http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/fo...MS-Manchester-United-after-opening-day-defeat
How exactly was it piss poor? If anything that is a good appraisal of the current situation at United.
Scholes the Pundit
- Thread starter gooDevil
- Start date
Devil may care
New Member
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Most seem to be pissed off at Scholes because he clearly doesn't rate Herrera as a CM.
limerickcitykid
There once was a kid from Toronto...
I've seen him say good things about Ander. He just doesn't rate him at the top level alongside the likes of Kroos which you have to say is a more than fair opinion.Most seem to be pissed off at Scholes because he clearly doesn't rate Herrera as a CM.
People just always have their knickers in a twist. Former player says our team is good and they are talking shite and we need our former players to speak out about how poor the team is. Former player says team isn't good enough and they are talking shite and are bitter.
Chesterlestreet
Man of the crowd
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- Oct 19, 2012
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Our midfield is shite. That's what he says. And he's right.
He also says that we're lacking in quality from box to box. Which is also right - and it certainly was right pertaining to the match in question.
I personally think he's on the money with his comment about LVG and the World Cup too. Assessing the squad is fine. Not lining up at least one CB (as both Herrera and Shaw were lined up) is not fine. Especially not when the manager intends to play with three at the back. We should have concluded a deal for a CB (a good one, a starting man) ages ago, given that we knew bloody well that both Rio and Vidic would be leaving.
He also says that we're lacking in quality from box to box. Which is also right - and it certainly was right pertaining to the match in question.
I personally think he's on the money with his comment about LVG and the World Cup too. Assessing the squad is fine. Not lining up at least one CB (as both Herrera and Shaw were lined up) is not fine. Especially not when the manager intends to play with three at the back. We should have concluded a deal for a CB (a good one, a starting man) ages ago, given that we knew bloody well that both Rio and Vidic would be leaving.
Chesterlestreet
Man of the crowd
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- Oct 19, 2012
- Messages
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And...bitter? Why the feck would Scholes be bitter? Either that word has taken on a brand new meaning - or it's not an apt description at all.
Manucho the boss
New Member
Exactly, the man has prob forgotten more about football than any of us will ever know.And...bitter? Why the feck would Scholes be bitter? Either that word has taken on a brand new meaning - or it's not an apt description at all.
He's not one to let his judgement be clouded by club loyalty either, I respect and rate his opinion highly.
Oo0AahCantona
Full Member
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- May 23, 2014
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He's pretty much spot on. Ander is a good player, and will likely be an important player for us, but for 28m you should be expecting a top top player. In the mold of a kroos, martinez, thiago. I don't think he's quite at that level.
Lets give herrera a chance before putting him in a bracket. He has a point about van gaal not having people lined up. Im still trying to comprehend why we werent in for sanchez and didnt have an experienced centre half signed. I mean they were blatant signings that we needed. I Expect strootman to be signed at the next available opportunity. As scathing as the comments seem they are comments any of us would have made and im sure van gaal as well. Its comments from neville that are outrageous.
Spiersey
Full Member
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28875739
Seems a bit knew jerk to me unless there's something going on that I've missed.
Seems a bit knew jerk to me unless there's something going on that I've missed.
goin4glory
New Member
The reality is we've spent money very poorly in the past few windows. Gary Neville was right Fellaini/Mata/Zaha hasn't been good business.
Keeping deadwood like Anderson and Valencia haven't helped our cause, either. Agree with what you said, though.The reality is we've spent money very poorly in the past few windows. Gary Neville was right Fellaini/Mata/Zaha hasn't been good business.
Keeps It tidy
Hates Messi
A lot of United supporters have that same fear.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28875739
Seems a bit knew jerk to me unless there's something going on that I've missed.
The reality is we've spent money very poorly in the past few windows. Gary Neville was right Fellaini/Mata/Zaha hasn't been good business.
