Scholes: I was never dirty
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Scholes: I was never dirty
Paul Scholes has rejected the theory there was any malice behind his infamous tackling technique.
The recently-retired Manchester United midfielder is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players of his generation.
Zinedine Zidane, Xavi and Edgar Davids are among those who have claimed Scholes was the English player they would have most liked to star alongside.
However, along with the huge talent that propelled him to 10 Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League triumph in 1999 came occasional haphazard challenges that bordered on the reckless.
Although overall, he was hugely complimentary, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Scholes had a 'dark side'.
And after the final red card of his career, for a thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in United's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in April, even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted 'the red mist sometimes descends' on the 36-year-old.
Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted.
"I have just been unlucky," he told Press Association Sport.
"I never had red mist against anybody.
"The one against Zabaleta, I didn't do on purpose. It was just bad timing.
"The ball was up there and the way your leg goes it has to come down and unfortunately it came down on his leg.
"I would never intentionally try to hurt somebody. Nobody has ever had to go off following one of my tackles and nobody has broken their leg.
"I have never been nasty."
Scholes' opponents no longer have to worry, either about the midfielder's tackling or his remarkable passing ability.
As Ferguson noted, it was typical that Scholes' retirement should be announced when he had disappeared on holiday, with the minimum of fuss, in the wake of United's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
He has now returned to explain his reasons, pointing out that it was his body, rather than frustration at being used so sparingly, that led to his decision.
"I knew it was the right time to happen," he said.
"You can't go on forever. It's all done now and I am looking towards the future.
"There wasn't one moment in particular. There were a few games later in the season where I didn't feel great, and in training as well. In general it was the way I felt.
"Nobody wants to play a bit-part, but I'd realised that at this stage of my career and where I was physically, it was the right way to use me.
"But, it wasn't the odd game, I was only actually feeling good when I was coming on for the last 15 or 20 minutes at the end of matches, which wasn't right."
It wrecked any hope of turning out for hometown club Oldham Athletic, and instead has led Scholes towards a coaching career, even if, at present, he does not have the badges.
In fact, thus far, Scholes has not been told by Ferguson exactly what role he has planned for him, and which team it involves.
What has been sorted is a testimonial match against New York Cosmos at Old Trafford on 5 August, which will mark the return of Eric Cantona, now director of football at one of the most famous names in US football, which hopes to gain an MLS franchise in 2013.
"The plan was for Eric to come back and overshadow me," laughed Scholes.
"Hopefully everyone will be concentrating on him and I can just mosey off somewhere and be out of the way.
"Seriously, the Cosmos are just getting back together again and it seemed a sensible thing to do.
"He was a big influence on a lot of the United lads' careers.
"We grew up watching him and then trained with him. He led by example and it will be great to have him back."
The recently-retired Manchester United midfielder is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players of his generation.
Zinedine Zidane, Xavi and Edgar Davids are among those who have claimed Scholes was the English player they would have most liked to star alongside.
However, along with the huge talent that propelled him to 10 Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League triumph in 1999 came occasional haphazard challenges that bordered on the reckless.
Although overall, he was hugely complimentary, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Scholes had a 'dark side'.
And after the final red card of his career, for a thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in United's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in April, even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted 'the red mist sometimes descends' on the 36-year-old.
Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted.
"I have just been unlucky," he told Press Association Sport.
"I never had red mist against anybody.
"The one against Zabaleta, I didn't do on purpose. It was just bad timing.
"The ball was up there and the way your leg goes it has to come down and unfortunately it came down on his leg.
"I would never intentionally try to hurt somebody. Nobody has ever had to go off following one of my tackles and nobody has broken their leg.
"I have never been nasty."
Scholes' opponents no longer have to worry, either about the midfielder's tackling or his remarkable passing ability.
As Ferguson noted, it was typical that Scholes' retirement should be announced when he had disappeared on holiday, with the minimum of fuss, in the wake of United's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
He has now returned to explain his reasons, pointing out that it was his body, rather than frustration at being used so sparingly, that led to his decision.
"I knew it was the right time to happen," he said.
"You can't go on forever. It's all done now and I am looking towards the future.
"There wasn't one moment in particular. There were a few games later in the season where I didn't feel great, and in training as well. In general it was the way I felt.
"Nobody wants to play a bit-part, but I'd realised that at this stage of my career and where I was physically, it was the right way to use me.
"But, it wasn't the odd game, I was only actually feeling good when I was coming on for the last 15 or 20 minutes at the end of matches, which wasn't right."
It wrecked any hope of turning out for hometown club Oldham Athletic, and instead has led Scholes towards a coaching career, even if, at present, he does not have the badges.
