Ginger, Half-Blind, Asthmatic…And The Best English Midfielder Of His Generation
By Chris Wright
All things must pass – an apt epitaph for the career of a man who used the ball like Paul Scholes did in his pomp, a midfield hub that could ping a zephyr-like pass across the width of a crowded football pitch and land it on a pound coin 99 times out of 100.
All known laws of the universe state that he should never have been able to make it as a professional sportsman in any capacity – what with his squinty short-sightedness and his oft-chronic asthma – though, by way of his immaculate footballing talent, Scholes systematically mangled the principles that govern our very cosmos like they were little more than Pablo Zabaleta’s right thigh.
Of course he couldn’t tackle for toffee, and became more and more of a dangerous liability the pinker his face became during a game (the ‘furrowed brow-to-impending doom ratio’, as it duly became known), but the stellar endorsements of his almost peerless creative craft are myriad and speak volumes on behalf of a man who rarely says a word.
Along with the five Barcelona players that queued up to swap shirts with him after the Champions League final on Saturday evening, fellow luminaries such as Zinedine Zidane, Edgar Davids, Xavi, Laurent Blanc, Pavel Nedved, Jose Mourinho, Bobby Charlton, Juan Sebastien Veron, Thierry Henry and Robbie Savage (this list goes on and on) have all lined up to champion the ginger runts’ mercurial talents at one point or another, and for good reason – put simply, Scholes is/was the finest English artisan midfielder of his, and probably several other generations.
The tip of the iceberg…
Well played Sir, well played.
Do Arsenal Artificially Enhance The Emirates Atmosphere? – OTP
Big Cup Bullshit – The FCF
Guess UEFA Cup Finalists From Their Shirt – Three Match Ban
20 Damning Steve Kean Quotes – Mirror Football
'Abandon All Hope…' – Sunshine Room
Leaked Blackburn Letter Shows Extent Of Turmoil – EPL Talk
Genius Who Couldn't Exist Today: Dragan Stojkovic – LBITCR
German Philosopher Reflects On Jose Mourinho – Futfanatico
Rule Changes That Could Hand Title To Man Utd – FourFourTwo
Welcome To Posh – Danny Last for IBWM
Not the complete midfielder because he couldn’t tackle a fishing line, but by far the greatest creator the premier league has ever seen.
*bow down*
Outside the UK he is better known for kicking the sh*t out of any opponent that was more technically skilled than himself (i.e. almost everybody).
I get what QStel is doing, but I really don’t get why. Do people who “troll” on websites actually sit back and watch the replies? Are there not better things to do?
Scholes was an exceptional player by the way, not quite on the Zidane-Baggio-Messi level but certainly the next step down, along with the likes of Nedved, Henry, del Piero (this is just my opinion, if you don’t agree, that’s fine by me!)
Scholes is looked up to by most of the players you listed.
Xavi is a big big fan.
Respect for the Ginger Pele from a diehard ABU’er.
worthy of a knighthood i reckon.
Paul Scholes
A truly undisputed Sex God of the highest order
he shall be dearly missed in all quarters of the Sexual Heavens
(His football shall be missed, not Him, as He shall always reign supreme in the Kingdom of the Sex Gods)
it angers me when people say this Sexual Deity couldn’t tackle
He could tackle just as well as any other player of His type, but He picked up a bad reputation because a few little misdemeanours along the way
Credit where it is due. Although I am a Liverpool supporter, truth be told, Scholes was far better than all our centre midfielders starting with the class of 92 onwards. Vision, tackling abilities and hard-working, even if meant a dismissal. Although in the latter years he was used sparingly (injuries, odd red card now and then, fitness, etc) he contributed immensely to the achievements of Man U over the last 19 years
And on this, I know I am not walking alone…
@Sex God – It’s getting old mate.
Excellent player. Good luck!
great player, probably could tackle but had a dark side and chopped people down, some passing and shooting abiltity though from a liverpool fan, still not as good as Gerrard though :P
Those glorious cross-field balls will be sorely missed.
No screamer vs. Barca in CL Semi?
Sad day
The late tackles will truly be missed.
He likes the outside of his foot. Skillz.
Wondergoal in 2008 against barça, and of course a ‘great’ tackler hahaha
What’s him being ginger got to do with anything?
Would you say “Pele; Black skin…. and the best Brazilian player ever”?
@ Calski
Of all the comments here, I have to agree with yours the most.
i have personal issues in my life and i express it by being an asshole sorry. i dunno why its cause i was raped as a child and so ive always been obsessed with sex
He was indeed a bad tempered little hacker who would consistently up end players who got the better of him.
^ Really lad? If you were raped then why did you become obsessed with sex rather than being traumatized?
ah yes, juvenile antics return (comment no. 23)
but of course, as stated before, these antics only cause this deity to strengthen Him
these immature cretins are only wasting their time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbL2h6pSTo
Sholesy is your favourite player’s favourite player
extremely overrated,, never been as good as stevie g.. in any aspect of the game
Paul Scholes is not as good as Gerrard; he is miles better than the kop cunt. It’s like comparing angel to chicken shit. Sigh