Spending £28m on fellaini and £38m on mata hasn't helped either.Keeping deadwood like Anderson and Valencia haven't helped our cause, either. Agree with what you said, though.
sullydnl
Ross Kemp's caf ID
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2012
- Messages
- 34,063
Don't think it's unreasonable to be afraid of the possibility of falling into the wilderness. We haven't been run at all well recently. Our transfer dealings have been pretty terrible in recent times and there is little apparent prospect of them improving. If that continues then decline is inevitable, no? We can't keep making the same mistakes and expect nothing to happen...
Spiersey
Full Member
He's a bit more clued up on how things are going though than the average fan. I'd like to see all of the interview from the article I posted just to see what was asked, whether he brought up the wilderness himself or responded to a question.A lot of United supporters have that same fear.
RedDevilCanuck
Quite dreamy - blue eyes, blond hair, tanned skin
Maybe Rooney was right when he questioned the ambitions of the club
matherto
ask me about our 50% off sale!
It's simple. If we don't invest properly into the squad then we will end up in the wilderness.
Nothing he's said is shocking to any of us, it's just it'll take a little while longer for the more blinkered fans to realise just what is going on and how far we're slipping.
Football is a money game, a BIG money game. If we don't spend it on the right players and play to their strengths then we're going to fall behind.
Nothing he's said is shocking to any of us, it's just it'll take a little while longer for the more blinkered fans to realise just what is going on and how far we're slipping.
Football is a money game, a BIG money game. If we don't spend it on the right players and play to their strengths then we're going to fall behind.
Hernandez - BFA
The Way to Fly
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- Jan 5, 2011
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In hindsight, it's a good point. We've gone from Champions to seventh, and we've lost many valuable members of our squad.Maybe Rooney was right when he questioned the ambitions of the club
The club, or Woodward especially, have given the talk of ambition in getting the right players in. We haven't showed that at all. I liked the Summer signings we've made, but come on. The midfield is still bare, and our squad is totally imbalanced.
We have not done enough at all to warrant the possibility of coming close to the top right now. With Louis' magic or not, we're far behind Chelsea's and City's squad right now.
Keeps It tidy
Hates Messi
That season we won the title and made it to the CL final so in hindsight he was not right.In hindsight, it's a good point. We've gone from Champions to seventh, and we've lost many valuable members of our squad.
RedDevilCanuck
Quite dreamy - blue eyes, blond hair, tanned skin
He said it to get more money too but I believe he said it after we sold the best player in the world for 80 million and then bought valencia and Owen.In hindsight, it's a good point. We've gone from Champions to seventh, and we've lost many valuable members of our squad.
The club, or Woodward especially, have given the talk of ambition in getting the right players in. We haven't showed that at all. I liked the Summer signings we've made, but come on. The midfield is still bare, and our squad is totally imbalanced.
We have not done enough at all to warrant the possibility of coming close to the top right now. With Louis' magic or not, we're far behind Chelsea's and City's squad right now.
RedDevilCanuck
Quite dreamy - blue eyes, blond hair, tanned skin
United looks for value in the transfer market though. Most big clubs definitely do not.That season we won the title and made it to the CL final so in hindsight he was not right.
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2004
- Messages
- 8,777
I'm not quite sure what the plan is here. The Glazers want to weaken the team by not investing properly with a view to do what? Bankrupt the team and make us the new Leeds? They'd lose their cash cow if that was the case. They are stupid enough to let it happen though.
2 man midfield
Last Man Standing finalist 2021/22
I think they're smarter than they look. We've spent poorly that's all. They've stumped up the cash, we've just invested it in some deals which haven't worked out.I'm not quite sure what the plan is here. The Glazers want to weaken the team by not investing properly with a view to do what? Bankrupt the team and make us the new Leeds? They'd lose their cash cow if that was the case. They are stupid enough to let it happen though.
mattsville
Full Member
Scholesy, telling it like it is, like a fan, but a bit too aggressively, bit embarrassing given his profile, like he was wronged by the club, it certainly isn't doing us any favours as the media are painting it as "club legend slates United". You would wonder, as he would have been well media trained under Fergie.
