A post with about 200 words in it, in a thread about the return of Paul Scholes, without the 2 words "Paul" and 'Scholes" in it.
Remarkable - take a bow
Paul Scholes | 2011/12 Performances
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A post with about 200 words in it, in a thread about the return of Paul Scholes, without the 2 words "Paul" and 'Scholes" in it.
Remarkable - take a bow
I'd have thought a thread about Scholes being brought back out of retirement would be a natural place for a discussion about the quality of our midfield.
er .... there are about 167 others.
Indeed. Sam's just off in one of his fits of indignation.
Paul Scholes.
Paul Scholes.
Mmm... Not getting the Arsenal comparison. When was the last time Wenger bought three players as expensive as De Gea, Jones and Young in a single summer?
I trust that you're in full time employment at a premiership club and not just a guy on a computer?
It's an Internet forum - opinions (good and bad) are given - that's what we come in for. If you want to talk to the professionals, you're probably in the wrong place.
Obviously the Glazer ownership puts us at a disadvantage I never disputed that, I was just pointing out we do spend money.
As for Young the key word was critical, SAF wasn't even sold on Cleverley as a CM until his performances against Barcelona and City. SAF would have also been aware of Fletcher's illness. I know we could have done with a winger to add depth but Hargreaves and Scholes had gone, Fletcher's illness was still an issue and SAF probably didn't expect Cleverley to have this impact (admittedly he's only played a few games). I think it's safe to surmise with SAF bringing Scholes back he is aware midfield is an issue, looking at the events of the last 6 months it's clear he can't get who he wants.
A post witt about 200 words in it, in a thread about the return of Paul Scholes, without the 2 words "Paul" and 'Scholes" in it.
Remarkable - take a bow
There's 163 words. Hardly about 200.
Paul Scholes
Panic buys at the end of the window inflated that a bit didn't it, Arteta was a good signing but I was at the time and I still am unconvinced by Santos and Mertesacker.
We can easily agree on the bolded, but the million dollar question then is "why?". Lack of money or lack of targets who are willing to move? As almost always, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
I fully agree with you by the way. Young wasn't a critical signing, but it was a good one that added more depth. Young was a relatively cheap signing compared to what a world class midfielder would've cost us I think.
Paul Scholes
we're not judging players ex post here, just pointing out the cold facts
It's certainly not Arsenal's usual bracket.
They made a good use of Fabregas' sale for sure...
Just like the Glazers have been using the CR7 kitty at their leisure
Yeah but we could have waited and saved the £18m if we aren't financially as well off as some people are suggesting, £18m+The money saved on wages+Gibson being sold would have been a good foundation for launching a bid for that midfielder.
More to do with age...getting them young, hoping they'll bloom in a few years. And we've spent but also saved a lot of money by moving players on - it gave us a bit of leeway in the market. However, a top quality midfielder costs more than £19m...and wages to match, which is why we've not been able to strengthen. It's relative though...our net spend is below the likes of Villa, Arsenal's is probably the lowest but the point is we're buying very young players hoping they'll gel into a team in a few seasons. Arsenal've been doing this for a few years and it's not translated into trophies. I think we'll do better...but it's a question of how much better.
Well, yes. I doubt he'd have bought Benayoun and Arteta in previous seasons but a lack of success and a poor start to season caused a panic.
The problem is once they had a side that had gelled their best players wanted to leave, I don't think that will happen down here. SAF also places more importance on the mentality of the players he brings in. In theory we should be able to do it better.
I thought Arteta was shrewd to be fair, at the time there was lot of pressure on Arsene so he was forced a little bit but he's turned it around well, it will interesting to see if RVP can stay healthy and how much of an effect Wilshere's return has. They still have defensive weaknesses mind but I haven't really been impressed by any team defensively.
Paul Scholes bitch.
it's all very relative... he's brought numerous trouble-makers over the years. as talent increases, the mentality factor steps back
Wenger also is extremely keen on it anyway. I have it on good authority the only reason Arsenal did not sign Stefan Savic is because he went out in the Serbian press as to how furious Wenger was in the Old Trafford locker room after a 2-1 defeat two seasons ago.
Savic was then on trial at Arsenal and Wenger couldn't believe a newbie like him would leak that stuff to newspapers (though it was all harmless)
Man City did not mind
we all know why, you just said do yourself. Likewise, I agree with SAF that given the realities and constraints, there is no point buying somebody just to fill up the numbers .... we just have to abit more patient in solving this midfield issue than we were perhaps 7 or 8 years ago, when we were a PLC.
But even then, our profits did not all go straight back into the club but millions paid out to shareholders like me in dividends - yes the Glazer situation was not ideal but SAF has NEVER operated within a 'cash is no problem' scenario seen at Shitty and Chavski; he has always had to operate within a budget, within a club pay scale and with 'owners' taking money out of the club.
Oh, and just so I dont contradict myself ..... Paul Scholes.
We are a season and a half away to having a first xi as strong as 2004, 1999 and 2008 - of that Im sure. Its all good.
