I miss those pings to Nani/Valencia.
Which version of Scholes was the best?
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06-08 is probably the player he is most remembered for which is a little strange given it was a very small part of his career overall. Influence did drop a bit after that, struggled to find the same consistency, one of the reasons why he didn't start either of 2009/2011 CL finals.
If Scholes is underrated (and I don't think he is) then it would be the 02-05 period that is most responsible, some of his best years and most of it in a Utd team in a redevelopment period. That one great PL comeback win with RVN and Giggs also brilliant and then a few mediocre by Fergie standard years.
If Scholes is underrated (and I don't think he is) then it would be the 02-05 period that is most responsible, some of his best years and most of it in a Utd team in a redevelopment period. That one great PL comeback win with RVN and Giggs also brilliant and then a few mediocre by Fergie standard years.
The version that kicked a ball against a tree.
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I think its the opposite. I think Scholes as a 10 2002-2004 is so underrated. I think he was as good in this role as any of the offensive midfielders outside of Debruyne.
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FIFA 2006
This is such a great but hard question to answer and I know of no answer that is obviously wrong. His second striker role was ridiculous but you somehow knew it was unsustainable in a league that was then so physically demanding with forwards being targeted by brutish, and British, defenders. Gun to my head I would say deep lying playmaker as his passing was on the level of Pirlo and he still popped up with the occasional but critical goal in huge matches.
Not sure about this. Controlling the actions of a whole team and being the point of reference for calm or to kill a game is even more impactful than a role where Keane was acknowledged for doing the work of two men to cover midfield to enable Scholes’ forays.
Felt like he had to step up when Keane left and improve his positioning and nous for deep midfield as Keane did a lot of the work before and Carrick was a more passive player. 06/07 Scholes was as good of a midfielder as United have ever had so that’s my vote, although 99/00 and 02/03 were great too.
Love twilight years Scholes the best.
It is for me when he set himself apart from any other midfielder to have played in the prem.
There have been goal scoring midfielders, and box to box midfielders to match Scholes in the PL, but he is the only one to reach truly world class levels as a Regista.
Arguably the best range of passing of any player to ever do it, paired with perfect instincts around pass selection and tempo setting.
We all remember what Gerrard was like when his legs went by comparison.. Very, very average.
It is for me when he set himself apart from any other midfielder to have played in the prem.
There have been goal scoring midfielders, and box to box midfielders to match Scholes in the PL, but he is the only one to reach truly world class levels as a Regista.
Arguably the best range of passing of any player to ever do it, paired with perfect instincts around pass selection and tempo setting.
We all remember what Gerrard was like when his legs went by comparison.. Very, very average.
Part of the difference for me is, between these two iterations of Scholes, the game and United had evolved from 4-4-2 to a more controlled 4-3-3. Older Scholes performed a role that didn’t really exist in his younger years both at United and in the wider English game.
Think you're strangely off on both of those.
When he scored 20 goals a season, better than Iniesta et al (not biased at all obviously)
02/03, he was ridiculously good in the league.
Him and Ruud together had an almost Eric like impact dragging us to the title
Him and Ruud together had an almost Eric like impact dragging us to the title
Yep, it was almost funny watching him run the show as an old man. He’d kill everyone with his passing.
I almost think we should have allowed him to go Barca for a season so people might actually appreciate his Xavi like qualities.
He was an absolute beast for a couple of years in the 10 role so I chose that as his absolute prime. Even hit 20 goals one season.
However, his later years as a playmaker are my favourite. He was an absolute joy to watch. One of the most intelligent footballers of all time and his passing was sublime. Even his simple shorter passes looked different from other players such was his perfect technique.
However, his later years as a playmaker are my favourite. He was an absolute joy to watch. One of the most intelligent footballers of all time and his passing was sublime. Even his simple shorter passes looked different from other players such was his perfect technique.
As a DLP he was genuinely world class in 06/07. I would have chosen 06 - 10 if he had more outstanding seasons besides the one; age was catching up.
As a no. 10 he was top notch in 02/03.
I chose 98 - 01, even if he was still refining into peak, because that version had a blend of all his skillets.
As a no. 10 he was top notch in 02/03.
I chose 98 - 01, even if he was still refining into peak, because that version had a blend of all his skillets.
