Mr Romanov Saviour of HMFC Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Seeing as Scholes has now retired and there are always claims that he is the finest midfielder of his generation, I thought it would be good to look back on their careers and get a vote on who really was the best. For me, there is no doubt it is ZZ. Paul Scholes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix92AUoPbJk&feature=related What the pro's said "One of the greatest football brains Manchester United has ever had." - Ferguson "I tell anyone who asks me ? Scholes is the best English player." - Laurent Blanc "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation." - Zidane "To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I?ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years." - Xavi Honours club Manchester United Premier League (10): 1995?96, 1996?97, 1998?99, 1999?2000, 2000?01, 2002?03, 2006?07, 2007?08, 2008?09, 2010?11 FA Cup (3): 1995?96, 1998?99, 2003?04 Football League Cup (2): 2008?09, 2009?10 FA Community Shield (5): 1996, 1997, 2003, 2008, 2010 UEFA Champions League (2): 1998?99, 2007?08 Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999 FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008 International England U18 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship: 1993 England 1997 Tournoi de France Individual Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year (1): 1992?93 Premier League Player of the Month (4): January 2003, December 2003, October 2006, August 2010 PFA Team of the Year (3): 2000?01, 2002?03, 2006?07 Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992?93 to 2001?02): Domestic & Overall Team of the Decade English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2008 Zidane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDzasp1-60 What the pro's said Zidane was the magician in the game - Pele He dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he had silk gloves in each foot - Di Stefano Technically, I think he is the king of what's fundamental in the game ? control and passing. I don't think anyone can match him when it comes to controlling or receiving the ball. - Platini Zidane is one of the greatest players in history, a truly magnificent player. - Beckenbauer Honours Club Girondins Bordeaux UEFA Intertoto Cup: Winner: 1995 UEFA Cup: Runner-up: 1995?96 Juventus Serie A: Winner: 1996?97, 1997?98 Runner-up: 1999?00, 2000?01 Supercoppa Italiana: Winner: 1997 Runner-up: 1998 UEFA Champions League: Runner-up: 1996?97, 1997?98 UEFA Super Cup: Winner: 1996 Intercontinental Cup: Winner: 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup: Winner: 1999 Real Madrid La Liga: Winner: 2002?03 Runner-up: 2004?05, 2005?06 Supercopa de Espa?a: Winner: 2001, 2003 Copa del Rey: Runner-up: 2001?02, 2003?04 UEFA Champions League: Winner: 2001?02 UEFA Super Cup: Winner: 2002 Intercontinental Cup: Winner: 2002 Country France FIFA World Cup: Winner: 1998 Runner-up: 2006 UEFA European Football Championship: Winner: 2000 Individual Ballon d'Or awarded to Zidane in 1998 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year ? 1994 Ligue 1 Player of the Year ? 1996 Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year ? 1997, 2001 UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year ? 1998 FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match ? 1998 World Soccer Awards Player of the Year ? 1998 Ballon D'or ? 1998 L'?quipe Champion of Champions ? 1998 French Player of the Year ? 1998, 2002 Onze d'Or ? 1998, 2000, 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year ? 1998, 2000, 2003 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team ? 1998, 2006 ESM Season XI: 1997?98, 2001?02, 2002?03, 2003?04 World Soccer 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century ? 1999 UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament ? 2000 UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament ? 2000, 2004 Serie A Footballer of the Year ? 2001 UEFA Team of the Year ? 2001, 2002, 2003 UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match ? 2002 La Liga Best Foreign Player ? 2002 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year ? 2002 FIFA World Cup Dream Team ? 2002 FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers ? 2004 UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years ? 2004 FIFPro World XI All-Star Team ? 2005, 2006 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker ? 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball ? 2006 UNFP Honorary Award ? 2007 Marca Leyenda Award ? 2008 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award ? 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckauskas Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Zidane. But I don't see why it matters, both were wonderful at what they did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Bill Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Without doubt Zidane, although Scholes was a great player too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad-Stupid Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 No brainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMDV Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Not even a question, Zidane by a country mile, but credit where its due PS was a very good player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say What Again Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Zidane. 