Hargreaves salutes Reds genius

January 29, 2008

NATURAL TALENT: Zinedine Zidane, along with Paul Scholes are the best to have played with or against Hargreaves

OWEN Hargreaves reckons Paul Scholes bears comparison with the great Zinedine Zidane when it comes to ability - and believes the midfielder will be United's most valuable weapon as the Reds square up to their Treble bid.

United spent £36m on central players in the summer with Hargreaves and Anderson entering the competition in the department.

Hargreaves has only had three starts alongside the 33-year-old in a United shirt since signing from Bayern Munich.

Scholes' October knee op and Hargreaves' own injury troubles have restricted the pairing to those autumn matches against City, Spurs and Sunderland.

However, Hargreaves now looks to have ended his own niggling problems and Scholes returned for a 36-minute FA Cup stint against Spurs on Sunday.

Comeback

Now with the Premier League leaders into round five of the Cup and the Champions League beginning again in 23 days with the trip to Lyon Scholes' comeback is a major plus.

"I know Paul from the England squad as well and he is one of the best players I have ever played with," said Hargreaves. "Along with Zinedine Zidane I think he is probably the best player I have played with or against.

"If he is fit, he is crucial to us and our success this season. It is great to have him back for the big run in. I think he is going to be our most important player towards the end of the season.

"Having him fit now will have a massive effect on our squad. He is great to play with. He is great to be around. He is very unselfish and just wants to win.

"With Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, Scholesy epitomises what United have achieved through their unselfishness. A player like Paul sets the tone for all players who come to the club.

"A lot of the time big players come with big personalities but when you see Scholesy, Ryan and Gary who have been here forever and done the business season after season you really use them as an example.

"Nobody else can afford to be different from them and that is why the atmosphere at this club is so special."

Where does Scholes rank among the best midfielders of recent times? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (17) |

Showing comments 1 to 17 and replies | View All

KingPig, Hyde (29/01/2008 at 11:25)

Paul is immense. We have know this since day one. Shame Sven didn't spot his talent when he was England boss, forcing his retirement. Perhaps he didn't have a tape of him?

The midfield we had of Giggs, Keane, Paul and Becks was so perfectly balanced it was unreal (and paul was the best player). Can anyone name a midfield that even comes close to matching such perfection?

Gerry, Glastonbury (29/01/2008 at 11:52)

I love Scholes as a player but if we're objective here I hate to say it but he's never achieved it at the highest level. He has a great club record of course but at International level, overall, he never achieved the world class recognition that Zidane rose to. He was fantastic in his early years for England but laterly became a good player rather than a great one. It is true he was played out of position by Sven in the Euro's and that was such a shame, but the heat seemed to affect him in that tournament as well.
It would be fantastic if he could play in the Champions league final and have a blinder as we all feel that he deserves that type of recognition.
If I'm honest players like Zidane only come around every 5 - 10 years and he was truely world class. I don't think that even
with my Paul Scholes shirt on that Paul was quite in that class. Yes, Owen is being a bit OTT here.

Steve, Glossop (29/01/2008 at 11:53)

Well Zidane was probably the best I've seen an amazing player. But cant think of many recent English midfielders on his level certainly non of the current ones. A midfield of Paul Anderson & OH is a perfect blend IMO.

TMUF, Manchester (29/01/2008 at 11:54)

KingPig agree totally. It will be interesting to see who Fergie opts for against Portsmouth.

This has to be perfect time to start Scholes.

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (29/01/2008 at 12:52)

Gerry I agree that Zidane was better than Scholes but do you think Zidane would have won England the World Cup !! I dont. Scholes is as good as anything I have seen in a United shirt. A truely world class player. Rooney should look to Scholes for advice on how he should be playing the game. Scholes know what he is going to do with the ball before he gets it. One touch. Simple.

eddy01 (29/01/2008 at 13:44)

Lee,

I was just going to say the same thing.

And Scholesy had to play under the tactical genius of the likes of Keegan and Eriksson.

Enough said.

