Sir Alex Ferguson To Offer Paul Scholes Another Year: Should MUFC Fans Worry

Alex Ferguson announced recently that he will be offering Paul Scholes a one-year contract extension and said that "another year with not be a problem for the lad."

Paul Scholes has be a fantastic servant to both Man United and Alex Ferguson. He has been one of the best central-midfielders in the Premier League over the last decade and is just one goal shy of the century mark.

But is this contract offer a gift of service or a signal warning for Man United?

Paul Scholes is 35 and will turn 36 two months into next year's campaign. With the exception of Ryan Giggs, Scholes is the oldest outfielder player in the United first-team.

From 1997/98 thought the following ten years Scholes surpassed 30 games a season. In the last three years, Scholes has seen his playing diminish and as a result Scholes has just been tipping 20 league games a season.

This year, Scholes has played 15 times for United in the Premier League and is on course to just pass 20 league games for the season.

In the majority of games Scholes has taken part in, he has either been a substitute or part of a five-man midfield. As great as Scholes was, his legs are not what they once were and he is short of pace. Ferguson is aware of this and that is why he tends to play Scholes in situations where the midfield is compact.

Paul Scholes has shown signs of error creeping into his game. He imploded against Fulham in a 3-0 loss earlier this season. He also had a very poor game midweek against A.C Milan. 

But is there a bigger, underlining concern for United which explains this contract offer?

Man United have spent £60 million on a trio of central midfielders who have contributed just 27 games combined this season.

Michael Carrick (£18.6) has played 19 league games for United this year. In his four seasons with United he has done little to repay such an extravagant fee. United payed an inflated price due to the fact that Carrick is an English player and now they are paying the real price.

Anderson (£20m) has played just nine league games this season and has falling completely out of favour with Alex Ferguson. His even more extravagant fee has brought United little value and again Ferguson has made a failed investment into a Brazilian midfielder who was branded "the future of the Brazilian national team."

Owen Hargreaves (£21.4m) has struggled with injuries since joining United from Bayern Munich. His most recent injury is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season and his career is considered up in the air due to the extent of the damage.

The only central midfielder for United who has merited any praise is Darren Fletcher. The 26 year old Scot has played in 22 league games for United and featured in every important United fixture this season.

Darren Fletcher has been the only consistent central midfielder in the United side. Young Irishman, Darren Gibson has also featured in three games, but his United future is closing and a transfer away from Old Trafford is imminent.

The centre of United's team has been a pressing issue this season for Ferguson. United has been sent out with a five-man midfield more this season than ever before.

There has been constant whispers that Nemanja Vidic is on his way out of United. Rio Ferdinand has been severely injury stricken this year and back-up centre-backs Wes Brown and Jonny Evans has featured in more games than either Vidic or Ferdinand. 

Wes Brown has played three times the number of games Rio has featured in. On the rare occasions that Ferdinand has played he has been inconstant at best. Most notably was his display against United rivals Man City where he gifted Craig Bellamy two goals.

Ferguson purchased Chris Smalling from Fulham after just two league appearances for £12m during the January transfer market. Ferguson's defense has began to show cracks and the Vidic situation strikes a remarkably similarity to that of Cristiano Ronaldo's last year.

Is Paul Scholes been offered another year with United because Ferguson can not trust the players he has invested money in? Has Man United's money lake dried up or is Paul Scholes being asked to paper over the cracks in midfield while Ferguson addresses his crumbling defense?

Which ever one of the above questions is answered yes the end result is that same. Man United has major issues and it is hard to see how all of them can be addressed at the same time.