Tommy G Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 FROM BBC SPORT World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi admits there are only a handful of current England players that he really rates. As befits a manager who has worked with Zinedine Zidane, Edgar Davids and Pavel Nedved during a glittering career, Lippi has high standards. Yet there is one English player that he talks about with reverence and admiration. "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," the former Juventus and Italy coach told BBC Sport. WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SCHOLES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I tell anyone who asks me - Scholes is the best English player Laurent Blanc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He's a legend Michael Carrick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not the best, Paul Scholes is Edgar Davids, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being Roy Keane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance Marcello Lippi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Still the best player in that United midfield Peter Schmeichel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scholes is the footballer's footballer. While his profile has never matched those of team-mates such as David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo, he has always seemed the Manchester United player most admired by his contemporaries. When recently asked which current team-mate he rated most highly, Rio Ferdinand said: "For me, it's Paul Scholes. Everyone at the club considers him the best." Last January, Sir Alex Ferguson gave evidence in court on behalf of one of his former trainees and listened to the prosecution barrister's list of United's top players. "You've missed Paul Scholes - and he's my best player," Ferguson chided her. Even Roy Keane, a man not known to lavish praise on his team-mates, has been effusive when describing his former central midfield partner, praising his ability to stay out of the celebrity limelight. "No self-promotion - an amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being," the Irishman wrote in his autobiography. Why do such respected and restrained judges wax so lyrical about the United midfielder, who seems certain to start in Wednesday's Champions League final against Chelsea on Wednesday? Lippi says it is because Scholes is the complete midfielder. "Scholes is a player I have always liked, because he combines great talent and technical ability with mobility, determination and a superb shot," the Italian says. "He is an all-round midfielder who possesses character and quality in abundance. In my opinion, he's been one of the most important players for United under Sir Alex." The Scholes we will see in Moscow is a very different player to the one who faced Lippi's Juventus in Champions League encounters in 1996, 1997 and 2003. Back then, he was an attacking midfielder who could be relied on to score 15 goals a season and Lippi says he "would have been one of the first players I'd have bought, given the chance". Now he dictates the play from deep and allows the likes of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to weave their magic in the final third. Lippi says only the very finest players are capable of such versatility. "With age, the best players learn to be effective in different areas of the pitch," he says. "For example, (Italy midfielder) Andrea Pirlo can play just in front of the defence, right in the middle, behind the strikers, he can play everywhere. The same goes for Scholes." Barcelona will attest to the influence Scholes can still have in attack, if allowed the time and space to advance up the pitch. The 33-year-old scored the only goal of the semi-final against the Catalans with a wonderful 25-yard shot. Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played with Scholes from 1993 to 1999, believes he is still the best player in United's midfield. "People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is," Schmeichel told BBC Sport. "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." The Dane says Scholes' 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," the Dane said. "These days he doesn't get into the box too many times, which is where you can see his age, but he has developed tactically. "He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen." Eric Harrison, the former head of United's youth set-up who first met Scholes when he midfielder was 14, agrees with Schmeichel. "People always say Paul looks like he's got so much time," Harrison told BBC Sport. "That's because his positional sense is second to none and he knows what's around him before he receives the ball. "Paul has no great pace or power, but he makes up for that with his reading of the game, his awareness and his superb touch. "The only current player who would come close to him in that regard is Cesc Fabregas." Scholes' biggest weakness has been his tackling, which has lacked the exquisite timing of his passing and shooting. A mistimed tackle in the second leg of the 1999 semi-final against Juventus led to him missing the victorious final against Bayern Munich. Wednesday's final offers the chance for redemption. But when Harrison sits down to watch the game, he admits his mind will inevitably drift back to the early 1990s, when Scholes was part of his famous United youth team. "We used to get big crowds turning up for our home games at The Cliff in those days," Harrison reminisces. "Word had got round about the fantastic group of players we had - David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers. "Yet the fans' favourite was always Scholes. People were amazed that this tiny ginger kid with asthma could smack a ball so hard, that he had such fantastic touch and was so brave. "And he's not gone on to do too bad after that."
Bert Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Everyone knows he's class. Such a shame he retired early from Internationals - Scholes and Gerrard would've been awesome in Cm for England.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 That penalty at Filbo nearly went out the ground.
Manwell Pablo Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 The National team hasn't recovered since he retired.
