Manchester United and the Mess-iah

Article by Mark Harbottle

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It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for your average Manchester United fan. The majority of those would be have quietly pleased with David Moyes being shown the back door – even if we have been tarnished with the same brush as our domestic rivals, “we always stick with our managers”, but apparently the powers that be have different opinions. The future was looking bright, as we began to be associated with a glutton of managerial pedigree, and the prodigal son himself; Ryan Giggs, taking the throne for the final four games of the season. What could go wrong?

At home to Norwich was a classic new-manager, new-attitude football game. Now freed of the shackles of defensive football there was a new lease of life running through the game, and it was no surprise that after a tense 45 minutes the floodgates opened and some might say we should have put more than four goals past a stunned team fighting for survival. However, the last few days have shown us that you can’t put a plaster over a cracked wall and hope it will sort itself out.

Sunderland have been somewhat of a bogey team this season; knocking us out of the league cup and now turning us over 1-0 at the Theatre of Dreams. I felt it was hard to put my finger on one problem because it wasn’t just that the players weren’t up to par that day. Nani and Ashley Young were simply predictable, and there was limited creativity across the park. Sunderland just looked like the wanted it more. What’s changed between this game and last week? Simple really – the adrenaline of Giggs’ new role, and the players just don’t want it enough so close to the end of the season. The problem lies much deeper.

There is little doubt in many minds that Ryan Giggs is up to the task of managing Manchester United. He knows the club better than any other employee, he’s taking his time to work through his coaching badges and he knows the players inside out. But I don’t think a decent manager is the only thing that we need. Ryan will have to do more than training and strategic substitutions in the 2014-15 season.

If Roy Hodgson is dropping hints that Manchester United’s form has/will affect his squad selection for the World Cup, it’s clear enough that those under-performing for 90 odd minutes per week are becoming a liability to this clubs future success.

Drastic changes will have to be taken at Old Trafford to even compete next season and beyond. Whoever is in charge will have to spell out that previous performances have not been good enough. They will have to let many players leave the club who are not at the standard, or just never reached their potential. New styles of play will have to be implemented to fit new players who will ultimately arrive before September. Ryan Giggs has seen new generations of players arrive in the club, but never quite as momentous as what needs to be done next.

For this reason, I think Giggsy needs to take a step back and let this happen. It might be that he leaves the club and this would be devastating, but if it’s ultimately for the greater good of MUFC then perhaps it’s the right decision. I wouldn’t expect him to walk out the door forever. On the other hand, our next leader could be the perfect teacher to give Ryan Giggs a new type of education for the next (circa) 5 years, maybe then would be an ideal time to take the crown on a more permanent basis.

Louis van Gaal looks like the most likely candidate for the post. Rumours suggest a difficult decision is to be made as to keeping current training staff (the Untouchables AKA Class of ’92) or move them on and pave the way for a training team with – literally – hundreds of years’ experience. More specifically than that, for once in Manchester United’s history the unthinkable question is slowly creeping onto the lips of owners, players, fans and media: What do we do with Ryan Giggs?

Regardless of how we enter the next phase of this football club, the situation is a mess. Sticking a suit on the Welsh Wizard and letting him pick 14 players has only worked for 7 days, and now is the time for change.

I hope you can give me your own thoughts, and follow me @harbottle_mark

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