Paul Scholes the pundit

I think the vast majority of "criticism" from ex United players toward the current players and club is justified. Also think that the Scholes comment about Martinez was just a bit of a joke and blown up into something way bigger than it actually was.

But the instagram comment was ridiculous. Im sure its been pointed out earlier in this thread, but the score was still 1-1 when he posted that - I saw it with about 10 mins left.

It's the "see, I told you so" attitude from Scholes that I find so juvenile. Expect it on The Caf, but not from an ex-player. It's likely career limiting too - I can't see many broadcaster would see these comments as being in any way professional.

But maybe this is just the way Scholes is? Don't expect ex-footballers, or anyone for that matter, to always be well balanced, considerate thinkers who know when best to say nothing.
 
Yagami said:
I could be wrong but I don't think he's looked well recently. On that overlap episode a while ago, he was talking about how he looks after his disabled son and, as someone who has a disabled family member, I know how exhausting that can be.

It's not nice seeing him be so negative, but sometimes life gets on top of you and you just vent out in ways like this.

I hope he's okay because I think it's more than just not thinking United are a good team.
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I thought Scholes came across really well on that episode.
 
Their recent comments made me realise they (Scholes, Keane, Butt etc) have unresolved issues and/or need therapy, and are not worth listening to.

Just poor taste and personal contempt to slag off your former midfield partner like that. And separately for Keane to harbour resentment from comments made by Carrick's wife 12 years ago is unsound
 


I don't buy it personally. I reckon he had a few beers on Wednesday night, woke up on Thursday realising his Instagram post was unnecessarily snide towards Carrick, and is now acting like it has been misconstrued.
 
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe said:


I don't buy it personally. I reckon he had a few beers on Wednesday night, woke up on Thursday realising his Instagram post was unnecessarily snide towards Carrick, and is now acting like it has been misconstrued.
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I'd buy it because it reads as how Scholes talks sometimes, which is simple and awkward. It honestly might just be bad prose.
 
Nah, the "cos" is the part that gives it away. In any case, who cares. He's entitled to his opinion, even if it was in poor taste.
 
gaffs said:
But maybe this is just the way Scholes is? Don't expect ex-footballers, or anyone for that matter, to always be well balanced, considerate thinkers who know when best to say nothing.
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It's pretty well known that he's a bit of a weirdo.
Strange guy; top player.
 
Whatever the case, it’s insane that our version of AFTV are our ex players.
 
Spark said:
Whatever the case, it’s insane that our version of AFTV are our ex players.
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Deffo some truth in that

Was sick of hearing the feckers and stopped tuning in. Now I’m just sick of hearing about the feckers
 
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe said:


I don't buy it personally. I reckon he had a few beers on Wednesday night, woke up on Thursday realising his Instagram post was unnecessarily snide towards Carrick, and is now acting like it has been misconstrued.
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I knew people would be saying this.

We can't possibly admit we've misinterpreted his words, can we? Have to double down on everything.
 
jderbyshire said:
I knew people would be saying this.

We can't possibly admit we've misinterpreted his words, can we? Have to double down on everything.
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The "cos" part and the winky kiss emoji is more than enough to raise some doubt. Anyway, it's not that deep. He's reached out to Carrick who confirmed he's not arsed, so that's that.
 
If it was Keane, I wouldn't buy it for a second, but Scholes has probably been the most complimentary about Carrick since he began this interim period and even before that.

With Martinez, they were uncalled for, but this seems more like a badly worded message that he's cleared up with Carrick. Media and fans are probably bringing more attention to this than there needs to be.
 
I would not overblow that thing, really: he is a true legend and one of yours but also a middle-aged man in an incendiary media environment ... alive icons can still be a bit less icon-ish from time to time

ps. Carrick deserves all the praise for having improved Utd results but the interim coach job is very different (in aims, responsibilities and expectations) from full time manager ... so just take in Scholes' rant as a misfired shot from a fan in the heat of the game imho.
 
This is how I see our ex-players in a more everyday context:

Rio:
The harmless meathead in your friend group who suddenly decides that he's so charming and witty that he should become an influencer or start a podcast. You cringe, but at the end of the day he mostly remains harmless apart from the occasional dumb statement.

G. Neville:
The tidy, proper and slightly nerdy guy from your friend group who out of nowhere becomes an edgy and outspoken contrarian who loves Joe Rogan and dabbles with the manosphere. He thinks that this new-found "wisdom" will make people respect him more. You can no longer take him seriously.

Scholes:
The bitter, divorced, middle-aged dad who drunk-posts on Facebook. He gets angrier and angrier as the years go by and at some point you genuinely get scared when you get notifications with his name next to it.
 
Scandi Red said:
This is how I see our ex-players in a more everyday context:

Rio:
The harmless meathead in your friend group who suddenly decides that he's so charming and witty that he should become an influencer or start a podcast. You cringe, but at the end of the day he mostly remains harmless apart from the occasional dumb statement.

G. Neville:
The tidy, proper and slightly nerdy guy from your friend group who out of nowhere becomes an edgy and outspoken contrarian who loves Joe Rogan and dabbles with the manosphere. He thinks that this new-found "wisdom" will make people respect him more. You can no longer take him seriously.

Scholes:
The bitter, divorced, middle-aged dad who drunk-posts on Facebook. He gets angrier and angrier as the years go by and at some point you genuinely get scared when you get notifications with his name next to it.
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That’s fair but Scholes deserves the caveat of his difficult family life meaning he is no longer himself.
 