100%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossthejambo Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Definitely Zidane, Scholes was very good but Zidane was on another level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriarty Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad-Stupid Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Michael Ballack anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ultraviolet Catastrophe Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 someone vote scholes please, i feel sorry for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad-Stupid Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 someone vote scholes please, i feel sorry for him Not sorry enough to vote for hm yourself?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ultraviolet Catastrophe Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 fine ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter Bishop Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Hard to believe Zidane`s goal was 9 years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad-Stupid Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 fine ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckauskas Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that in a starting XI of 'best players of that generation', both would be included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Paul scholes couldn't lace Zidanes boots,good player but not the same class as zz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotland Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Zidane every day of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Womble Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Definately Zidane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory House M.D. Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 "cleverly leaving out zidanes comment even though he's the only one saying it" type post Zidane was streets ahead of Scholesy by the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad-Stupid Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 "cleverly leaving out zidanes comment even though he's the only one saying it" type post Zidane was streets ahead of Scholesy by the way What comment has been left out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Harris Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 someone vote scholes please, i feel sorry for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Gin Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Scholes was a great player. Zizou was an exceptional player - one of the all-time greats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsychocAndy Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Paul Scholes is one of the greatest players of his generation. Zidane is one of the greatest players of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDC0312 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I was behind the goal at Hampden when ZZ hit that volley. Best goal ive ever seen from the best player ive ever seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coatbridgejambo Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 ZZ by a mile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 They were no bad. Might squeeze in just behind Colin Cameron in the pecking order for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 "paul scholes he scores goals"................... along with zidane and platini the best central midfielders ever to have played the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 "paul scholes he scores goals"................... along with zidane and platini the best central midfielders ever to have played the game Oh my!!...any chance that you may support the team from salford?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Oh my!!...any chance that you may support the team from salford?? nope, just hearts buti know my football and these 3 were exceptional especially zizu. xavi,iniesta would tell you scholes was truely world class,forget he was english or even a mhank,just an awesome talent........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 "paul scholes he scores goals"................... along with zidane and platini the best central midfielders ever to have played the game Clarence Seedorf, Zvonimir Boban, Gianfranco Zola are just a few from Scholes generation I'd pick before him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Clarence Seedorf, Zvonimir Boban, Gianfranco Zola are just a few from Scholes generation I'd pick before him. haha that is feckin' brilliant, on that note i'm off, superb ................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 haha that is feckin' brilliant, on that note i'm off, superb ................. I know eh! Thinking Scholes is the 'best ever' you man ure fans are a barrel of laughs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy2 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Whilst he was outstandingly brilliant at football this thread shows how, with a wee bit of propoganda even a player at the very top can be talked up even higher. Any coincidence that Keane and Ince fell out with Man U and are never lauded like this? Any coincidence that Scholes' possible role model, David Platt, who was arguably better, never played for Man Utd? Ince and Platt proved themselves in Italy too where Scholes' perceived inability to tackle would have had players taking liberties and he'd have been seeing red every second week. As someone said, Scholes was a special player of his generation, he broke my heart at Hampden (then was virtually anonymous in the 2nd leg). Zizou was a special player of ALL generations. Forgot to really stoke the flames by saying come back when you've inspired your team from 0-3 down in the Champions League Final...I don't support Liverpool or hold Stevie G in any particular affection either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Gilbert Wauchope Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 