Paul Aaron Scholes

[hendiplast]

Manchester United's Paul Scholes is a true great. The rest is bull
The midfielder won't win any awards and won't go to the World Cup, but he has proved his worth this season



The strange thing is that Paul Scholes has never had much of a look-in when the player of the year awards have been decided, even when he was that bit younger and quicker. The little ginger doyen of the Manchester United midfield has never had to fix a bow tie and mumble a few lines of acceptance. But then, you know it's the last thing Scholes would want when he could be at home in Saddleworth, playing with Arron, Alicia and Aiden and getting ready for training the following day.

A word that is often applied to Scholes is "shy". But how can a man who gives the impression he is on first-name terms with the ball in front of 75,000 people every other Saturday, with millions watching on television, be shy? Scholes is not shy. He just has his routine: pull on your boots, do your best, get in the car and go home. The rest, as Harvey Keitel's character said in Mean Streets, is bullshit.

Scholes is very much from the "the rest is bullshit" school. He doesn't do interviews. He doesn't walk red carpets. He doesn't have a flashy car with smoked-out windows. You won't see his autobiography in the megastore or a six-page spread in Hello! Scholes is a reminder of what footballers used to be like and what many of us wish they could be again.

A reluctant hero, however, is still a hero. Ask Wayne Rooney, who is accumulating all this season's individual trophies, to name his favourite player and without hesitation he will say Scholes. Sir Alex Ferguson regards the midfielder as "one of the best football brains Manchester United have ever had". Edgar Davids: "We can all learn from Paul Scholes." Marcello Lippi: "Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team." Zinedine Zidane: "My toughest opponent? Scholes." All this when Scholes, bless him, still has trouble differentiating between a fair tackle and a pub-side hack.

One day last week Ferguson was asked why Michael Carrick could not get in the United team. "What can I do?" he replied, his eyes wide, his arms outstretched. "What are you saying? Drop Scholes?" His voice probably demanded an exclamation mark as well.

A couple of weekends before the blood in the veins of United's supporters had been turned to wine with a goal out of nowhere against Manchester City, 17 seconds from the end of stoppage time. It was classic Scholes: the elusive little run, a twisting header, a yelp of joy and, finally, that familiar smile and punch of the air.

Last week, against Tottenham Hotspur, he was the outstanding player again. Opta statistics show that only Chelsea's Mikel John Obi has a better pass percentage rate. Of Scholes's 1,497 passes this season, 89.58% have reached their target. He was the Premier League's most accurate passer last season (90.69%) and its third in 2007-08 (89.7%).

Scholes's colleagues speak of him in almost disbelieving tones. "He'll do ridiculous things in training," Rio Ferdinand says. "He'll say: 'You see that tree over there?' – it'll be 40 yards away – 'I'm going to hit it.' And he'll do it."

Or another target will be identified. "Gary Neville was having a piss one day, 45 yards away, by a fence," Ferguson remembers. "Scholes whacked him right in the arse."

Scholes's form has brought suggestions that Fabio Capello might make one last attempt to coax him back into the England squad. Scholes retired from international football at 29, when he had much more to give. "It's a shame he didn't play for England more," Steve Bruce, Sunderland's manager, said of his old team-mate before Sunday's game at the Stadium of Light. "In the last two decades Scholes is arguably as good as you get in the Premier League."

But Capello has decided to leave it and you get the feeling Scholes doesn't care what the media – or anyone outside of Old Trafford – thinks. He had stopped enjoying going away with England. Yes, there is a World Cup looming, but Scholes has just signed a one-year contract and – in his mind, at least – stepping away from England is one of the reasons why he is still going strong at the age of 35.

Capello has tried to talk him round. It was a short conversation. Now, one of the Italian's colleagues points out that the "Scholes for England" issue never gets raised when the player has not done so well. And there have been a few games this season when Scholes has fallen below the levels he sets himself. That level, however, is one to which most footballers can only aspire.