Robbo, North Stand (29/01/2008 at 14:11)

Goodness me, it's a big Scholesy love-in at Utd this week - Fergie, Tevez, now Hargreaves all blowing his trumpet. And why not? What did Carlos call him, the 'motor' of the team? Great to see him back on Sunday, kept it all ticking over like he'd never been away. Personally, I love watching him when he doesn't have the ball - he's a human periscope, always swivelling his head to see what's going on. A little ginger genius!

KingPig, Hyde (29/01/2008 at 15:51)

I am in a quandry over Hargreaves.

After years of watching Keano, I've always considered a defensive midfielder "one-half" of a player, if you see what I mean. Keano did all the defensive duties but still got forward and bagged a respectable tally. Makelele seems to have the position named after him, for doing half the job of Keano!

Anyway, my question is: Are we better served playing OH in the dynamic Keano role, or having him sit deep whilst the attackers weave their magic?

chris, oxford (29/01/2008 at 16:29)

It's a bit soon for Scholsey to be starting games TMUF, he has only played what, 27 mins in three months? Give the lad a chance! ;-) OH or MC alongside Anderson for me against Portsmouth.

MG, Canada (29/01/2008 at 16:36)

Scholes is the only true midfield player in England but he can’t be compared to Zidane. Zidane is one of the greatest players of all time and I do believe that in his prime if he had played for England they would probably have won the world cup. When I look at English midfielders I see them as would-be strikers who cannot control the tempo of the game, the exception being Scholes.

Duncan, London (29/01/2008 at 16:53)

Spot on Lee. Scholes might not be as good as Zidane but then he is beyond world class. There are several players below Zidane's level who can still honestly be described as world class and Scholes is one of them.

KingCantona7, Ashton (29/01/2008 at 17:51)

I always rate players on their ability to step up when on the biggest stage, look at Zidane two goals in a world cup final and IMO the greatest champions league goal ever, the volley in the final at Glasgow, accross his body on his weak foot, genius. Saying that he has the flair and match winning ability but he doesnt have scholes range of passing. They would both start in my midfield for a team of the last 10 years. Also saying that Giggs would start on the left as well, noone has had Giggs longevity or effectiveness over that period a true legend whose time is winding down.

COLIN,, Canada (29/01/2008 at 20:49)

For my money, give me Cantonna over Zidane any day. Two great players but Eric was the best I have seen.

Gerry, Glastonbury (29/01/2008 at 23:24)

Lee, England's best chance was against Brazil when they were down to 10 men. Maybe if we'd had a Zidane we could have gone on to the final?
Scholes had a poor second half in that game and took a lot of flack as I recall, mind you he wasn't the only one!
Zidane was an immense individualist who could turn big games on their head.
Scholes is much more a team player and perhaps more important to the side in that capacity.
He tends to get most of his praise from fellow professionals and that says it all really.
I felt it would have been great if he'd have got one of the 'player of the year awards' last season, but Ronnie got the lot.
With hindsight, Ronnie is going to win a lot more of those in the coming years and Scholes chance is now gone, so perhaps with a bit more thought, the press could have ensured that Scholes got what most feels he deserves.
Scholes never achieved what he should have done for England for what ever reason. England had a midfield of Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard & Lampard, all in their prime, for at least a couple of tournaments.
What a waste of talent that was, we really should have won something as we had Owen in his prime as well!

As I said, perhaps the Ginger Prince can grace the Champions League Final and provide a performance that the media will remember for a long time.

i bleed Man United, Botswana (30/01/2008 at 06:06)

Ah yes scholesy is a great, the ginger ninja,amazing he started out as a striker,excellent footballer and role model, not too sure how he'd do in a boxing ring tho(missed aloso by miles,should've decked him).anyway he plays a bit lyk myself 2be honest(anyone kno any United scouts?) Haha. You gotta luv him

i bleed Man United, Botswana (30/01/2008 at 06:07)

Sorry, meant Alonso

manc abroad, OT (30/01/2008 at 16:25)

Dont forget the great tactician Sven sacrificed Scholes for the Gerrard / lampard axis.

Enough said.

()

Report

Manchester United