My favorite player of all time is Paul Scholes. This is because he is a true midfield magician, he dictates the midfield and the game is all at his feet. He can change the pace of the whole game if he wants. The way he sits in his quarter-back role and sprays 60-70 yard balls out to the wings, or finds that defense splitting through ball no one else saw coming. His role has changed now obviously because of his age, Paul Scholes is not the box to box player he once was. But he has adapted so well like no other player really has in this generation.

Paul's energy is more conserved, but his style has completely changed, he lets the younger lads do the running while he sits back like the master. I haven't eve mentioned his shot, which is one of the most deadly strikes in world football, he can score a screamer from 30 yards into the top corner, or have the composure to get round players in the box and slot it into the bottom corner. The way he manipulates the ball is a dream, he can chip, scoop or spray the ball so effortlessly, it looks like he's just doing it for fun and taking the mick. Remember his scoop over the AC Milan defense in the first leg in 2007? He has chipped many keepers with his effortless way of getting the ball in the air.

Off the field is where Paul Scholes shows his true colours, a true gentleman. He may shy away from media attention, but that's because he knows what the media are like. He just wants to play football, he's always the last person into Old Trafford on the match day, and the first person out, he just wants to play football, nothing else. Credit to him for staying out of the spotlight, he's never been in any headlines, no fuss, just gets on with it. Saying that, he does deserve all the media attention that would come his way if he was more open to it, he's the most under rated player of the Premier League generation. But Paul is too modest to want any of the attention. Some pundits recognise what he's done, most don't. But it's the players who have played with him who all pick out Scholes as a legend. In many interviews with current United players about training, they all say they want Scholes in their team, because his team always wins, it just shows the professionalism of Paul.

Man Utd will never have another player like him, he can't be replaced, and when he does go, he will be sorely missed. He can't play every game now of course because of his age, but watch him in the next game he does play, and his awareness, the way he shifts the ball, his movement to create space. It's a joy to watch, you wonder how he just did that, thanks for everything Paul, and may it continue for a while longer.

Sir Alex hopes Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov’s flourishing partnership can fire Man Utd to glory during the second half of the campaign.

The pair have linked up brilliantly this season with Berbatov in particular enjoying a memorable campaign to date as Man Utd’s and the league’s top scorer.

Rooney may not have been quite firing on all cylinders in front of goal – he hasn’t netted from open play since March, but he has still made a valuable contribution to the Reds’ quest for silverware and his partnership with Berbatov appears to be going from strength to strength, much to his manager’s delight.

“Some of their combination play has been terrific and we’re very pleased at that,” said Sir Alex.

“Dimitar’s in his third season here and it’s maybe because he’s more adjusted to the type of player Rooney is [that things are working well].

“Dimitar’s performances have been terrific and his confidence is sky high; he probably doesn’t think he can miss at the moment. It’s a confidence thing with strikers – when they are scoring they never think they’re going to miss and when they’re not they never think they’ll score.

“Wayne needs a goal and it will come. His performance level has been good, we’re happy with that and his work rate is as it always is, he’s such an energetic lad. The goals will come, there is no question about that. He just needs to keep that belief in himself.”



Source: manutd.com

Hello another newbie, just wanted to say hi to everyone here. Looking forward to watching the Sunderland game and having some good chats regarding utd, football etc.

Hope you all enjoy the game
Regards
Seb

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy to be top of the league at Christmas – and determined still to be there after Man Utd’s busy run of festive fixtures.

Quote:Steve McClaren has been given a vote of confidence by German side Wolfsburg, despite the former England manager admitting they had "hit rock bottom".

McClaren's team were booed off after losing to Energie Cottbus in Germany's DFB-Pokal cup competition on Wednesday.

Wolfsburg have struggled since the Englishman took over in May and currently lie 13th in the Bundesliga.

But managing director Dieter Hoeness said they would be making changes to the team rather than the manager.

In a statement, Hoeness vowed: "We will clean up. With this team and its make-up there can be no long-lasting success."

The former Bayern Munich and Germany striker said McClaren would be given a new fitness coach, while players Karim Ziani and Caiuby would be dropped to the reserves.

McClaren had earlier admitted there were "problems in the dressing room".

Hoeness added: "We said eight weeks ago that the attitude should change. It was about passion, willingness to run and one-on-ones. We did not see a response so that is why we must act.

"We expect from the coaches (when the team meets on 2 January) to punish severely any wrong behaviour on or off the pitch."

Hoeness said fans should expect major changes to the squad after the winter break, admitting: "The road down which we will go may be painful for some of them."