"People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is," says Peter Schmeichel, the former United goalkeeper. "For me, it is a player who has a bottom level that means his worst performance is not noticed. If he is having a bad game, a team-mate might feel Paul Scholes is not quite on his game, but a spectator wouldn't notice. Scholes, of all the players I have played with, has the highest bottom level."

[drivemein]

Scholes staying level headed
-skysports.com-



United midfielder calls for calm ahead of crunch clashes

Paul Scholes knows only too well the heartache of missing out on the title and is hoping to avoid that fate this year.

The Manchester United midfielder may have an enviable collection of Premier League winners' medals to his name, but he could have even more.

He is the sole survivor in the Red Devils side heading to Sunderland on Sunday that figured in the agonising final-day drama in 1994/95.

A 1-1 draw away at West Ham that season saw United surrender the top flight crown to Blackburn Rovers.

They face a similar situation this year, playing catch-up to leaders Chelsea with two games remaining.

Defeat at the Stadium of Light this weekend, coupled with a win for the Blues against Liverpool, would once again leave them as runners-up, but Scholes has no intention of allowing that to happen.

Results

"I remember coming off the pitch at West Ham," said the United ace.

"It was a similar situation I suppose. Everyone was saying Liverpool weren't going to try and they would let Blackburn win.

"Liverpool ended up winning and we didn't manage to do our job.

"Hopefully the results are different this weekend."

United certainly have plenty of experience to call upon heading into a crucial weekend, with Scholes joined in the Red Devils ranks by the likes of Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

Calmness

Knowing what is required could play into United's hands, although Scholes admits the old guard have been called upon more frequently this season than they expected.

"Experience has brought a calmness so far," he smiled. "Whether we start panicking this weekend I don't know.

"I am not sure how much the manager had it in his mind that he would have to call upon us.

"He knows we have experienced it all before and we know what it takes.

"He has his reasons for doing it. Hopefully it works."

[hendiplast]

Paul Scholes was talked out of retiring by Sir Alex Ferguson
• Manchester United benefit from decision to quit England scene
• 'Durability of Scholes, Giggs and Neville is defying everyone'



Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he managed to talk his midfield veteran Paul Scholes out of retiring. Scholes has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United after initially expressing doubts over whether to continue with his career, which could yet yield him a 10th Premier League title winner's medal next week.

Recent performances suggest it was the correct move, with Scholes being as influential as any United player as his side take Chelsea to the last day of the season.

His recent last-gasp matchwinner at Manchester City was a throwback to the 35-year-old Scholes's halcyon days.

Although Ferguson admitted he needed to twist the player's arm, he was not willing to let such ability slip through his fingers. "I did speak to him," Ferguson told United's magazine Inside United. "He'd intimated that he may retire at the end of the season. I said: 'I'll decide when you retire ... look, Paul, you can play, there's no question of that. Your ability's there, there's no deterioration in your actual play.'

"When you get to his age, and the same goes for Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, there's a deterioration in the physical aspect of it. That's natural. We all face that. But in terms of his ability, there's no deterioration whatsoever.

"In fact, Paul's every bit as good, if not even better, because the experience he's added to the ability he's got means he's a big asset to us – as he was against City. He helped to control the match."

Ferguson believes United are benefiting from Scholes's decision to focus his energy purely on club matters. Never the greatest traveller, Scholes quit the England scene following Euro 2004 even though he had yet to reach his 30th birthday.

The current England manager, Fabio Capello, never made any attempt to change the midfielder's mind, knowing it was futile. Steve McClaren tried more than once, but Ferguson knew it was not a decision Scholes would ever have cause to regret, even if England win the World Cup this summer.

"I don't think Paul's the type to be bitter about that or feel he'd lost something in his life," Ferguson said. "He made his decision based on his family and I think it helped him for the initial couple of years after he retired from the international scene.

"But he had a great career at that level. He should have no recriminations because it's allowed him to move his career on here to the extent that we've given him a new contract.

"Age always comes into it and Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are not going to last forever. But they're defying everyone at the moment in terms of their durability and enthusiasm to play. How they've looked after themselves has been critical and a monumental part of why they're still here."

