Don't Rain on my Parade

Today's big news, Paul Scholes retiring, came too late for most of the papers, but the Manchester Evening News saves my blog's relevancy by getting 3 pages up double quick... In other news, our bus parade, and quotes there from, and Sir Alex's comments on coaching youngsters make up the news.

Paul Scholes retires and Sir Alex and David Gill pay tribute.  Sir Alex:

"What more can I say about Paul Scholes that I haven't said before," said Sir Alex Ferguson.

"We are going to miss a truly unbelievable player.

"Paul has always been fully committed to this club and I am delighted he will be joining the coaching staff from next season.

"Paul has always been inspirational to players of all ages and we know that will continue in his new role."

And David Gill:

"It is very sad day for Manchester United fans around the world," said United chief executive David Gill.

"We all know that Paul was one of the players that came through the ranks of the academy system in the 90s and has established himself as one of the greatest players to ever wear the United shirt.

"It is very important that the club keeps the associated with these great players and we are delighted that Paul will join the coaching staff."

They have a collection of quotes from other footballers, here, Sir Bobby Charlton:

"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."

There's a very nice and detailed timeline of his career here.

Most of the stories emanating from the parade are summed up here (and some pictures here). Berba was on the bus (why wouldn't he be? he scored 20 of the goals that won us it) Owen wants to stay:

"I have loved every minute," said Owen, who qualified for a championship medal this season. "We have great players, great staff, a great manager and great fans. Hopefully it can continue."

And a Scholes quote which gave no hint of today's news:

"Reaching 19 titles is not something you ever think about. All you want to do is win something. To go on like we have done is a great achievement. Now we want to stretch our lead even more."

 There's David Gill on the subject of transfers here:

"It will be a busier than usual summer this year," Gill told MUTV. "I will be going away at some point in June and be back for the start of our tour but I will be on with player stuff for the next few weeks, I am sure."

Sir Alex spoke on coaching youngsters and how they were at a disadvantage compared to Barcelona. The most comprehensive article on it is here, in The Telegraph:

“We are only allowed to coach [schoolboys] for an hour and a half [each week]. Barcelona can coach every hour of the day if they want and that’s the great advantage they have got. You can see their philosophy through that,” Ferguson said.

“It’s a fantastic philosophy and we hope that, in years to come, we have more time with young players, to teach them the basics, the technical ability and to have the confidence to take the ball all the time. We’re good at that, but we’re not as good as Barcelona at this moment in time. It’s a wonderful challenge and we can always accept a challenge.”

Apparently the powers that be are looking at changing the rules - that story goes into it - nice to hear Sir Alex looking forward to the challenge though.

And finally, a study reported in The Guardian finds that the easy cry of the silly moralists in  The Mail (for example) - "footballers are role-models for children and should behave accordingly" - which was already stupidly flawed, isn't true.  Children under eight don't even understand the idea of role-models apparently:

Far from looking to star players as role models, research has suggested that youngsters are more likely to take behavioural cues from family friends or teachers.

Simon Brownhill, an education expert at the University of Derby, said children aged eight or below were unable to grasp the concept of role models.

In a survey of 178 men working in nurseries and primary schools, Brownhill found that footballers such as Rooney and others from the Premier League's elite, thought to be idolised by many children, actually have little influence.

"The results from this study suggest that children aged eight or younger are still finding their feet in the world and do not have a clear understanding of what a role model is," he said.

Can everyone stop reporting on Rooney's every action and it's affect on children now please...