Those stats are so amazing they need to be turned into an instant graphic so that even the thick Scouse can understand it's significance at a glance!:
Paul Scholes | 2011/12 Performances
- Thread starter Nate Dogg
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The funny thing is, one of the most important things he does for us is impossible to show on a chalkboard; it's the purpose and intensity of his passing. Just the way the ball zips along the turf when he is commanding it, it seems to give the team a sense that we need to be stepping it up or getting things done. It's more than the choice of pass, it's the difference you feel when you watch a decent Premier League player compared to one of the most natural footballers United have produced. His passes don't just reach their intended target, they almost tell the target what to do next when they get the ball.
That's very nicely put.
Incredible incredible player.
My favorite United player ever.
My favorite United player ever.
yes!
Love that the one draw we had with him was against Chelsea, where he was a sub and came on when we were chasing the game.
This was my reply when he came back. Now I'm mixed. On one hand, he's been sensational since coming back, but we can't accomodate a player who needs 8 months of rest/inactivity, even if it's Scholes. His resurgence shouldn't mask the fact that we've needed a central midfielder for ages.
Only because you think you could be Putin to his Medvedev.
It's not certain that it's the half season's rest that's responsible for his amazing form. Can't have hurt I suppose. But the more likely reason is just that he's Paul Scholes - a football genius. He was pretty fecking good last year, and the year before that, and pretty much every year apart from that one where he couldn't actually see.
Plech and Gazza conquer the world at a canter
He has been more important to us this season than he was last. Hasn't he? It feels like he has. I haven't got stats to back it up tho.
Scholes' presence on the pitch make the others play even better.
All I know is I spent probably about a combined three hours of last year muttering "Paul Scholes..." to myself and shaking my head in wonderment. While watching him play, that is, not while boning...if you include that it's up to five hours.
With the one caveat that he makes Carrick return to his shell a bit. Not that they're not a great partnership, they are. It's just Carrick's always deferring to him, giving him the ball when if it was another player next to him he'd use it more creatively himself. When Scholes isn't playing Carrick has a tougher job and the team is weaker, but he is a bit more assertive... like a shellfish poking its head out into the ocean and contemplating the possibility of getting laid someday.
Comedy fake tits for all! And compulsory to wear them every minute of every day.
As much as some people rave about Scholes, I think he's still massively underrated, for the reasons Gazza spoke of and others. You watch him for years and you forget how incredibly difficult his cross field passes are, you start to think that anyone can take a defense apart with his decision making when you have great attackers.
If you're watching another team and someone makes one of those classic Paul Scholes cross-field 60 yard passes, the ones that forces the receiver to run past the defender to catch it, well, the commentator will gasp and compliment the passer at length. But if Scholes does it he rarely gets a mention, it's expected. Is there another sport where an athlete will do something that spectacular so often it doesn't warrant a mention? I can't think of any. I guess they know that if they start talking about his control they'll be talking about it all game.
The only player I've seen that compares is Xavi, but he doesn't usually use such the long pass and is more about 1-2 passing and triangles. If there's ever been another play like him I'd love to know about them.
If you're watching another team and someone makes one of those classic Paul Scholes cross-field 60 yard passes, the ones that forces the receiver to run past the defender to catch it, well, the commentator will gasp and compliment the passer at length. But if Scholes does it he rarely gets a mention, it's expected. Is there another sport where an athlete will do something that spectacular so often it doesn't warrant a mention? I can't think of any. I guess they know that if they start talking about his control they'll be talking about it all game.
The only player I've seen that compares is Xavi, but he doesn't usually use such the long pass and is more about 1-2 passing and triangles. If there's ever been another play like him I'd love to know about them.
He deserves a lot of credit. His partnership with Carrick is important. And De Gea, Evans and Ferdinand have also raised their game when it mattered. So the spine looks much more solid now.
Agreed... I dunno why people insisted on saying that Scholes looked tired and out of it towards the end of last season. He was one of the most commanding players we had in our semi finals against Schalke.
I think it's just that he misses a few more times when he's not totally on song, and him missing a pass hits you straight in the face because it's so unusual with Scholes.
Yes. If he can deal with the schedule (we'll be back in the Champions League next season), then no problem, he's still one of the best midfielders in the league. If he can't...
He'll have to be managed, of course, and won't be able to play in the league and CL constantly. But considering Giggs is fantastic in central midfield and showed last year he could pair with Carrick to win the league and get to the CL final, I think Giggs and Scholes can spell each other and handle the creative CM duties between them.
Ask Milan if they should have kept Pirlo.
Though if we buy Sneijder or some such I'll be delighted, plenty of games for everyone.
Ask Milan if they should have kept Pirlo.
Though if we buy Sneijder or some such I'll be delighted, plenty of games for everyone.
Agreed, gooDevil (wait, goo? Is that a nickname or something?? 
)
It's amusing how everyone agrees that experience is a big factor on why we're ahead of City now, and then you get pockets of the same people who say "It's great Scholes came back but he shouldn't be here next season cos he's not the future." Not the future? Are experience and poise not valued in this future you speak of? I agree we need to be working on who is going to step up next, but to not want know how like Scholes's in the your squad just seems ... mental.
) It's amusing how everyone agrees that experience is a big factor on why we're ahead of City now, and then you get pockets of the same people who say "It's great Scholes came back but he shouldn't be here next season cos he's not the future." Not the future? Are experience and poise not valued in this future you speak of? I agree we need to be working on who is going to step up next, but to not want know how like Scholes's in the your squad just seems ... mental.
