Thought I might as well stick this in here:
Replacing me? It's no big deal for Manchester United, says Paul Scholes | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
Replacing me? It's no big deal for Manchester United, says Paul Scholes
The hot summer topic at Manchester United has been finding Paul Scholes’ heir - but the man himself believes it’s a needless obsession.
While Reds fans have gone on a roller-coaster ride of transfer speculation as they look for the marquee playmaker to fill the 36-year-old’s boots, the Salford-born, Manchester-raised midfielder insists the job has been under way for nearly five years!
And if any United supporter is still fretting over an Old Trafford engine room without the Ginger Prince - he points to the post-Roy Keane era to comfort them.
Stories of the possible capture of Luka Modric, Samir Nasri or Wesley Sneijder have been prominent virtually every day since Scholes announced he was retiring 48 hours after the Champions League final.
The potential candidates have all had to tick the Scholes boxes.
But the man himself doesn’t believe they are indentikit versions of the recent Scholes.
“I don’t think it is a big deal really replacing me because I haven’t been the type of player people are talking about for the last four or five years,” Paul told M.E.N. Sport.
“I haven’t been scoring goals or been the main playmaker in the team for a while. I don’t think I actually need replacing in that way at all.
“I wasn’t the pulling the strings anymore, definitely in the last two years and probably even since I was 31-32. I haven’t been as prominent in the side. I wasn’t scoring the goals and I wasn’t making the goals.
“I think people are obsessed with having to replace me. If you look at the facts over the last couple of years. I haven’t played in the big games. So I don’t think there is that much that needs replacing!
“I am not saying I should have played in those big games because it was the right decision not to play me. I couldn’t cope playing full games and big games like that. Physically, it was too much for me. I think when people are talking about replacing Paul Scholes they are talking about replacing the Paul Scholes of five years ago. I was more prominent then.
“Then I was getting forward and scoring goals. I was making them and playing a big part. But I’ve been playing around 25 games a season since and getting the odd goal here and there.
“Does that need replacing? Essentially the job has been done anyway. Other players have already come in, done the job, and we’ve continued to be successful.
Irreplaceable
“Because I wasn’t contributing as much anymore was part of the reason why I retired. My contribution wasn’t enough for a Man United midfielder.”
It’s a factually convincing and typically modest argument but it won’t stop United fans swamping forums and social networks worrying about Scholes’ loss.
“This club is so big it loses massive players all the times. You think of Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Bryan Robson and people wonder how United will replace them and yet look where we are now. We just go on winning things,” Scholes added.
“This club and this manager will always keep the ball rolling. Other clubs might not be able to deal with it but United can.
“I think Roy Keane came closest to being irreplaceable. You think what a leader he was, what a player he was and you think how do you replace that?
“But look how successful we have been since he went in 2005. Four Premier League titles. Three Champions League finals in four years. That tells you everything.
“If someone like Roy is not going to be missed, then nobody is going to be missed.
“Players don’t have the same worries when a team-mate goes like the fans do - no matter how good he was. You just know the manager will do something that will make the club tick on.
“They won’t give a second thought to me going. They won’t care. They will be looking forward to playing with the players United have got.”
Chief Executive David Gill hopes there might be another signing before the transfer window shuts at the end of August while manager Sir Alex Ferguson is playing down the search.
For his part, Scholes says he won’t be too bothered if a new midfielder doesn’t arrive.
“The players already at the club have got the chance to go on and stake big claims,” he added.
“Everyone knows the talent Anderson has got.
Attributes
“He can be a bit erratic at times but you forget he is still a young lad. But he is one who could have a massive part to play this season. He is in that category of playmaker. He can do that.
“Hopefully, with a bit more concentration, he can also score more goals as well. He has got the attributes. He has struggled with injury but if he has a good pre-season under his belt and be as professional as he can be, he should be a top class player.
“Everytime Tom Cleverley has gone on tour in the last three or four years, he seems to have done well and scores goals. I don’t know where he is in the manager’s plans. I haven’t got a clue, but he is definitely one who is capable.
“I can’t see why people have problems with Michael Carrick like some seemed to last year. I found him brilliant to play with. He is a simple man with no complications and he does the job required.
“He is not a flashy person or a flashy player but he has great talent. He has great mental concentration. He reads the game so well. He is a dream for any attacking midfielder to play with. He is like a Rolls Royce.
“I wouldn’t have any worries going with the players already at the club. We have loads of talent who can play there. Ryan Giggs did it brilliantly last season, Darren Fletcher, Tom, Anderson, Michael and Ji-sung Park can play there.
“There are no concerns at all I think we are as good and probably better in that department than we have ever been.”
But if Paul Scholes had to put his weight behind one newcomer who would it be?
“The ones who have been linked all look like they are capable of playing for United,” he added.
“But there are no guarantees. You could sign Sneijder for £35-40m and it might not work out. He went to Real Madrid and it didn’t quite work out for him there, so you just don’t know.
“The three linked the most with United are all great top players. Of the three Modric, when we’ve played against him, has been the one I have been most impressed with. Whenever we played Tottenham, he was the one who stood out.”
Replacing me? It's no big deal for Manchester United, says Paul Scholes | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