Yep.I think they're smarter than they look. We've spent poorly that's all. They've stumped up the cash, we've just invested it in some deals which haven't worked out.
The fact that there would be mass hysteria over the comments of an ex-player who is paid to give his opinion would say far more about the muppets engaging in said hysteria than it would about Scholes.Piss poor from Scholes imo. If Keane made the same comments there would have been mass hysteria on here.
And that hurts us how?Scholesy, telling it like it is, like a fan, but a bit too aggressively, bit embarrassing given his profile, like he was wronged by the club, it certainly isn't doing us any favours as the media are painting it as "club legend slates United". You would wonder, as he would have been well media trained under Fergie.
Kag
Full Member
He, Giggs and Ferguson are just as much at fault for our squad's current predicament as any other, in all honestly. I've maintained this thinking for a while now.
Of course, like I've also said, I have no problem with the great man letting us know his thoughts. It's his new job, and like he was at football up until the age of 35, he's very good at it.
Of course, like I've also said, I have no problem with the great man letting us know his thoughts. It's his new job, and like he was at football up until the age of 35, he's very good at it.
matherto
ask me about our 50% off sale!
We had barely any challenge for the league and had perhaps the easiest run to the final in history though so it wasn't all rosy.That season we won the title and made it to the CL final so in hindsight he was not right.
We weren't a brilliant side that year by a long stretch. Barça made sure people realised that.
Canuckred64
Full Member
Scholes latest article.
In the few weeks at the end of last season when I was part of Ryan Giggs’ coaching team at Manchester United, I was asked my opinion on whether the club should sign Cesc Fabregas or Toni Kroos this summer. I thought there was only one response to that difficult choice between two great players. I said United should sign them both.
I do not know what happened to the Kroos and Fabregas deals over the summer. The club were originally working on both of them. Perhaps the deal could not be done in the end. Either way, the situation now, with 11 days of the transfer window left, has become increasingly urgent for my former club. They have to sign some quality players.
I am scared for United. Genuinely scared that they could go into the wilderness in the same way that Liverpool did in the 1990s. I realise that it is just 15 months since United won the league for the 20th time in the club’s history. I know that it is still the most commercially successful club in the country. It has the biggest stadium in the Premier League, and the biggest match-day revenue. But ultimately all a club’s success and standing are built on the foundations of what happens on the pitch. After the defeat to Swansea City, and only one player signed since the end of June, I feel it is time for major change. What do United need? Five players. Not five players with potential. Five experienced players... for now. Five proper players who can hit the ground running and turn the situation around. United’s forwards are as good as any team in the league. The problem is what comes behind them.
My five would be: Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Raphaël Varane, Angel Di Maria and Mats Hummels. It would be one very big cheque for Real Madrid, given that four of them would come from that club. It would be hard to land them all. But that is the level that United need at this stage of the transfer window. I have not seen a lot of Marcos Rojo. He may fit the bill.
Let us be clear about one thing. I am sick of having to criticise the club to which I gave my life as a footballer. But this is a United team that lost seven league games at Old Trafford last season and began on Saturday by losing at home to Swansea. United need to arrest their decline. In those years under Sir Alex Ferguson, when trophy followed trophy, this sort of mediocrity was unthinkable. But it is happening. Looking at those five players, the obvious issue with Alonso for United fans would be his past with Liverpool. So what? He has that quality United lack. He is not the quickest but then he never was. Neither is Andrea Pirlo but he can play a bit. Alonso has a superb range of passing. He can shoot too. I noticed he signed a contract extension in January but, with Kroos as well as Luka Modric at his club, perhaps now would be the time he would consider leaving. I like Khedira for his energy and his experience. He has won the World Cup with Germany and the Champions League with Madrid in the space of two months. This is a footballer with confidence. His passing is more limited than Alonso but he has great qualities. And it seems as if he is available.