He’s backtracking but whatever, it’s done now and let’s just move on (until the next stupid thing he says).
 
Its all just clickbait for the podcast, drive people to the podcast and earn more money.

He's throwing something in every other week to draw people in.
 
Catt said:
What’s this about?
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I believe his son is autistic or has a similar neurodivergence. Watch the overlap episode about it and it sounds like a really tricky family life for this reason. Sounds like he does really well by him.
 
Berbasbullet said:
That’s fair but Scholes deserves the caveat of his difficult family life meaning he is no longer himself.
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Not really an excuse though is it. The are plenty who have, and are going through, just as difficult or more difficult times than him all be it respectfully in less privileged positions yet manage to not become arseholes.

Maybe someone should tell him to put the phone down and avoid starting up podcasts before he says something he can't dig himself out of.

It speaks volumes that it would seem the majority preferred the guy when he used to keep his mouth shut, which makes me wonder, perhaps he has just always been an arsehole - he just never had the platform to show us.
 
astracrazy said:
Not really an excuse though is it. The are plenty who have, and are going through, just as difficult or more difficult times than him all be it respectfully in less privileged positions yet manage to not become arseholes.

Maybe someone should tell him to put the phone down and avoid starting up podcasts before he says something he can't dig himself out of.

It speaks volumes that it would seem the majority preferred the guy when he used to keep his mouth shut, which makes me wonder, perhaps he has just always been an arsehole - he just never had the platform to show us.
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+1

He’s an absolute plonker. Has been for years in the media. Perhaps always was but we just weren’t ever exposed to it (likely)

Coming from a fellow ginge that idolised him as a kid. Every shirt had 18 on the back for me.

Asside from the caf, I refuse to watch the Overlap if he’s on, that shit one with him, Paddy and Butt. I don’t and won’t click any news article with his name.

If I can’t cancel him in the mainstream. I can certainly cancel him in my own little world. Hopefully more do the same and we can soon be rid of him
 
Pughnichi said:
+1

He’s an absolute plonker. Has been for years in the media. Perhaps always was but we just weren’t ever exposed to it (likely)

Coming from a fellow ginge that idolised him as a kid. Every shirt had 18 on the back for me.

Asside from the caf, I refuse to watch the Overlap if he’s on, that shit one with him, Paddy and Butt. I don’t and won’t click any news article with his name.

If I can’t cancel him in the mainstream. I can certainly cancel him in my own little world. Hopefully more do the same and we can soon be rid of him
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What exactly has he said to drive up this hatred?

He’s not the most insightful pundit, but has he said anything other than the Martinez thing that’s been clearly out of order? I can’t think of many. And a lot of what he says is echoed by a large portion of this forum.
 
I think Butt, Keane and Scholes are bitter that their prime was before the huge influx of money came into football and they could have earned way more if they played overseas when the interest was there.

Add the fact that their post-playing career is reduced to punditry and now you’ve them being overly negative at the club.
 
Berbasbullet said:
I believe his son is autistic or has a similar neurodivergence. Watch the overlap episode about it and it sounds like a really tricky family life for this reason. Sounds like he does really well by him.
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We going to use that as an excuse for him being a dickhead?
 
klayton88 said:
We going to use that as an excuse for him being a dickhead?
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Not saying it’s an excuse but something to think about before mindlessly piling in and calling him a cnut.

Little bit of compassion and understanding can never hurt.

He’s said some really daft things recently, sometimes it’s nice to think about the other person before voicing a strong opinion about them.
 
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Berbasbullet said:
sometimes it’s nice to think about the other person before voicing a strong opinion about them.
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Tell the ginger magnifique that then... Was he thinking about the club when he piled in on the manager after we finally had a decent run of results?
 
Berbasbullet said:
Not saying it’s an excuse but something to think about before mindlessly piling in and calling him a cnut.

Little bit of compassion and understanding can never hurt.

He’s said some really daft things recently, sometimes it’s nice to think about the other person before voicing a strong opinion about them.
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So when him and Butt were going in on Martinez for example, that was down to his home life?

We'll show Scholes a bit of compassion and understanding so he gets a free pass and only call out Butt for being a dick. Come on.

Things going on at home explains a lot of behaviours in people and in different degrees we have all been there. But I don't buy it's the reason he decides to go on podcasts and social media slagging off the club and/or people at it on his own or with others.
 
Posts bullshit on Instagram to stir up controversy, then seemingly clears the air on his podcast. It's obvious what he's at, the guy should be ignored.
 
Christ.:rolleyes:
They consistently have the worst takes going.
 
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Never mind Scholes, what's really depressing is that this thoroughly unpleasant and offensively clueless man that is Butt was tasked with running our youth department and "first team development" for years. No wonder our club was struggling.
 
The cheerleaders that the scousers have for ex players, and we got stuck with these 2
 
2 man midfield said:
The cheerleaders that the scousers have for ex players, and we got stuck with these 2
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At least we have Rio. My appreciation of him grows every time Scholes, Butt or Keane open their mouths. I loved Rio's biased TNT commentary during the United vs Lyon game, especially because it pissed off my Liverpool supporting mates. Like we haven't had to listen to Carragher shout shite like "Mo Salah you little dancer" down the mic for years.
 
Most of our defenders are either getting on and/or are often injured and Butt wants to loan out Yoro :lol:
 
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