The Winner Manchester United | Muppet Session & Pre-Season 2011/12
In 1990, Manchester United were the third most successful club in England (trophy wise), miles behind Liverpool and even Arsenal. Over the decade that followed, United's overwhelming financial superiority became firmly established, and the club had a period of unprecedented success, overtaking Arsenal's haul of league titles and approaching Liverpool's record. United fans like to claim that the success preceded the money, but I would argue that the opposite is true.
In 1991, Manchester United became the first English club to be floated on the London Stock Exchange, raising £6.7m immediately. I believe it is this event that lead to Manchester United's unparalleled financial strength. Being a Publicly Limited Company, Manchester United were able to take money from shares sold and invest this into the team, allowing them to spend more on transfer fees, offer higher wages and (arguably most importantly) invest in the expansion of their stadium. Of course, it seems like any club could have done the exact same thing, which is mostly true - other football clubs would have been legally permitted to become PLCs as well. But there is one (literally) huge difference that set Manchester United apart from its rivals: Old Trafford.
Old Trafford was built in 1909, with an original capacity of over 80,000 seats. (By the way, according to wikipedia and the book it cites, even back then the club was referred to as "Moneybags United" - which further supports my argument.) Over time, the capacity and architecture of the ground changed, but never did Manchester United ever have to consider moving grounds, even after the Taylor Report in 1990 when they had a capacity of 44,000. Rather than needing to build a new ground, Manchester United were able to redevelop Old Trafford.
This is why Manchester United PLC was an insanely attractive investment, and why the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal were not: all those other clubs would need to build new stadiums rather than expanding their existing one, which would mean a far lesser return-on-investment than United enjoyed. These other clubs were not able to expand their grounds because they were built in areas that do not account for the necessary transportation and safety requirements of modern-day football - considerations that did not exist when these grounds were purchased in the 1900s and 1910s.
In other words, it is a fortunate coincidence that Old Trafford was so ripe for expansion, thus a fortunate coincidence that Manchester United PLC was such an attractive investment, thus a fortunate coincidence that Manchester United became so lucrative and a financial behemoth. Please note that this is not to disparage United, as they took the fantastic hand they were dealt and played it to its full efficacy. This is only to dispel the false notion that success preceded wealth. It didn't.
Oliver Dziggel, Geneva Switzerland
In 1991, Manchester United became the first English club to be floated on the London Stock Exchange, raising £6.7m immediately. I believe it is this event that lead to Manchester United's unparalleled financial strength. Being a Publicly Limited Company, Manchester United were able to take money from shares sold and invest this into the team, allowing them to spend more on transfer fees, offer higher wages and (arguably most importantly) invest in the expansion of their stadium. Of course, it seems like any club could have done the exact same thing, which is mostly true - other football clubs would have been legally permitted to become PLCs as well. But there is one (literally) huge difference that set Manchester United apart from its rivals: Old Trafford.
Old Trafford was built in 1909, with an original capacity of over 80,000 seats. (By the way, according to wikipedia and the book it cites, even back then the club was referred to as "Moneybags United" - which further supports my argument.) Over time, the capacity and architecture of the ground changed, but never did Manchester United ever have to consider moving grounds, even after the Taylor Report in 1990 when they had a capacity of 44,000. Rather than needing to build a new ground, Manchester United were able to redevelop Old Trafford.
This is why Manchester United PLC was an insanely attractive investment, and why the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal were not: all those other clubs would need to build new stadiums rather than expanding their existing one, which would mean a far lesser return-on-investment than United enjoyed. These other clubs were not able to expand their grounds because they were built in areas that do not account for the necessary transportation and safety requirements of modern-day football - considerations that did not exist when these grounds were purchased in the 1900s and 1910s.
In other words, it is a fortunate coincidence that Old Trafford was so ripe for expansion, thus a fortunate coincidence that Manchester United PLC was such an attractive investment, thus a fortunate coincidence that Manchester United became so lucrative and a financial behemoth. Please note that this is not to disparage United, as they took the fantastic hand they were dealt and played it to its full efficacy. This is only to dispel the false notion that success preceded wealth. It didn't.
Oliver Dziggel, Geneva Switzerland
SAF: "One of the greatest football brains Manchester United has ever had."
Roy Keane: "No celebrity bullshit, no self promotion - an amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being."
Sir Bobby Charlton: "I love watching little Paul Scholes, he’s so in control of what he’s doing and is always so accurate and pinpoint with his passing – it’s just beautiful to watch."
Glenn Hoddle: "There isn't a player of his mould anywhere in the world."
Rio: "For me, it's Paul Scholes. He'll do ridiculous things in training like say, "You see that tree over there?" - it'll be 40 yards away - "I'm going to hit it". And he'll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best."
George Best: "England have lost their best player."
Laurent Blanc: "I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player."
Micah Richards: "I think we were all disappointed because we all know what he can do. He's always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder - when he's fit, he's the best. Some go missing but he's in the right place at the right time. He's my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it's a goal, isn't it?"
Peter Schmeichel: "People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is. For me, it is a player who has a bottom level that means his worst performance is not noticed. If he is having a bad game, a teammate might feel Paul Scholes is not quite on his game, but a spectator wouldn't notice. Scholes, of all the players I have played with, has the highest bottom level. He has an eye for a pass, for what the play or the game needs at that precise moment, that I have never seen anyone else have. These days he doesn't get into the box too many times, which is where you can see his age, but he has developed tactically. He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen."
