General Football Debates!
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Totsuka No Tsurugi
Active member
This is very sad.... its never about scoring and assist.. there is a bunch of midfielders can pull such play
its about affecting the play and flow/control/ of the game.... no one can rival Scholes when it comes to that except for Zidane/Totti/Makelele/Redondo... that's how we define a great midfielder and Eriksson is such an idiot for dropping him for the likes Gerrard and Lampard well the England national team reap what they sow.
"I wouldn't swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best."
- Gary Neville
"Paul, for me, is the best player in the England team. It worries teams. Speak to any other international team and they will single Paul out as England's key player. For me, he doesn't get the full credit that he deserves. He is a world-class player and deserves to be up there with the likes of Zidane and Figo."
- Phil Neville
"He'll do ridiculous things in training like say, "You see that tree over there?" - it'll be 40 yards away - "I'm going to hit it". And he'll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best."
- Rio Ferdinand
"Paul Scholes had the best football brain I'd ever seen in a kid. Let's face it. Paul Scholes is in a class of its own."
- Brian Kidd
"He's always one of those people others talk about. Even playing at Real Madrid, the players always say to me 'what's he like'? They respect him as a footballer, and to have that respect from some of those players is great."
- David Beckham
"He is a legend and he's going to be remembered for a long time. Just to play alongside him and learn from him has been an absolute pleasure. I think he is a footballer's footballer; he has been at this level for so long.
As long as he is part of us we always feel we have a chance. We appreciate the way he goes about his business. I have never met a character like Scholesy, certainly not someone who is that good."
- Michael Carrick
"Scholes is the best English player. Intelligence, technique, strength... all the attributes are there. At Manchester United I saw what he could do on the training field. Phew!"
- Laurent Blanc
"People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is, 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. His reading of the game is unsurpassed.He has an eye for a pass, for what the play or the game needs at that precise moment, that I have never seen anyone else have. He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen."
- Peter Schmeichel
"Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years. You'd probably have to go back to Bobby Charlton to find someone who could do as much as Scholes. When the ball arrives at his feet he could tell you where every player on that pitch is at that moment. His awareness is superb."
- Gordon Strachan
"I'm saddened because I think we as spectators, not only in this country but right through out Europe and the rest of the World, will be missing one hell of a footballer."
- Ray Wilkins
"What United have got that Chelsea haven't is Paul Scholes. I think he is different to anything else in English football."
- Kevin Keegan
"There is not a better midfield player in the world."
- Sam Allardyce
"Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation."
- Zinedine Zidane
"I can't understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it's because he doesn't seek the limelight like some of the other 'stars'."
- Thierry Henry
"The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy - Scholes."
- Patrick Vieira
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League."
- Cesc Fabregas
"I really rate Paul Scholes, because he hasn't got the high profile of many of the Manchester United players, he doesn't get too much attention, but he is one very good player. He is an intelligent player, he works hard and he scores some great goals. He is not flamboyant and is a quiet lad off the pitch but he is a tremendous asset to Manchester United and to England. He has already got my vote as player of the year."
- Tony Adams
"Every one of us (midfielders) is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes."
- Edgar Davids
"I'm more an admirer of Paul Scholes than I am of Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a fantastic player, but he has 10 other great players around him every week. Scholes is one of the most complete footballers I've ever seen. His one-touch play is phenomenal. Whenever I have played against him, I never felt I could get close to him."
- Eidur Gudjohnsen
"If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes. He can tackle, and his passing and shooting is of the highest level. He’s the most consistent and naturally gifted player we’ve had for a long, long time."
- Alan Shearer
"He’s the best one or two-touch passer in the country. He sees the game unlike any other player."
- Terry Venables
"There isn’t a player of his mould anywhere else in the world."
- Glenn Hoddle
"He's always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder - when he's fit, he's the best. Some go missing but he's in the right place at the right time. He's my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it's a goal, isn't it?"
