The "New Scholes" Doesnt Exist - United Just Need To Find The Player To Take His Place In Midfield!

                                                                                                                                                          BY: Justin Allen


                                 Let's face it - for the last couple of weeks, we've all woken up in the morning hoping for the newspapers' headlines screaming that Manchester United have agreed to sign Wesley Sneijder from Internazionale. The supposed-transfer saga was always inevitable after the just as inevitable retirement of Paul Scholes, but is it really as justified as so many people think, and can a player like Scholes really be replaced?

Every successful football team needs a heartbeat, and every great football team needs a midfield maestro. Zinedine Zidane's recent statement that Paul Scholes was the most gifted player of his generation is testament to the fact that Scholes made the some of the best teams in United's history tick - the treble winning team of '99, the Champions League winners of 2008. Out of the famous "Class of 1992" which included the likes of David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs, Scholes has arguably been the most influential in making Manchester United the most successful club in the history of the English league and making United the dominant force since the Premier League began, winning more Premier League titles than all it's rivals collectively. The point is that Paul Scholes, the player and the icon, cannot be replaced. Sir Alex recently referred to him as a "once in a generation" player. The manager, as he is inclined to do, has got it right. 

The primary objective for Sir Alex and his staff is not to find the next Paul Scholes - it is to find a player that can replace Scholes in United's midfield most effectively. A player that can do what Scholes did - though it is of course unfair to expect this player to do it to the same standard as Scholes. A player who can dictate a game, determine the flow and rhythm of the game from midfield, distribute the ball with effortless accuracy and return a healthy 10 goals a season contribution. Scholes had the gift to do this in his prime, as Zidane said, better than anyone in the last 10 years. 

The player that can do these things to the highest standard that United can expect to tempt to Old Trafford is indeed Wesley Sneijder. Surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, he joined Inter and was the main reason, along with Jose Mourinho, for Inter's treble triumph in 2010. The Dutchman is a world class superstar who would fit the bill at a club like United. However, Sir Alex has poured cold water on all the speculation but surely it is too early to write off the possibility of Sneijder moving to United just yet. One thing is for certain : if United don't land him this summer, they won't land him next summer either - not for £35 million anyway. Even if the move were to materialise, it would be a risk - parting with £35 million and more than £200,000 a week for a 27 year old who was beset with injuries last season and does not have his prime years ahead of him would certain be a risk, albeit a calculated one, from the manager who has seen all there is to see at the highest level of football. 

Sir Alex has to make a decision. He can spend big money to bring in a replacement, such as Sneijder, Samir Nasri, or even Ganso from Santos, or he can wait. Perhaps the most sensible option is the latter. Remember that last season, Scholes played a peripheral role. He was probably United's best player in the first half of the season but think of how sparingly Sir Alex used him in the second half of the season. Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs were the main contenders for the two births in the centre of midfield. The manager has gradually eased Scholes out of the equation, for a couple of years now, for this very period of time. The fact of the matter is this, as much as it pains me to say - United's first choice XI will be the same irrespective of whether Scholes is there or not. It is the same team, besides of course the absence of Edwin van der Sar, but David de Gea has come in as a direct replacement, and certainly hopes at Old Trafford are high for a young goalkeeper who has immense potential and has already produced simply world-class displays in his short time in La Liga. It will be the same team that proved to be the best in England and one of the top three teams in Europe alongside the two Spanish superpowers.

                                     The New Scholes? Does he exist? Justin Allen explains why there is no new Scholes.

As previously mentioned, Sir Alex gradually eased Scholes out of the spotlight at United, which proposes the question, why didn't Sir Alex buy a natural successor for Scholes when he no longer became an automatic choice in United's midfield. Well, maybe he did.

On 30 May 2007, United confirmed the signing of Anderson from FC Porto. Immediately, people started talking - this was Scholes's long term successor. This may seem a bit ambitious at this moment in time, but the young Brazilian deserves his chance to show that he can claim Scholes's place in midfield for the long term. Injuries have disrupted his development as a footballer but even so, his progress in the last couple of years has been notable, especially in some of his displays this last season, especially goal scoring displays against Blackpool and Schalke in a Champions League semi-final. Sir Alex should consider giving Anderson a consistent place in midfield to continue his development and win over the fans that remain unconvinced, and give Anderson the confidence that could see his emerge as United's diamond in disguise.

Tom Cleverley has been touted as a long term replacement for Scholes, and as much as he has shown remarkable ability and potential both at club level with Wigan and junior international duty, surely it is too early to expect him to feature consistently for United. In a few years time, or even next season, we can expect some of the potential unleashed, but for now, let him continue his development as a squad player.

It hardly needs to be said, but Sir Alex knows the situation better than any of us. If Sneijder were added to the United ranks, the team would only get stronger and I would be as delighted as anyone else. But the sensible option for the manager may be to keep the chequebook in his pocket and see if he already has United's next talisman in the squad already.

Gill’s Comments Regarding Transfers Restores Hope Amongst United Fans.

                                                                                                               BY: Sheldan Keay

                                      So Who would be that last signing Gill has promised? Sneijder? Nasri? Modric?


