Ginger prince calls it quits

Thanks for the memories Paul, he is undoubtedly my favourite all time United player, just shading it over Eric. I'm absolutely gutted to think that we will never see him stride out in a United shirt any more, even though from his point of view it makes perfect sense. If he doesn't enjoy his squad role and thinks he needs runs of games for his A game to show up then now was the time to bow out. We have seen in the second half of the season that he has seemed off the pace even when we have had little cameo's as when he sprayed the ball all over the place at the beginning of the semi final at Wembley only to then fade away.
The good news is that he will stay at the club in a coaching role, unspecified as yet, one of the reasons i had wanted himt continue was for the young lads coming through to reap the benefits of training with him. Gerard Pique tweeted his apprciation yesterday and specifically mentioned training with him being something else.
As Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote yesterday the way he announced his retirement reflected his lack of ego, he goes away and then gets the club to announce it, love it. Nicky Butt pays tribute to one of United greats, dirty little git but unbelievable player. It's a pretty good piece that, cliche free, Nicky Butt the writer.
Henry Winter pays tribute to Scholes career and notes the dry humour that knocked foreign journalists for six and notes how various England managers loved him even if Scholes didn't have much time for Erikkson. No journalist has mentioned that Erikkson was bowing to journalistis pressure to play Lampard and Gerrard in the middle leaving Scholes out on the left and to eventually call it a day, such a lot of know nothings. Matt Lawton carries on with the tributes, not just a hugely talented player but a great competitor. I think that's a very good point, we all know he wasn't the quickest and some say he wasn't a great tackler but there have been times when we haven't played well over the last couple of seasons where he has come on and added some steel to the team. I'd still have him down as a better defensive midfield player than Darron Gibson even now.
Steve Bartram says goodbye to the littel master but notes how Iniesta sought out the little master after Saturday's final to swap the prized shirts. Jamie Redknapp describes the lethal combination of ferocity and talent that made Scholes such a great player and a player you were glad to have on your side. James Lawton salutes Scholes but wonders whether Giggs should also be thinking about the end. Far too premature for that, ok he couldn't live with Barca's glorious midfield, but there would be no dsigarce in that if was in the pomp of his career. Giggs can still do the business in the premier league, let's not forget the performance against Chelsea, why would you stop playing when you can still contribute like that.

There have been a few YouTube tributes knocking about but i have seen none better than this.

He would probably hate the idea but i really hope that United are going to bring a Scholes DVD out because watching that shows how sublime that could be. It's not just the goals, and just how many brilliant goals are there on that, but the passes long and short the little flicks that don't look possible and the amazing vision.
Jus Giggs left now, when he calls it a day it will truly be the end of an era and it's probably going to make me feel old as well as sad. But i was around to see it all, and have been truly privileged to have seen it all from day one.

Jim White salutes the magnificent Wayne Rooney who must be disappointed to have put in such a display and have been on the losing side on Saturday. Rooney spoke of his disappointment over his ban that meant he missed the semi final against City as a game he will never get back. He also spoke of the challenge of competing with Barca after admitting how we were outclassed at Wembley.

Not exactly the start of the summer squad renewal i was looking forwars to, Michael Owen signs a new one year contract extension. What that means to me is if Berbatov goes, and that looks even more likely after this news, Welbeck had better come back and prove he is the player i tip him to be. Because as much as he was annonymous in certain games Berba still managed to score twenty goals last season and with our lack of firepower in midield somebody has got replace that. Does anybody really think Owen has that in him or would be fit enough to play enough games to get near that total. It would seem that Berba doesn't want to leave, what does Fergie want is probably more pertinent question.