The Manchester United Thread

[Mike.]

I currently have the biggest passing stats *****.

Vieira called it desperate, and perhaps it was a little (as desperate as bringing in Pizarro and Tevez, Patrick?) but it has been a master stroke. But his importance in 10 wins and 1 draw cannot be overstated.

 

[W4NKER]

Some selected Paul Scholes stats from today:

1. 78 passes attempted, 76 completed
2. 97% passing accuracy
3. 2 key passes
4. 26 long balls, 24 accurate, meaning that the two passes he misplaced were both 'killer ball' type passes
5. 80 touches taken, meaning that all but two of his attempted passes were one-touch.

For those not of a statistical persuasion, I'll put it into context for each bit of data in turn.

1. Scholes manages 63 passes per game on average, so this could be seen as an improvement, or perhaps just a reflection of United's dominance in this game.
2. This, however, clearly is, with Scholes' average pass success around an already-excellent 92%.
3. An improvement on Scholes' average of 0.9.
4. TWENTY FOUR ACCURATE LONG BALLS?! This short ginger dude can play.
5. Utterly ridiculous. That's the kind of stuff even Xavi can only dream of. Completely and utterly masterful, there is no other word for it.

I go over stats a lot - it's something I like doing - and these are truly, ridiculously, otherworldly good.

I recall a commentator saying Scholes is the only Englishman who can play like Xavi and Iniesta.

Silly fool! Xavi and Iniesta play like Scholes!!

No-one in England can do what Scholesy does. No-one. And to think he started off as a centre forward

 

[ohembrough747]

I recall a commentator saying Scholes is the only Englishman who can play like Xavi and Iniesta.

Silly fool! Xavi and Iniesta play like Scholes!!

No-one in England can do what Scholesy does. No-one. And to think he started off as a centre forward

Any idea where he finds the stats....can't find his oringal message to quote him.....sorry.....but worth a shot right lol!

 

[GodCubed]

Vieira called it desperate, and perhaps it was a little (as desperate as bringing in Pizarro and Tevez, Patrick?) but it has been a master stroke. But his importance in 10 wins and 1 draw cannot be overstated.

Pizarro's not entirely desperate, but Tevez looks exactly like that. Vieira needs to stop trying to play mind games, he's **** at it.

Any idea where he finds the stats....can't find his oringal message to quote him.....sorry.....but worth a shot right lol!

...I feel like I shouldn't take the effort to link you to the site, seeing as you couldn't be bothered to press two buttons, but whatever. Football Statistics, Football Analysis. | WhoScored

 

[alicwkd]

Valencia has really come back into form since his absence and subsequent patchy performances last year. Even apart from his goal today he looked the most likely to make something happen for the entire match. Honourable mentions too for Scholes, De Gea (similar thing could be said about recent form) and Rooney. Also credit to Blackburn who kept United at bay for most of the game and had some good moments on the break. They appear to have that scrapping mentality which is so crucial in EPL survival.

 

[Vanjagl]

Ok guys, I love Scholes as much as you do, but Xavi is better. ****, Xavi in prime is better then Scholes in prime.
But still, 2nd best playmaker in last 20 years ( maybe even more, depends on your definition of Zidane) is great. Still top class player who can produce piles of magic. Just too bad he wont take long shots often

 

[zzeezzy]

Well we will just have to agree to dis-agree, im not saying learning a new language is easy along with settling into a new country, lifestyle and being away from family etc i fully take that on board. But with the greatest respect the lad has been here nearly 6 years, in my eyes he should be able to understand and respond in basic English by now. A lot of other players who have been here a lot shorter can do so, like i said i believe a lot is do to with how much the person actually wants to.

For me he does enough talking with his performances on the pitch, he has been fantastic all season and is definitely the best winger in the league.

The fact that he does not pubicly do interviews does not bother me at all, he can speak English but just does not want to in front of the media, fair play to him.