Earlier this week, Sir Alex Ferguson left many Manchester United fans frustrated, when he announced that their will be no more signings coming to Old Trafford this season. After the arrivals of David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, a large void was still left in the centre of midfield following the retirement of Paul Scholes, a void that many believed Sir Alex would fill with a Summer signing. The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Samir Nasri and Luka Modric were all rumoured to be potential targets for United, but after Sir Alex’s comments, it looked as if those targets were no longer going to be linked with United. That was until David Gill’s interview on Tuesday. Speaking on MUTV, the United Chief Executive claimed that the club are looking to bring in one more ‘world class’ player, a statement that should bring hope back to United’s fan base. However, with the contrasting views between Chairman and Manager, it remains to be seen whether or not the United fans can expect another signing this Summer.

After Sir Alex Ferguson’s comments, the first question many United fans were asking was what happened to the proposed move for Wesley Sneijder. Many trusted news outlets and journalists were reporting that Sneijder had agreed terms to join United, and that the only stumbling block was the transfer fee between Manchester United and Inter Milan. Sneijder had reportedly originally demanded wages of £250,000 a week, but it was then reported that he had agreed to reduce his request to £190,000 a week. A £35 million transfer between United and Inter then looked imminent, but it was then reported that United had no interest in Sneijder. It initially appeared that once again a proposed move for a player fell victim to both internet and newspaper rumours, but many trusted sources still claimed that a deal for Sneijder could still be struck in the near future. However, the proposed move once again hit another setback, following the news from Sir Alex that United’s Summer spending was over. Sir Alex was quoted as saying, “We are always looking for good quality players, however we are satisfied with the players that we started the season with. At the moment we are looking at central midfielders from within the club to replace Scholes.” Sir Alex’s comments put the likes of young players such as Tom Cleverley on note, as it then appeared that they would be called upon this season to step up and try to command the position that was once mastered by Scholes. 

Cleverley had a successful season at Wigan, and many have tipped the England Under 21 star to be the one to replace Scholes, stating that he had the potential to achieve the success that Scholes obtained at United. However, at such a young unproven age, it is unclear whether or not Cleverley is good enough at this stage of his career to carry that pressure on his young shoulders, and with this Premier League season looking to be tougher than ever, it would appear to be unwise for Sir Alex to risk using Cleverley in such a staring role. This is why many United fans felt a Summer signing to replace Scholes was needed. While the signings of Ashley Young and Phil Jones were well received among most United fans, they were positions that United did not necessarily need to strengthen. If money was an object for United, it remained unclear why moves for these players were more craved rather than a move for a centre midfielder, a position which at the start of the transfer market, was arguably the position that needed strengthening the most along with the goalkeeper position following Edwin van der Sar’s retirement. Things then became more unclear when following Sir Alex’s comments, it looked as if United had finished their business in the transfer market for this Summer, that was until David Gill’s interview on Tuesday.

While speaking on MUTV, Gill said “Edwin made it known that last season would be his last so we had planned for a new goalkeeper well in advance. With the others, the opportunities came along and we were comfortable with that. We’ve made three signings. We're looking at one more player to bring in.” Gill went on to add “Nothing is happening and nothing imminent is going on at the moment, but we'll see what happens when we get home. There is still be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops. But I'm not working on anything at the moment, in that respect." The news from Gill will bring renewed hope to fans, who only a few days earlier had believed that they would see no more signings this Summer. But with contradicting views from both Manager and Chief Executive, it does leave slight confusion amongst fans as to where exactly United stand. It would not be the first time that after claiming United were no longer in the market, Sir Alex would go out and complete a transfer, however it is confusing as to why Sir Alex would make that statement, only to have David Gill make a completely contradicting view only days later. You have to imagine that Sir Alex can not be best thrilled to have been undermined in such a way, but the relationship between Sir Alex and David Gill has proven in the past to be a successful one, and it is doubtful that any hard feelings between the pair will stem from this situation. Confusion aside, the news from Gill leaves United fans in a much more comfortable position than it had appeared earlier in the week, and it again fuels speculation on a number of potential targets for United, with the most likely option being a certain Mr Sneijder.



With no confirmation from within the club, it is still unclear whether or not it is a central midfielder that United are looking to bring in, although it is unlikely that they would be seeking players in other positions where new talent is not required. With the news from Gill that it is a ‘world class’ player that they are currently seeking, it looks more and more likely than it will be Wesley Sneijder who finds himself playing at Old Trafford next season. However, with sources close to Inter Milan stating that Sneijder has no desire to leave, and with him also being at the centre of a new formation debuted by Milan earlier this week, there are also still clear signs that he may indeed stay at Inter Milan. If that is the case, there is also still the possibility that Arsenal’s Samir Nasri may be the one to join Manchester United, but he also found himself the subject of another of Sir Alex’s statements, when it was claimed that United would not be signing Nasri, but it has been proven this week that Sir Alex may not be entirely truthful when talking to the media. The arrival of Nasri would be a great signing for United, however it is no secret amongst most fans, that the player they sought after the most is indeed Wesley Sneijder. If United are able to get Sneijder, it would bring to an end one of the transfer sagas of the Summer, and would arguably be one of the biggest signings of the Summer, and with Sneijder possibly being the face of the new United midfield, it would be very hard to bet against United not only retaining their Premier League title, but also once again becoming the marquee team in Europe.