs will probably want to carry on as long as he can and break records. If they can both provide priceless moments like last weekend at Norwich, then that suits me just fine
So on the slight off chance Scholes MAY stay everyone comes out with we won’t buy another midfielder in the summer. Let’s worry about that when the time comes. Right now we have a title to win. Fergie knows what he is doing. I am boring myself now but why shouldn’t we rely on Scholes and Giggs when they are still two of the best players in the modern game? Someone will be brought in imo to accompany these two along with Carrick who at 30 31 is hardly over the hill, Clevz who nobody for saw what that fat cunt Davies would do, Jonesy and with a bit of luck a young Tunni.
Scholes and giggs no matter what age are still absolute top drawer.
Phil Jones` Bird Shit Streaks. Ha. Beat me to it pal.
Fletch. Spot on mate.
I don’t see why many are taking this as “another window without a MF signing”
Scholes is class and my Favorite player. Whatever he is doing(his game) now can be done by only a selected few around the globe then why not have him till whenever he feels like moving on.
Lets assume that he stays for one more season along with Giggsy and assume that Pogba left
then our MF after he left – Carrick, Clevz, Anderson, Jones, Tunnicliffe, Giggs – 2 senior players and 4 youngsters
Even if we bring in someone it can’t be a first team signing as Clevz/Ando/Carrick along with Jones will be the preferred four for the two slots
It will be difficult to find someone who will fit in this scenario.
SAF said if someone we are interested are available we will go for it, so after all we may see a signing. Who expected us to sign Ashley young when we had the two best wingers in the league.
http://www.theelastico.com/?p=1431
It will be lovely to see Scholesy play on. I can’t just explain how I feel anytime he holds the ball. Love everything about him.
We can discuss about new MF signing later in the year as the comments above has said it all. Long Life and good health to the Ginger Ninja.
And it also looks like Jaap Stam and Ferguson are now good friends and solved their differences
@CedarsDevil: On the other thread ,had a good laugh ,u swimming across seas to smack him maureen.
Hope Maya is good.
@MG: Back to yr usual laidback posts. How is Charlie Webster?
@Balaji: Everything cool on acid?
@STR : Maybe incalculating paswords for registered users ,wud help stop impersonations.
And adding other useful features like photos, all this nutcases going for games,they will be plenty of sharing.
@smartalex: Get back in dude, cant finish the tuak on my own.
A wise man once said “if they re good enough, they re old enough” with gigg s and scholes’ example, I think that that phrase could be turned around. If they re good enough, I don t care about their age, they should play.
Thanks scholesy for been here all your career,hope SAF will find a balance on how to deal with these guys(Rio,Scholes&giggs)retirement in a way it would not disturb us for one or two seasons to come
“When I said to him last year you’ll give me 25 to 30 games it wasn’t enough for him.”
As much as I love Ryan and Paul, that line right there is what worries me each time they extend their contracts. They are not staying on to be squad players. They get to play around half of our games each season. And that’s why I can’t see us buying a new CM. And for me that’s a risk. Last summer we made a mistake. We didn’t buy any midfielders because we put our faith behind some uncertain situations: Fletcher getting over the “virus” (as it was called at the time), Anderson staying free of injuries and getting his act together and Cleverley stepping up. And for different reasons, none of those risks paid off. The Fletcher and Anderson situations look as bleak now as they did 12 months ago and too much weight is put on Tom’s shoulders. Plus, he’s not actually a midfielder we’ve been lacking this season: a DM that covers a lot of ground. An anti-Fletcher if you will.
Scholes and Giggs can still come up with the goods from time to time, but it is a concern that we still depend on them. Look at the recent games against Norwich and Liverpool. The team doesn’t have the required energy to press the opposition high up the pitch. We tried to do that at Anfield, but Liverpool gained the upper hand as soon as the 2 legends tired. At Carrow Road we opted for a different approach as soon as we went ahead. Hand Norwich the midfield battle because that way, Ryan and Paul wouldn’t run out of breath. Imo that’s a desperate way to approach games we should be killing off in the first half. Lets see how we line up tomorrow, but on this evidence, it could be a struggle.
