Can Scholes be the fulcrum for England?

Paul Scholes is the only descent player England have produced in the last 20 years but there is no way he will come out of retirement that I can see.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

I pray that he comes out of retirement to pair up with Parker and another holding player, even if just for the tournament.

If Harry takes the job, it will likely only be for the tournament anyway, but at short notice he is the best man for the job, leaving Pearce to probably take it long term. Pearce is not ready for it yet, but he can learn and develop the team in his image.

Harry on the other hand can come in and make it work, as he has done many times before at club level.

If that happens, i'm sure he can convince Scholes to opt in for one joint launch at success. And with Parker and someone else behind him, Scholes can save his legs.

It is something exciting to hope for anyway.

What are you talking about? Scholes decided 8 years ago that he would rather play for his Scottish manager than his English countrymen. He subsequently expressed regret at this decision, when he had an autobiography to sell!

Leave him, and every other person who has put club before country, out in the cold where they belong.

Oh and, BTW, with proper international referees, he would only be a liability anyway. Booked in 5 minutes, and either ineffective for the rest of the game, or sent off.

No, Andy, he decided that he was sick of being messed around and stuck out on the left wing when he's a central midfield playmaker.

If he was played in his natural role (behind the strikers a la Gerrard last night) then he wouldn't have to worry about his famed tackling.

Oh and, BTW, with proper international referees, Van Bommel and Puyol can manage to stay on the pitch even while they cut someone in half.

@5 Nice one!!! Even now. playing usually against vastly inferior opposition, for short periods of time, in a position built for him, he can still get booked, and crucially, escape getting booked. What would he do against superior opposition, under pressure?

Oh and BTW. "I'm not being played where I want to play, so I'm not playing." That's an acceptable attitude to you? Really?

I can't decide whether or not that it's a good idea - Scholes might be good between now and end of season but asking him to then play just a few more games might ruin that performance and then he's wasting a space in the squad. Personally I'd like to see Joe Cole in the side as he seem's to be doing well for Lille - and he may bring some of that "outide England" experience to England - I so, so wish Scholes has played abroad for at least 2-3 years to bring that to the table also.

""I'm not being played where I want to play, so I'm not playing." That's an acceptable attitude to you? Really?"

He isn't a knight of the round table, defending England's borders, and then deserting his comrades in arms. He is a footballer, who accepted being repeatedly drastically out of position to accomodate someone no where near as good as him, until he finally got sick of it.

Have you never worked somewhere where you eventually get sick of the way you are treated and left? If not, lucky you.

Not a bad article. For what its worth,

Scholes' retention of the ball at international would prove invaluable. Looking at last nights game the central mid fielders on show do not have what it takes (on the ball anyway) to cut it at that level. The amount of times possession was handed over too easily in the centre of the park was noteable. I do not think this would have happened with scholes.

As for him retiring due to being played out position (and i do not see how playing for his scottish manager has anything to do with it) - the entire footballing world could see how good Paul Scholes was in his prime (Zidane/xavi/iniesta all commented on how difficult he was too play against) yet still he was overlooked for the role in which he was clearly top 3 players in the world at the time.

He would make a difference even now.

Perfect invitation for Patches to give a "good natured ribbing" into the "Trafford trundler".

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Its a bit silly I mean he's only just retired, yes maybe he could get into the squad but I thought we should be looking towards the youth !

I agree with the looking towards youth. Going by last night the england team, and in particuar the midfield, will need to inprove dramatically - esp at keeping teh ball.

He's gd enuf to start.

the guy retired for the reason that england wouldnt play him in his best position, now 5years later england realise they dont have or have had anyone near as good as him in linking up the defence to attack so crawl back offereing him to play that central role

forget england scholes, united fans would much rather see you get another year at OT

Not that it makes much difference but its been 8 years since he retired lol

@1- so how come John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have all made the Uefa team of the year three times each? David Beckham? no...?

But to be honest I think we should focus on building for the future with England. Not many people have realized I don't think that players like Wayne Rooney aren't passionate about playing for England (or so it seems). Just look at how many runs Jack Wilshere makes- that should be the criteria for a place in the starting line up. This tournament should just be about building for the future so I say put Cleverley in central midfield with Wilshere and Parker- he's pretty much an understudy to Scholes atm anyway.

No.

He is too old, he retired 8 years ago from England. He is not the answer. England still have experienced attacking midfielders like Gerrard and Lampard 'to help the youngsters' if that is the criteria.

