Old heads vital to Reds: Giggs

stuart mathieson

Stuart Mathieson

March 13, 2008

UNITED'S thirty-somethings are primed to steer the Reds through the final 66 days of the campaign.

The Premiership champions have a possible 15 matches in that period from Saturday's league match at Derby County up to a potential finale in Moscow in the Champions League.

Ryan Giggs believes that he, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar can provide the back-up that will help newcomers like Anderson, Nani and Carlos Tevez deal with the unknown.

The veteran quartet have 24 Premiership titles between them and a combined career total of 63 years to pass onto Old Trafford's new generation.

"It is important that the experienced players help. We have had a lot of younger players come through this season similar to last season,” says United's record title holder Giggs who has nine in his collection.

“Myself, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Edwin Van der Sar, who have won leagues and experienced tough times and run ins before, helped the young lads last year and will help others this time.

“We help them in whatever way we can. It may be either vocally or whether it be on the pitch showing the right temperament and being a calming influence.

“It is difficult when you a young lad coming through has not faced a run-in and the games are coming thick and fast and big games at that. You have to try and get up for every game. But the young lads who hadn't won anything last year did really well.”

Twelve months ago the wheels came off United's treble hopes when a string of injuries struck the senior squad around spring time.

Gary Neville suffered his ankle ligament injury, Louis Saha had hamstring and knee problems, Mikael Silvestre dislocated his shoulder, Nemanja Vidic broke his collarbone and Rio Ferdinand was in and out during the final month.

But Giggs is confident the pool won't be stretched to breaking point this time around.

“I think the squad is more equipped than last year,” he added. “We have brought in players and we haven't got any injuries at the moment so hopefully that will continue when the games are Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday and each game is a Cup Final.

“The manager can afford to chop and change if any of the lads are tired or someone is not showing the form he expects of them. He can do that at the moment. We have probably got two players for each position at present which is ideal because we can play two teams.”

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Demo, Glossop (13/03/2008 at 09:37)

these experienced players definately do have wisdom to share and hopefully will contribute in the run in.

for the majority i think we are better equipped to handle injury this year but i do think we are still short up front if rooney or tevez gets injured or suspended

Gillian England (13/03/2008 at 10:04)

When is SAF going to realise
its a BIG centre forward that we need !!!!
we got the defenders and the midfielders !!!
come on mate !!!

TMUF, Manchester (13/03/2008 at 10:26)

Gillian I think they have realised it.

Saha could have been that man had his injury record not been so poor, but the signing of Manucho changes that.

I am surprised the article is not up yet, but he scored on his debut for Pananth..kos and seems to have scored about a gaol a game sinve we signed him.

Agree the experienced people should help alot, with Arsenal being so inexperienced, there nerves are beginning to be tested, while Chelsea are in 3rd and not expected to win so have the least pressure.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (13/03/2008 at 10:55)

Are we well equiped to cope with injuries if we are again unlucky this season, we have no forward cover, and again if vidic or ferdinand had an injury we would be light also in that dept, we already only really have o'shea as back up who has experience.

Red Seven (13/03/2008 at 12:01)

Morning all - Deby at the weekend should be three points in the bag. What is the story with Ronaldo (or the rest of the players). I think he currently has four yellows, if he gets booked this weekend he would miss the scouse match. Anyone know if he or anyone else is approaching a one game suspension?

wazza10 (13/03/2008 at 12:06)

if l was the boss l wouldnt play Nemanja in this Derby game he is one yellow away from suspension and one again he will be out of the Pile game,Ronnie can be fine to play even though he is one yellow as well

The Kid (13/03/2008 at 12:19)

More spin from a player who has been woeful for the last 18 months. Why he was given a contract extension only Ferguson knows. Restore him back to the first eleven and, we will win nowt. He’s lost his pace and unlike Sholes and Sheringham he does not react quickly enough. If Ferguson insists on playing him and we win nowt then his tenure would be seriously threatened. United are deluded if they think supporters will continue to contribute. They have upset a lot of hardened followers with the compulsory cup scheme, and, I don’t know of any regular attending supports who think Giggs is worthy of a place in the first eleven, let alone a contract extension. Gill and Ferguson can spin it out, however the debt is too big to service without regular success.

Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (13/03/2008 at 12:53)

Nani is a bit raw, makes some mistakes, true. But he creates more in 90 minutes than Giggs can create in a season now. Nani is not the finished article, but he contributes way more than Giggs is capable of now. He's younger, has more energy, gets about the pitch better, beats his man more easily, crosses infinitely better, gets the ball in the danger ares more, and is a better finisher than Giggs ever was. And he's not got a bald patch starting at the back of his head.

Barry Lee, USA (13/03/2008 at 13:24)

VDS can play a part, Scholes a bit part, Neville, are you kidding?, and Giggs needs to watch himself on video.
But I'll bet SAF plays him. Giggs should play no further role in the season. These younger players can take it.
As for Vidic and Ronaldo on 4 yellows: you know there's nothing more that some of these refs would like to do than to give out those 5th yellow cards that would put them out of the Liverpool game. There's nothing more that the FA would like either. We wouldn't get anything rescinded like Chelski.