Paul Scholes was a machine who kept reinventing himself. He was equally effective in every role he played. The deep lying play maker role showcased his maturity and his skill set. However let's not pretend that he wasn't equally effective as a 10 or playing alongside Roy Keane.
Was going to say the same. Scored 20 goals, including some incredible ones and big game moments.
Probably 02/03. Although I loved him in 06/07 - everything that came together that season was amazing, including his brilliant comeback.
In 06/07 he was imperious - how many would have foretold that a Carrick and Scholes central midfield would be enough at a time when we clamoured for an athletic central midfielder?
He was still a crucial part of the following season's team in 07/08 that could argue to be the club's best ever, winning the league and CL double.
So the deeper midfield role gets my vote, given his critical influence on the club's only modern side that dominated the domestic league and contested the last or penultimate stage in Europe simultaneously over multiple seasons.
He was still a crucial part of the following season's team in 07/08 that could argue to be the club's best ever, winning the league and CL double.
So the deeper midfield role gets my vote, given his critical influence on the club's only modern side that dominated the domestic league and contested the last or penultimate stage in Europe simultaneously over multiple seasons.
06-10 was most useful for us I think. Individually the best version was probably the 10 behind RvN
02/03 10 and 06/07 DLP were my two favourites.
It wasn't even just the goals. His general play was incredible.
He played deeper in our away tie to Madrid and was the best player on the field. Makelélé couldn't get near him. Unfortunately, his great performance was let down by a clumsy defence and he missed the return leg.
I just think his all round play was incredible from about 2000 to 2007, but it was in that era where our defence wasn't up to par until the latter end. Still, we could've attributed him dragging us to a European final had his goal against Porto not been ruled out. A final I think we would've won.
When we were in training, I used to do a lot of tricks which hardly any players at the club could do.
“Once I was showing my skills to Scholes. After I finished it, Scholes took the ball and pointed to a tree which was about 50m from where we were standing. He said: 'I'm going to hit it in one shot.’
“He kicked and hit the tree. He asked me to do the same; I kicked about 10 times, but still couldn't hit it, with that accuracy. He smiled and left.”
“Once I was showing my skills to Scholes. After I finished it, Scholes took the ball and pointed to a tree which was about 50m from where we were standing. He said: 'I'm going to hit it in one shot.’
“He kicked and hit the tree. He asked me to do the same; I kicked about 10 times, but still couldn't hit it, with that accuracy. He smiled and left.”
He is the best midfielder i've ever seen. I've never seen anyone dictate a game like him. Privilege to have been able to watch him.
Deep Lying Playmaker, for me.
I’d actually like his 1995-1997 advanced forward/false 9 role. Thought he would replace Eric as our focal attacking point before we signed Teddy
Im not saying it was his best, but I loved early Scholes, he was a breath of fresh air. Like he'd just been pulled from a 5s match or a training session and told to go and do his thing. Probably never got to play with as much freedom and little responsibility.
This seems a stretch given Utd got eliminated by Porto in the first knock out round, and yes Utd were hard done by with the offside goal but Porto were by far the better team across the 2 legs.
I think the best Scholes was 1998 to 2001.
For nostalgia reasons I loved the 1994 to 1997 one the most.
I remember the hype when he and dion dublin tore up the pointins reserve league (93/94) up front together..
then when he burst into the first team during the 94/95 season he didnt look out of place as a support striker. scored twice in his debut against port vale in the league cup. we had a gem.
He was so sharp in the box in those early years... I loved his finishes especially those little chips/dinks over the keeper!
For nostalgia reasons I loved the 1994 to 1997 one the most.
I remember the hype when he and dion dublin tore up the pointins reserve league (93/94) up front together..
then when he burst into the first team during the 94/95 season he didnt look out of place as a support striker. scored twice in his debut against port vale in the league cup. we had a gem.
He was so sharp in the box in those early years... I loved his finishes especially those little chips/dinks over the keeper!
Managed to secure myself a signed 99 Scholes shirt and a signed 08 semi final UCL programme from the man. So I am currently loving the man.
Personally it’s him as a deep lying playmaker, I just love how he absolutely ran a game of football.
Personally it’s him as a deep lying playmaker, I just love how he absolutely ran a game of football.
His renaissance period, were he came out of retirement, as it just showed everyone just how good he was for all the years hes been playing.