As for Di Maria, I feel £50m is a lot but he has something that Old Trafford has lacked of late. He would bring that excitement to home games. When United play at home, they need to have players that have the pace and ability to go past opponents and lift the crowd. The club have always had them in their best years: Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, even Carlos Tevez. Antonio Valencia provided it, certainly in his early time there. Today you look around the squad and ask who will give United that impetus at home. Adnan Januzaj? Playing away from home is a different prospect. There is less pressure to attack. You keep the ball, quieten the home support and wait for your opportunity. At home it is a different proposition.
I like Varane, and I feel his chances might be limited again this season at Madrid. Hummels has said many times that he is committed to Borussia Dortmund, but he has the sort of experience that United need in defence. Watching them on Saturday I was struck that every time Swansea were in United’s half it looked like they could score.
My concern, as ever, is about the longterm fitness of Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. In the 3-5-2 system, Jones and Smalling never looked solid. Jones is another one of those for whom the question of “potential” comes up. He is 22 now and has been a United player for three years. I don’t feel that he senses danger in the way that a centre-half should do. I would prefer him to play at right-back, or in midfield.
As for Chris Smalling, he just looked exposed in the 3-5-2 formation. There were times when Wilfried Bony seemed to get the better of him physically. Neither Jones nor Smalling are great talkers on the pitch. Ideally, you would have liked Tyler Blackett to take his first steps in the senior team alongside Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand, but even saying that I find myself asking, why are United’s current centre-halves not up to it?
I still have my doubts about Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 formation. I did wonder during the World Cup whether he looked at the Netherlands squad available to him and decided that his best bet was to pack the midfield, make his side as tight as possible and hope Robin van Persie or Arjen Robben could get him goals. I wouldn’t say it was exciting football. I worry that he might be taking the same approach at United. It is not all Van Gaal’s fault. The problems have been there for a while. I suppose I should have realised that the very fact I was still playing for United at 38 years old was a sign that there was not enough pressure on us senior players from those coming into the side. It was the same last season with Ryan. At times last season he was the best player on the pitch, at the age of 40.
The sad, and worrying, aspect of it all, after watching Manchester City and Chelsea over the first three days of the season, is that United are not on that level. They may not even be on the same level as Arsenal and Liverpool, who I think are the next grade down. United must make some signings in the last two weeks of the transfer window. The club continues to be a commercial success. But that is based, like everything else at a football club, on what happens on the pitch. That is the simple basis of any great club and United are no different. We are told that the money is there. I would say that now is the time to start spending it.
He may not be 100% spot on, but I think it's good that somebody connected to the club is willing to speak so frankly. They don't seem to listen when the average fan says the same type of things, maybe they will listen to Scholes.
In the few weeks at the end of last season when I was part of Ryan Giggs’ coaching team at Manchester United, I was asked my opinion on whether the club should sign Cesc Fabregas or Toni Kroos this summer. I thought there was only one response to that difficult choice between two great players. I said United should sign them both.
I do not know what happened to the Kroos and Fabregas deals over the summer. The club were originally working on both of them. Perhaps the deal could not be done in the end. Either way, the situation now, with 11 days of the transfer window left, has become increasingly urgent for my former club. They have to sign some quality players.
I am scared for United. Genuinely scared that they could go into the wilderness in the same way that Liverpool did in the 1990s. I realise that it is just 15 months since United won the league for the 20th time in the club’s history. I know that it is still the most commercially successful club in the country. It has the biggest stadium in the Premier League, and the biggest match-day revenue. But ultimately all a club’s success and standing are built on the foundations of what happens on the pitch. After the defeat to Swansea City, and only one player signed since the end of June, I feel it is time for major change. What do United need? Five players. Not five players with potential. Five experienced players... for now. Five proper players who can hit the ground running and turn the situation around. United’s forwards are as good as any team in the league. The problem is what comes behind them.
