Who has been the best midfielder over their respective careers?
Xavi vs Scholes
- Thread starter Boss
- Start date
-
Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
Stupid question to be honest with you.
Draw.
Xavi a better controlling playmaker, Scholes a very good playmaker with a contribution of goals Xavi could never match.
Xavi a better controlling playmaker, Scholes a very good playmaker with a contribution of goals Xavi could never match.
Why? Ignoring the edit
Heart says Scholes but my brain says Xavi.
I think it'd be interesting to have the views of non United fans
I think it'd be interesting to have the views of non United fans
I was looking through Xavi's career stats yesterday, and he really did have a ridiculously good season the season before this.
Code:
[B]TEAM Competition GS G A[/B]
Spain EC Qualifying 10 4 2
Spain International Friendly 5 2 1
Barcelona Spanish Primera División 34 6 20
Barcelona UEFA Champions League 11 2 7
Barcelona Spanish Copa del Rey 2 1 0
Spain European Championship 5 1 1
[U]Spain WC Qualifying - UEFA 6 0 3[/U]
2008/09 Season Totals 73 16 34Xavi and this will annoy and piss off Man Utd fans as they will think I'm on the wind up but I think comfortably he has been the better player. I'm a big fans of Scholes as a player but I think Xavi will be remembered as the better player.
Its a close one for sure,
but i really think its paul scholes, he's reinvented himself from sitting just behind the striker to a deep lying playmaker. In scholes early career he scored prolifically, whereas now he also can do xavis role equally as well.
I think that over the last two seasons xavi has been the better player, but before that, none could really touch paul apart from a certain frenchman.
but i really think its paul scholes, he's reinvented himself from sitting just behind the striker to a deep lying playmaker. In scholes early career he scored prolifically, whereas now he also can do xavis role equally as well.
I think that over the last two seasons xavi has been the better player, but before that, none could really touch paul apart from a certain frenchman.
Xavi will be remembered as a better playr by footballing community bar United fans.
Mainly because he will be seen as a key player to Barca's triumphs over past couple of years.
For United, 99- Keane, Pete, Beckham will get credit as key players before Scholes. Same with past two seasons, likes of Roon and Ronaldo will be remembered as key players even though Scholes was our second best player in 2006/7 league title win.
Mainly because he will be seen as a key player to Barca's triumphs over past couple of years.
For United, 99- Keane, Pete, Beckham will get credit as key players before Scholes. Same with past two seasons, likes of Roon and Ronaldo will be remembered as key players even though Scholes was our second best player in 2006/7 league title win.
He will be because he bossed games internationally and against the biggest sides in europe.
But what Scholes lacks in terms of passing and ball retention when compared to Xavi, he made up in his goal contribution. And it wasnt that long ago that Baraja and Albelda were Spain's first choice midfielders with Valeron as another option. Xavi took his time becoming the fulcrum of that midfield.
There's not that much in it overall. You cant have everything - an amazing playmaker who barely ever gives the ball away and a midfielder who gets forward and scores 12-15 goals a season.
You're not comparing Brambles-for-Brambles, but I'd plump for Xavi, who will go down as the outstanding midfielder of his generation.
Scholes as the goal-scoring attacking midfielder.
Xavi as the creative central midfielder.
Xavi's the better (all-around) player.
Xavi as the creative central midfielder.
Xavi's the better (all-around) player.
Just 2 seasons ago, alot of answers would be different
Without Bias it simply has to be Xavi for both international and club.
Xavi has improved and proven himself far more in these past 2 seasons. So its not a surprise is it?
Doesn't piss me off Jazz, I agree.
Si, but Scholes has dominated for alot longer and obviously he's no longer in his peak
First it was Iniesta vs Scholes, now Xavi.
When people are constantly trying to compare players to Scholes, it only suggest he is the best
When people are constantly trying to compare players to Scholes, it only suggest he is the best
Xavi hands down. It speaks volumes of the quality he possesses if he can be compared against a legend of the game and beat him.
True. But we're talking about career vs. career, so Scholes not being at his peak right now shouldnt be too much of a factor. Except for the fact that obviously we're going by memory for Scholes at his best, while we just have to watch a Barcelona match at the weekend to remember Xavi's best. But still, room for human error and all that, it shouldnt be a big factor.
Bloody hell. 34 assists in a season!!!
I wish opposition fans in here can stick up for the non-Man Utd player in such debates without needing to pay homage to the said United player in question.
I'm incline to agree with you, but in their primes, they were/are different players. For me, Xavi comes across as the more skillful (unsure its the right term), the way he seems to dribble the ball just by shielding it away from defenders. Yet, Scholes' goal-threat is an asset Xavi hasn't had.
But thats just a really silly thing to say. Its like asking if Messi is the best player in the world, but then saying "Oh, but two years ago it would've been different because Ronaldo's better"
Back to the topic, Xavi is better, in my opinion, and I love Paul Scholes.
But thats just a really silly thing to say. Its like asking if Messi is the best player in the world, but then saying "Oh, but two years ago it would've been different because Ronaldo's better"
Back to the topic, Xavi is better, in my opinion, and I love Paul Scholes.