I wouldn’t as for either guy to hang up their boots. I remember people asking that of Gary Neville and I found it disgraceful. But we should be looking to the future. Now. Not when Fergie retires in 2-3 years and Paul, Ryan and (I assume) Carrick also follow him on the way out. After all, the club has been known over the years for its youth policy. Keeping Scholes and letting Pogba go wouldn’t adhere to that philosophy. (And I mention Pogba because as a midfield solution he will be cheaper than going out there and buying a midfielder, which is something that has to happen at some point!).
Morning all
I agree with King Eric, I do not see how keeping Scholes for another season has anything to do with signing new players. Having someone like him around for another season would be a huge bonus, just look at the affect he’s had since coming back.
We’ll worry about transfers in the summer.
Dave
Hello good friend, glad you liked it!
Scholesy, my second all time fabourite United player…. Play on as long as you’re still performing and enjoying son. Not sure why everyone assumes we won’t sign anyone? Sir Alex always brings someone in to freshen things up a bit. The boss plans years in advance, not halfway or 3/4 through a season so hardly think Scholesy’s decision will change his plans.
Scholes is my fave UNited player ev, i love the ginger prince. I would actually let my misses have casual sex with the man i have that much respect and love for him!!
We dont need a new CM if Scholesy stays on, with Tommy Clevs developing and Ando coming good sooner or later, the future is guna b good. Also I rek Princess Pogs will sign and blossum into a ledge.
Believe 20!
Morning lads.
Costas – Yes mate I can see your concerns and like you say none of those “gambles” paid off. Which HAS left us light in that position as the two legends can’t play every game and last the full 90. Well Giggsy can to be fair! I think we need to see what this summer brings. I think it is still a bit early for Tunni but you never know. He is a big lad and not far off 20 now. Lets hope Cleverley can stay fit and Jones is played in MIDFIELD not in defence. Again those are our gambles again BUT as we know Fergie USUALLY gets it right. Like I say mate I do see your point though. Too many ifs and buts. IF next season we had Scholes, Giggs, Carrick, Fletch ?, Cleverley, Jones, Pogba (ha) and Tunni we would be fine and one other maybe but will that be the case?
I am sure I heard this morning Wenger got manager of month. Is that a sick joke? 16 points out of 18 for United including Rentboys, Arsenal and Norwich away and Liverpool and Stoke at home yet this clown gets it. Please tell me I miss heard.
Oh fuck off Beetroot junior. Calling Ledley King a “Rolls Royce”. Silly cunt. King is a damn good defender but the cunt doesn’t even train and can manage one game a week. If I were buying a roller I would want it to be a bit more reliable than that. Arse licking cunt. God I hope we take Spurs the new media darlings to the cleaners tomorrow. Spurs, Beetroot and Parker and Bale ? I am getting fucking sick of the love fest.
Sorry to bore you with Mail links but if you get a sec just check out the bitter comments on this link. Posts such as the FA should charge Wayne for missing Ingerlund games etc etc:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2109153/Wayne-Rooney-fit-Manchester-United.html#comments
King Eric
Beetroot junior? Ha ha funny as fuck mate…. What else would you expect from a father that is a crook and a son that played for the scousers?
Cedars – Morning mate. Hope you are well. Cheers. CANNOT beleive the Sun paper did a birthday wish on the back page for that crook yesterday. Cringeworthy! Right betta get some work done.
Back in a bit.
King Eric
Like you said in your other post the Sun are just ass lickers my friend…..
Mike
Scholes is your second all time fav player? Wonder who comes first then, I have no idea whatsoever!
Not that I really care but its a sad state of affairs at what is going on at Rangers…. Massive club in their own right and great history to boot.