My five would be: Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Raphaël Varane, Angel Di Maria and Mats Hummels. It would be one very big cheque for Real Madrid, given that four of them would come from that club. It would be hard to land them all. But that is the level that United need at this stage of the transfer window. I have not seen a lot of Marcos Rojo. He may fit the bill.
Let us be clear about one thing. I am sick of having to criticise the club to which I gave my life as a footballer. But this is a United team that lost seven league games at Old Trafford last season and began on Saturday by losing at home to Swansea. United need to arrest their decline. In those years under Sir Alex Ferguson, when trophy followed trophy, this sort of mediocrity was unthinkable. But it is happening. Looking at those five players, the obvious issue with Alonso for United fans would be his past with Liverpool. So what? He has that quality United lack. He is not the quickest but then he never was. Neither is Andrea Pirlo but he can play a bit. Alonso has a superb range of passing. He can shoot too. I noticed he signed a contract extension in January but, with Kroos as well as Luka Modric at his club, perhaps now would be the time he would consider leaving. I like Khedira for his energy and his experience. He has won the World Cup with Germany and the Champions League with Madrid in the space of two months. This is a footballer with confidence. His passing is more limited than Alonso but he has great qualities. And it seems as if he is available.
As for Di Maria, I feel £50m is a lot but he has something that Old Trafford has lacked of late. He would bring that excitement to home games. When United play at home, they need to have players that have the pace and ability to go past opponents and lift the crowd. The club have always had them in their best years: Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, even Carlos Tevez. Antonio Valencia provided it, certainly in his early time there. Today you look around the squad and ask who will give United that impetus at home. Adnan Januzaj? Playing away from home is a different prospect. There is less pressure to attack. You keep the ball, quieten the home support and wait for your opportunity. At home it is a different proposition.
I like Varane, and I feel his chances might be limited again this season at Madrid. Hummels has said many times that he is committed to Borussia Dortmund, but he has the sort of experience that United need in defence. Watching them on Saturday I was struck that every time Swansea were in United’s half it looked like they could score.
My concern, as ever, is about the longterm fitness of Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. In the 3-5-2 system, Jones and Smalling never looked solid. Jones is another one of those for whom the question of “potential” comes up. He is 22 now and has been a United player for three years. I don’t feel that he senses danger in the way that a centre-half should do. I would prefer him to play at right-back, or in midfield.
As for Chris Smalling, he just looked exposed in the 3-5-2 formation. There were times when Wilfried Bony seemed to get the better of him physically. Neither Jones nor Smalling are great talkers on the pitch. Ideally, you would have liked Tyler Blackett to take his first steps in the senior team alongside Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand, but even saying that I find myself asking, why are United’s current centre-halves not up to it?
I still have my doubts about Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 formation. I did wonder during the World Cup whether he looked at the Netherlands squad available to him and decided that his best bet was to pack the midfield, make his side as tight as possible and hope Robin van Persie or Arjen Robben could get him goals. I wouldn’t say it was exciting football. I worry that he might be taking the same approach at United. It is not all Van Gaal’s fault. The problems have been there for a while. I suppose I should have realised that the very fact I was still playing for United at 38 years old was a sign that there was not enough pressure on us senior players from those coming into the side. It was the same last season with Ryan. At times last season he was the best player on the pitch, at the age of 40.
The sad, and worrying, aspect of it all, after watching Manchester City and Chelsea over the first three days of the season, is that United are not on that level. They may not even be on the same level as Arsenal and Liverpool, who I think are the next grade down. United must make some signings in the last two weeks of the transfer window. The club continues to be a commercial success. But that is based, like everything else at a football club, on what happens on the pitch. That is the simple basis of any great club and United are no different. We are told that the money is there. I would say that now is the time to start spending it.