 

[rephlex]

Zidane never did interviews. Frankly if I was a quality footballer I'd do my talking on the pitch instead.

Agree he should know basic English after 6 years though. I moved country myself and fluency is typical after 1-3 years.

 

[sunilvk7]

Well we will just have to agree to dis-agree, im not saying learning a new language is easy along with settling into a new country, lifestyle and being away from family etc i fully take that on board. But with the greatest respect the lad has been here nearly 6 years, in my eyes he should be able to understand and respond in basic English by now. A lot of other players who have been here a lot shorter can do so, like i said i believe a lot is do to with how much the person actually wants to.

Born in India where Hindi is national language but I dont know **** about it. I can hardly string 2 sentences together. I can speak few languages but national language is not one of them. I dont know how harder I tried but I just was not able to learn. To make it worse I had this language in my academics for 3 years. I can understand bit though. So at least from my personal experience I know and can understand how hard it is to learn new language. (I have tried to learn for few years. )

 

[sunilvk7]

Vieira called it desperate, and perhaps it was a little (as desperate as bringing in Pizarro and Tevez, Patrick?) but it has been a master stroke. But his importance in 10 wins and 1 draw cannot be overstated.

Fergie, Scholes both said it was Scholes decision to come back and he was training with reserves regularly. It was not SAF's desperate attempt, its Scholes wanting to be back. God how he turned our season upside down. We haven't lost a league game since his return. And in most of the games he was the top performer.

 

[GodCubed]

Ok guys, I love Scholes as much as you do, but Xavi is better. ****, Xavi in prime is better then Scholes in prime.
But still, 2nd best playmaker in last 20 years ( maybe even more, depends on your definition of Zidane) is great. Still top class player who can produce piles of magic. Just too bad he wont take long shots often

Disagree, for the reason that Scholes is both far more versatile and has also had a sustainably excellent career. Xavi is a brilliant second function midfielder, dictating play from deep, and is for my money the best short passer and ball retainer in history by some distance. Scholes, however, was an attacking, dynamic midfielder in his prime, and THEN proved he could perform almost to Xavi's level in a role that the Spaniard had been perfecting all his playing career. Scholes is just a much more complete player, which makes him in my book a superior player.

Also, he doesn't fall over clutching his face if someone bends down to tie their shoelaces within five metres of him, which automatically earns him bonus points over Xavi.

 

[Jak]

Disagree, for the reason that Scholes is both far more versatile and has also had a sustainably excellent career. Xavi is a brilliant second function midfielder, dictating play from deep, and is for my money the best short passer and ball retainer in history by some distance. Scholes, however, was an attacking, dynamic midfielder in his prime, and THEN proved he could perform almost to Xavi's level in a role that the Spaniard had been perfecting all his playing career. Scholes is just a much more complete player, which makes him in my book a superior player.

Also, he doesn't fall over clutching his face if someone bends down to tie their shoelaces within five metres of him, which automatically earns him bonus points over Xavi.

Paul Scholes- 50 Quotes That Define a Legend | Can Man United Score?
the 2 quotes that stand out:
Xavi

"In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more"

Zidane

"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get."

There's your answer

 

[Joel`]

Disagree, for the reason that Scholes is both far more versatile and has also had a sustainably excellent career. Xavi is a brilliant second function midfielder, dictating play from deep, and is for my money the best short passer and ball retainer in history by some distance. Scholes, however, was an attacking, dynamic midfielder in his prime, and THEN proved he could perform almost to Xavi's level in a role that the Spaniard had been perfecting all his playing career. Scholes is just a much more complete player, which makes him in my book a superior player.

Also, he doesn't fall over clutching his face if someone bends down to tie their shoelaces within five metres of him, which automatically earns him bonus points over Xavi.

You forgot his most obvious strength as well. His tackles are, literally, like no other.

