Scholes plea for patience

Trevor Baxter

August 24, 2007

Paul Scholes

PAUL Scholes says he's not been surprised by United's stuttering start to their Premier League title defence.

The Reds summer spending spree sparked talk of an unprecedented quadruple coming to Old Trafford this season.

Instead, the champions have just two points from three games and Scholes is the only player to have scored.

United entertain Spurs on Sunday and could be without injured Rio Ferdinand and Edwin Van Dar Sar in addition to Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, Gary Neville and Real Madrid bound, Gabriel Heinze.

Settle

"We have signed four new players in the summer and it is just going to take a little bit of time for them to settle," insists Scholes. "I know supporters expect everyone to gel straight away but it is not that simple. They are coming to a new club, finding new houses and meeting new people, which cannot be the easiest thing in the world.

"You only have to look at someone like Didier Drogba.

"It took him a year to settle in at Chelsea but since then he has been fantastic.

"And there are many more examples like that," adds Scholes who became United's highest Premier League scorer with his goal at Portsmouth.

Indeed, the 32-year-old has been shortlisted for a place in the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.

Scholes needs four more goals for a Premier League century.

Meanwhile Gabriel Heinze completed his move from United to Real Madrid along with Arjen Robben from Chelsea.

How long do you expect it to take for the side to settle? Have your say.

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red john (24/08/2007 at 08:51)

dont think any geuine fans are worried at this stage; but cleary the opputunity to get going is approaching and a win against spurs would be timely; id be more worried if the football was poor and no chances were being created; fact is the shape and form is good and the goals will come; especially if they get annelka!!

GORB, MANCHESTER (24/08/2007 at 08:54)

ITS GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR 4 PLAYERS TO GEL INTO THE TEAM,RUBBISH.POOR EXCUSE FOR A POOR START TO THE SEASON.CITY HAVE 8 NEW SIGNINGS AND THEY ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE

Birdy, Ireland (24/08/2007 at 08:58)

I dont think it would take too long for the players to settle in there weren't so many disruptions aside from integrating them. With Rooney breaking his foot, Ronaldo's suspension, the Heinze saga, and Gary Neville out too, there's enough going on there to unsettle the team without even considering the effects of 4 major signings too.

I think OH will fit in pretty seemlessly, the only thing that looks like it needs to be resolved in that regard is getting Scholes to stop dropping so deep. Tevez, once he gets fully match fit, should integrate pretty quickly too. I think all things being equal there wouldnt have been much of a period of adjustment when integrating OH and Tevez

It was always going to take Nani and Anderson a little while, as i think its a pretty big change for them, and the plan was probably to gradually introduce them over the season

One other point - if Rio is out of the Spurs game, will SAF put in Pique or Evans? I think he'll simply move Brown inside and play O'Shea right back. Nothing wrong with that, but surely this is an opportunity to see whether these young lads have what it takes. Its a big game and they're at an age when they should be breaking through. I know its a gamble but its one i'd like to see taken

Thomas, Norway (24/08/2007 at 09:04)

I think the goals will come. Still, we should sign another striker. We cannot rely on Saha and Solskjaer. It looks like Anelka is considering a move away from Bolton. Big Sam also confirm that he had yet to recieve any offer for Martins. His clause at £13m could get triggered. One of those two would suit suit the club fine, very fine.

Gerry, Glastonbury (24/08/2007 at 10:34)

Birdy.
I think you'll have to get used to Scholes playing that 'playmaker' role from around the halfway line. Actually, he got forward a lot against City and had a couple of half chances as well closing in on a couple of crosses. He also missed that header against Reading at the death!
He now orchestrates things, feeding the wide men and linking things through the middle. He's 33 shortly so he's not going to be the box to box player he was as a youngster.
His role in the side is different now. He can use all of that top flight experience and his full range of passing skills. He'll still score a few but him and Carrick have done a great job thus far.
Let's be honest the team have played very well to date. It's just the fact that we haven't taken chances when they've presented themselves.
It's a bit of a bonus that Spurs may be a bit distracted with what's going on with Jol?

ojaxp, Kampala (24/08/2007 at 10:38)

ManUtd has to be patient, the goals will come but they need to come in the next game.Probably with Saha back in the squad and sure we shall see the oppostion nets shaking. If there is any chance however of signing Berbatov, let Fergie not hesitate..

Birdy, Ireland (24/08/2007 at 11:47)

Gerry i agree we've actually played well dispit the results. I'd say possession over the 3 games was at least 60/40 in our favour and the rate of chances probably even more in our favour. That said though, and i can appreciate what youre saying about Scholes, he is very good at playing that role dictating things, in a midfield with Carrick and OH we can't afford to have the 3 of them all hanging back. He's the best attacker out of the 3 of them, by a country mile, so whilst he's doing good work, its work that Carrick and OH should be doing. If we play with those 3 in the middle i think one of them has to play further forward, and for me that has to be Scholes

george (24/08/2007 at 11:57)

Rooney and Ronaldo scored 46 goals last season and are now missing.The reality is this might affect our title hopes.Terry and Cech being out certainly hurt Chelski last season.
You would hope that the players available find big hearts and can keep us in with a shout.
Giggs and Scholes are getting older and New faces need to get used to the OT stage.Vidic and Evra are classic examples of getting better after a settling in period.It will come good before too long.The EPL may not be ours this year,but it's too early yet to give up on it.Play football and ignore the external pressure and good results will come along.

Duncan, London (24/08/2007 at 12:16)

Birdy as Gerry said Scholes did actually play further forward against City although he dropped deep on occasion. Agree he should try and play there more consistently especially in the wake of the striker mini crisis we are going through - of all our players he is probably the most instinctive in the box. However I think with Hargreaves in midfield he will probably feel more confident getting forward.

One thing I would like to see though to give our midfield more defensive steel is for the defence to hold a higher line. We surely have enough pace to cover balls over the top. I think it is because we defended too deep against City that gaps appeared between the defence and midfield hence the goal. We used to do this when Schmikes was in the side (sometimes I think it was to get out of earshot) and we used to break more quickly as a result.

mamucium fc (24/08/2007 at 13:00)

scholes quality, giggs passed it, not up for the tough games never has never will be. i know a lot of utd fans have never rated giggs, he was good years ago but im afraid its time to move over. four or five good games a season is not enough for manu. its ok asking for patience but we dont have that luxury of time anymore, 7 points behind after 3 games NOT GOOD ENOUGH sort it out fergie.

steve chew (25/08/2007 at 00:45)

Expect every team to pack their defense and their goalies to be on top form when they play us this season. All 3 games so far show controlling midfield is not enough, Our strikers cannot afford to waste chances. They should not expect to walk the ball into the back of the net or try to score a perfect goal. Scrappy goals are just fine. So far no goals from set plays, corners or goal mouth melees - a dismal stat. Everyone who says there's no room for patience which Scholes is asking for is right.

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