If they want a Man Utd midfielder, England would be better off calling up the hugely underrated Michael Carrick, a man whose two-footed technique and passing game is perfect for international football, and whose form this season has been just as good if not better than the much-hyped Scholes.

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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Good player though he was, I do not think he should be taken to Euro 2012. It is an act of desperation and would do England no good in the medium term and not make a significant different in Euro 2012. If we were one player away from having a world beating team and he was it I would think "you know what let's take him as we could win this thing" but I don't think it is worth sacrificing the chance to blood new players in a major tournament, building for the future for the sake of the fact Scholes may score one goal to enable us to lose by 4-2 rather than 4-1 in the quarters if we even get that far.

If gerrard is good enough for england still then the FA needs to BEG OR BRIBE scholes back

Hmm surprised at the low amount of comments on this blog. Maybe McNulty's constant pandering of the (irrelevant) England captain / manager soap opera is of more interest to the trolls on the BBC website. This blog is definately more suited to the "afficianados of the beautiful game" ;-)

FWIW, Scholes would make a MASSIVE difference. Sneijder had a field day at Wembley with De Jong and van Bommel holding the fort behind him. The modern way is such to have two ball-playing destroyers and a free-role playmaker in the midfield. Scholes is still 10 times the player Carrick, Barry and Milner are so I'd love to see him join the England set up and teach Wilshere et al the ropes. You only have to look at United's recent success to see that experience and winning mentality is paramount!

My squad for the Euros (form and fitness permitting):

Hart
Johnson
Smalling
Jones
A Cole
Parker
Scholes
Gerrard
Young
Sturridge
Welbeck (1st 2 games)

GKs: Foster (if he comes out of retirement), Green
Ds: Cahill, Jagielka / Rio, Lescott (cover for Cashley @ LB and CB), Richards / Walker
Ms: Wilshere, Cleverley, Walcott, Adam Johnson
Ss: Rooney

Think Defoe, J Cole, Lampard et al probably need to do a little bit more to be on the plane.

Need to leave the past where it is, England will never move forward and emulate the likes of Spain if we keep harking back and dragging tired players back into the England setup. It hasn't worked in Rugby (Wilkinson) yet we put on the rose tinted glasses and think that bringing back retired players will bring Euro and World Cup success, all it does is give the Sun the chance to use a photoshopped version of the 1966 World Cup celebration (tired and old, and at times, embarrassing).

I don't think scholes will or should come back, but in terms of age it's irrelevant. Bott scholes and lampard have had MUCH SUPERIOR seasons to gerrard who has looked a shadow of the player he was - cue a £50mil bid from Roman 'I don't know anything about football' abramovich

He is too old, he retired 8 years ago from England. He is not the answer. England still have experienced attacking midfielders like Gerrard and Lampard 'to help the youngsters' if that is the criteria.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exactly the reason why England will continue to win nothing, or even challenge for a trophy. 'We don't need Scholes, we've got Lampard and Gerrard'.........

oh, and we all now know Gary Cahill isn't good enough for a top 4 club or england - nice experiment for the lad. cheers gary, bye bye

#24
At which point Dalglish would use the money to launch a £35 million bid for Lee Cattermole before bidding £20 million for Matthew Etherington.

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yes really looking to the future is that!

If Scholes was the last piece in the jigsaw to make a great England team I am sure he would. He is not, so I can't see any reason why he would. The team is wafer thin when it comes to first team players with European experience. It is wafer thin on talent. It is wafer thin on 'big men' who give everything. In addition it is wafer thin on intelligence. A very average German team would stroll past this lot.

There's nothing like planning for the future is there??
Whilst you are at it, how about a blog on other potentially big Euro 2012 stories like Henry returning for France, Raul for Spain, Cannavaro for Italy or Ballack for Germany !!

27.At 10:19 2nd Mar 2012, We all follow United wrote:
#24
At which point Dalglish would use the money to launch a £35 million bid for Lee Cattermole before bidding £20 million for Matthew Etherington.

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I would have thought the panic midfield buy was Jordan Henderson!

No doubt a £35m bid for Hatem Ben Arfa isn't far away should Gerrard leave!

England won't win Euro 2012 either way so why not give someone younger a chance?

