We see it all the time with players, that only afterwards do we realise how good they were... but similarly we can build them up to maybe better than they actually were. Pirlo is someone who springs to mind (undoubtedly an amazing, top class player... but in the twighlight of his career he’d become almost god like - not sure he was ‘that’ good. It just became fashionable to appreciate his underrated style.
So what of Scholes? Has he improved like a fine wine that has been put in a cellar somewhere? Or is he worthy of his new found regard and adulation?thebillfella wrote: ↑04 Jan 2020, 14:27 Used in the slang context of acting pathetically over-the-top rather than becoming liquefied under heat or more tender / loving!!!
Mainly aimed at the tourist fans on social media that rarely get to a game rather than the majority of supporters that get to games and are more level headed. The difference is that the former are the likes that think Beckham was the best of the Class of 92 whereas the latter know that Scholes was by far the best midfielder United and England has had for a number of generations (Gazza and Robson being his nearest challengers not Gerrard and Lampard ).
Was he the greatest player of his generation?
Or one of Uniteds best ever?
He was top class
He was consistent
He had the all round game
He had longevity
But was he the absolute elite player he’s now regarded as?
Any united fans care to rank him amongst Uniteds other players?
He obviously wasn’t accommodated under various England managers (not his fault... and definitely a case of mismanagement... but by the same token various managers failed to break up the Lampard and Gerrard partnership (despite it not being effective for the team; but their league performances made them undroppable for the national team. They obviously didn’t think the same of Scholes.
Even for Fergie/United;
Only twice did he start 30 or more league games.
Only twice (in a 19 year career) did he manage double figures for league goals
Only 3 times did he make 5 or more assists in a season
Even looking at his 10 year peak period:
Average 27 league starts, 8 goals and 4 assists
On the one hand he was a key player for THE most dominate team for almost 20 years
On the other... despite their dominance as the creative and offensive midfielder supported and supporting the likes of Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Cole and Yorke... he stats aren’t ‘that’ impressive are they?
If so good, why didn’t he always play for fergie (in a generation when there wasn’t the same levels of rotation etc)?