My nickname was an attempt at a joke, you could add me to the long list of people that would change their username if they could!
I certainly agree, it's easy to get sucked into the sort of thinking the media uses to keep the articles churning out. But if you imagine you're sitting in front of SAF and you ask him if he'd like Paul Scholes available in his squad, you know the answer.
I'm not worried about having too many midfielders because I'd like to see us go back to playing 433 in Europe for all away games and a lot of home games, and if so we'll need more midfielders. I'd be happy with us adding two quality midfielders, then we can have Carrick, Giggs, Scholes and Fletcher rotating for a 4231 and Cleverley, Anderson and Scholes for a 433, at a guess.
You'd think we'd want to bring in another combative, defensive minded midfielder to cover for Fletcher, as well as someone creative to take over for Scholes. But SAF may really see Cleverley or Anderson in that role, and Tunnicliffe or Pogba may be in line for a shot first.
Another reason I like 433 is that we could buy a top creative midfielder, making everyone happy, still play Scholes and have another spot for one of our stable of midfielders, so it makes sense to hold onto them all.
I certainly agree, it's easy to get sucked into the sort of thinking the media uses to keep the articles churning out. But if you imagine you're sitting in front of SAF and you ask him if he'd like Paul Scholes available in his squad, you know the answer.
I'm not worried about having too many midfielders because I'd like to see us go back to playing 433 in Europe for all away games and a lot of home games, and if so we'll need more midfielders. I'd be happy with us adding two quality midfielders, then we can have Carrick, Giggs, Scholes and Fletcher rotating for a 4231 and Cleverley, Anderson and Scholes for a 433, at a guess.
You'd think we'd want to bring in another combative, defensive minded midfielder to cover for Fletcher, as well as someone creative to take over for Scholes. But SAF may really see Cleverley or Anderson in that role, and Tunnicliffe or Pogba may be in line for a shot first.
Another reason I like 433 is that we could buy a top creative midfielder, making everyone happy, still play Scholes and have another spot for one of our stable of midfielders, so it makes sense to hold onto them all.
Cearly the passes and Rafael isn't on the same wavelength then, judging by the way he took care of the worlds biggest chance ever TM against QPR.
Next season a number of youngsters will need to be added with the big guys
So true.
To put it at a very basic level its like when you see a player pass to someone on the flank, and pass it to their feet rather than in front of them. Sure the pass still reaches them, but they dont have any momentum.
With Scholes he doesnt pass directly to someones feet unless he wants or needs to, he will pass it in front of them, to the side of them or behind them and you can bet your bollock it isnt because he is inaccurate, its because he knows what they then should be doing with the ball after they recieve it, and he places it accordingly.
As said, that is the difference between a decent/good passer and a great one. So often moves are broken down by a pass not necessarily missing its target, but by not being played into their path - if you are running at full pelt you want a ball that you can sprint at, not one you have to slow down or stop for.
Signing new contract too
Creating the space you need in football in order to attack is an art form that evades statistical analysis. With Scholes on the pitch you can get the ball to a winger in the final third with a few passes to shift the defense out of position. Then the winger can either put a cross into the box or cut inside for a more dangerous angle.
When he's not out there you can forget how hard it is to get the ball into the box. As much as I love Giggs in central midfield, he can't run a game in the same way, we don't get the same level of control over the game, and our opponent gets more time with the ball.
When he's not out there you can forget how hard it is to get the ball into the box. As much as I love Giggs in central midfield, he can't run a game in the same way, we don't get the same level of control over the game, and our opponent gets more time with the ball.
Agreed. I watch MLS and when you see players send those cross field balls that Scholes has made look so easy into the stands, it gives you a whole new level of appreciation of how good he really is.
A great quote from Pexbo back in January.
I'd say the closest comparison is Messi. When he gets on the ball and does something ridiculously good, it is simply expected of him.
He needs to play in every remaining game.
I keep saying it, but its fecking scary how shit we turn without him.
Yeah he will especially as we now only have 1 game a week
Take Scholes out, lose a game.
It's not just because Scholes is such a great player but the system we play he is perfect for us, take that away and our wingers all of a sudden look isolated and the midfield is all panicky. Wigan pressed us all night but when we needed a calm head on the ball there was nobody there and thats Scholes bread and butter.
Fair enough hes getting on but did we really need to drop him completely with 6 games to go? He's only played half a season and we are out of all competitions. Did he have a knock at all?
It's not just because Scholes is such a great player but the system we play he is perfect for us, take that away and our wingers all of a sudden look isolated and the midfield is all panicky. Wigan pressed us all night but when we needed a calm head on the ball there was nobody there and thats Scholes bread and butter.
Fair enough hes getting on but did we really need to drop him completely with 6 games to go? He's only played half a season and we are out of all competitions. Did he have a knock at all?
Hopeless in midfield without him there. Very worrying.
First game since his comeback that he hasn't played in, and our first loss...coincidence?
Tbh there are some games where he can undoubtedly be our most important man. Blackburn is an example. There they set up to defend and so having scholes stretching them all over the place gives the team a lot. But against teams like Wigan today where they committ runners through the middle and press really aggressively are games where he's notoriously struggled in. Having said that he probably wouldn't have gone forward as much as giggs was trying to which just by itself would have made us more solid.
What an important player he still is. Amazing. Legend.
Giggs only attempted 44 passes and completed only 34 out of them. With Scholesy you usually get a much higher pass percentage and much more passes.
Is that for one half or the whole game? Please tell me its for one half.
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