He decided to retire from international football because he didn't like being away from his family over the course of a tournament.His dislike of pre-season tours is well known.He is still the best midfielder in the premier league at what he does and would be a huge plus for England if he came out of retirement I doubt he will however.

It's all well and good planning for the future but even Germany retained Ballack as their captain before he got injured in the FA Cup final. They had the likes of Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Klose.

You cannot buy experience. Even the 1996 United team that won the League had Keane, Schmeichel and Cantona who'd done it all before.

It may seem short-termist but the experience of training and playing with a legend like Scholes will do the likes of Wilshere no harm at all.

@23

Exactly! Bringing back a 37 year old retired midfielder smacks of lack of faith and confidence in players like Wilshere, Rodwell and Milner.

Time to move forward, not take steps backwards.

I'm a fan of treating the Euros as an experiment, a one off, a chance for new players to stake a claim for a regular spot in the World Cup qualifiers. It's for this reason that i would choose a squad without many of the more established players like Gerrard, Lampard and Terry. I think all three are vastly overrated by English fans and media alike, not to mention the fact that they are all the wrong side of thirty and are showing sharp declines in performance levels.

Parker is a player i can't help admiring, his attitude and ability to close the opposition down makes him the ideal choice for the "water carrier" role in the side, similar in many ways to Owen Hargreaves in 2004 (or was it 2006?). The question then is how do we affect the game going in the other direction?

Presuming we will line up with a central midfield three and without Gerrard and Lampard as mention above there are only a few viable options as far as i am concerned. Barry should be Parker's understudy in that def midfield role, he offers nothing in an attacking sense. Wilshere, if fit and able to build some sort of form before the tournament, fulfills the more attack minded of the central three. The player that will push forwards and affect play in and around the opposition box. The position that's left therefore is the Xavi-esque role, the player that knitts it all together with sharp, accurate passing.

On the evidence of this season i think there are only three English players good enough to play this role and, with as little bias as i can muster, i have to say that they all play for Man Utd. Tom Cleverly, when he's been fit to play (which has been a rarity, granted) has demonstrated a keen understanding of how to keep possession in the tightest of situations. He spreads play beautifully for someone still relatively inexperienced at the top level of the game. Then there is the crab, Michael Carrick. Often derided for his 5yrd passes side to side or back into defence, this year Carrick has suddenly woken up. He's been playing more and more attacking, defence splitting passes. He's suddenly finding the confidence to play the 40yrd cross field balls that help to divide an opposition in two, not to mention a few forward runs and a couple of goals to his name. In short, he's now back playing at the same level he was when he first joined Utd and the team is playing a more fluid style as a consequence.

Then there is the master; Mr Paul Scholes. I know he's not many's cup of tea but he is the only player produced in England over the past 2 decades capable of playing in a continental fashion, of understanding that keeping possession is often more important in games than looking for a direct pass in behind. His temperament has always been an issue, but i don't remember French fans dismissing Zidane for the occasional headbutt. It needn't be an issue. His experience could be a vital component to an otherwise young squad and i think he's one of only a handful of "mature" England players that would go into the tournament with a clean slate from the media and fans alike.

Scholes, if the manager can convince him, could be instrumental in helping an otherwise inexperienced squad cope with the pressures of an International tournament.

My team: Hart, Walker, Cahill, Smalling (insert any other centre back, they're all much of a muchness), Baines, Parker, Wilshere, Scholes, Sturridge, Young, Rooney

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Would've been nice if the author actually knew when the Spurs vs Man Utd game actually was but after that schoolboy error - a pretty sound piece.

#33
Whilst Scholes is one of the only English midfielders who are comfortable in possession, I think it would be better if we moved to the future. The problem I think we'll have though is if we pick the yougsters in the the Euro's and say go out in the group stages or the quarter finals, you can guarantee the same old England fans will be calling for all of them to never play again blah blah blah and the cycle of negativity continues.

Good article Phil in terms of analysis and balance. Playing 3 in the middle seems to be the international formation. But to do it well, we need a midfielder who can keep the ball and pick the right pass - Scholes can do that best. So I'd take him if he'd come.
Provided Wilshere can get games this season and find his form again, I would look to develop him in that Scholes-type role. A tournament can be tiring so Scholes wouldn't play every game anyway but could be brought on for last 30 mins and be an example for Wilshere and others.
Whilst I agree that blooding young players should be our most important aim this summer, it could all fall apart if we don't have some experienced heads to lead and guide them. Who better than Scholes in a specialist keep-ball role which is so important in international football and a role not emulated by Gerrard or Lampard (good players though they are)?