Mr C., Chorlton, Manchester. (13/03/2008 at 13:44)

I was concerned about Vidic and Ronnie's 5th yellow card. However, after reading on the FA website, picking up a fifth yellow after February will not lead to a suspension but just a verbal warning about future conduct etc.....

D.S, Salford (13/03/2008 at 14:59)

Spot on Mr C., Chorlton, Manchester. i was gonna say...after last weekend every player has got a clean slate for the run in, so ronaldo i believe has one yellow card and so does Vidic..so no need to be worried about that. Now Khaled from bangladesh...may i ask when did you start supporting United?wont be suprised if it was a year ago, just do yourself a favour and shut it if you dont know what you are talking about. nani a better finisher than giggs ever was?are u kidding me? Giggs is off pace and yes nani should be given a run in, but going to the extent of saying giggs shouldnt play any part for the rest of the season its absolute idiotic. The experience players like giggs and scholes brings to the team is worthless, and u cant deny that!

Kash, New York (13/03/2008 at 15:02)

to TMUF, Manucho's debut-goal was mentioned on Manutd website. He does seem like an in-the-box no.9 striker. Good cover to Saha for next season.

I think it clear about Giggs, he is not first-11 type. As for Nani..he has to start supplying better corners. We can score on set-peices but need a good supply.

Sean, NYXMC (13/03/2008 at 15:16)

D.S. - I hope you meant "priceless", not "worthless".... If so, I couldn't agree more

SAPPER, MANCHESTER (13/03/2008 at 15:32)

Got to agree with Giggs's comments they should be there only to provide back up nothing more, not VDS though as he is still a good keeper. wonder why Foster was not playing in the reserves last night to give him the match practice.
Also why did United not appeal the red card for kitkat???? although I think it would have been a waste of time as it is United we would probably get the ban increased.
I bet we do not give Derby a stuffing like chelski did, something tell me we will change the team again and struggle.
At least Benitez has seen the error of his ways and is keeping the same team which shows in their performances.

Red Lou, Malta (13/03/2008 at 15:42)

Of course we need Giggs' and Neville's experience - but on the training grounds and in the dressing room and no longer on the pitch. As for Paul Scholes and VDS, i agree they can still play a very active part in the run-in. Go United!

Voyager (13/03/2008 at 15:58)

Giggs 100 goals in 17 years, that's less than 6 goals a season. Rubbish player wouldn't get in the Derby team.

Jonny Finlay (13/03/2008 at 16:23)

have we not got bolton b4 the scouse?

Keano16, Baltimore, MD (13/03/2008 at 17:28)

The Giggs-bashers on this board are incredible. Over the past year or so he hasn't put in consistent performances like those we've been blessed with for 17 years, but the "johnny-come-lately" fans obviously underestimate the influence he can still provide - both on and off the pitch. Sentimentality is no reason to include someone in the starting XI, but Giggs can still help this team and when fit, deserves consideration for inclusion in nearly every match. I'm hard pressed to think of a manager more ruthless than Fergie when it comes time to cut ties with players who no longer provide value to the club. At present, Giggs still does not fall into that category. The most decorated player in Premiership history deserves a little slack from the so-called fans here...perhaps you'd have been happier if he'd stayed at City...

D.S, Salford (13/03/2008 at 17:28)

Sean, NYXMC..yeh i meant to say priceless not worthless...got a little bit entagled between both words there.lol...thanks for bringing me to book.

David hunt (13/03/2008 at 18:13)

Hey Demo you never used to talk this much sense, what happened?

manu xpert (13/03/2008 at 18:34)

giggs back to what he doe's best talking a good game!.i agree with[ kalid mahmood]giggs never been a good finisher and nani is way better then him.all nani needs is bit more composure,that will come with experience.

Sean, NYXMC (14/03/2008 at 02:38)

Well said Keano - the perfect riposte to some of the jerks posting here (the king of which has to be Barry). Giggs has a lot left to offer this team - and we have SO much to thank him for. 30 years from now he will be remembered as one of the "I was there when..." players.

Thomas, Norway (14/03/2008 at 07:47)

I agree that the old heads are important but I will not use the word vital. Our old heads at this club is struggling to keep up the pace with the rest of the team. The modern game is developing, and its developing fast. We will see more of players such as Ronaldo, Rooney, Anderson, Nani and Tevez who`s got tremendous pace and work rate. For some years ago it was no problem for player to keep on into his mid thirties. Today this is more difficult simply because the pace of the game has increased so dramatically. Routine is important but not vital. It is useless if you can`t keep up the pace, atleast out on the pitch. You might say it is important to have these kind of players around at the club to pass on their knowledge and examples to the younger guards.

mylifeinthemafia (14/03/2008 at 08:36)

Kash, good cover for Saha. He'll be playing a lot then.

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