Can David Moyes heal the scars left by Paul Scholes' words?

Paul Scholes might have retired, but he was ruthless in his first outing as an analyst

“Paul Scholes”, a name that is increasingly looking like one from a bygone era. An era of Old Trafford cheering hysterically and the players making it all possible with some fabulous football. With dark clouds looming large around Old Trafford, it looks like one of the club’s prodigal sons has returned with to deliver a fatal blow to Moyes’ reign, which has been littered with disappointment.

Scholes, the mere utterance of the name is enough to make many Mancunians recollect a glorious past. One that was filled with many memorable memories of a ginger haired footballer, who let his feet do all the talking. A player who, even with paparazzi seemingly everywhere, was almost always anonymous. Someone who hardly said a word outside the football pitch and, was a shining role model for any young player growing up. But, anybody who tuned up to watch Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester Derby got to see an altogether different face of the “Ginger Prince”.

Paul Scholes, a man who shied away from the media and the limelight that came with it, was on Sky Sports alongside his good friend Gary Neville, to analyze yet another humiliating derby defeat for the Red Devils. Although the Salford-born Scholes was nervous at the start, he took to the analysis with the precision of a surgeon wielding a scalpel. His analysis was precise, poignant and to the point, much like his passing, during his playing days.

Scholes said that the Red Devils never looked like getting anything out of the Manchester derby. On the team’s performance he said “When I was playing, we could be two or three down but we never felt we were beaten. Tonight I never thought we’d get back in it, even at 1-0 down.” In hindsight, it is hard to fathom whether that was a dig at David Moyes or just him reminiscing about happier days.

Whilst the 39-year-old also said that given the extenuating circumstances, the club has “got to stand by” Moyes, his tacit criticism is there for all to see. He didn’t stop there, Scholes went on dig deep into the shortcomings of the post-Ferguson regime. What did he have to say about the performances of the players on show? Marouane Fellaini? “You’d expect better to be honest.” Juan Mata? “Quality … in his right position.” What about the starting XI used by Moyes? “Toothless.”

At a time when the club is the verge of mutiny, with players reportedly taking sides, Scholes’ criticism was always going to create a stir. At a time when Moyes has more than enough on his plate as it is, he could have certainly done without the public dissemination of information about his squad by one of United’s most respected players of all-time. A player, who, in Sir Alex Ferguson’s words is “a man of excellent opinions.”

There have been signs of discontent at Old Trafford with the crowd growing increasingly impatient with their manager’s apparent inability to round his side up for a performance to be proud of. And Scholes’ comments after Tuesday night’s match will do little to silence the conspiracy theorists who believe that an imminent Machiavellian revolt is being masterminded by the “Class of 92”.

Whilst that is unlikely, it would be fascinating to find out why the famously publicity-shy Scholes made an appearance alongside Sky anchor Ed Chamberlin and his fellow analyst Graeme Souness. And whilst his opinions were without doubt forthright and fair, the question is why would Scholes, want to pour petrol on the ever-increasing flames that are threatening to engulf the club? Was he so naïve as to think that his opinions wouldn’t generate headlines?

Surely, such a shrewd and intelligent man would have been aware of the hoopla that might surround his comments. Is this a sign of things to come? Gary Neville has already established himself as a pundit and his criticisms of United this season has been there for all to see. Now, it looks like Scholes has joined him in voicing his discontent at the state of things? Will more former players follow suit?

One thing is for sure, Scholes’ soft spoken criticism of the club’s performance is sure to leave some scars. It remains to be seen if Moyes has what it takes to suture them or whether the wounds linger on.