Paul Scholes
I can't see this "masterstroke" to be honest. Scholes is a great passer but sooner or later he will struggle. I fear to see him against Liverpool, they will murder him with high pressure and tight marking.
it's all very relative... he's brought numerous trouble-makers over the years. as talent increases, the mentality factor steps back
Wenger also is extremely keen on it anyway. I have it on good authority the only reason Arsenal did not sign Stefan Savic is because he went out in the Serbian press as to how furious Wenger was in the Old Trafford locker room after a 2-1 defeat two seasons ago.
Savic was then on trial at Arsenal and Wenger couldn't believe a newbie like him would leak that stuff to newspapers (though it was all harmless)
Man City did not mind
Troublemakers? I'm talking about the winning mentality, Keane and Cantona might have had a few screws loose but they were inspirational leaders. That Savic story is interesting but it's not really what I meant. We've always had strong personalities in the dressing room even now the likes of Jones look strong mentally.
I don't think Scholes will play more than 45 mins against most teams, he will predominantly be used as someone to give us 20-30 mins off the bench to control the game situation. Well that's what I think anyway.
Thats the point, he wont play vs Liverpool, hopefully, Paul Scholes will play 45 mins in the game before, so saving Carrick, Giggs and Anderson's energy and legs abit. Surely you can see thats why SAF has brought him in.
I know you HATE THE GLAZERS Livvie. We get it!!!!
Doesn't everyone?
Scholes is back! I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl.....mmm.
Yes, I do, everybody does, but perhaps not as much as you
For me, it is what it is, we just have the make the best of it, not give them any credit for our success and support our manager much like you consistently do.
Most, we must not blame SAF for the glaring issues we have as he is competing with one hand behind his back ... and yet still producing the goods. And too many on here do that and that pisses me off.
You have to factor in wages as well, though. Young is on what? Around 110-120k a week? A top quality midfielder would probably be at least 180k.
I don't think signing Young was as needless as some make it out. We only really have Nani and Valencia as "real" wingers apart from him (Park drifts in and plays more as an attacking midfielder and Giggs is more of a central midfielder now) as I see it, so if we hadn't signed him our wings could've looked very bad as well if unlucky with injuries in those positions. I agree though, that getting a quality midfielder would've been more important, but I don't think it's as simple as that.
Buying a midfielder just for the sake of it would never make sense of course. Fully agree with that too. If we were to buy a midfielder it would have to be a top quality one that improved our team significantly - and those don't come cheap, which is the problem of course.
As for the bolded part, I agree with that. Problem is that patience and sports doesn't really always go that well together. Let's face it - this whole "we need a central midfielder"-thing is hardly a knee-jerk reaction. Many people have been saying it for a long time (despite the fact that we've done very well) and the number of people saying it will only increase until it actually happens. Even Fergie had to admit it during the latest press conference, although he might have been thinking of Scholes.
Also agree with you about the second paragraph of course, about us not having unlimited cash. But it's no secret that Glazers have cost us more money than being a PLC would have.
Yes, I do, everybody does, but perhaps not as much as you
For me, it is what it is, we just have the make the best of it, not give them any credit for our success and support our manager much like you consistently do.
Most, we must not blame SAF for the glaring issues we have as he is competing with one hand behind his back ... and yet still producing the goods. And too many on here do that and that pisses me off.
Amen to all that.
To echo a thought I posted a couple of days ago, it is frightening to think how we would be doing under these circumstances with anyone else at the helm.
You have to factor in wages as well, though. Young is on what? Around 110-120k a week? A top quality midfielder would probably be at least 180k.
I don't think signing Young was as needless as some make it out. We only really have Nani and Valencia as "real" wingers apart from him (Park drifts in and plays more as an attacking midfielder and Giggs is more of a central midfielder now) as I see it, so if we hadn't signed him our wings could've looked very bad as well if unlucky with injuries in those positions. I agree though, that getting a quality midfielder would've been more important, but I don't think it's as simple as that.
Yeah as I said I think Young was a signing we needed and it's obviously a bit more complicated than that, I was just floating the ideas out there for people. If were that hard up I don't think SAF would have done that. Obviously the Glazers have put us in a much more awkward position than we should be in but if need be I think we have the money available. However none of us know what's really going on, luckily for us whatever the situation we have the best manager to deal with it.
That's how I think he'll be used as well. To give other midfielders a rest and to put on when we're leading and just need to put on cruise-control.
I don't think Fergie threw on Scholes today just because he thought it'd be fun, as some people have suggested. I think he genuinely thought that Scholes could help calm down our play and help us keep possession, like we saw him doing towards the end. It was unlucky that he gave away the ball for the goal, which gave City some hope, of course, but that's football for you.
Which is exactly the thing that helps me sleep at nights. I don't think any other manager could've done what Fergie has.
I agree with you, there is obviously some money to spend. It's just much easier to convince the Glazers to pay 18m for a player who's going to be on a 120k per week contract, rather than pay 35m for a player who's going to earn 220k a week. Whether that's actually the case is anybody's guess of course - as you say, we have no idea.
I just hope you're right that the big money is there, if Fergie decides he wants a midfielder.
It was Edwin, hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Honestly, I'd love to bring Edwin back, but you have to wonder what kind of signal the club send to De Gea and Lindegaard if it does happen.
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