Englands Loss..........

[redrus]

The Telegraph exams the loss of Scholes for England.

In the boys playground that is England football, the talk yesterday was of whether the new boy, Joey, would get on with the smart boy, Frank, and whether Stevie would be the new head boy. The chatter even extended to whether the wide boys, Aaron and Kieron, would attack some Spanish passers-by. Yet everyone missed an old boy, Scholesy.

English football has thrown up a few candidates for footballer of the year and no one deserves the award more than Paul Aaron Scholes, the softly spoken big noise of Manchester United's midfield. He is the man for all reasons, a coach's dream, an inspiration to any child with asthma and a welcome antidote to the bling brigade. Old Trafford reverberates to "Paul Scholes he scores goals" but he does so much more. Scholes delivers passes and trophies.

Of course, other candidates present themselves in a season of fluctuating standards of entertainment, such as Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien at Chelsea, even Scholes' club-mates Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo. Others excel elsewhere, including Morten Gamst Pedersen, Joleon Lescott, Kevin Doyle, Dirk Kuyt, Sol Campbell, Jonathan Woodgate, Cesc Fabregas, Gilberto Silva and Obafemi Martins.

Narrowing the field, Ronaldo's attacking verve and refusal to wilt under constant abuse certainly places him on the podium with Drogba and Scholes. In the results-driven world of modern football, some may feel it matters little whether Ronaldo occasionally tumbles, as at the Riverside and White Hart Lane this season, or that Drogba engages in hilarious stand-up spats with opponents like Jens Lehmann. All's fair in love, war and the pursuit of set-pieces.

Scholes does not stoop to such ruses. Unlike Gary Neville and Ronaldo, Scholes could not be found haranguing the referee, Mark Clattenburg, at Spurs on Sunday. He should really have been in Clattenburg's book for a series of lunges, but officials like Scholes because he gives them no grief.

For a midfielder whose game revolves around timing and composure, Scholes is actually a dreadful tackler, the one overt weakness in his rich armoury. He even holds the dubious distinction of being the only England player sent off at the old Wembley in 223 internationals. It was such a nasty tackle that the Swedish victim, Hakan Mild, demanded English journalists examine the damage, a collection of Scholes' stud-marks in his leg.

Twelve years and five months after his United debut, Scholes is still going strong, shrugging off early breathing difficulties and more recently blurred vision. Along with longevity, the long-range goals (like against Aston Villa this season), the well-timed runs (against Scotland in the play-offs for Euro 2000) and refusal to be a diva or a diver, the reason why Scholes should be cherished is because he has that rare English gift of treating the ball as a friend, not a hot potato.

Game after game, season after season, Scholes gives a masterclass in the use of possession. When England launch themselves into Spain at Old Trafford tomorrow, the ball will move most sweetly between the feet of Fabregas, Xavi and Xabi Alonso. Without Scholes, England too often waste possession.

He learned from Eric Cantona, eventually succeeding the French magician in the United team. The Frenchman's good advice, famously dubbed Norman Wisdom, was never to give the ball away cheaply, always work and train hard, always believe. The difference was in their idols: Cantona revered Sartre, Scholes worshipped Andy Ritchie.

Down to earth, Scholes deserves praising to the heavens. He will have this observer's vote for the writers' Footballer of the Year. Anyway, ask Scholes' peers who they consider the players' player of the year. Fabregas and Thierry Henry will both answer "Paul Scholes".

redrus

[dantilley]

My vote goes for Ronaldo. Future world player of the year, and I reckon his sometimes comical diving the World Cup was all down to Scolari's inflluence. Doesn't dive nearly as much in the Premiership.

[redrus]

My vote goes for Ronaldo. Future world player of the year, and I reckon his sometimes comical diving the World Cup was all down to Scolari's inflluence. Doesn't dive nearly as much in the Premiership.

I kind of agree with you although, I would add that Ronaldo is freakin massive.

I first stood near him at Old Trafford a couple of years ago and, was very suprised to find the lads over 6', not as tall as me at 6'2" but with his superior body mass, it does boggle when he goes over so easily.

He's now far bigger than he was then. Don't even ask about the even more brutish Heskey's and Drogba's of the football world.

Scholes is the whole package though, as said above, his only fault is his tackling....! Far harder to replace than the irreplaceable Keane, if you'd ask me....!

redrus

[mrbojangles]

Blimey Red,

Why didn't you just put this in the United thread. Not really much to do with the England team, just a load of tosh about Scholes. Who, by the way, i rate very highly. But it's more about examining a United player, not much about the England team. Yes i suppose we miss him a bit but it was his choice to retire, England have moved on.

[soihok]

My vote goes for Ronaldo. Future world player of the year, and I reckon his sometimes comical diving the World Cup was all down to Scolari's inflluence. Doesn't dive nearly as much in the Premiership.

Are you joking?

I agree that he is a star on the ball.

He must be the biggest cheat in the Premiership.

He does that so well that most of it goes unpenalised.

[redrus]

Blimey Red,

Why didn't you just put this in the United thread. Not really much to do with the England team, just a load of tosh about Scholes. Who, by the way, i rate very highly. But it's more about examining a United player, not much about the England team. Yes i suppose we miss him a bit but it was his choice to retire, England have moved on.

Ach bejasus would have a look at yerself boy....!

Cos it deserved a wider audience, I'm not under the illusion that everyone reads the United thread....! :D

Scholes as Henry and Ronaldinho from now, LeTiss, Di-Canio and Larsson (at Celtic), and others have they're own audience, rather than just the club they play for.

One day, you'll understand....

redrus

[redrus]

My vote goes for Ronaldo. Future world player of the year, and I reckon his sometimes comical diving the World Cup was all down to Scolari's inflluence. Doesn't dive nearly as much in the Premiership.

Are you joking?

I agree that he is a star on the ball.

He must be the biggest cheat in the Premiership.

He does that so well that most of it goes unpenalised.

Agreed but, come on, the 'biggest' cheat. Ask Liverpool fans if they think he's worse than Robben....!

Take another look, Ronaldo may look bad at times but Christ in that case, he's also the Premierships most improved player too. Two years ago it was cringe worthy, awful and the skills did naught to outweigh the dives and over over over steps....!

Today, he is about the best player in the world. If not, he soon will be. Wherever that may be....

redrus

[MiG16]

world best player? ohh wait Henry is not available for interviews yet yes Ill check his schedule...

<<oops...errr ahhhh...ohhh well england is part of the world...so Im kinda on topic arent I? )

[mrbojangles]

One day, you'll understand....

Hopefully, after tonight, our Joey Barton will be spoke about in the same high esteem eh To be sure, to be sure, now where's me Guiness

[redrus]

world best player? ohh wait Henry is not available for interviews yet yes Ill check his schedule...

<<oops...errr ahhhh...ohhh well england is part of the world...so Im kinda on topic arent I? )

What you bumbling on about now.... :D

One day, you'll understand....

Hopefully, after tonight, our Joey Barton will be spoke about in the same high esteem eh To be sure, to be sure, now where's me Guiness

On its way mate.......

Drink, &lt;deleted&gt;, Guinness fer de the man...........

redrus