Now, seeing that we are not in action today, I will be a Southampton fan for 90 minutes later this afternoon
@King Eric
Hi mate. Yeah, Wenger got that award basically for the 2 thrashings against Blackburn and Tottenham. They also got knocked out of two competitions in February, but that’s not important I guess…
In regards to Tunni, I have no reason to doubt your assesment of him. Hopefully he’ll come as good as you think he will. But I seriously doubt he’ll be an option for us next season. A loan move to a Pr.League club should be the next step. Plus, we are not looking at replacing one player (Scholes). Giggs won’t be around for too long and neither will Carrick. Plus, Fletcher’s career is on a tightrope at the moment. So we are basically looking at replacing 3-4 players. And if Pogba leaves, we can’t just rely on Tunni and Cleverley. So one way or another, we will need to bring in a midfielder at some point. Notice I didn’t mention Ando anywhere. You remember how much I defended him back in the day, but with 106 starts in 5 seasons, consistency has been severely lacking. My main hope is that Fergie has kept him on a specific training program that will increase his stamina and slim him down a bit. Or maybe he has given up on him…
Dave
I fully agree, STR needs to do something about this. Maybe we should all E-mail him.
As for Scholes. He must be enjoying himself playing again and I bet Gary Neville would give his right Bollock to be in Scholes position. He’s still got alot to offer and is scoring the odd goal, either side of the Spanish scouse idiot and it would have been 3.
I must admit its Blackburn away that concerns me more than Spurs or Shitty, we get nothing there so its time to pull our socks up and get the vital wins needed to silence those Twat Hooks that are the Posnan Pricks.
Morning Cedars
Its great you’re going to see your Daughter but 1 thing. Don’t forget her new Utd Kit.
King Eric
Fucking Quality again. Made my day.
James
Morning mate…… I spend shit loads on United gear that I buy online and send her…. She now has more scarfs and shirts than I do!
Cannot wait to see her to be honest
Morning all,
Cedars – my favourite player, Bryan Robson, has and always will be kept a closely guarded secret! Nobody will ever find out that Bryan Robson Is my all time favourite!
King Eric – Even worse was that all the journos sang happy birthday to him in his press conference! Proper cringeworthy!!! So, get humped and all but knocked out of the CL, average performances in the league but play well in your Derby and you get manager of the month… Interesting! Surprised they didn’t give it to twitcher tax credit Redknapp!!
James – get a petition together we can sign n send to Scott to oust these fucking retarded schizo shisters who plague this blog!!
Mike
Robbo? Would never have guessed mate! Anyway he is a no body right?
As for the blog, do not hold your breath, just up to most of us to keep it sane
Charlie bloody Webster
Never heard of him – is he a corrupt banker?
Morning United – Scholes should stay on and bring the dark side to Pogba
We must create balance in the ROM force
@Clint-iamyourpapii – “Its going to get even more harder now, cherish the last 20 years I sure will.”
Well said pal. I’m so glad that i’ve been around to witness the period of dominance we have enjoyed since 1992. It has been more than any of us could have ever have dreamed of. We will never see the like of it again.
@ 9.39
Spot on. Don’t expect the boss will have much to spend in the summer. The money he does get from the hills have eyes family, must go on a center mid.
That post was for Costas!
Costas – Oh I pretty much agree with you mate. Anderson bugs the fuck out of me and he should have NAILED a spot by now and like I said I doubt Tunni will be ready next season. Like you say a loan to a prem club seems more likely.
Cedars – Re your text. Absolutely mate, It is OURS!!!! Ha.
Costas – Ha. Just reading back my earlier post I didnt include Ando either! Ha.
James21 – Hey up pal. Thanks alot!
Mike – Now then mate. You are fucking joking? Sang happy birthday. Excuse me while I wipe this bile from my mouth. Un be fucking lievable.
Clint and smithy – If United NEVER won another pot I can safely say I have enjoyed the last 20 years. No other club will see the sustained joy we have witnessed. Spot on.
Scholesy could be used in a planned manner. Play him once every ten days or two weeks for the first half of the season and then once a week for the remaining half. That will bring the most out of him without overworking him.
The up-side is that SAF will want to play BOTH as much as possible; the down-side is that SAF will want to play BOTH as much as possible.
