With Paul Scholes retiring, they lacked a skilled playmaker in the center of the midfield (and frankly, given his play last season, they could have used someone new then, as well)
This above comment is just the sort of thing I'd expect from a Yank, halfway around the world trying to talk about football (yes, football, not "soccer"). You know nothing - Paul Scholes is regarded as the best, most talented midfielder of his generation - not my words but Zinedine Zidane's words. Have you heard of him? Don't comment on things you don't understand and don't write derogatory, disrespectful articles about one the game's most respected, gifted and more gentlemanly players. If Sir Alex Ferguson was trying to convince him to stay on for one more season then he knew he still had things to offer - and he knows more than you, little man. And as a Man Utd fan, living in Manchester, I certainly know more than you as well. Stick to Baseball or American Football for the love of God.