In fact, thus far, Scholes has not been told by Ferguson exactly what role he has planned for him, and which team it involves.
What has been sorted is a testimonial match against New York Cosmos at Old Trafford on 5 August, which will mark the return of Eric Cantona, now director of football at one of the most famous names in US football, which hopes to gain an MLS franchise in 2013.
"The plan was for Eric to come back and overshadow me," laughed Scholes.
"Hopefully everyone will be concentrating on him and I can just mosey off somewhere and be out of the way.
"Seriously, the Cosmos are just getting back together again and it seemed a sensible thing to do.
"He was a big influence on a lot of the United lads' careers.
"We grew up watching him and then trained with him. He led by example and it will be great to have him back."
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
BAGGIO 15 wrote:"I have just been unlucky,"
great player for a judas turncoat champagne but to claim he wasn't dirty, just unlucky
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted.
"I have just been unlucky," he told Press Association Sport.
Seriously? Who's he trying to kid?
"I have just been unlucky," he told Press Association Sport.
Seriously? Who's he trying to kid?
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Hes already got Zidane and co on his side so i got no ideaLitmanen wrote:Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted.
"I have just been unlucky," he told Press Association Sport.
Seriously? Who's he trying to kid?
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Did Zidane say he wasn't dirty then?Le King wrote:Hes already got Zidane and co on his side so i got no ideaLitmanen wrote:Yet Scholes, whose 90 yellow cards make him the third most booked player in Premier League history, feels his reputation is unwarranted.
"I have just been unlucky," he told Press Association Sport.
Seriously? Who's he trying to kid?
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Yeh the same Zidane that many consider to be one of the top 5 players of all timee-football wrote:Is that the same Zidane who head butts in the WC final?
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
and when did Zidane say he wasn't dirty?Le King wrote:Yeh the same Zidane that many consider to be one of the top 5 players of all timee-football wrote:Is that the same Zidane who head butts in the WC final?
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Irrelevant. We're taking about behavior here, not skill.Le King wrote:Yeh the same Zidane that many consider to be one of the top 5 players of all timee-football wrote:Is that the same Zidane who head butts in the WC final?
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
haywood djablowme wrote: I believe Arsenal have improved more than the Poo! (we are only 5 pts behind you)
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Le King wrote:Yeh the same Zidane that many consider to be one of the top 5 players of all timee-football wrote:Is that the same Zidane who head butts in the WC final?
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
God is an Englishman wrote:and when did Zidane say he wasn't dirty?Le King wrote:Yeh the same Zidane that many consider to be one of the top 5 players of all timee-football wrote:Is that the same Zidane who head butts in the WC final?
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
ross aloisi is probably the worst tackler ive seen but scholesy not to far off him
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OT_kw48rI4manU4life wrote:that could also be a picture of yids and bow ties
haywood djablowme wrote: I believe Arsenal have improved more than the Poo! (we are only 5 pts behind you)
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
manU4life wrote:that could also be a picture of yids and bow ties
OH LOOK! Its you!
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
no, thats your mother with no top onYids wrote:manU4life wrote:that could also be a picture of yids and bow ties
OH LOOK! Its you!
Last edited by Le King on Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!e-football wrote:A picture to show he was never dirty.
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Mancs...Le King wrote:
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Always living in the past.
haywood djablowme wrote: I believe Arsenal have improved more than the Poo! (we are only 5 pts behind you)
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
spud fans, always living in fantasy land......or ovensBow Ties Are Cool wrote:Mancs...Le King wrote:
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Always living in the past.
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
manU4life wrote:spud fans, always living in fantasy land......or ovensBow Ties Are Cool wrote:Mancs...Le King wrote:
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Always living in the past.
Why bring Spurs into it?
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
yeh true, thats just as old as all them pics you uploadedBow Ties Are Cool wrote:Mancs...Le King wrote:
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Always living in the past.
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
Le King wrote:yeh true, thats just as old as all them pics you uploadedBow Ties Are Cool wrote:Mancs...Le King wrote:
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Always living in the past.
You mean the ones I uploaded
Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
^ What he said.
haywood djablowme wrote: I believe Arsenal have improved more than the Poo! (we are only 5 pts behind you)
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Re: Scholes: I was never dirty
manU4life wrote:spud fans, always living in fantasy land......or ovensBow Ties Are Cool wrote:Mancs...Le King wrote:
the oshea winner in that game was pure class!!
but the save vds pulled off from peter crouch was jst as gd
Always living in the past.
how low do people want to stoop? Can i get any lower than holocaust jokes?