Giggs set for more deal talks

Stuart Mathieson

April 14, 2005

EAGER TO STAY: Ryan Giggs

RYAN Giggs is set for a double boost - with new talks over his Manchester United contract next week to follow a potential FA Cup semi-final comeback on Sunday.

The Welshman's hopes of a new deal at Old Trafford are set to be resurrected. Giggs' agent, Harry Swales, is awaiting a call from United to set a new date for discussions expected to take place after the weekend.

Giggs' camp have spoken to the club just once all season, and that was last year when the Reds offered a 12-month extension to his present deal.

His contract runs out in the summer of 2006 and he has been holding out for a two-year deal beyond that.

However, United have consistently offered players one-year deals once they reach their 30s. But Giggs is hoping a compromise can be reached.

"I am hoping we will get around a table and talk again," said Swales.

"I think commonsense will prevail on both sides. I am not one to go thumping on desks and demanding things.

"Ryan doesn't want to leave United. It's his life, not just a career. We have never discussed anything beyond him staying."

Giggs, who has had a 14-year senior career with United, is among the club's top earners, at around '70,000 a week.

Success

United, having been hit by a 54 per cent drop in half-year profits last month while confirming a six per cent increase in the wage bill, have been designing new deals that are linked to success.

A compromise with Giggs could see United agree to a two-year extension on reduced wages or a pay-as-you-play scheme.

United chief executive David Gill has warned that massive salary increases have come to an end and players will have to accept incentive-based deals.

Meanwhile, the Reds winger has been racing to overcome a hamstring niggle so that Sir Alex Ferguson can include him for United's make-or-break semi clash with Newcastle in his home city of Cardiff.

Intense treatment since coming off after six minutes of United's home Premiership match with Blackburn 12 days ago has put the 31-year-old on course for a return at the Millennium Stadium.

Giggs suffered the injury following two World Cup qualifying outings for Wales in the space of five days.

He missed last Saturday's defeat at Norwich but is hopeful of being fit for Sunday.

What deal would you offer Giggs? Have your say.

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Rob Black, DavyHulme (14/04/2005 at 12:54)

Giggs shouldnt be offered a contract, why should a bloke who hasnt performed for 4 years and has no courage be rewarded with a contract extension, he should be sold whilst we can still get a fee and his wages should go towards a top class Left winger, we have already missed out on Robben and Duff because of Giggs. The club is in the state it is at the minute because of the likes if Giggs in the comfort zone creaming off 70k a week...And when will people realise we will never win a European Cup or Premiership with Giggs, Scholes and the great Keano...

Don Corleone, Manchester (14/04/2005 at 12:55)

Let's hope the mighty Reds re-sign Giggsy. I know he gets some flak from United fans but you'll miss him when he's gone. He may be over thirty but he's still got plenty to offer. Look at the Milan back four - yes, they're old, but i'd swap them for our lot in a heartbeat. You won't find a better left winger than Giggs anywhere in the world. He's still better than Damien Duff and Arjen Bobbins and he's got more integrity than those two combined. Giggs is a simple man who asks very little. He's been a loyal servant to this club PLUS he has never been spotted in a London restaurant with Peter Kenyon, which is more than can be said for some of today's mercanaries.

Windy Miller, Camberwick Green (14/04/2005 at 13:00)

70K per week!!
And Ryan needs more talks?
A bit of advice for you lad, pick up the nearest pen and sign whatever Utd are willing to give you, and quick. Nobody wants to sign a 30 odd year old winger with dodgy hamstrings and pay him 70K a week on a long contract. The real world awaits you Ryan. Don't sign and the downward spiral will begin, just ask Nicky Butt.

de Meester, Amsterdamned (14/04/2005 at 13:01)

I wish him luck, but we demend 110 per cent commitment to the Red cause!
We ought to look at the two PSV - them again!? - wingers Jefferson Farfan and deMarcus Beasley(a self-confessed Red) as the options fro Giggsy.
Up The Reds

Sydney, Australia (14/04/2005 at 13:04)

What for? Too old. Would he play in the starting 11 at Chelsea, Arsenal, Real, Milan? Enough said.

Derrick, Bournemouth (14/04/2005 at 13:10)

No to a 1 year contract at B#70k a week? Fine, so give him a 2 year contract at B#35k per week.

Paul, Birmingham (14/04/2005 at 13:19)

he needs a good talking to about why his form is so erratic. Sign a rival to make him perform and pay Giggs on games would be my ideal. I'd rather pay him B#150k per good game (or even B#200k) than B#70k per week regardless. If he's good enough he's in the team and earns a packet, if not then United don't waste a player and money After all Giggs can't be short of a bob or two.

Mary, Sale (14/04/2005 at 13:35)

The only deal Giggs should be offered is a transfer deal,the player cant honestly think he is worth more than 5.000pds per week.

Fredrik Lake, boston, MA (14/04/2005 at 14:46)

Too old, too inconsistent and over-paid. Yes, give him a new two year contract worth 20k a week, not more.

Andy B, Manchester (prestwich) (14/04/2005 at 16:01)

I think Ryan is a good player and giggs on form is the best left winger in the world, we have been spoilt with his past performancies and we all need to remember that. His wage should be payed ona pay as you play and give him a big wage or pay him his B#70k but every time he does not play reduce his salarey pro rata.