Yes but Messi is still very young so it's not similar, Scholes has been doing it for a very long time now.
It's not "people" who constantly compare players to Scholes.It's United fans.
Big difference
over their respective careers so far: Scholes but Xavi has time to achieve a lot more and add more facets to his game. (Don't tell me he can't. Scholes before his vision problems and now are pretty different players)
I wonder how the slightly barren period from 2004-06 would have worked out if Scholes didn't have his problems with vision.
There are quite a few variable to take into consideration while comparing the two players. For example Scholes became a mid-fielder slightly later in his development cycle than Xavi. And till 2007, there was talk of Xavi being sold (he was linked with us a few time). But after that period he has come on quite well.
I think anyone who has seen Scholes for a long time, week after week, would be biased towards him. I certainly am. Amazing player,absolutely. It is a pity that many who see him now think that this is all he is about (the slightly younger generation who see him struggling at times when the game is played at a high tempo).
I wonder how the slightly barren period from 2004-06 would have worked out if Scholes didn't have his problems with vision.
There are quite a few variable to take into consideration while comparing the two players. For example Scholes became a mid-fielder slightly later in his development cycle than Xavi. And till 2007, there was talk of Xavi being sold (he was linked with us a few time). But after that period he has come on quite well.
I think anyone who has seen Scholes for a long time, week after week, would be biased towards him. I certainly am. Amazing player,absolutely. It is a pity that many who see him now think that this is all he is about (the slightly younger generation who see him struggling at times when the game is played at a high tempo).
It's been done time and time again in the media, not just with Utd fans
skillful? Scholes was always able to get the ball out of a tight situation. Hardly lost the ball. So much so that the occasions that he did lose the ball stick in the mind.
No comparision, SCHOLES!
Amazing plus all the passes he makes before the assists aren't even visible in terms of stats
Xavi has been phenomenal for a few seasons and better than Scholes over that period.
Still, I think we are projecting "the best Xavi" over 10-15 years, which he hasn't done yet. Scholes has been formidable for over a decade. You can't compare them fairly until both have hung up their boots.
Before some gimp pops in, sure you CAN compare players at any one point, particularly of a same generation/age, but this comparison rules out a key element which is Scholes' longevity as a player at the highest level.
Still, I think we are projecting "the best Xavi" over 10-15 years, which he hasn't done yet. Scholes has been formidable for over a decade. You can't compare them fairly until both have hung up their boots.
Before some gimp pops in, sure you CAN compare players at any one point, particularly of a same generation/age, but this comparison rules out a key element which is Scholes' longevity as a player at the highest level.
Indeed.
He's playing some of the best football at the minute that I've ever seen from a central midfielder.
Scholes has been good for the last 10 seasons.
Xavi has been better than him for 4-5 seasons.
I would say Scholes but Xavi might overtake him if he continues his form for the next 2 seasons.
Xavi has been better than him for 4-5 seasons.
I would say Scholes but Xavi might overtake him if he continues his form for the next 2 seasons.
Scholes.
Scholes never got the adulation that Xavi is getting right now. But in his prime he was one of the best attacking midfielders around and his era included the likes of Zidane and Ronaldinho.
This one is impossible to call. Both have incredible passing range. Scholes had a more goal threat but Xavi is better at keeping the ball. Its impossible to say one or the other.
This one is impossible to call. Both have incredible passing range. Scholes had a more goal threat but Xavi is better at keeping the ball. Its impossible to say one or the other.
From whom? I am sure there is a thread which has all the top players/coaches talking about Scholes, which has them absolutely gushing over him. Managers interviewed before European games with us, always chose Scholes as one player they would like from the team (I think it was Lippi who said that if he could build his team around one player it would be Scholes) It is just that many of us have short memories and the recent past is much more vivid in our minds than the slightly distant past
And he wouldn't want it any other way.
Xavi is a fantastic passer, but Paul Scholes he scores goals. For longevity and medal tally you have to give the nod to Scholes.
4-5 seasons is wrong. he was injured (even scholes was at that time).
he was on the bench for the 2006 European Cup final. Scholes was pretty amazing in the 2006-07 season and Xavi wasn't doing that well.
Having said that, Xavi has been brilliant (Scholes type brilliant) since around 2008.
also in terms of media profile, Scholes has always been low-key. While Xavi himself hasn't been seeking media attention, he is much more media-friendly than Scholes. Scholes doesn't even get the captain's arm-band, so the media coverage would have something to do with that (it shouldn't but it does)
Scholes.
In his pomp you could put him in barcalona or spain and he wouldn't affect their level. I think xavi at united wouldn't have got scholes goals. It's close but I wouldn't swap him and everyone knows Barca play different to United. United play a lot more long balls, we're much less compact. It's also a quicker game in England with more high balls and teams closing down
In his pomp you could put him in barcalona or spain and he wouldn't affect their level. I think xavi at united wouldn't have got scholes goals. It's close but I wouldn't swap him and everyone knows Barca play different to United. United play a lot more long balls, we're much less compact. It's also a quicker game in England with more high balls and teams closing down