HE scores goals for fun for England, but life is anything but that when Paul Scholes pulls on a United shirt nowadays.

The playmaker, who also ghosts in to notch vital goals for the national team has been delivering but a shadow of that expected performance around Old Trafford.

Many pundits suggest Sir Alex Ferguson's new tactical formation, playing Scholes in an unfamiliar role behind lone striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, is to blame.

But perhaps there is a simpler solution - the recent condition of the pitch! Scholes relies to a high degree on a one touch passing game that needs a level playing surface.

For the England-Greece game at Old Trafford he either misplaced passes, or lost control, more times in one game than many observers had seen all season.

In recent years the money men have allowed the ground to be used to stage the Rugby Super League Grand Final, where it is necessary to allow the grass to grow longer to protect the pitch.

Guess what? The RL clash between Wigan and Bradford was staged the week after the England match.

Fergie mentioned after the Wanderers defeat last Saturday that the pitch was "tacky."

Perhaps his hint to the groundstaff had the desired effect, as there certainly seemed to be an improvement by both Scholes, and the team, against Olympiakos on Tuesday!