Hart

LB: Cole
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Cahill
RB: Johnson

MD: Parker
MD: Barry
Md: Milner

FW: Walcott
FW: Young
CF: BIG GRANT HOLT

This is the only line up that could stop France in first game, which most people seem to overlook. You then play most flair players in "easier" games vs Sweden/Ukraine.

Well judging by the uproar from the minority of fans and majority of the media about Wednesday's game, it doesn't matter what the England national team does.

We narrowly lost to a Dutch team that oozed class and were maybe complacent with a team where Gerrard aside, Joe Hart had the most caps and he's only 24! Yet the media blames Stuart Pearce! England showed great character on Wednesday and I was at Wembley and we looked a decent outfit.

What I couldn't believe was the number of fans walking out after 70 minutes. What exactly did they expect against the Total Football maestros. This may not be a vintage Dutch team but they're definately a cut above our inexperienced bunch. But the only way to get experience is by playing...

I'd be happy if we played with hunger and got knocked out of the groups. The experience of losing is also invaluable to the youngsters. However, if we want to exceed expectations, the likes of Scholes will help us to the QF at least.

If you think England can WIN the Euros with either Scholes, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Lampard or Terry because you feel they would be the strongest team then include them. Realistically these guys couldn't win a tournament when they were at there peak. Terry & Ferdinand are now too injury prone. Same as Gerrard who even when fit hasn't had a great season this year. I actually think Lampard hasn't been too bad this year and am a little baffled as to why AVB has not seen fit to play him more but even with that I do not think he is as good as he used to be. Gerrard may only be 31 but given his career injury list he has a body of a 38yr old spent athlete.

While Scholes never performed the same type of role as Gerrard or Lampard in CM if you brought him to the tournament it is knowing he is no longer a 90 minute player, a luxury that could prove risky.

But as I say if you think even with all the above England have a slim chance of winning the Euros then the gutsy thing to do is to call time on their international careers. A clear out if you like. Let the young players gain experience. Its the perfect opportunity, media, pundits don't rate Englands chances so draw a line on the past and use this as an opportunity to let the youth play daring football.

Hart
Cole
Smalling
Jones
Walker
Young
Parker
Wilshire
Cleverly
Johnson
Rooney

ps. Presumption everyone knew Barry shouldn't even be the boot cleaner!

Scholes in an England shirt again? Why not? He's been doing the business at Utd...we know how passionate he is...he came out of retirement to help them out...and yes, granted he may have been throwing his toys out the pram when he retired, just because he didn't want to play out of position. If he's fit enough, and up for it, I'd take him along. Nobody expects us to do well at the Euros, so no pressure on the squad, and he can help the new bloods, show them what they should be doing and how to do it...my only concern is that he still can't tackle...but yes, get him a suit and a plane ticket

I would take scholes but I wouldn't start him. He is a great option to have if we are 1-0 and need someone to take hold and control the game. He rarely lasts 90mins in a United shirt these days, although Int football is a hell of a lot slower.

My starting team

Hart

Richards
Lescott
Smalling
Cole

Parker
Carrick
Rooney

Sturridge/Johnson
Welbeck
Young/Ox

Stick with a young squad, stick scholes in the middle of them, let the rest do the running for him and stand back and wacth the master at work.

Many appear to be missing the point that the Pards's do not, will not and never will fit the international central midfield mould - ie - the ability to retain possession.

Gerrard, Lampard and any other other pard are not fit to lace his boots.

Alistair - "Paul Scholes has been one of the greatest midfielders of his generation" , so says ZZ. Scholes has comeback from retirement to 'do a job' for Manchester United and is succeeding; and in his 'heart of hearts' I'm sure he would love to 'boss' England's mid field for one last time in the Euro's.

However, massive 'Scholsey fan' that I am, I would still counsell him against a return to England's ranks (if it became a real possibility!)... the reason is, and all seasoned 'Scholes watchers' will tell you, that although surprisingly his attempts at tackling are getting a (bit) better, he does however, like all those getting on a bit! tend to lose concentration occasionally; only for a brief second or two, but such is Scholes 'match play' style that whenever he does lose that bit of concentration, he often gives the ball away in dangerous positions ..... something which, in his pomp, he virtually never did! There have been occasions in recent games when this has happened and United have suffered, or sometimes just manage to avoid being punished.

