Paul Scholes was on BT's 'Matchday Live with Fletch and Sav' last night. The ex-Man Utd midfielder was asked for his opinion regarding Louis van Gaal's press conference yesterday where he attempted to set the record straight about Man Utd's use of long ball tactics.
The Dutchman handed out a four-page dossier to journalists in an attempt to refute Sam Allardyce's comments. Scholes found it bizarre.
I found it strange to be honest with you today watching that. Sam Allardyce, what he was saying was just a tongue-in-cheek joke really. He's reacted in quite a serious way.
Why does the Man Utd manager rise to the bait of a West Ham manger? I'm not having a go at Sam Allardyce or whoever the West Ham manager is. Not, it's irrelevant. Imagine if it was a Man City manager or a Chelsea manager, what kind of things would be happening then?
He also commented on Man Utd's style of play, saying that it is not what fans of the club want.
It’s not great to watch.
It's more of a possession game. When I see Man Utd over the last 20, 30 or 40 years. Man Utd, they're not really that bothered about possession. What Man Utd fans want is goals and excitement. They're not really getting that. What they're getting is safety play, possession play.
Scholes was also critical of the club's centre forwards this season and stated that they have not been good enough.
I saw Van Gaal's interview before the Cambridge. What he said was, 'I don't want my players to take risks'. When I think about Man Utd midfield players and forward players, it's all about taking risks. You have to have the balls to take risks, to take chances, to create goals.
The thing about Man Utd, what they should do is play the ball forward quality to two quality centre forwards. What I always say is, 'you're only as good in football as your two centre forward' and the centre forwards have not been good enough. Whatever two centre forwards have played.
Regarding Wayne Rooney, the 11-time Premier League winner said that he was being wasted on the right-hand side of midfield.
He's got to play up front. He scores goals and makes goal. He's been stuck out on the right hand side of midfield doing nothing really. He's not getting in the box. The game at West Ham on Sunday, he didn't get a touch in the area. This is Wayne Rooney.