- Micah Richards
"Some of Paul Scholes' tackles come in so late they arrive yesterday."
- Clive Tyldesley
"He knows how to do everything, and he is the one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength, and he is a genuine competitor."
- Thierry Henry
"An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance."
- Marcello Lippi
"An amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being."
- Roy Keane
"I tell anyone who asks me - Scholes is the best English player."
- Laurent Blanc
"Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team - that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. He would have been one of the first players I’d have bought, given the chance."
- Marcello Lippi
"Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes - he is the best midfielder of his generation, I would have loved to have played alongside him."
- Pep Guardiola
"Scholes? Fantastic! Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him."
- Jose Mourinho
"He has an awareness of what’s happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he’s proving just as effective from outside the box because he’s using his experience in the right way. It doesn’t matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
"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"
- Xavi
"When he passes the ball it stays passed. The ball goes exactly where he wants it to. I have always loved him for that. I played against him once or twice and he is an absolute genius. He is a role model for anyone who wants to play football. He is a joy to watch. In fact, I wish he was 21, then I could see his career all over again."
- Ian Holloway
"I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?"
- Ronaldinho
"At La Masia, his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher."
- Messi
"Nobody on this planet had a range of passing like Paul Scholes. Training every day was a pleasure just watching him. Unbelievable career"
- Michael Owen
its about affecting the play and flow/control/ of the game.... no one can rival Scholes when it comes to that except for Zidane/Totti/Makelele/Redondo... that's how we define a great midfielder and Eriksson is such an idiot for dropping him for the likes Gerrard and Lampard well the England national team reap what they sow.
"I wouldn't swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best."
- Gary Neville
"Paul, for me, is the best player in the England team. It worries teams. Speak to any other international team and they will single Paul out as England's key player. For me, he doesn't get the full credit that he deserves. He is a world-class player and deserves to be up there with the likes of Zidane and Figo."
- Phil Neville
"He'll do ridiculous things in training like say, "You see that tree over there?" - it'll be 40 yards away - "I'm going to hit it". And he'll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best."
- Rio Ferdinand
"Paul Scholes had the best football brain I'd ever seen in a kid. Let's face it. Paul Scholes is in a class of its own."
- Brian Kidd
"He's always one of those people others talk about. Even playing at Real Madrid, the players always say to me 'what's he like'? They respect him as a footballer, and to have that respect from some of those players is great."
- David Beckham
"He is a legend and he's going to be remembered for a long time. Just to play alongside him and learn from him has been an absolute pleasure. I think he is a footballer's footballer; he has been at this level for so long.
As long as he is part of us we always feel we have a chance. We appreciate the way he goes about his business. I have never met a character like Scholesy, certainly not someone who is that good."
- Michael Carrick
"Scholes is the best English player. Intelligence, technique, strength... all the attributes are there. At Manchester United I saw what he could do on the training field. Phew!"
- Laurent Blanc
"People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is, 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. His reading of the game is unsurpassed.He has an eye for a pass, for what the play or the game needs at that precise moment, that I have never seen anyone else have. He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen."
- Peter Schmeichel
"Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years. You'd probably have to go back to Bobby Charlton to find someone who could do as much as Scholes. When the ball arrives at his feet he could tell you where every player on that pitch is at that moment. His awareness is superb."
- Gordon Strachan
"I'm saddened because I think we as spectators, not only in this country but right through out Europe and the rest of the World, will be missing one hell of a footballer."
- Ray Wilkins
"What United have got that Chelsea haven't is Paul Scholes. I think he is different to anything else in English football."
- Kevin Keegan
"There is not a better midfield player in the world."
- Sam Allardyce
"Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation."
- Zinedine Zidane
"I can't understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it's because he doesn't seek the limelight like some of the other 'stars'."
- Thierry Henry
"The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy - Scholes."
- Patrick Vieira
"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League."
