Football 2010-2011

[strummer77]

Dont think theres going to be any "big" signings at OT this summer". Which is fine by me.

[jump]

Fergie is promising 3 new signings, one of which has to be a new keeper and there's the Younger & Sneijder rumours.

What's happening with Scholes, is he going to retire this season?

[pink_triangle]

Fergie is promising 3 new signings, one of which has to be a new keeper and there's the Younger & Sneijder rumours.

What's happening with Scholes, is he going to retire this season?

[The Nal]

I personally dont think man utd need to add too much. The keeper is obvious but also think you need to find a midfielder who can contribute to the goal tally especially if scholes leaves. Who is on they way out, I assume brown and hargreaves are 2, Is Owens contract up?? As for johnny evans even fergie cant make him into a decent player in my opinion.

[TheGayTent]

It'll be Curbishley, Pearce, or Keen IMO.

[Benj]

I think scholes is finished. I think man utd want him to continue but I think he will decide to call it a day. I suspect he wont announce till the end of the season as he isnt the type of player who would want a huge fuss. Another possibility that may interest him would be to go to oldham as a player coach. As for Young I think man utd should stay clear, I think he is one of the most overrated players in the league and dont think his attitude fits in with the man u ethos.

[eFestivals]

Although the fact he's a massive cheat, will do, if you listen to Worm or Neil

He's defo a cheat. The rest of your words deserves ignoring.

[TheGayTent]

it's a shame martin o'neill isn't (wasn't) interested

[The Nal]

Sums up Arsenals season!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQYob9E0q-Y

[The Nal]

I think scholes is finished. I think man utd want him to continue but I think he will decide to call it a day. I suspect he wont announce till the end of the season as he isnt the type of player who would want a huge fuss.

[Wooderson]

Paul Scholes. The worst tackler in the history of the Premiership.

[The Nal]

Paul Scholes. The worst tackler in the history of the Premiership.

[eFestivals]

The footballers footballer.

an idea that you and everyone else applies only when it suits you.

For example, last summer TGT, myself and perhaps others (I forget) were ridiculed for saying that England were generally poor and wouldn't get too far. The basis of the arguments made against what we said were "so & so footballer says England will win it". And then after the world cup, Messi said that if England had taken Walcott they would have won - and those same people poo-poo'd that idea.

But because *some* footballers have said complimentary things about Scholes he's indisputably the best. Yeah, ok ... but perhaps those players only said it cos they'd heard they'd get kicked less by the world worst tackler. Who knows?

[TheGayTent]

He has an autobiography coming out in September too. Good time to call it quits.

Not a bad innings though. 10 leagues, 2 Champions Leagues, 3 FA Cups and the greatest English midfielder since Bobby Charlton.

[The Nal]

an idea that you and everyone else applies only when it suits you.

For example, last summer TGT, myself and perhaps others (I forget) were ridiculed for saying that England were generally poor and wouldn't get too far. The basis of the arguments made against what we said were "so & so footballer says England will win it". And then after the world cup, Messi said that if England had taken Walcott they would have won - and those same people poo-poo'd that idea.

Edited May 19, 2011 by The Nal

[TheGayTent]

There was, actually. The Bobby Charlton bit was clearly biased towards Utd, Bobby Charlton and Paul Scholes.

[TheGayTent]

David Platt was a far better player on the international stage than Scholes ever was.

[The Nal]

David Platt was a far better player on the international stage than Scholes ever was.

[eFestivals]

Scholes is widely regarded, from well respected journalists, managers to people like Zidane, Henry, Xavi, Fabregas, Keegan, Best, Charlton as the greatest of his generation. People in the know who have played against him, with him and seen him play. Its not a biased/radical opinion.

but it is an opinion that varies from those people dependent on who is asking and what they've had for breakfast that morning.

Anyway, who would people have as the best midfielder of the last 20 odd years?

I'll take a wild stab in the dark and say no one that's English.

More likely that they actually believe it as his 531 games for Utd and England have proved? I think Fabio not asking him to the World Cup in time was a big mistake. Dictates the play and pace of a game like nobody else.

Fabio has said he regrets not taking Walcott. He's not said the same about Scholes.

And it's not hugely surprising really. Whatever his good points now or in the past, his passing has now turned mostly to shit, he doesn't score the goals that he used to (which was one of his major plus points), and his reduction in speed makes him more of a liability for cards than he used to be (and that was always a BIG liability).

[TheGayTent]

There was probably a few who were better internationally. Playing left wing to accomodate Lamps and Gerrard didn't help mind you. But we're into the England international debate now. How a team whos had Gazza, Adams, Scholes, Shearer, Gerrard, Beckham, Terry, Rooney, Owen etc in the last 20 years havent won anything and failed to qualify for major competitions is beyond me. We qualified for the 2002 World Cup with Kevin f**king Kilbane in the team.

[eFestivals]

How a team whos had Gazza, Adams, Scholes, Shearer, Gerrard, Beckham, Terry, Rooney, Owen etc in the last 20 years havent won anything and failed to qualify for major competitions is beyond me.

it's not beyond me. I don't even think it's beyond Fabio (the clue to that has the name of Emile).

Whatever the individual skills of such players, they're not (in the main) team players. The sum is lesser than the parts.

Edited May 19, 2011 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

but it is an opinion that varies from those people dependent on who is asking and what they've had for breakfast that morning.

Edited May 19, 2011 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Nah, Id say the footie analysis theory is a little more sound that the cornflakes one. Are ALL of those great players wrong? Or drunk or what?

they're as accurate with their take on Scholes as they were with England's chances of the world cup.

Well hes wrong. Thats as clear as day. Walcott is still hit and miss.

so what you're saying is that the 'great' players who say what you like are always right and the 'great' players who say what you don't like are always wrong.

Which rather proves the point I had when I first commented on this.

Agree with some of that except on his passing. Hasn't gone to shit at all. Not as good maybe, but not shit.

do you wear self-straightening glasses or something?

Mind you, I was being unfair just saying "his passing has now turned mostly to shit", I should have included his shooting too. They used to fall inside the corner flag, now mostly they don't.

[pink_triangle]

There was probably a few who were better internationally. Playing left wing to accomodate Lamps and Gerrard didn't help mind you. But we're into the England international debate now. How a team whos had Gazza, Adams, Scholes, Shearer, Gerrard, Beckham, Terry, Rooney, Owen etc in the last 20 years havent won anything and failed to qualify for major competitions is beyond me. We qualified for the 2002 World Cup with Kevin f**king Kilbane in the team.

[ralph250]

Not sure about the argument about Scholes' passing going to shit.

Can argue other areas of his game have dropped, but ignoring the Blackburn game (as United passed it between themselves without a challenge for the last 10 minutes), Scholes has a average 90% pass completion rate for his 5 prem games previous (Fulham h, Liverpool a, Chelsea a, Wigan a, Man City h). Completed 284 passes from 316 attempted.