Edgar Davids: "Everyone of us should emulate him. We can all learn from Paul Scholes."
Zidane: "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation."
Lippi: "Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance."
Thierry Henry: "Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor."
Rooney: "He's unbelievable - he's one of the greatest of all time." [17]
Sir Bobby Charlton: "I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It's Paul Scholes. Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United. Players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite. I love his nous and conviction that he will find a way to win, to make the killer pass or produce the decisive volley. When a game reaches a vital phase, these qualities seem to come out of his every pore. He's always on the ball, always turning on goal. He's always looking to bring other people into the action and if he loses possession you think he must be ill."
Zidane: "There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career."
Jose Mourinho: “Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him.”
Xabi Alonso: "Fans in Spain rate him very highly and I admire him a huge amount."
Nani: "He’s the best midfielder I’ve ever seen. He can pass, score goals with his left, right, his head – he can do anything. And he can beat a player too, plus he loves to nutmeg you! He's unbelievable."
Arsene Wenger: "“He did not get completely what he deserves as a player because he’s not a “media lion”. He’s not one who runs after the media to be in the papers. I respect that."
Ian Holloway: "When he passes the ball it stays passed. The ball goes exactly where he wants it to. I have always loved him for that. I played against him once or twice and he is an absolute genius. He is a role model for anyone who wants to play football. He is a joy to watch. In fact, I wish he was 21, then I could see his career all over again." (I personally love this one!)
Ryan Giggs: "I’d go for Scholesy as the club’s greatest ever player. I’ve seen him do things that no other player can do. The way he can control the tempo of games, and his range of passing, are both incredible. We’ve seen over the years that players just haven’t been able to get near him. And you can’t forget his goals either."
Alan Hanson: "He is one of the top three to five players to have ever played in the Premier League - his passing, movement and technique set examples to everyone, not just younger players."
Xavi: "To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I’ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years."
Cesc Fabregas: “For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate. One player does not make a team but there is no doubt that the presence of some players add extra motivation and confidence. Scholes is a player with character and is capable of transmitting that mental strength to his team-mates."
Roy Keane: "No celebrity bullshit, no self promotion - an amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being."
Sir Bobby Charlton: "I love watching little Paul Scholes, he’s so in control of what he’s doing and is always so accurate and pinpoint with his passing – it’s just beautiful to watch."
Glenn Hoddle: "There isn't a player of his mould anywhere in the world."
Rio: "For me, it's Paul Scholes. He'll do ridiculous things in training like say, "You see that tree over there?" - it'll be 40 yards away - "I'm going to hit it". And he'll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best."
George Best: "England have lost their best player."
Laurent Blanc: "I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player."
Micah Richards: "I think we were all disappointed because we all know what he can do. He's always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder - when he's fit, he's the best. Some go missing but he's in the right place at the right time. He's my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it's a goal, isn't it?"
Peter Schmeichel: "People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is. For me, it is a player who has a bottom level that means his worst performance is not noticed. If he is having a bad game, a teammate might feel Paul Scholes is not quite on his game, but a spectator wouldn't notice. Scholes, of all the players I have played with, has the highest bottom level. He has an eye for a pass, for what the play or the game needs at that precise moment, that I have never seen anyone else have. These days he doesn't get into the box too many times, which is where you can see his age, but he has developed tactically. He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen."
Edgar Davids: "Everyone of us should emulate him. We can all learn from Paul Scholes."
Zidane: "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation."
Lippi: "Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance."
Thierry Henry: "Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor."
Rooney: "He's unbelievable - he's one of the greatest of all time." [17]
Sir Bobby Charlton: "I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It's Paul Scholes. Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United. Players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite. I love his nous and conviction that he will find a way to win, to make the killer pass or produce the decisive volley. When a game reaches a vital phase, these qualities seem to come out of his every pore. He's always on the ball, always turning on goal. He's always looking to bring other people into the action and if he loses possession you think he must be ill."
Zidane: "There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career."
Jose Mourinho: “Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him.”
Xabi Alonso: "Fans in Spain rate him very highly and I admire him a huge amount."
Nani: "He’s the best midfielder I’ve ever seen. He can pass, score goals with his left, right, his head – he can do anything. And he can beat a player too, plus he loves to nutmeg you! He's unbelievable."
Arsene Wenger: "“He did not get completely what he deserves as a player because he’s not a “media lion”. He’s not one who runs after the media to be in the papers. I respect that."
Ian Holloway: "When he passes the ball it stays passed. The ball goes exactly where he wants it to. I have always loved him for that. I played against him once or twice and he is an absolute genius. He is a role model for anyone who wants to play football. He is a joy to watch. In fact, I wish he was 21, then I could see his career all over again." (I personally love this one!)
Ryan Giggs: "I’d go for Scholesy as the club’s greatest ever player. I’ve seen him do things that no other player can do. The way he can control the tempo of games, and his range of passing, are both incredible. We’ve seen over the years that players just haven’t been able to get near him. And you can’t forget his goals either."
Alan Hanson: "He is one of the top three to five players to have ever played in the Premier League - his passing, movement and technique set examples to everyone, not just younger players."
Xavi: "To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I’ve seen in the last 15 or 20 years."
Cesc Fabregas: “For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate. One player does not make a team but there is no doubt that the presence of some players add extra motivation and confidence. Scholes is a player with character and is capable of transmitting that mental strength to his team-mates."