Even at 38 no one could get near him and he made us tick.
Even at 38 no one could get near him and he made us tick.
02/03 behind Ruud. Absolute beast.
All of the above is the correct answer though really.
All of the above is the correct answer though really.
My son and I were at the SF second leg at OT. We were sat on the left of the Stretford End. Scholesy hit a rocket - dead straight and everyone in our part of the stadium was right behind it. We all jumped up as soon as he struck it and screamed “goal” - it was going nowhere else !
Unbelievable strike. We hung on against a massive onslaught from Barca and Scholes was magnificent throughout. He contributed so much in so many ways but I’ll never forget that night at OT.
Great post, wish I was there that night, an amazing strike and one I’ll never forget. Absolutely love Scholes, he doesn’t realise himself just how good he was at football which is kinda sad.
2006-2010 version might have been the best to watch but here is why it wasn’t peak Scholes.
Did United dominate the midfield and control the play against the best teams in Europe at that time? Not really. Our play was mostly about Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha and as soon as Ronaldo and Tevez left look at the drop off in the standard of our play. It became Antonio Valencia cross to Rooney, repeat, recycle.
Between 2006-2010 we got destroyed by Barca in a final, primarily because of our weaker midfield. In the 2006 SF vs Barca we parked the bus, vs AC Milan we would usually park the bus and rely on world class forwards countering their aging defence.
The best version of Scholes was 1998-2001, especially the 1999 season where United outplayed teams like Barca, Bayern in the group stages, Juventus in the SF, and despite wining the final Scholes absence was very obvious to all.
Did United dominate the midfield and control the play against the best teams in Europe at that time? Not really. Our play was mostly about Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha and as soon as Ronaldo and Tevez left look at the drop off in the standard of our play. It became Antonio Valencia cross to Rooney, repeat, recycle.
Between 2006-2010 we got destroyed by Barca in a final, primarily because of our weaker midfield. In the 2006 SF vs Barca we parked the bus, vs AC Milan we would usually park the bus and rely on world class forwards countering their aging defence.
The best version of Scholes was 1998-2001, especially the 1999 season where United outplayed teams like Barca, Bayern in the group stages, Juventus in the SF, and despite wining the final Scholes absence was very obvious to all.
Late 90’s Scholes is my favourite, but he was magnificent his whole career.
I think you're ignoring a pretty vital point here, which is that we usually played a midfield 2 during that time - in particular 2006-2008 - when all other big clubs played a midfield 3. Not even a hybrid of Beckenbauer-Maradona-Xavi-Gullit-Keane would be able to dominate a midfield 3 in a midfield 2. You say our play was mostly about our attacking players. Well, yeah, thats because we had one more of them on the pitch because we had one less midfielder. The midfield were tasked with providing the forwards with the ball, whilst mitigating the opposition's midfield dominance. Their role wasn't to dominate the midfield in those games. For it to be remotely workable against the best teams in the world it requires either two incredible CMs, or one solid CM (Carrick) and one superior being (Scholes). Put it this way, put any other top midfielder into that midfield two, and tell me they would dominate against the midfield 3s of the best teams in the world. He didn't have the same freedom or protection afforded to Pirlo, Xavi, Iniesta, Modric, Kroos, Gerrard, Lampard, Yaya, De Bruyne, Silva, Seedorf, Fabregas etc.
As for the two finals vs Barca, Scholes started neither as he was on the wane by then. Really his renaissance as a DLP was from 06-08 rather than 06-10. In 06-08 we won 3 back-to-back league titles and the Champions League. Scholes started the CL final, and scored the winner vs Barcelona in the home leg semi, and played the full 90 when we held the 2nd best team in the world at that time to a goalless draw on their own turf.
In answer to the OP, I think it's actually a shame that Scholes didn't get to play the majority of his career in a conventional midfield 3, as that would have got the absolute best out of him. He had all the skills required to dictate from deep, the skills to be impactful in the final third, whilst holding his own defensively. I can't think of any other midfielder who could do all of those things to the same level as Scholes. Xavi, Iniesta and Modric are amongst the best midfielders of all time but none had Scholes's finishing, anticipation in the box and long distance shooting. Gerrard and Lampard, the two other best English CMs, could not dictate the game from deep (ditto Jude). Etc.