Bully Scholes failed to take on the World

[SIZE="4"]Is that how midfielder will be remembered?

27/02/2010



EVEN more than Glenn Hoddle, Paul Scholes is the best player England never really had.

Much was being made of Scholes' possible involvement in the Carling Cup final.

Given he's coming to the end of his career and has hinted at retirement, this could be the last Wembley final Scholes plays for Manchester United. But how will the 35-year-old be remembered?

Those who have played with or against him revere him. Zinedine Zidane once said: "My toughest opponent? Scholes. He is the complete midfielder. He is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation."

And Marcello Lippi added: "Paul Scholes would have been one of the first players I'd have bought, given the chance."

Yet when Zidane left Juventus for Real Madrid, Lippi, then Juve boss, didn't actually try and sign Scholes.

The reason? For all his great technical attributes Scholes, while running the occasional game, could never boss a team for club or country over a SEASON.

He could never transport his ability out of the comfort zone of being a platinum-plated cog in the United machine.

Yes, when United were on top he could play the role of world beater with punishing point-to-point passes, shots and third-man runs into the box.

Or, put another way, he was a flat-track bully who has picked up loads of medals. But how good would he have been playing for a lesser team?

And how many games has Scholes pulled out of the fire over the last decade or so in the the manner of Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs or David Beckham? Not many.

"Paul Scholes, he scores goals." That's what they sing about Scholes on the Stretford End. A plain and simple salute to a Salford-born hero.

In so many ways, Scholes deserves such understated adulation. He loves the game, plays it very well, shuns the spotlight and has managed to get married and bring up kids without selling his soul to the influence of avaricious agents or sponsors.

As Keane points out: "Paul Scholes is an amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being."

What a warming tribute at a time when some players seem to feel it is OK to shaft their mates.

Yet I don't put Scholes up there with the GREAT English players of his era. Scholes does not get close to my best United XI of Schmeichel, G. Neville, Ferdinand, Bruce, Irwin, Best, Keane, Charlton, Giggs, Cantona, Law.

As for England, well, he never imposed himself on the big games.

Instead of battling it out Scholes simply gave up and quit England six years ago.

When you hear Gordon Strachan say, 'Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years', you realise the 'professionals' talk twaddle when it suits.

So, albeit a different style of player, Scholes (66 appearances, 14 goals) is this generation's Hoddle (53,8), the world class talent who never delivered on the world stage.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spor...eally-had.html

I can't believe he get's paid for writing this shite.

Who gives a £#%&! what that numpty thinks. His medal haul says it all. An absolute red legend.

Where do you start

When you hear Gordon Strachan say, 'Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years', you realise the 'professionals' talk twaddle when it suits.

Unlike some hack from the NOTW who talks perfect sense

As for England, well, he never imposed himself on the big games.

Instead of battling it out Scholes simply gave up and quit England six years ago.

Nothing to do with him being played left wing and getting pissed off with it

Utter drivel from first to last, I wouldn't wipe my shitty arse on it after a particularly virulent bout of diarrhoea

Disgraceful & completely baffling article.

What a complete @#%&!.

Let's be honest here, for a few years, he was pretty shit for England (but so £#%&!ing what).

Originally Posted by Billy Bigbollox

Where do you start



Unlike some hack from the NOTW who talks perfect sense



Nothing to do with him being played left wing and getting pissed off with it

Utter drivel from first to last, I wouldn't wipe my shitty arse on it after a particularly virulent bout of diarrhoea

Utilising the Ginger, asthmatic scholes as a left winger in the searing heat wasn't a brilliant idea was it?

Originally Posted by Billy Bigbollox

Nothing to do with him being played left wing and getting pissed off with it

Absolutely....Not to mention the fact Scholesy DID deliver for England in big games - Hamden Park brace, scored at World Cup's, Euro Championships, Wembley hat-trick etc..

Perhap's Scholesy should be more like Sir JT of Lionheart

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

Absolutely....Not to mention the fact Scholesy DID deliver for England in big games - Hamden Park brace, scored at World Cup's, Euro Championships, Wembley hat-trick etc..

Perhap's Scholesy should be more like Sir JT of Lionheart

Didn't he fail to score for three years or something just before he retired?

Sugar coat hatchet job. Scholes' record and tales of his play will be remembered long after this %@#$&!s is chippy paper.

Originally Posted by koppas

Didn't he fail to score for three years or something just before he retired?

Yeah, when Sven came along & was more interested in WAGS, Beckham 'showbiz' & giving the Press what they wanted by shifting Scholes out wide to accomoadate 2 inferior Footballers - Gerrard & Lampard.
If Capello had managed England during Scholesy's prime he'd have built the side around him.

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

Yeah, when Sven came along & was more interested in WAGS, Beckham 'showbiz' & giving the Press what they wanted by shifting Scholes out wide to accomoadate 2 inferior Footballers - Gerrard & Lampard.
If Capello had managed England during Scholesy's prime he'd have built the side around him.

So would Hoddle if he'd stayed as manager.

£#%&! England backwards with a prize-winning leek.

What an absolute pile of steaming, £#%&!ing shite.

Fu-ck-ing Hell

Whoever wrote that should be dis-barred (or whatever the journalistic equivalent is) and arrested for gross incompetence and £#%&!wittery.

Leg. Saf, Rafabio and Liu Jian couldn't come up with such a fanciful £#%&!tastic wum as that if they worked together for months.

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

Disgraceful & completely baffling article.

What a complete @#%&!.

Absolutely

Originally Posted by Sandman

So would Hoddle if he'd stayed as manager.

Yep, & Keegan too tbf (both huge Scholes fans)

The article is insane.
Even the picture in the article makes him look like the @#%&! he is - 35 yo Scholesy scoring in the San Siro (his 3rd Champions League goal of the current campaign) What a bottle job aye? ...pissed his career up the wall.

Everyone from Zidane to Shearer to Figo (All the '90s Greats') have said Scholes was the best around.

I'm sure Scholesy is heartbroken to learn how Rob Shepard feels about him

Zidane, Shearer, Figo, Nedved, Vieira, Henry

vs.

Rob Shephard

Flat track bully

Few years ago someone asked Fabregas if he now considers himself up there with Gerrard and Lampard.

He said "With them yeah, but not up there with Scholes yet"

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ticle28845.ece