- Cesc Fabregas
"I really rate Paul Scholes, because he hasn't got the high profile of many of the Manchester United players, he doesn't get too much attention, but he is one very good player. He is an intelligent player, he works hard and he scores some great goals. He is not flamboyant and is a quiet lad off the pitch but he is a tremendous asset to Manchester United and to England. He has already got my vote as player of the year."
- Tony Adams
"Every one of us (midfielders) is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes."
- Edgar Davids
"I'm more an admirer of Paul Scholes than I am of Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a fantastic player, but he has 10 other great players around him every week. Scholes is one of the most complete footballers I've ever seen. His one-touch play is phenomenal. Whenever I have played against him, I never felt I could get close to him."
- Eidur Gudjohnsen
"If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes. He can tackle, and his passing and shooting is of the highest level. He’s the most consistent and naturally gifted player we’ve had for a long, long time."
- Alan Shearer
"He’s the best one or two-touch passer in the country. He sees the game unlike any other player."
- Terry Venables
"There isn’t a player of his mould anywhere else in the world."
- Glenn Hoddle
"He's always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder - when he's fit, he's the best. Some go missing but he's in the right place at the right time. He's my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it's a goal, isn't it?"
- Micah Richards
"Some of Paul Scholes' tackles come in so late they arrive yesterday."
- Clive Tyldesley
"He knows how to do everything, and he is the one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength, and he is a genuine competitor."
- Thierry Henry
"An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance."
- Marcello Lippi
"An amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being."
- Roy Keane
"I tell anyone who asks me - Scholes is the best English player."
- Laurent Blanc
"Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team - that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. He would have been one of the first players I’d have bought, given the chance."
- Marcello Lippi
"Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes - he is the best midfielder of his generation, I would have loved to have played alongside him."
- Pep Guardiola
"Scholes? Fantastic! Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him."
- Jose Mourinho
"He has an awareness of what’s happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he’s proving just as effective from outside the box because he’s using his experience in the right way. It doesn’t matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
"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"
- Xavi
"When he passes the ball it stays passed. The ball goes exactly where he wants it to. I have always loved him for that. I played against him once or twice and he is an absolute genius. He is a role model for anyone who wants to play football. He is a joy to watch. In fact, I wish he was 21, then I could see his career all over again."
- Ian Holloway
"I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?"
- Ronaldinho
"At La Masia, his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher."
- Messi
"Nobody on this planet had a range of passing like Paul Scholes. Training every day was a pleasure just watching him. Unbelievable career"
- Michael Owen
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but but but but but....
I'm not saying that Scholes is better, but numbers are not always the indicator of how good a player is, we have Iniesta and Xavi who both dont have that much of numbers on their side, speaking mostly about Iniesta here since Xavi has a high number of assists though despite the numbers these guys are among the best midfielders in the history of football.
Best quote ever
You can find praises from the Same people about all three of them. they don't proof shit
If gerrard had joined chelsea in 2005 mourinho would made lamps and gerrard one of the deadliest duos in midfield. Eriksson is a shit manager thats all.
Scholes never had impact on a game like gerrard or lampard had. You must be trolling or you never watched the bpl.
Zidane/Totti/Makelele/Redondo ? Naming four different players with different styles saying they control the flow of the game! you can't be that stupid surely ?
Zidane uses his technique much more than passing skills and if he does pass it will be a killer pass.
Totti is a passing machine still he doesn't control the flow, more of a playmaker.
Makelele senses the danger before happening. Again, his main thing is defending not controlling the game.
Redondo sits infront of the back 4 and starts the attack from the back, Pattrick Vieria style.
Andrea Pirlo is the one. He is the one who controls the flow best.
Zidane uses his technique much more than passing skills and if he does pass it will be a killer pass.
Totti is a passing machine still he doesn't control the flow, more of a playmaker.
Makelele senses the danger before happening. Again, his main thing is defending not controlling the game.
Redondo sits infront of the back 4 and starts the attack from the back, Pattrick Vieria style.