Yet, while the international days of Scholes and Giggs are behind them, Ferguson still feels Neville could enjoy a glorious autumn to his career in South Africa this summer. "He has got a great chance," Ferguson said. "Fabio has not got a really settled right-back.

"Wes Brown has been injured for a while and you have got Glen Johnson at Liverpool, but Gary's experience, as he showed in the derby against Craig Bellamy, makes him the top man at the moment. His form has been fantastic."


Guardian

[hendiplast]

Sir Alex Ferguson has persuaded Paul Scholes to play for another year
• Manchester United midfielder was unhappy about his form
• Manager's reassurance raised his game and changed his mind



Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he had to dissuade Paul Scholes from retiring at the end of the season after the Manchester United player expressed doubts about his ability to continue at the highest level for another year.

Scholes, famously self-critical despite a career that has established him as one of the Premier League's more revered footballers, approached Ferguson last month to say he was unhappy with his form and was seriously considering ending his playing days at 35. "He intimated that he may retire at the end of the season," Ferguson said. "I said: 'I'll decide when you retire ... look, Paul, you can play, there's no question of that. Your ability's there, there's no deterioration in your actual play.'"

Scholes has started to take his coaching badges but Ferguson convinced him to sign a one-year contract and, since then, the midfielder has been in his best form of the season. "When you get to his age – and the same goes for Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville – there's a deterioration in the [player's] physical aspect," Ferguson added. "That's natural. We all face that. But in terms of his ability, there's no deterioration whatsoever. In fact, Paul's every bit as good, if not even better, because the experience he's added to the ability he's got means he's a big asset to us."

Scholes has been so impressive recently that Ferguson believes the former England player would be an automatic choice for Fabio Capello's World Cup squad had he not retired from international football at 29. "I don't think Paul's the type to feel bitter about that or feel he'd lost something in his life," Ferguson told Inside United magazine. "He made his decision based on his family and I think it helped him [at United] for the initial couple of years after he retired from the international scene.

"But he had a great career at that level. He should have no recriminations because it's allowed him to move his career on here to the extent that we've given him a new contract."

Since the turn of the year United have also given one-year deals to Giggs, Neville and Edwin van der Sar and the club is expected to announce in the coming days that Jonny Evans has signed a four-year contract.

Evans, described by Ferguson this season as a "natural replacement for Rio Ferdinand," had initially been offered a weekly salary of £40,000 but was holding out for better terms. A compromise has been reached and the 22-year-old Northern Ireland international has verbally agreed a deal that moves him into the club's middle bracket of earners.

Guardian

[hendiplast]

Paul Scholes turns down England World Cup call-up
• Capello makes unsuccessful attempt to end Scholes exile
• Carragher set to return for England



Paul Scholes is understood to have declined a surprise last-ditch attempt by Fabio Capello to lure him out of international retirement to play a part in England's World Cup squad.

Capello contacted Scholes, who has not played for his country since Euro 2004 but has 66 caps, to see whether he might follow Jamie Carragher's lead by emerging from his self-imposed international exile as the Italian finalises his provisional 30-man squad, announced formally at Wembley this afternoon.

Capello was minded to seek further experience to supplement his midfield ranks and that prompted contact with the 35-year-old Manchester United midfielder, although Scholes is not inclined to reverse his original decision.

The national squad's options in central midfield are relatively limited with Gareth Barry included in the squad despite being out for the next four weeks with ankle ligament damage. Spurs' Tom Huddlestone, impressive this term, has one cap, against Brazil last November. Michael Carrick has not been a regular starter for United this term.

Capello and the England general manager, Franco Baldini, initially made contact with Scholes and Carragher upon taking up the reins with the national team 17 months ago to seek clarification on the reasons for both players' retirement from international football.

They were satisfied at the time that neither was likely to change his mind and did not intend to revisit the issue thereafter, though Carragher's stance has shifted slightly after a desperately disappointing season for Liverpool.

The England management team were made aware of that much and, having successfully reintegrated Carragher into their plans, sought clarification from Scholes on his intentions. Yet the United veteran does not appear to have shared the Liverpool defender's desire to emerge from exile.

