Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs was recently voted the Greatest Premier League Player of the past 20 seasons by fans. How much longer will he carry on?
So Ryan Giggs had some good news this May even if the month did not culminate with him winning his 13th league title.
The personal achievement will not have compensated for his team’s lack of success, but it will have given him cause for reflection at the end of another testing season.
Does he have what it takes to carry on? It was a mixed season for Giggs in truth, with moments of effectiveness and a cutting edge, and those when he will have felt his age of 38.
If he is to carry on effectively, United need to help him, by not placing such a burden on him to compete in the central midfield positions.
He will be 39 in November, and with Paul Scholes back too, United need youth in their midfield, not two old-stagers starting week in week out, with the greatest of respects.
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Giggs’ role next season should be that of a bit-part player, who spends more time coming off the bench than making starts.
This season he made 31 appearances, 20 starts and 11 as substitute. For United and Giggs to move forward, this figure needs to reverse. It would be better for all if it were 11 starts and 20 substitute showings.
The reason Giggs made so may starts this season was because of United’s lack of strength in central midfield, and more a needs-must than an embarrassment of riches.
The Welshman reinvented himself at the end of 2010/11 – playing a central midfield role which helped United to the Champions League Final, but by the end of this season, and even at times midway through it, he appeared that he was being asked of too much, with the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle a case in point.
He has committed to another season, but United will only hurt Giggs’ chances of prolonging his career if they overplay him in one of the most exhausting positions. He played just four games on the left side of midfield this year, the position which was once his trademark.
Nevertheless he bagged four goals and provided 10 assists, most of these coming in the early part of the season, with none coming in his final nine games, the title run-in when the club most needed him to be at his most effective.
In central midfield Giggs should be an option, rather than an instant pick. The ship has sailed on Giggs taking early retirement, so United must manage him properly to get the best out of him. Last season they didn’t, not at the end in the crucial title-run in.
Giggs is looking to carry on as long as possible, but United must be fair to him. Surely they will make the signings in central midfield to allow them to do this, and use him more sparingly.
Injury to first teamers increased the burden on Giggs last season, but central midfield was an area United were long under-exposed in before the injuries took hold.
If he was contemplating an eventual retirement, looking at Paul Scholes’ calling it quits and coming back will have given him cause to carry on for even longer. He knows he can contribute, so why walk away too early.
Giggs would love a special moment to walk away on, similar to Didier Drogba winning the Champions League and quitting Chelsea, but until that opportunity comes, and situation arises, he won’t know it.
It is likely though that he will never walk away from United entirely. He would find himself being brought into United’s coaching set up, similar to how Scholes was last year. Giggs has long been touted as a potential successor, and even a boss at Old Trafford.
That would be the dream, but for now, and next season at least, both Ryan Giggs and Sir Alex Ferguson need to work together to establish a balance which is best for player and club.
What will Ryan Giggs’ role be at United over the coming seasons?
image: © Paolo Camera
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