R. Giggs, Wales (14/04/2005 at 16:33)

Sydney, Australia - you asked would Giggs get into those starting line-ups? Well, let's see. Real have Figo and Beckham in their starting XI. Chelsea have Robben and Duff. Arsenal have Pires and Ljungberg. Since Giggs is superior to all of those players, I'd say he could get into their teams. All except Milan, although the Italians have always appreciated Giggs, so maybe he could play for Milan. Giggs got us out of trouble several times this season, like at Villa, for example. Maybe he would have broken the deadlock against Palace or been the difference aginst Norwich. Show the man some respect.

Duffer, NJ, USA (14/04/2005 at 17:33)

Give him a new contract and move on. He's been world class for a long time and a red through and through. Is he worth the same money as Robben and Duff? I say a resounding yes.
Mary, are there any players on the team that you like and would like to see play next season? Some of your friends perhaps! Sure we should pay Giggs $5K a week and give the other $65K to the shareholders. That'll get us back on top fast.

Mary, Sale (14/04/2005 at 18:38)

R. Giggs Wales you really are a funny guy,Giggs does not even come in the same class as Beckham or ZIDANC'.

Ry Fellowes, Glasgow (14/04/2005 at 20:43)

show him respect, for what!? for being greedy, lazy and giving one month of good football in the past 3 years. he goes on about deserving a longer contract because of the loyalty hes shown - well i thought thats what testimonials are for and if it was such a burden staying then he could have buggered off with his B#70k per week and erratic performances a couple of years ago for all i care. utd need a clear out with some younger faces coming in/promoted from the reserves and older players, like giggs, going out

TC, Perth (15/04/2005 at 01:58)

Rob Black seems to have his finger on the problem. These three plus the manager have been around too long. It must be getting on for ten years now that they've been together.
If they were really United fans they would walk away now and stop milking them for every last penny they can.

Sydney, Australia (15/04/2005 at 02:09)

Giggs, Wales: Are you serious? I would play Figo, Robben and Duff any day before Giggs if I had the choice. Robben was Chelsea's best player before he got injured. Figo was driving Real for much of the season and don't get me started on Duff. At the moment I would even rather have Beckham on the right and play Ronaldo on the left. At least our strikers would get some decent crosses in from the right and you better believe that RvN would have scored a tonne more goals this year with Beckam's crosses. Ronaldo can't cross and I don't think Giggs knows how to spell the word. And let's not even talk about his corners or the way he runs 'into' defenders and then looks to the ref for a foul. Come on. I appreciate the guy for what he has done, but both Duff and Robben wanted to come to MU and I dare anyone to tell me that they would rather have Giggs than either of those two at the moment.

And by the way, Arsenal have Pires on the wing and with 11 goals in the PL I wouldn't mind him either. Ljungberg has 10.

SKC, PJ, Malaysia (15/04/2005 at 02:27)

Dear members of the board

This is the moment that you have been waiting for. Show Ferguson who is in charge. Show that you have some courage. In the past 4 years how has he performed? Also it is time for a new manager and he should be given the opportunity to decide on the team that he wants. This or the next season will be Ferguson's last year in charge. Look to the future before the past happens again!

skh, Malaysia (15/04/2005 at 07:32)

Get rid of him.The last few seasons he would just amble around the pitch when fielded , no doubt with his hamstring uppermost in his mind.

Louis, Malta (15/04/2005 at 08:36)

Man United should stop living in the past and start thinking more about the future. The fact that Giggs was a legend in the past and that he gave a lot to the club is beyond any question. But this should not even be considered when assessing his contribution to the team today and in the next two seasons. I say give him a one year rolling contract (same as the boss) but based on appearances and performance.

Harris, ex-crumpsallite now Sweden (15/04/2005 at 09:46)

It seems to me that Ryan has been more than well compensated for his loyalty (including his 10 yr testimonial).
I dont understand why there is such a panic when he has at the moment still 1+1 yr left on his contract. He's not going anywhere - having built a new house in Eccles.
To all those who want to give him a new contract, just have a look at a video of him playing 10 yrs ago and compare it to his performances of today. Is he worth more money now???

Mary, Sale (15/04/2005 at 10:54)

Ask the workers of MG rover about loyalty the worked for a living the company is loosing millions per day,why because the cars are outdated and cost to much to produce.They will loose there jobs and get a pitance.Giggs should thank his lucky stars he still plays for United.

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (15/04/2005 at 11:12)

Giggs is 32 in August and still has a contract that pays him B#70,000 a week up until he's almost 34. Now United have, very generously, offered to increase this contract at the same B#70,000 a week for an extra year, meaning he'll be a United player earning B#70k a week until he's almost 35 years of age, yet he believes he should have a contract until he's nearly 36!!! Come on Giggsy, surely your not going to try and convince the fans and the board that you'll still be able to offer our club value for money at that age!!! Most fans on here agree that over the last 3 years Giggs has been, at best, an average player for Man United. As for being the best Left winger in the world, yes a long time ago he was, but judging by his performances over the past 3 years then I'd say he's not even in the top 3 of the Premiership. Pires, Duff and Robben have all been better than Giggs. I'm sorry but if Giggs really doesn't accept the 1 year extension already on the table the I'd be happy for the club to sell him and get B#7m for him and get his B#70,000 a week salary off the wage bill. I doubt very much that any team he does go to will give him a 4 year deal on B#70k a week though and the sooner Giggs realises this the better. Live the Dream.....

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