It would be a massive gamble for Paul himself and for England, a misjudged tackle could leave England with 10 men, a loss of concentration for a few nanoseconds and England go a goal down...! Then all the ABU's and pessimists would have a field day! On the flip side Paul Scholes could help a moderate side become a bit better, but the chance of his influence alone helping England to win a tournament, would be low indeed.

Although I would love to be proved wrong and see 'Scholsey' take a medal away with him in the Euro's, the odds are too great... leave it lone Paul!

-----------Carrick-------Parker----------

-----------------Scholes-----------------

Sturridge-------------------------Young

-----------------Rooney------------------

How is that not awesome?? (Don't say there's no back 5)

Its too late for scholes to return. And in what position would you expect him to play in. Scholes cannot physcial last for 90 minutes against a quality international team. My team for euros:

Hart
Walker cahill Jones A cole
Parker Carrick
Walcott gerrard young
Welbeck/ rooney

And with impact subs of adam johnson, wilshere and downing, I do not see how and why scholes should return. Unless he replaces gerrard. But that is not possible because scholes has not played as an attacking player for a quite a while.

he wont go back. if he did he would have to be played in position. the reason he did not go in 2012 is he did not want to take a spot of someone who had been in the squad of the qualifiers and do you think that will change 2 years later?

Just another opportunity for utd fans to wax lyrical about Scholes. The guys a good player, bit quit England years ago. Gerrard was constantly played on the left, right, striker...he has been snubbed for the captaincy numerous times...yet he still turns up for England. Scholes has a lack of desire at some level to represent his country, dangerous to take him. Also it's a middle finger up at all the younger players who have worked hard to get just single caps and hope for a place, just for an old timer who doesn't reall care about his country to take his place. Calling him up would send the wrong message and would be a massive mistake.

what a player still after so many years Ferguson knows if you need to win the game you play Scholes and Giggs

4.At 09:59 1st Mar 2012, Andy1959 wrote:
What are you talking about? Scholes decided 8 years ago that he would rather play for his Scottish manager than his English countrymen. He subsequently expressed regret at this decision, when he had an autobiography to sell!

Leave him, and every other person who has put club before country, out in the cold where they belong.

Oh and, BTW, with proper international referees, he would only be a liability anyway. Booked in 5 minutes, and either ineffective for the rest of the game, or sent off.

__________________

He retired because he was played on the left consistently, despite being easily the best central midfielder of the last 20yrs. If you don't understand that, I can safely assume you don't really understand football.

Reading through previous comments of yours you also seem to have a strong dislike of Manchester United players in general, so perhaps you're letting your anger cloud your judgement here.

In terms of whether he should return- possibly. I'd personally prefer a young side without the players that have consistently failed to perform for their country over their careers. The inexperience would probably costs us at latter stages, however it will be a moulding team experience I think. Players like Scholes who have seen and done it all could have a positive influence, but should really only be getting small amounts of playing time.

Jack Wilshere is only 20. I think it's time to leave his name out of out predicted teams for now. He probably won't play again this season and even if he does, the pressure he'd be under to deliver for England would probably lead to another injury.


"Jack Wilshere
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Last Updated: 15 February

Jack suffered a setback on his way to recovery, but is not ruled out for the season. Speaking on February 14, Arsene Wenger said: "The recovery of his latest problem looks very, very good. His last scan was very positive so we go here cautiously, step by step, because we tried to push him back quicker and we had a setback. This time we have to be very cautious and not go too quick. He can be back before the end of the season, of course."

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Great, a blog about a man who's not the England manager possibly picking someone for England (or coaxing back) who's retired from International football! Super! If/When I'm chosen I'm bringing back peter shilton and bobby Moore...

34. At 10:26 2nd Mar 2012, Pele Good,Maradonna Better,George Best. wrote:
He decided to retire from international football because he didn't like being away from his family over the course of a tournament.His dislike of pre-season tours is well known

** footballers get to spend much more time with their families than the majority of people that do 'normal jobs up to retirement age' (especially the millionaire players who could all retire from 'doing anything' at 30!

NO!
Scholes was great but now he is a liabilty - we have seen that is the games he has played recebtly.
It is a sad reflection on England and Man U that they have to rely on him.

Scholes is not the answer. He is world class, but England should build on youth.