He may not be 100% spot on, but I think it's good that somebody connected to the club is willing to speak so frankly. They don't seem to listen when the average fan says the same type of things, maybe they will listen to Scholes.
KingMinger22
City >>> United. Moaning twat
Powerful and fascinating statement from Scholes.
He's bang on about everything.
38 and 40 year old playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe? Ridiculous really.
He clearly has no faith in the central defenders and he knows them as good as anyone. Many other commentators feel the same. None of them have shown any evidence of being top quality, not to mention they are injured all the time.
Can you believe we once had Rio and Vidic, top their game? Seems a distant memory now.
Five superstars wouldn't bring this squad to Real, Barca or Bayern's level but it might make us competitive at the top of the PL.
For me, every player in this squad has question marks over them except DDG. Only a handful are probably worth keeping
He's bang on about everything.
38 and 40 year old playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe? Ridiculous really.
He clearly has no faith in the central defenders and he knows them as good as anyone. Many other commentators feel the same. None of them have shown any evidence of being top quality, not to mention they are injured all the time.
Can you believe we once had Rio and Vidic, top their game? Seems a distant memory now.
Five superstars wouldn't bring this squad to Real, Barca or Bayern's level but it might make us competitive at the top of the PL.
For me, every player in this squad has question marks over them except DDG. Only a handful are probably worth keeping
KingMinger22
City >>> United. Moaning twat
Also, you know this is gonna land on Woody's desk this morning which can only be a good thing.
Suedesi
Full Member
Pretty spot on and scary.Scholes latest article.
In the few weeks at the end of last season when I was part of Ryan Giggs’ coaching team at Manchester United, I was asked my opinion on whether the club should sign Cesc Fabregas or Toni Kroos this summer. I thought there was only one response to that difficult choice between two great players. I said United should sign them both.
I do not know what happened to the Kroos and Fabregas deals over the summer. The club were originally working on both of them. Perhaps the deal could not be done in the end. Either way, the situation now, with 11 days of the transfer window left, has become increasingly urgent for my former club. They have to sign some quality players.
I am scared for United. Genuinely scared that they could go into the wilderness in the same way that Liverpool did in the 1990s. I realise that it is just 15 months since United won the league for the 20th time in the club’s history. I know that it is still the most commercially successful club in the country. It has the biggest stadium in the Premier League, and the biggest match-day revenue. But ultimately all a club’s success and standing are built on the foundations of what happens on the pitch. After the defeat to Swansea City, and only one player signed since the end of June, I feel it is time for major change. What do United need? Five players. Not five players with potential. Five experienced players... for now. Five proper players who can hit the ground running and turn the situation around. United’s forwards are as good as any team in the league. The problem is what comes behind them.
My five would be: Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Raphaël Varane, Angel Di Maria and Mats Hummels. It would be one very big cheque for Real Madrid, given that four of them would come from that club. It would be hard to land them all. But that is the level that United need at this stage of the transfer window. I have not seen a lot of Marcos Rojo. He may fit the bill.
Let us be clear about one thing. I am sick of having to criticise the club to which I gave my life as a footballer. But this is a United team that lost seven league games at Old Trafford last season and began on Saturday by losing at home to Swansea. United need to arrest their decline. In those years under Sir Alex Ferguson, when trophy followed trophy, this sort of mediocrity was unthinkable. But it is happening. Looking at those five players, the obvious issue with Alonso for United fans would be his past with Liverpool. So what? He has that quality United lack. He is not the quickest but then he never was. Neither is Andrea Pirlo but he can play a bit. Alonso has a superb range of passing. He can shoot too. I noticed he signed a contract extension in January but, with Kroos as well as Luka Modric at his club, perhaps now would be the time he would consider leaving. I like Khedira for his energy and his experience. He has won the World Cup with Germany and the Champions League with Madrid in the space of two months. This is a footballer with confidence. His passing is more limited than Alonso but he has great qualities. And it seems as if he is available.