It’s hard to “ration” these guys’ playing time ‘cos they have both been legendary performers BUT, of course, they are on the back side of their great careers and neither of them has the strength/stamina to play at a consistently-high level – that makes the 90th minute goal from SirRyanGiggs so suprising.
But, back to reality, these guys are going to be best-suited to be real part-timers – coming in and providing that touch-of-class (and change of pace) from whoever is starting. However, for that to happen, two others – Anderson, Cleverley, MrJones, Young, and maybe Pogba or Tunnicliffe – need to step up and shove Paul/Ryan down the pecking-order.
Otherwise, SAF will keep relying on his old warriors – and with every justification since they have been crucial in the glory years.
paul scholes.. he scores goals
Maybe the solution is for SIrRyanGiggs to play forever but for TheGingerNinja only play half-seasons !
It’s safe to say if United win nowt but there is always me in Football manager and James on Fifa
Long live United
He’s our best midfielder, and with the rest he had, has looked very sharp since his return, getting in the box more than ever in the last 5-6 years. Another year please.
Here we go again. Bloody transfer window is still months away and already people are working themselves into a frenzy.
If SAF and Scholes (and Giggs) are all satisfied they can make a valuable contribution, and they want to do it, then who are we to say otherwise? As for bringing in another top-flight midfielder: the way some folk talk, you’d think it was as easy as trundling down to the local WalMart and picking one off the shelf. Or maybe even mail-order it in, from Amazon or somewhere.
Without throwing any names around, I would reckon there’s maybe a handful of players in the world who might be candidates to take a leading role in our midfield, based on proven form, ability and class. Four or five guys tops — no more than that. Now how many of them are left in the pool, once you take away those who are not the right age, are not available due to their current contracts (in a transfer, it takes four to tango: both clubs, the player and his agent), and those who, for whatever reason, either want to move somewhere else or don’t want to move here. Answer: probably none. And before anyone leaps in and says so-and-so is available: remember, we are talking about SAF’s short-list of suitable candidates, not yours.
Outside of that, you have to lower your sights. That means getting someone who is either (a) young and full of potential but unproven, (b) pretty good but not quite in that elite class, or (c) ticks all the boxes but is on the home straight of his useful career. With (a), we would be gambling on youth again, and while SAF will always be on the lookout for good young talent that he can grow, it obviously isn’t the immediate answer to our “midfield problems”. With (b), you’re talking a gamble that the person has been held back by his current situation and would blossom when surrounded by better talent at United (this is the category I put Ashely Young in). And with (c), what’s the popint, when we already have Scholes and Giggs to fulfill that role?
Clearly, SAF’s strategy is to replace Scholes from within. We all know that it won’t be a like-for-like replacement, because there is only one Paul Scholes, but that will be true even if we buy someone.
His strategy may be based on several reasons. I don’t know for sure (none of us does), but the following are all reasonable assumptions:
1. Transfer prices are over-inflated and even if they weren’t, it is neither possible nor sensible to try to compete against the open cheque-book policies of teams like Shitty, the Rent Boys, and the Virus. Even ordinary “talent” requires a huge outlay these days.
2. He wants to build a young squad that is at the start of its lifecycle, so that the next manager doesn’t need to immediately rush out into the transfer market. Having faith in a new manager’s coaching ability is one thing. Trusting him with a huge transfer kitty, is entirely something else. We all know that the change of management will be a traumatic time, probably for several years. But it would be so much more risky if the new manager inherits a squad that is on the decline and urgently needs to be rebuilt. It would be equally risky if the new manager inherited a squad that had recently been rebuilt through transfers–because if the team isn’t “working”, the new guy can always blame those transfers (which weren’t his). Selling those players on would be expensive: you spend a lot of money buying in some good players, then the new guy wants to sell them off and buy in a different crew. Nah, doesn’t make sense.
Sorry for the long post! (and i only covered half of what I wanted to say lol)
which other midfielder is good enough for utd, everyone wanted sniejder last season, what has he done this season, even against england last week he looked shite. we dont need a midfield player, our team is fine, what we need is a left back and a right back that plays consistently, hopefully that is rafa.