Far From Over For Scholes

17 September 09 by Bill

Scholes Will Play On

It was almost 15 years ago to the day when a 20 year old Paul Scholes made his first team debut for Manchester United. A League Cup fixture in the 94/95 season away to Port Vale in which United won courtesy of their new boy on the block. Scholes scored both goals as United won the game 2-1 and a legend was born.

Scholes made 25 appearances that season and finished with seven goals. Sixteen seasons later and the now veteran midfielder is still a regular in the first team. In his time, Scholes has notched up 610 appearances for the club and scored 143 goals.

He has scored 98 Premier League goals in just over 400 appearances and will become United’s first player to score 100 in the competition should Ryan Giggs not beat him to it. Giggs has played in almost 100 games more and is poised at 99. The sensible money is on Giggs but you can’t rule Scholes out and as he showed on Tuesday against Besiktas; he still has an eye for goal.

Scholes was once a 20 goal a season midfielder but whilst Ferguson admits those days are long gone, he’s confident there’s plenty left in his tank.

“I don’t think this is Paul’s last season, not the way that he plays,” said Fergie. “He is not the type to burst in to the penalty box any more, is he?”

On how long Scholes has left in the tank he added “It’s difficult to say because it’s still only September, but I am seeing the fresh Scholesy and the best time to use him is when he is fresh.

“He will not be playing the whole season, but if I get 25 games out of him at the level we saw on Saturday, I will be delighted at that.

That has been speculation Scholes would finish his career at his hometown team, Oldham Athletic but Ferguson remains highly skeptical.

“”What else has he got? He’s a football man. He isn’t going to drop down through the leagues, I’m sure of that. Once you’ve played for United for as long as he has – almost 20 years, Christ – what else are you going to do?

“I have read that stuff about him playing for Oldham in his last year — no chance.”

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Posted in Players · Tagged Paul Scholes, Retirement

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One person has said their bit on “Far From Over For Scholes”

For once i disagree with SAF !! As a lifelong fan of Oldham i don’t think the maestro that is Paul Scholes would forgive himself if he didn’t have at least one season with them. I for one would applaud that decision, but not for a few years yet.