Paul Scholes has signed up for a (second) final season at Manchester United, with the club having registered the 36-year-old until May. It’s a surprise turnaround for a player who retired after United’s loss to Barcelona in the Champions League final last year.
Fans and pundits have questioned whether Scholes will be a success second time around. After all, the veteran midfielder admitted in May that his ‘legs had gone’. Some have pointed to the player’s return as evidence that Sir Alex Ferguson is being restricted in the transfer market.
Yet, player, manager and team-mates expressed delight at Scholes’ decision to return, after the midfielder made a 31 minute cameo against Manchester City on Sunday.
Do you think Scholes’ return will be a success?
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It’s not really a yes or no question is it. He’s not going to be a game changer, helping us storm to the top of the table, but look at the city game – in a match where we could barely string two passes together for most of the second half, scholsie came on in the middle of a pressure cooker and steadied the ship, one wayward pass aside. A pass which, by the way, never would have led to a goal if any of the five players behind Scholes had been paying any fucking attention.
I can’t imagine any of our other midfielders coming on in that scenario and playing with the subtlety Scholes did – people have been complaining that he wasn’t making 50 yard passes like in his heyday, but clearly he was given his instructions by Fergie to keep the engine ticking over in midfield, playing those short passes and not doing anything stupid for 20 minutes. Which is where 20 years of experience shows through – look at Jones – he barely touched the ball in the second half without giving if away, I was screaming at the telly by the end, begging them not to pass to him. A young, talented, yet inexperienced player who completely bottled it in what is his biggest game to date.
So in a midfield made up of players well past their prime (Giggs, Fletcher, until recently Carrick), talented but almost completely inexperienced youngsters (Cleverly, Jones) and a few players who should be nowhere near our starting line up (Anderson, Park, Gibson), the return of Scholes for six months can hardly do more harm than good. Yet as I said, I feel the two choices are inadequate. I highly doubt he’ll be a resounding success – it’ll be hard to lead us to the title playing 30 minutes here and there – but I think overall it couldn’t be anything but a positive for Scholes to be back, even in a limited capacity.
The legs may have gone, but the mind is still there. Maybe now he won’t be able to build up enough speed for some of those dreadful tackles.
Excellent summary Tommy.
You’re 3 points behind the league leaders and the greatest player of all time walks into your dressing room with a pair of boots in his hand.
Scholes as an idea will win us the title.
I have to defend Jones. The lad is knackered. He could hardly lift his legs in that second half and needs a break just like we have given other players in the past. He’s 19/20 been thrust into game after game and isn’t the kind of lad that will shirk responsibility subsequently he is getting exhausted. Needs two weeks off sat at home. At this rate their will be nothing left of him. Smalling and the twins are back so get them on the field.
He didn’t bottle it as Tommy suggests he is simply shattered!
yep just like rooneys first year, from everton squaddie to our main man who plays all games in all comps in all positions and expected to just keep going, rooney was behind kevin campbell and radzinski at everton before he signed for us ffs
Knobby,
before you start slating Fergie have you considered the fact that he has played these many games cos we have had too many injuries in defence? Even he has missed a coupla games.
I considered that yes, decided I’d rather slate taggart
I don’t buy this knackered idea… mentally drained perhaps… but physically?… at 19/20, I could run forever.
When Rooney came, I think it was the public attention that wore him out… he went from Everton, a happy, innocent young lad… straight into the media glare as the £30mill superstar, and hero of England, expected to win us the world cup… it was ridiculous.
Same thing with Jones… he’s a young fit lad, who could play every day if you asked him… but he’s carrying far too much weight of expectation and responsibility.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
That’s alright then. You are at least consistent.
I agree with Alf that it is probably more mental than physical.
Thirded on the mental burnout
err….about scholes. can’t see his return being a success.
He brought some of it on himself by becoming a media darling and posing as the new face of England and all that bollocks
He should keep his head down, work hard, win a major trophy, then gob off
Won’t work, he’s bound to have lost sharpness having been out so long, esp. at his age – at least injured players are given reserve games before returning.
Scholes won’t be remembered for the great 16yrs he gave the club, or that he risked his place in Utd folklore by coming out of retirement.
He’ll be called a hasbeen.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-United-Paul-Scholes-backed-to-play-next-season-too-by-the-coach-who-developed-him-article852136.html
LOL…
That’s next summers transfer disappointment accounted for then…
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Quality…