The FA and England manager (whoever that is going to be) need to have players that WANT to play for their country. Scholes was brought back into the United midfield because they ran out of players due to injury. He isn't a first choice player for his club so how can he be expected to be a fulcrum for England.
England need to build for the future and not keep using players that have no desire to wear the England shirt. Players like Lampard and Rooney look like they can't be bothered most of the time so give those positions to players that want to be there. Scholes gave up on England, so find a player that wants to play for England and one that can do the job.
It can't be that hard to find someone that can hold onto the ball, pass the ball and score the odd goal surely?

No chance, simplez!!!!

The media on one hand say he shouldnt have come out of retirment and that fergie has used him to "cover the cracks" as phil put it, but after a couple of goals and some very decent preformances he being put back into the england picture!!! this is a circus now, england have all the youth they could want, use them, make them better players instead of just trying to win. even while fielding your "best" england have looked way off the pace from spain, germany, argentina etc. golden generation my golden balls

One of the reasons Scholes has looked good is that he's played so few games and comes into the season fresh - he still can't play 90 minutes however.

Having said that I would put him in the squad, because he would always be a useful option.

This is assuming he wants to play - or indeed if Ferguson gives his permission.

28

Of course Utd are relying on scholes, right



they haven't at all been decimated by injuries and utd were fighting relegation until scholes came back to play 90 mins in every game

49.At 10:42 2nd Mar 2012, Click wrote:
-----------Carrick-------Parker----------

-----------------Scholes-----------------

Sturridge-------------------------Young

-----------------Rooney------------------

How is that not awesome?? (Don't say there's no back 5)
==============================================================
Great choice, might try that later in fifa..... no back 5 though ;) #banter

I thought againt Holland we did alright for what team we put out - had that been a tournament match, say a group game and we'd lost 3-2 then it wouldn't be a crisis as that Holland team would put 5-6 past a team of less stature than England or another decent to good European side.
I can see us going 433 with 3 midfield "enforcers", Richards and Cole as attacking full-backs, 2 winger-cum-strikers and Bent/Defoe in the middle of that attacking trident a'la the AC Milan trident of the late 90's.
Our players might not be tactically astute at times but they can run all day and that's worth something surely? That 4-3-3 would suit what we have and allow Barry-Gerrard-Parker (L-R) or Barry-Gerrard-Milner (L-R) depending on whether you put Downing and Johnson upfront (for a fluid 4-5-1/4-3-3) or Sturridge and Oxlade-Chamberlain for a more solid, full on 4-3-3.

As great as Paul Scholes was and still is, he turned his back on England. Playing for your country is not a by-product of professional football, it is an honour and a lot of English players would do well to remember this.

63 That's post 58 and not 28

Playing for the likes of united and playing for England are two completely different things. United enjoy large amounts of possession in most games whereas England tend to have to feed on scraps especially against the better teams. Scholes would be better to give international football a miss because his game's not cut out for it and he's more likely to dive in to a rash tackle out of frustration.

However, I can see why others might be desparate for other options given the likes of Barry and Gerrard who were so far out of their depth on Wednesday it was scary. If Wiltshire can't come back from injury then England are well and truely knackered.

If anything Scholes will be better suited to international football! He'll get a bit more time to pick his passes and use his experience to be patient and not waste the ball which is something what England do far far far too often. Lets face facts if it were a choice between bringing Scholes back for one last hurrah or picking a Downing or Frazer Campbell I know who I'd rather see. Think Scholes and Wilshere with Parker sitting just behind could see England play much better.

Scholes should go, if he agrees, simply as he is the best central midfielder England - and United - have, even at the age of 38.

Magnificent player in his day but can't help feel this would be a retrograde step that would signal a lack of confidence in the younger players emerging. Personally, I never thought Scholes shone for England in the way that he did for ManU.

@56.At 10:48 2nd Mar 2012, swindonbluearmy wrote:
Great, a blog about a man who's not the England manager possibly picking someone for England (or coaxing back) who's retired from International football! Super!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My sentiments entirely.

This blog obviously comes from the story on the BBC website featuring Gary Pallister who believes Harry Redknapp is the only man who could enticed Paul Scholes out of international retirement.

This is the guy who held (or maybe still holds?) the record for the number of times substituted in an England shirt?

The future lies with Cleverley, Wilshere, Rodwell and for the immediate, Parker as skipper.