As for Di Maria, I feel £50m is a lot but he has something that Old Trafford has lacked of late. He would bring that excitement to home games. When United play at home, they need to have players that have the pace and ability to go past opponents and lift the crowd. The club have always had them in their best years: Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, even Carlos Tevez. Antonio Valencia provided it, certainly in his early time there. Today you look around the squad and ask who will give United that impetus at home. Adnan Januzaj? Playing away from home is a different prospect. There is less pressure to attack. You keep the ball, quieten the home support and wait for your opportunity. At home it is a different proposition.
I like Varane, and I feel his chances might be limited again this season at Madrid. Hummels has said many times that he is committed to Borussia Dortmund, but he has the sort of experience that United need in defence. Watching them on Saturday I was struck that every time Swansea were in United’s half it looked like they could score.
My concern, as ever, is about the longterm fitness of Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. In the 3-5-2 system, Jones and Smalling never looked solid. Jones is another one of those for whom the question of “potential” comes up. He is 22 now and has been a United player for three years. I don’t feel that he senses danger in the way that a centre-half should do. I would prefer him to play at right-back, or in midfield.
As for Chris Smalling, he just looked exposed in the 3-5-2 formation. There were times when Wilfried Bony seemed to get the better of him physically. Neither Jones nor Smalling are great talkers on the pitch. Ideally, you would have liked Tyler Blackett to take his first steps in the senior team alongside Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand, but even saying that I find myself asking, why are United’s current centre-halves not up to it?
I still have my doubts about Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 formation. I did wonder during the World Cup whether he looked at the Netherlands squad available to him and decided that his best bet was to pack the midfield, make his side as tight as possible and hope Robin van Persie or Arjen Robben could get him goals. I wouldn’t say it was exciting football. I worry that he might be taking the same approach at United. It is not all Van Gaal’s fault. The problems have been there for a while. I suppose I should have realised that the very fact I was still playing for United at 38 years old was a sign that there was not enough pressure on us senior players from those coming into the side. It was the same last season with Ryan. At times last season he was the best player on the pitch, at the age of 40.
The sad, and worrying, aspect of it all, after watching Manchester City and Chelsea over the first three days of the season, is that United are not on that level. They may not even be on the same level as Arsenal and Liverpool, who I think are the next grade down. United must make some signings in the last two weeks of the transfer window. The club continues to be a commercial success. But that is based, like everything else at a football club, on what happens on the pitch. That is the simple basis of any great club and United are no different. We are told that the money is there. I would say that now is the time to start spending it.
BorisDeLeFora
Full Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2009
- Messages
- 2,444
Would definitely agree with this, especially as he has even played with a lot of the current squad. In fairness to him though, he seems like the type of person who can only speak bluntly, like he lacks the social 'skills' to kind of buffer the truth.He may not be 100% spot on, but I think it's good that somebody connected to the club is willing to speak so frankly. They don't seem to listen when the average fan says the same type of things, maybe they will listen to Scholes.
bosnian_red
Worst scout to ever exist
Scholes is a muppet. There's a difference between being negative and saying it like it is, and he's just being negative and pessimistic. He's basically panicking and reading too much into the first game of the season where we played no worse then Arsenal or Liverpool did (against more stable opponents to be honest), only difference being they had a slice of luck while it went against us this time. Had Rooney's free kick went in and not hit the post, and had Shane Long not missed an open net after Schneiderlin hit the bar against Liverpool, the opposite things would be said. He's right in some parts, we aren't on the same level as City or Chelsea right now. Chelsea in fact is a level above everyone, and then City, and then there's about 3-5 teams all at a similar level IMO. Arsenal are more settled so you could probably say they are close to City's level, but no way is Liverpool a level above us.