This was always going to be a classic no contest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy T Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 "paul scholes he scores goals"................... along with zidane and platini the best central midfielders ever to have played the game But none of them were as good as Diego Maradona.......who is the greatest player to play the game. Paul Scholes as good as he was, only ever played for Man U in a league they dominated for years, Zidane and Platini played in different countries and we're instrumental in winning trophies for their country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckauskas Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Forgot to really stoke the flames by saying come back when you've inspired your team from 0-3 down in the Champions League Final...I don't support Liverpool or hold Stevie G in any particular affection either. One match doesn't equate to 10 league titles, 3 FA Cups and 2 Champions League winners medals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaap's Sigh Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 someone vote scholes please, i feel sorry for him Ha ha. OK then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy T Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 To watch them play together would have been amazing. Zidane was pure poetry - a romantic vision of what makes football beautiful. I think he transcended the role of midfielder and therefore makes the comparison difficult, because I suspect Scholes was his equal in almost every department. Surely you're on the wind up ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 But none of them were as good as Diego Maradona.......who is the greatest player to play the game. Paul Scholes as good as he was, only ever played for Man U in a league they dominated for years, Zidane and Platini played in different countries and we're instrumental in winning trophies for their country. diego played in the hole ala messi, not a central midfielder but wouldn't argue to much with the 2nd part of your opening statement though,although i would just favour zizu,if only cause thats the position i played most of my football and i biased, for no other reason............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hickups Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Scholes was a great player, one of the greatest midfielders ever but Zidane for me is in the top 5 greatest players of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy T Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 diego played in the hole ala messi, not a central midfielder but wouldn't argue to much with the 2nd part of your opening statement though,although i would just favour zizu,if only cause thats the position i played most of my football and i biased, for no other reason............. Diego Maradona played central midfield and controlled every game from there, although he scored nearly 300 league goals and 30 odds for Argentina, I would still say he was a centre midfielder - had they invented the hole back then ?? . I'd say Messi is more of a wide man who drifts inside. Zidane is streets ahead of Scholes but IMO very few (maybe Pele but I didn't see him play) can get near to Maradona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Napoleon Wilson Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Zidane overwhelmingly. World cup and Euro's winners medals tip the balance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Diego Maradona played central midfield and controlled every game from there, although he scored nearly 300 league goals and 30 odds for Argentina, I would still say he was a centre midfielder - had they invented the hole back then ?? . I'd say Messi is more of a wide man who drifts inside. Zidane is streets ahead of Scholes but IMO very few (maybe Pele but I didn't see him play) can get near to Maradona. dont think you'll ever find any footage of diego in his own half , so cant be classed as a central mid in the true sense of the meaning, although he was a master craftsman in every way and anyone putting him up for the best player ever to play the game would have a reasonable case imho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Le Clos Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Clarence Seedorf, Zvonimir Boban, Gianfranco Zola are just a few from Scholes generation I'd pick before him. Pointless comparison. Different positions. Like saying Craig Gordon was a better player than John Robertson. Your first two are decent shouts though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Pointless comparison. Different positions. Like saying Craig Gordon was a better player than John Robertson. Your first two are decent shouts though. Not quite. if that is the case ALL these players are very different in their approachs. (and make no mistake I think Scholes was excellent at what he did) but Ramrod made reference to picking a 'select 11'. I'd need a different formation to accomodate my choices but its not quite as you make out. I wasn't making direct comparisons. for me Boban is one of my all time favourites (not saying he is best) but I loved watching him play. Cracking player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckauskas Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I'd disagree about Zola being better than Scholes. More skillful, yes. But better? Nah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I'd disagree about Zola being better than Scholes. More skillful, yes. But better? Nah. As Roamin' says. Thats where these things get silly. You can't make a direct comparison like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy2 