Manchester United legend and former England player Paul Scholes has sent a pretty clear message to manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the Three Lions final group game of Euro 2024.
Southgate‘s side take on Slovenia at 8pm on Tuesday, 25 June and despite having already qualified for the knockout stages, it’s fair to say that many fans and pundits alike haven’t been overwhelmingly impressed with their performances thus far – not least of all Paul Scholes.
It’s fair to say the retired Premier League veteran and ex-England international knows a thing or two about being a midfielder and since finding the right balance in the middle of the park seems to be one of their main issues so far, Scholes isn’t mincing his words when it comes to his critcism.
It remains to be seen whether or not Southgate will indeed start the Chelsea star ahead of any of his other midfielder options but, as you can see, Scholes wants to see the player with the best footballing “brain” come into replace the Liverpool right-back, who was tried there due to his passing range.
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While there’s no question that Alexander-Arnold is an intelligent footballer – hence why he was given the nod to play at the base of the midfield in the first place – he isn’t exactly an energetic, box-to-box midfielder or someone with loads of expefrience in the position for his club, let alone for his country.
With that in mind, Scholes made it very clear that he believes Man United‘s breakthrough talent from this season, Kobbie Mainoo, should be preferred ahead of any other player being rotated into the starting 11, having emerged as one of the best midfielders in the league and scoring the winner in the FA Cup final.
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And in case anyone was doubting that Mainoo is indeed the player that Scholes was referring to, he said just as much to TNT Sports, claiming “if he came in [to the team], all of a sudden you have control” and adding that sometimes it only takes on player to make the rest of the tick.
"You think of Toni Kroos with Germany, he just makes them play football. Rodri with Man City and Spain. I think Kobbie Mainoo has got the ability to do that."
Paul Scholes believes that Kobbie Mainoo could be the key to unlocking the attacking brilliance of England's midfield… pic.twitter.com/kTiAHj6UlB
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 24, 2024
Southgate also irked a lot of fans by overlooking the capabilities of Mainoo, Declan Rice and others when he claimed that he they “don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips”, despite many believing that a number of players could do the job in that pivot so long as you find the right balance around them.
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Scholes did ultimately show his support and faith that England will get better as the tournament goes on but he’s making no bones about who he thinks could be the solution for that midfield dilemma that has so long lingered over our teams in years gone by.
Elsewhere, captain Harry Kane was also applauded for his response to recent punditry by ex-national team players Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer who essentially summed up their performance at Euro 2024 so far as “sh*t”.
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
25th June 2024 