Saying we need 5 signings at this point though is ridiculous. Maybe at the start of the summer, sure I'd agree, 5 signings would be perfect for the squad. At this point, having already made 3, 2 more signings would be perfect. Di Maria like he says and then a midfielder, either an Alonso type, or Vidal/Khedira. He's basically saying none of our current center backs are good enough to start or develop next to a more stable partner, given that he'd buy 2 top class center backs, and also Herrera (and Carrick) aren't good enough to start. Which is bollocks. Carrick, okay I agree, he's probably past it at this point but he can still be a very useful player. Herrera is an excellent player though and he'll prove it. Khedira is no better then him anyways IMO. Anyways, if we signed 2 more players, let's say Di Maria and Khedira for arguments sake, this is what our starting 11 would look like most of the time:
So no, not all is doom and gloom despite what people would like you to believe.
Saying we need 5 signings at this point though is ridiculous. Maybe at the start of the summer, sure I'd agree, 5 signings would be perfect for the squad. At this point, having already made 3, 2 more signings would be perfect. Di Maria like he says and then a midfielder, either an Alonso type, or Vidal/Khedira. He's basically saying none of our current center backs are good enough to start or develop next to a more stable partner, given that he'd buy 2 top class center backs, and also Herrera (and Carrick) aren't good enough to start. Which is bollocks. Carrick, okay I agree, he's probably past it at this point but he can still be a very useful player. Herrera is an excellent player though and he'll prove it. Khedira is no better then him anyways IMO. Anyways, if we signed 2 more players, let's say Di Maria and Khedira for arguments sake, this is what our starting 11 would look like most of the time:
Rooney
Di Maria Mata Januzaj
Khedira Herrera
Shaw Rojo Evans Rafael
De Gea
Sure you could say the defence is relatively inexperienced, but it's not bad, at all. The front 6 are as good as anyone in the league has to offer, or slightly behind Chelsea now that they bought Fabregas. Rafael if he gets back to form like he was in Fergie's last season can be a brilliant right back, Shaw will continue to develop, and he's already a very good player, the center backs are probably still the weak point but I have high hopes for Rojo and with Evans/Jones/Smalling, surely one of them will fulfill their potential. Oh and we have 1 of the top 2 (by far) keepers in the league in De Gea, along with Courtois. Di Maria Mata Januzaj
Khedira Herrera
Shaw Rojo Evans Rafael
De Gea
So no, not all is doom and gloom despite what people would like you to believe.
Big Ben Foster
Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Scholes tells it like it is, as usual.
I agree with what Scholes said. But one thing I'd like to point out and I said this in the Sir Alex thread, there's an unrealistic view from the British media and pundits about who United could get in the transfer market.
Of the 5 names Scholes mentioned, Di Maria and Khedira are a possibility. But if Bayern are interested as rumoured, Khedira probably chooses Bayern. Everyone keeps saying we need to buy (which we do) but they suggest names like Hummels who even Barcelona can't get right now.
This is why there's such negativity surrounding the club when it comes to Vidal and Di Maria. The stars have aligned like it did for Arsenal with Ozil where there's 2 world class players who we actually have a chance at getting and who play in positions where we're desperately short of quality and we've done nothing.
Of the 5 names Scholes mentioned, Di Maria and Khedira are a possibility. But if Bayern are interested as rumoured, Khedira probably chooses Bayern. Everyone keeps saying we need to buy (which we do) but they suggest names like Hummels who even Barcelona can't get right now.
This is why there's such negativity surrounding the club when it comes to Vidal and Di Maria. The stars have aligned like it did for Arsenal with Ozil where there's 2 world class players who we actually have a chance at getting and who play in positions where we're desperately short of quality and we've done nothing.
Wednesday at Stoke
Full Member
I thought that article was class. Not a single thing off the mark and as straight and hard hitting as his passes were.
Devil may care
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I think he's gone a bit overboard with the signings but I am as concerned as he is as regards to the current squad, beyond the forwards and De Gea we don't have a single proven top drawer player and while some may think he's wrong about our CB's he actually played with them and his view seems to be shared by most pundits.