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 dont think you'll ever find any footage of diego in his own half , so cant be classed as a central mid in the true sense of the meaning, although he was a master craftsman in every way and anyone putting him up for the best player ever to play the game would have a reasonable case imho Other than when he came deep to win back the ball v England and proceeded to waltz through their team, you might have a point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Herbertson Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Paul Scholes is one of the greatest players of his generation. Zidane is one of the greatest players of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Seeing as Scholes has now retired and there are always claims that he is the finest midfielder of his generation, I thought it would be good to look back on their careers and get a vote on who really was the best. For me, there is no doubt it is ZZ. Paul Scholes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix92AUoPbJk&feature=related What the pro's said "One of the greatest football brains Manchester United has ever had." - Ferguson "I tell anyone who asks me ? Scholes is the best English player." - Laurent Blanc "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation." - Zidane "To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I?ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years." - Xavi Honours club Manchester United Premier League (10): 1995?96, 1996?97, 1998?99, 1999?2000, 2000?01, 2002?03, 2006?07, 2007?08, 2008?09, 2010?11 FA Cup (3): 1995?96, 1998?99, 2003?04 Football League Cup (2): 2008?09, 2009?10 FA Community Shield (5): 1996, 1997, 2003, 2008, 2010 UEFA Champions League (2): 1998?99, 2007?08 Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999 FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008 International England U18 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship: 1993 England 1997 Tournoi de France Individual Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year (1): 1992?93 Premier League Player of the Month (4): January 2003, December 2003, October 2006, August 2010 PFA Team of the Year (3): 2000?01, 2002?03, 2006?07 Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992?93 to 2001?02): Domestic & Overall Team of the Decade English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2008 Zidane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDzasp1-60 What the pro's said Zidane was the magician in the game - Pele He dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he had silk gloves in each foot - Di Stefano Technically, I think he is the king of what's fundamental in the game ? control and passing. I don't think anyone can match him when it comes to controlling or receiving the ball. - Platini Zidane is one of the greatest players in history, a truly magnificent player. - Beckenbauer Honours Club Girondins Bordeaux UEFA Intertoto Cup: Winner: 1995 UEFA Cup: Runner-up: 1995?96 Juventus Serie A: Winner: 1996?97, 1997?98 Runner-up: 1999?00, 2000?01 Supercoppa Italiana: Winner: 1997 Runner-up: 1998 UEFA Champions League: Runner-up: 1996?97, 1997?98 UEFA Super Cup: Winner: 1996 Intercontinental Cup: Winner: 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup: Winner: 1999 Real Madrid La Liga: Winner: 2002?03 Runner-up: 2004?05, 2005?06 Supercopa de Espa?a: Winner: 2001, 2003 Copa del Rey: Runner-up: 2001?02, 2003?04 UEFA Champions League: Winner: 2001?02 UEFA Super Cup: Winner: 2002 Intercontinental Cup: Winner: 2002 Country France FIFA World Cup: Winner: 1998 Runner-up: 2006 UEFA European Football Championship: Winner: 2000 Individual Ballon d'Or awarded to Zidane in 1998 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year ? 1994 Ligue 1 Player of the Year ? 1996 Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year ? 1997, 2001 UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year ? 1998 FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match ? 1998 World Soccer Awards Player of the Year ? 1998 Ballon D'or ? 1998 L'?quipe Champion of Champions ? 1998 French Player of the Year ? 1998, 2002 Onze d'Or ? 1998, 2000, 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year ? 1998, 2000, 2003 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team ? 1998, 2006 ESM Season XI: 1997?98, 2001?02, 2002?03, 2003?04 World Soccer 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century ? 1999 UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament ? 2000 UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament ? 2000, 2004 Serie A Footballer of the Year ? 2001 UEFA Team of the Year ? 2001, 2002, 2003 UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match ? 2002 La Liga Best Foreign Player ? 2002 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year ? 2002 FIFA World Cup Dream Team ? 2002 FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers ? 2004 UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years ? 2004 FIFPro World XI All-Star Team ? 2005, 2006 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker ? 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball ? 2006 UNFP Honorary Award ? 2007 Marca Leyenda Award ? 2008 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award ? 2011 The list that you have after each player really should answer that question quite easily. Zidane is quite simply the best player ive seen live! I was at hampden for the european cup final against leverkusen and the man is just a genius! Scholes however was a wonderful wonderful player and i dont think Man United will ever trully replace him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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