Paul Scholes' United XI
- Thread starter Tom Van Persie
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Presumably what you'd do is remove RVN for Scholes and have Rooney and Ronaldo up front.
Interesting midfield, personally I'd swap Beckham for Scholes and Cantona for Ruud.
Thanks I’m a sucker for these type of videos. Found it weird that he’s talking about Rio and Stam not really gelling as a partnership, when Stam left a year before Rio arrived.
He also misspells Stam's name. Should've just gone with Vidic.
He's right then, they didn't gel.
What was his full side? I don't have time to watch the vid at the moment
Ronaldo Van Nistelrooy Rooney
Giggs ---Keane--- Beckham
Irwin Stam Ferdinand Neville
Schmeichel
* Dream XI of Scholes' team-mates...hence no Best, Charlton, Law etc.Giggs ---Keane--- Beckham
Irwin Stam Ferdinand Neville
Schmeichel
Schmeichel
Neville - Rio - Stam - Irwin
Beckham - Keane - Giggs
Rooney - RVN - Ronaldo
That is some team.
Struggling to improve that tbh. If he can't pick himself.
Maybe cantona for ruud.
Maybe cantona for ruud.
I agree with Schmeichel, Rio and Stam being there. I don't think Vidic was as good as either despite being a world class beast himself. That's just how good I thought Rio and Stam were rather than a slight on Vidic.
I'm not surprised he picked Ruud. Scholes as sort of a shadow striker in 02/03 was absolutely deadly alongside him. Their partnership ahead of Keane and Butt/Veron, flanked by Giggs and Beckham (for some of the season anyway) made for one of my favourite United teams of all time despite the lack of success.
I'm not surprised he picked Ruud. Scholes as sort of a shadow striker in 02/03 was absolutely deadly alongside him. Their partnership ahead of Keane and Butt/Veron, flanked by Giggs and Beckham (for some of the season anyway) made for one of my favourite United teams of all time despite the lack of success.
Thanks both.
It's an interesting side. I'm just not sure if Giggs was ever adept enough to play an LCM role like Di Maria did for Real. If he did this could work like a charm (of course it does limit Keane but he can do a great job there)
I think he meant that they probably won’t play as well together in his theoretical team. Hence his remark that if he was picking a partnership, he’d pick Vidić, but he had picked 2 best individuals.
I think both Beckham and Giggs have a very high work-rate due to playing mostly in a old school 4-4-2, so they were never like the modern inside forwards, who don't like to cover much ground in midfield. Beckham in a midfield 3 would be particularly good, in my opinion, due to his incredible passing ability.
I'd only swap RVN for RVP or Cantona, because they would both give a lot more in terms of link-up play and assisting Ronaldo or Rooney.
He said (perhaps jokingly) that he would’ve loved that team to be a 4-4-2, but the template was 4-3-3. So the players he had picked in midfield were more suited for that formation.
That's a back four that can play. I watched an old game from 99-00 season the other day and I always forget how comfortable Stam was with the ball at his feet and bringing the ball out from the back.
Didn't Giggs plat CM a bit in his later years and do a good job there? It's getting to be a quite a few years ago now so my memory of it might be wrong
Good team... and only De Gea of our current squad would even be a part of the conversation.
Ah, ok that makes more sense. I reckon Carrick might have made an appearance in a 442 alongside Keane. The only other option would probably been Nicky Butt.
I'd probably have Irwin right back(he was a right back after all it's just that he was so good that he could play left as well) and then Evra at left back. Also I thought Ed was probably overall better keeper.
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Yup. Played a lot in 08-09 there, also alternated a lot between CM and LM in the latter years too. Excellent chance creator from the centre but could be a bit reckless in possession at times.
RVN + CR didn't work.
Giggs in midfield is wasted.
Do not like.
Giggs in midfield is wasted.
Do not like.
Ronaldo was still developing when he played with Ruud. It took him the full season after RVN's departure to start approaching his peak for us.
Hard to deny any of those players in that team. But, that midfield just doesn't look right to me. Giggs as part of a midfield 3? Not sure I could see that working.
Disagree.
I feel like his potential was never fully realised as a result of playing on the wing, if he had gone to Italy they would have moved him inside either straight away or much sooner. Individually speaking, him replacing Cantona would have gotten more out of him. As it stands, it was best for the team for him to be out wide.
Thing is, that team can change shape easily, which is good. With Ronaldo pulling out to the right wing, Giggs to the left, and Beckham in a midfield two with Keane - and Rooney behind Ruud. It's very flexible. And fantastic.
It might not be a popular opinion but I agree with you. His ability to pick a pass, especially under pressure was second to none. He had many great games for us in that CM position even though he was in his mid 30s when he moved there. His work rate throughout his career was also top notch and I think he would have been a more than decent player if played through the middle.
Agreed but he was the perfect 442 winger.
I think both him and Beckham would of been CMs if they came through nowadays (Beckham arguably a right back ala Trent).
Giggs played as a CAM a few times in the early 00s if I remember correctly.
I do remember one game - away to Deportivo in 01 maybe - where Sir Alex played him just behind Ruud with Scholes actually on the left and he was just magnificent.
I do remember one game - away to Deportivo in 01 maybe - where Sir Alex played him just behind Ruud with Scholes actually on the left and he was just magnificent.
That's one hell of a team, always like his comments as he keeps it real, and says what's on his mind.
I love Scholes and he is one of my all time favourite players, but he is wrong here.
My team (Sir Alex reign)
GK: Schmeichel
RB: Gaz
CB: Stam
CB: Rio
LB: Irwin
DM: Keane
MC: Scholes
AMR: Beckham
AML: Giggs
FWD: Rooney
STK: Ronaldo
RVN is a better striker then Ronaldo was for us. However if I had to stake my life on a United's team then that would be the formation and the team I would rely upon.
GK: Schmeichel
RB: Gaz
CB: Stam
CB: Rio
LB: Irwin
DM: Keane
MC: Scholes
AMR: Beckham
AML: Giggs
FWD: Rooney
STK: Ronaldo
RVN is a better striker then Ronaldo was for us. However if I had to stake my life on a United's team then that would be the formation and the team I would rely upon.
He's wrong what he considers the best players he has played with?
Is there another video of this? It seems to have been taken off
At their most mature, Beckham, Keane and Giggs would be an unbelievable midfield three in today’s game. Energy, grit, passing ability, dribbling. It has it all.
The only thing that team is missing, is himself!
Regarding Beckham and Giggs in midfield three. I was just about to watch Man United - Porto from the 1996/97 season and I couldn't not post the line up:
Beckham a RB? Come on, way to good in the final third to waste him as a RB.. NO THANKS! Even if he came through the ranks today, the moment he'd score from the halfway line, any manager would be like, HELL NO this guy is no defender
.I'm not sure that Van Nistelrooy would have been necessary between Rooney & Ronaldo.
Perhaps Cantona or even Scholes himself playing behind those two...
Actually, how can Scholes not be in the team anyway..??
...........Ronaldo........Rooney.......
.....................Cantona...............
...Giggs......Keane.......Beckham...
....Irwin...Rio.......Stam...Neville....
................Schmeichel.................
Perhaps Cantona or even Scholes himself playing behind those two...
Actually, how can Scholes not be in the team anyway..??
...........Ronaldo........Rooney.......
.....................Cantona...............
...Giggs......Keane.......Beckham...
....Irwin...Rio.......Stam...Neville....
................Schmeichel.................