Andrea Pirlo is the one. He is the one who controls the flow best.
Totsuka No Tsurugi
Active member
If you read the quote carefully then you can see difference between what they said about Slippy and Scholes,
It doesn't matter what their styles... what matter is how their play affecting the game.. surely you don't understand about this, all the players i mentioned above can do that,
But then again you hate Manchester united and everything associated with them (how could you not ? come back when you got 20 ? LOL).... so i expect this kind of reply... fact remains that England national team turned into a 3rd rate team after Scholes retired, while MANU went on to win 4 PL title and 1 UCL with Scholes retiring from international duty.
It doesn't matter what their styles... what matter is how their play affecting the game.. surely you don't understand about this, all the players i mentioned above can do that,
But then again you hate Manchester united and everything associated with them (how could you not ? come back when you got 20 ? LOL).... so i expect this kind of reply... fact remains that England national team turned into a 3rd rate team after Scholes retired, while MANU went on to win 4 PL title and 1 UCL with Scholes retiring from international duty.
The Sach
Active member
Awards
Steven Gerrard is a great player, but certainly not on par with Scholes.
Gerrard gets my respect for being the knight that Liverpool needed, but that doesn't simply mean he is 'the best', otherwise his performance wouldn't have deteriorated under pressure. His tale is nothing like 'fairy tail', otherwise his trophy cabinet would have been 'better'.
If your teammates define how good a player you are, then I guess we should say Sturridge and Falcao are on par with Ronaldo??:|
I simply think Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes are equally talented players. It is really difficult to differentiate between them. They have weaknesses and strengths and totally different stories.
Gerrard gets my respect for being the knight that Liverpool needed, but that doesn't simply mean he is 'the best', otherwise his performance wouldn't have deteriorated under pressure. His tale is nothing like 'fairy tail', otherwise his trophy cabinet would have been 'better'.
If your teammates define how good a player you are, then I guess we should say Sturridge and Falcao are on par with Ronaldo??:|
I simply think Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes are equally talented players. It is really difficult to differentiate between them. They have weaknesses and strengths and totally different stories.
You're saying Scholes influences the game more than Gerrard, top ****ing laugh.
Look at the year 05 alone. Look at the Olympiakos game, the Chelsea game, the Milan game. He driven an entire team forward all the way to winning the cup.
The Gerrard final in 06.. 2 crazy goals and a 40 yards assist... the only man to score in a FA cup final, League cup final, UEFA cup final and a UCL Final
He carried Liverpool alone for a decade and half without having the quality players Scholes had. Imagine Gerrard playing under SAF, behind Rooney and Tevez with Ronaldo and Giggs on the wings and Carrick sitting behind him doing his defensive work to give Gerrard extra freedom.
How does that sounds ? screams Utd would have won every thing there is to win yeah ?
Unfortunately, Gerrard had to do Defensive work, Score goals, set them up and play on the flanks.
Steven Gerrard was awesome today. We were just laughing in the dressing room that at one stage we thought he was heading his own crosses in. It's says it all really.
So don't even try to say Scholes influences the game more than Gerrard.
Now come at me with your weak Scholes controls the pace of the game.
Totsuka No Tsurugi
Active member
Glad Of War
Active member
Awards
Seriously? Scholes influences the game more than Gerrard. Have you actually seen him play? Man utd basically won the Premier league (2013) because of Scholes influence.
Transcendence
Active member
A wasted post for nothing. Pirlo > Scholes in ability to dictate a game. Pirlo is arguably the greatest pure playmaker (from mid) that the game has ever seen. Scholes is very close, but Pirlo is timeless and in his prime was better.
EDIT: But if we're talking about this debate between Scholes and Gerrard, it's not much of a direct comparison. Scholes sat back and relied on his DM's to get the ball back and let him control. Gerrard was a more complete player and has the better stats, but stats aren't the tell tale of a midfielder. If I was starting to build a team, I'd choose Scholes between the two.
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