[hendiplast]

Capello Rayu Scholes



LONDON, KOMPAS.com - Daily Mail memberitakan, pelatih tim nasional (timnas) Inggris, Fabio Capello, menggelar pertemuan dengan gelandang Manchester United (MU), Paul Scholes untuk meyakinkan Scholes kembali masuk timnas, yang akan berangkat ke Piala Dunia 2010 Afrika Selatan.

Scholes sudah meninggalkan timnas sejak enam musim lalu. Selain itu, ia sendiri sudah mulai kehilangan jatah main reguler di MU. Namun, menurut Daily Mail, Capello menilai, pengalaman dan fisik Scholes masih sangat bernilai bagi Inggris.

Capello sendiri sudah menyusun skuad sementara Inggris untuk Piala Dunia, yang terdiri dari 30 nama. Capello akan menunggu Scholes sampai akhir bulan ini, di mana ia harus menyusun daftar skuad final yang terdiri dari 23 pemain.

Sejauh ini, Scholes belum diketahui respons Scholes terhadap tawaran Capello. Namun, Daily Mail dan sejumlah media Inggris, mengatakan, bila mau menarik keputusannya, Scholes bakal berangkat ke Afrika Selatan. (DM)

[and1]

luar biasa, bener2 pemaen yg disegani semua org

di usianya yg sudah tdk muda lg, paul scholes tetap diperhitungkan fabio capello utk masuk timnas lg

tp kayanya jawabannya bakal sama spt sblm2nya

[Mahesa_Jenar]

Originally Posted by and1

luar biasa, bener2 pemaen yg disegani semua org

di usianya yg sudah tdk muda lg, paul scholes tetap diperhitungkan fabio capello utk masuk timnas lg

tp kayanya jawabannya bakal sama spt sblm2nya

Proove that our Scholesy loves United more than England...

Yeah Paul, you are the man...!!!!

[hendiplast]

Ferguson: Bagus, Scholes!



MANCHESTER, KOMPAS.com - Pelatih Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, menilai tepat keputusan gelandang Paul Scholes menolak panggilan tim nasional (timnas) Inggris untuk Piala Dunia 2010 Afrika Selatan. Menurutnya, setidaknya, penolakan itu menunjukkan bahwa Scholes adalah orang yang konsisten.

Scholes mundur dari timnas Inggris sejak enam musim lalu. Menjelang Piala Dunia 2010 Afrika Selatan ini, pelatih Fabio Capello mengalami masalah cedera pemain dan mempertimbangkan memanggil kembali pemain senior, seperti Scholes.

Namun, Scholes menolak tawaran itu. Ia mengaku ingin menghabiskan waktu libur kompetisi liga bersama keluarga.

"Paul membuat keputusan beberapa tahun lalu. Saya pikir, Fabio melakukan hal yang benar dengan mencoba memberinya kesempatan kembali ke timnas. Namun, ia sudah nyaman dengan keluarga dan menikmati kehidupan keluarga. Saya tak berpikir ia masih suka bepergian," ungkap Ferguson.

"Ia bicara kepada saya dan saya mengatakannya untuk mengikuti instingnya. Instringnya ternyata membuatnya tetap tinggal," ungkapnya.

Selain itu, Ferguson juga mengaku mendukung keputusan Capello tidak memanggil dua pemain MU, Gary Neville dan Owen Hargreaves, dalam skaud sementara Inggris. Menurutnya, memanggil kedua pemain itu berisiko bagi stabilitas permainan Inggris.

"Owen tak cukup bermain. jadi, sejujurnya, Anda tak bisa memilihnya. Gary mengalami cedera selama beberapa tahun terakhir. Saya yakin, Fabio telah mempertimbangkan itu dan ia pulih dengan baik," tandasnya. (DM)

[Mahesa_Jenar]

hahahahaha...
akal-akalan Opa Alex demi kepentingan United juga nih...
tapi bagus lah... Kalau Scholes emang gak usah diragukan lagi loyalitasnya