56.At 10:48 2nd Mar 2012, swindonbluearmy wrote:
Great, a blog about a man who's not the England manager possibly picking someone for England (or coaxing back) who's retired from International football! Super! If/When I'm chosen I'm bringing back peter shilton and bobby Moore...

I see this as a bad idea especially if Rooney is playing as well.

It could mean we finish up playing with 9 men instead of 10.

Park 111 - agree

Strange U Boat - thats because he isnt a winger

4. At 09:59 1st Mar 2012, Andy1959 wrote:
What are you talking about? Scholes decided 8 years ago that he would rather play for his Scottish manager than his English countrymen. He subsequently expressed regret at this decision, when he had an autobiography to sell!

Leave him, and every other person who has put club before country, out in the cold where they belong.

Oh and, BTW, with proper international referees, he would only be a liability anyway. Booked in 5 minutes, and either ineffective for the rest of the game, or sent off.
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Personally I would forget about twitcher Redknapp as the future England manager and ask ANDY1959 to do the job, he obviously has a keen interest and knowledge of the game and is not afraid to let the press laden bandwagons trundle on past him without being tempted to climb aboard....

71.
At 11:04 2nd Mar 2012, Strange_UBoat wrote:

Magnificent player in his day but can't help feel this would be a retrograde step that would signal a lack of confidence in the younger players emerging. Personally, I never thought Scholes shone for England in the way that he did for ManU.
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Only in England could a succession of managers overlook the best goalscoring midfielder and best passer of the ball in his generation, by consistently playing him out on the left due to a lack of other options. It basically boils down to managers not having the cojones to drop a fans favourite for the good of the team, something Fabio Capello was brought in to change according to the FA.

We've gone from managers like Keegan, Sven and Mclaren who all wanted to be the players best mate to the opposite end of the spectrum in Capello, who didn't seem remotely bothered about learning half the player's names.

It saddens me to think that the media and fans dictated the fate of our national team by ousting the Ginger Prince when he was in his prime. Had i been in Paul Scholes position i too would have given the middle finger to the joke that is the England set up, it's the equivalent of Spain putting Fabregas on the left wing because he can't oust Xavi or Iniesta in the middle. Its ridiculous, spineless and cowardly management.

Park111 - nice post, and I'd pick that team just for the sake of letting Wilshere play and train with Scholes for a while.

Those three in the centre, with Johnson and Young on the wings, and someone who can finish chances up top. Take your pick from a limited bunch.

If we take Scholes then we should also take Beckham the best dead ball expert playing football at the moment even if we use both sparingly as subs to turn games

A greater u-turn for England would be if Michael Carrick was restored to the midfield ahead of Gareth Barry. After 2 sloppy seasons (By his own admission) Carrick has raised his game again. You only need to look at his 2 performances against Chelsea in the Champions League last season to see his qualities. It took him a while to adapt to the deep-lying MF role (or the quarterback role as many pundits now call it) but this season he has played consistently well and has really been United's unsung hero.

If Carrick was Spanish or Italian his vision and technique would make him an instant part of the national team. The only time I've seen him have a poor game this season was when he was utilised as a make-shift CB against Blackburn.. which is fairly understandable.

If I were English I'd prefer to see Carrick back in the National team mix than Scholes. I think Harry knows him quite well.. and would certainly have him in his squad.

Scholes is legend of the England game but would he be effective at euros ?In last seasons champions league final he came on as substitute against Barca and didn't impact on the game . I'd love to see scholes but it won't happen . Giggs would be the best player alongside Bale if he came out of retirement for Wales but then would he perform at top level for Man U ? A tournament season as good as lasts for 21 months , it's a massive undertaking for someone who retired from international football for 8 years

people in this country are obsessed with 'youth' and 'building for the next one'.. why don't we ever try and win 'this' one.. by the time we get to the next one, the youths from this one will be either billy big time, injured or not bothered anyway
we look too far beyond the horizon one minute and then not far enough the next.. we have to strike a balance
the fact that many top class players are terrified of scholes means he should start for that alone

Wow... that this is even a topic for discussion... for an outsider this is even stranger than the constant Becks admiration...

I know that in the PL the prominent positions are taken by foreigners, but to hail a late-30's player as 'the relief'? He probably has a recuperation time of several days after every match now...

You English should and can do better than this, surely?

What was your reaction when Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said Paul Scholes should go to the 2012 European Championship?

