Manchester United are coming to America for the Tour 2011, however, there is a long-serving Red that has been excluded from the team promotional photo. Paul Scholes, who has been donning the red of United since 1994, has been omitted from the collage of players being used to promote Tour 2011, which could signal the end of his very fruitful career at Old Trafford.
It has been reported by the press that Scholes has been stalling on signing a new one-year contract, so this omission could very well cement the United supporters’ fear that this is the beginning of the end of the new-aged United Trinity.
With Gary Neville having already retired at the beginning of February, there are only two remaining players left from the infamous team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 with Ryan Giggs and Scholes.
However, the proud 36-year old midfielder has stated on numerous occasions that he does not want to ride the coattails of his past accomplishments, so if his current form does not improve, Scholes will certainly be hanging up his boots at season’s end. Sitting on 669 appearances for United, which ranks fourth all-time, Scholes has has amassed 23 trophies to his name, but, to further prove his pride, he does not consider that he earned his medal from the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final.
It would be a fitting end if United, which is currently at the Quarterfinal stages, reached the European Cup final, and Scholes, who currently ranks ninth all-time with 150 goals scored, scored the match winner. As Arsene Wenger stated this past fall, the Ginger Prince has had moments of darkness with one of his aggressive, mistimed challenges, but without argument, he has become one of, if not the most, accomplished midfielders to ever play the game.
Some of his competitors for that honor, Xavi and Zinedine Zidane, have labeled him as the best midfielder over the last 20 years, which is the ultimate compliment. The reason being is because not only does he have the vision to see a play happen before it materializes, but Scholes has the uncanny ability to hit that pass – both short or long.
It should come as no coincidence that since Scholes’ form has sputtered lately, so has the United performances, because there is no player that has the ability to dictate a match like he could and still can on occasion.
His creativity is merely a spin-off of his madness, which ultimately separates him from any of the younger players in the world.
If this is true, and Paul Scholes will be hanging up his boots, Manchester United supporters, and any real football enthusiasts from around the world will mourn the retirement of another living legend.
Submitted by The United Religion