 

[sunilvk7]

Disagree, for the reason that Scholes is both far more versatile and has also had a sustainably excellent career. Xavi is a brilliant second function midfielder, dictating play from deep, and is for my money the best short passer and ball retainer in history by some distance. Scholes, however, was an attacking, dynamic midfielder in his prime, and THEN proved he could perform almost to Xavi's level in a role that the Spaniard had been perfecting all his playing career. Scholes is just a much more complete player, which makes him in my book a superior player.

Also, he doesn't fall over clutching his face if someone bends down to tie their shoelaces within five metres of him, which automatically earns him bonus points over Xavi.

And Scholes started his United career as Striker. He played first few games as striker then he was moved back to midfielder. That was some awesome decision whoever was it.

 

[CJACKO11]

Paul Scholes- 50 Quotes That Define a Legend | Can Man United Score?
the 2 quotes that stand out:
Xavi
ZidaneThere's your answer

Although i have the up most respect for Scholes and think he is sensational just because someone said something dosen't make it true. Zidane once said Gerrard was the best player in the world which i don't think he ever has been. Pele thinks he was the best ever and the same with Maradonna etc, its all about opinions. Scholes is someone who we have only recently started appreciating because the way everyone wants to play is the Spain way these days and the midfield of Xavi and Iniesta is what makes that tick. And we automatically look towards the closest we have to them and that is Scholes. There are things that Scholes are better at than Xavi and Iniesta but there are also things he is a lot worse at (tackling and winning the ball back is a huge one of them). All in all Xavi and Iniesta will be thought of as better because of the silverware and success not just at club level but at International level which is something Scholes failed at (not a dig at him, the whole country failed time and time again).

 

[Joel`]

Although i have the up most respect for Scholes and think he is sensational just because someone said something dosen't make it true. Zidane once said Gerrard was the best player in the world which i don't think he ever has been. Pele thinks he was the best ever and the same with Maradonna etc, its all about opinions. Scholes is someone who we have only recently started appreciating because the way everyone wants to play is the Spain was these days and the midfield of Xavi and Iniesta is what makes that tick. And we automatically look towards the closest we have to them and that is Scholes. There are things that Scholes are better at than Xavi and Iniesta but there are also things he is a lot worse at (tackling and winning the ball back is a huge one of them). All in all Xavi and Iniesta will be thought of as better because of the silverware and success not just at club level but at International level which is something Scholes failed at (not a dig at him, the whole country failed time and time again).

Which is one of the massive flaws of the English game.

 

[Mike.]

Although i have the up most respect for Scholes and think he is sensational just because someone said something dosen't make it true. Zidane once said Gerrard was the best player in the world which i don't think he ever has been. Pele thinks he was the best ever and the same with Maradonna etc, its all about opinions. Scholes is someone who we have only recently started appreciating because the way everyone wants to play is the Spain way these days and the midfield of Xavi and Iniesta is what makes that tick. And we automatically look towards the closest we have to them and that is Scholes. There are things that Scholes are better at than Xavi and Iniesta but there are also things he is a lot worse at (tackling and winning the ball back is a huge one of them). All in all Xavi and Iniesta will be thought of as better because of the silverware and success not just at club level but at International level which is something Scholes failed at (not a dig at him, the whole country failed time and time again).

Scholes has always been that good. The fact that its taken till his mid 30's to acknowledge that is damning insight into the problems of english football.

 

[CJACKO11]

Which is one of the massive flaws of the English game.

I don't think it is, i'm a believer of use the tactics that suits you not follow everyone else. Lets be honest, before 2008 Spain didn't really do much better than England in major tournaments and English football was more dominating (with the exception of the galaticos for a few years). Why should we have changed?

 

[CJACKO11]

Scholes has always been that good. The fact that its taken till his mid 30's to acknowledge that is damning insight into the problems of english football.

I don't think its a problem, that wasn't the way English football was played at that time and it was very successful.

 

[Jak]

If Xavi himself admits that Scholes is better than him then surely that tells you something