Complete horror - can we please build for 2014/16 and finally chuck out all the dead wood and the has-beens who have never got us near winning anything - ie ferdinand, gerrard, lampard, terry. All of whom along with Scholes would presumably be in redknapps team, which means he should be the last person to be considered for the job.

im reading alot of slating towards scholes for not playing international football. he left because it has become a joke, after what happened to beckham years ago scholes decided enough was enough, cant blame him either, every compo someone is hung drawn and quatered! southgate was one i remember well, poor lad was crying but the crowd had no sympathy for him. beckham wears his heart on his sleeve when playing for england, didnt stop the country preparing for murder though!

Scholes dont go back, england as a team dont deserve it

If he's good enough and willing, send him. This whole talk of his age in my eyes is irrelevant. Im sure the Portugese werent moaning about Figo ageing, before he retired. (Yes I realise he was abour 3years younger.)

He is too old-get over it.
He was past it in the 2004 Europeans. He is eight years older now.
Pick someone else.

WHY?

he makes 100 5 yard passes and people go mental over it, what difference would he make to the current midfield? they do just that!

absolutely no need at all. stay away Scholes stay away.

"forget england scholes, united fans would much rather see you get another year at OT"

I'd honestly rather he came out of International retirement (while we're without the key future creative midfielder in Wilshere) and helped us achieve some dignity, than play another season at OT.

He's a great player, but if he is still playing for us next year, it is an excuse for the board not to invest in replacing him properly once and for all.

So you've realized only NOW that Scholes was your best midfielder ? It's a bit late, your managers messed him about for the whole time he was here and even preferred putting cloggers like Lampard and Gerrard ahead of him in CM. That was such a nonsense.

I hope he doesn't come back for England, he never got any decent recognition when he was at his best, what's the point of calling him up now.

Hummmm I wonder if we could get Gazza back as well? I bet he can still keep the ball better than Parker, Barry, Lampard etc.

Good old English football, look forward until you lose a friendly, then look back to the players from the past who have already failed in tournaments........

It just shows hoe desperate the English are when they think that the Trafford Trundler is the answer to their woes.

If you want to see aimless 50-yard cross-field ''look at me, mum!'' passes to a team-mate with no opponent within 20-yards of him, or someone plodding along at 1mph in midfield, constantly playing pointless crab-like passes to someone 2-yards away, then, I suppose, Scholes is your man.

However, he's already turned his back on his own country after consistently getting shown up as the mediocre plodder he is by even the most modest of international midfields, so I doubt he'd want to embarrass himself on the world stage for yet another time.

"89.
At 11:40 2nd Mar 2012, signori wrote:

WHY?

he makes 100 5 yard passes and people go mental over it, what difference would he make to the current midfield? they do just that!

absolutely no need at all. stay away Scholes stay away."

Forgive me if i'm wrong, Signori, but aren't you one of the Barca lovers? A team that made 100 5 yard passes the 'new' thing that all the cool kids are copying?

(AH, time restricted blog posting. Pure win.)

78
I'm not English but I would agree with much of what you say. Always struck me as odd that England could never acommodate as good a player as Paul Scholes in their team and never played him to his strengths (which were many). But then I felt similarly about some of your more cultured players down the years like Hoddle and to a lesser extent Le Tissier. Keegan had no tactical nous whatsover and Sven and SMc got themselves lost in the celebrity circus around players and particularly Beckham. Unlike the latter, Scholes imo was the real midfield deal.

Scholes hounded out of England side by a ravenous media desperate to put Gerrard and Lampard in the middle, and deciding the best thing to do was to say scholes was finished internationally at 29!! They said because he hadn't scored in 3 years, and he wasn't as good as these two premiership form players, he had to go. So scholes made it easy on everyone and retired.

Now after year upon year of Gerrard/Lampard failure, and a total downturn in England's ability to retain possession, the same people demanding he retire are now bemoaning his act of retirement, trying to make out like it's him turning his back on the team.

England supporters who demanded he retire, along with the media, got the side they deserved. Scholes still the best player out of all current England midfield options

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

94.At 11:47 2nd Mar 2012, GenesisRed wrote:

you are forgiven,

as i am not one of the Barca lovers.

Apology accepted

What is wrong with the Football press in England. Drag back an 38 year old, who never made it successfully in the England squad when he was 10 years younger, because he wasn't good enough!

Please, can we have some perspective here? The fact that Harry Redknapp has suggested this is the biggest red-flag against his suitability for the job as England manager.