Ric Flair Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Technically probably the best player we've produced since Gascoigne and that includes Rooney. Put's the likes of Lampard and Gerrard to shame IMO.
The People's Hero Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Put's the likes of Lampard and Gerrard to shame IMO. Agreed. And that says a lot because Gerrard is international class. Lampard IMHO is not. That said.. Scholes... I'm not a united fan but seriously, what a player.
Ric Flair Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Agreed. And that says a lot because Gerrard is international class. Lampard IMHO is not. That said.. Scholes... I'm not a united fan but seriously, what a player. Gerrard is obviously class, but I reckon he wouldn't produce the performances he has done for Liverpool at any other club. He's a moody bastard who finds that extra ability because he's playing for Liverpool, I know that's a ridiculous thing to say but some of his performances for England have shown that he struggles to reach the same level due to his mental attitude when he plays. That's not necessarily a criticism as he obviously utilisises every ounce of his ability for Liverpool, but he's not quite as good as I thought he was going to be a few years back. Lampard had his purple patch from 2003-2005, he's still a quality player but not world class.
SamL Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Everyone knows he's class. Such a shame he retired early from Internationals - Scholes and Gerrard would've been awesome in Cm for England. Couldn't agree more mate. It's such a shame really, we've definitely missed him. Scholes and Gerrard would compliment each others styles of play and would do very well together in my opinion. Shame we couldn't persuade him to play on.
Finnegan Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 I think we all know I chose a better person to hero worship.
Corky Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 He is a true role model for young players. Does his training, plays in matches, goes home. Doesn't get into trouble, doesn't get bad press and is respected by the best. He is one of the best, and England have regretted him retiring ever since he did.
Jack Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Scholes is pure class. He's in another league to Gerrard and Lampard.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 I thought this was a thread about me in my younger days
breadandcheese Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 The National team hasn't recovered since he retired. Not sure I agree with that. He could never play in the heat. Without doubt a fantastic player who deserves all the praise, but in the big Summer tournaments, he always seemed to struggle. I always wondered whether his asthma was a factor in this, with a tournament at the end of a long season or due to the summer temperatures. Either way I'm sure we can both agree that for him, quitting international football was the best decision he ever made. Relaxing in the summer, recuperating for another hard season.
Joe. Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 It's definitely a shame he doesn't have any desires to play for England anymore, even at the age he is he'd still be our best midfielder. He's clearly one of the most technically gifted players in the Premiership, and it'll be disappointing when he retires within the next few seasons. Consistently a part of Man Utd's team for at least ten seasons now too, it's very impressive.
Uncle Albert Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 I don't think Scholes is 'The Most Gifted Player'. I much prefer Lampard and Gerrard in my England team than him. A centre midfielder who cant tackle. Come on.
ASH17LCFC Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 Was crap for England in his last 2 years though, he didn't score for yonks and at the time Gerrard and Lampard looked a better bet. Still a class player who can't tackle though.
RowlattsFox Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 He is/was an awesome player, however Lampard and Gerrard at times are just as good he is yet they are called over-rated.
sdb Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 he's been legendary no doubt, and he can still be class...but he's past his best. average for most of the season then good for the last few months. people are only going on about him so much because the CL final is coming and he's gonna start after what happened in '99. Half the quotes on him are several years old.
LeeCovFox Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 I think it is a measure of just how good he is that, despite his inability to tackle, I still consider him to be better than any current England midfielder. I agree with Lippi also. There are not that many technically gifted English players. This is because instead of playing 5-a-side or one/two touch in our schools and in our organised youth football, we play 11 a side on large pitches, where running yourself into the ground and encouraging big defenders to lump it to the the big or fast lads up front are the attributes which are lauded. Apalling.
BigGibbo Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 It just proves when you get an outsider who really knows what he's doing to look in that England are just not that good anymore!
Ultra Posted 20 May 2008 Posted 20 May 2008 I think it is a measure of just how good he is that, despite his inability to tackle, I still consider him to be better than any current England midfielder. I agree with Lippi also. There are not that many technically gifted English players. This is because instead of playing 5-a-side or one/two touch in our schools and in our organised youth football, we play 11 a side on large pitches, where running yourself into the ground and encouraging big defenders to lump it to the the big or fast lads up front are the attributes which are lauded. Appalling. Absolutely. Until the FA values technical ability above physical strength, the national side will always struggle.
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