Manchester United’s most successful period, dominating the Premiership era of English football, has coincided with a time when the squad has been packed with talent from the youth team. Of course, there is no denying that superb management of Sir Alex Ferguson as well as the exciting talent from abroad have had a huge influence on the club’s success, but it cannot be ignored what a difference it makes to have players representing a team they have been a part of since they were teenagers.
When United won the Double at the end of a season which started with Alan Hansen’s “you’ll never win anything with kids” remark, it was clear United were destined for many trophy filled years. So many times the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have pulled a performance out of nowhere, dragging the team forward if needsby, clearly motivated by their passion for the club. The same can be said of the more recent “kids”, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher and John O’Shea, who have made up for what they are sometimes lacking in ability with their drive to succeed for their boyhood club.
Sir Alex Ferguson has today said he hopes the likes of Neville, Scholes and Giggs continue on at the club with some sort of role after their playing careers have ended, claiming they are “absolutely perfect for the club.”
“Players like Ryan, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes will follow the pattern of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, I am sure of that,” said Ferguson. “It is something we will be looking at in terms of a future with us in relation to a position at the club in some shape or form because they have been fantastic examples. There is no doubt when it comes to personality, experience and lifestyle, they are absolutely perfect for a club.”
What roles, if any, would you like to see Neville, Giggs and Scholes perform for the club in the future?
Ole has already joined in & it will be a dream come true if our veteran trio joined in , i totally agree with SAF ….. these guys will be perfect for the club but on the other hand i want them to play for us as long as possible
Oh definitely,I’m hoping for one of them to become manager after Sir Alex retires;)
A few years back, I started dreaming and wishing that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Giggs would stay on with the club after retirement and start sharing with the long term view of taking over, the role of club ambassador from the aging sir Bobby Charton. Ole has started to do this already.
I also dreamed that these two would one day also take over from SBC in role of club director, to mantain continuity of old staff being incooperated into the board. I am sure one or both will succeed SBC.
In coaching role I had Solskjaer, Giggs, Scholes and Van Der Sar in mind for their special talents. Solskjaer to me was the gold standard in finishing and would make an excellent striker coach, which he has already started doing.
Giggs is next to none in close control of the ball and would make a great special skills example and coach for forwards and wingers as well as coach for creative thinking. Scholes would make a good coach for midfielders in playmaker role, keeping the ball in the centre of the park and control flow and tempo of the game.
Getting Van Der Sar as keeper coach would be a major coup with his wealth of experience in top level of club and interrnational games as well as adding his personality to the faculty. I don’t quite see Neville as a coach but do see a role in him being associated with the club in ambassador role and spokesperson like Crerand. He would be good in setting tone in club moral and expectations.
Of the group mentionedI I think Scholes in particular and pershaps Neville would go on to be club managers and I think Scholes in particular would be a great tactician.
It would be great to see them all stay on at the club, I just don’t see much point anymore as we don’t seem to be bothered about producing our own players anymore. We just buy them off other clubs…
I agree wholeheartedly with Tone!. We need someone on the coaching staff who REALLY HAVE A STRONG PASSION FOR SPOTTING AND DEVELOPING BRITISH YOUTH TALENT, Especially English young players. I don’t think Giggs, Scholes or Ole would be good for this, BUT RED NEV I COULD SEE DOING THIS, WITH HIS PASSION FOR ENGLISH FOOTBALL. I really miss the Nev passion since he has been out, something I fear both Giggs and Scolesy seem to lack these days. Apologies to Giggsy and Scholesy fans – it’s just my opinion, which is what football is all about.
My point wasn’t to suggest that these players won’t be good for the development of our youth players. It’s more about not really seeing the point in having an academy at all anymore. If the players we raise through it aren’t gonna get a chance anyway, we might as well let City or someone else take them in the first place…
And then there were 3…Its amazing how players can be this loyal.Giggs has known sir alex for 20 years!No wonder sir alex feels so attached to him and the others.Their like his kids.Would love to see them stay on.Also hoping some local boys can come through to continue the trend.Even if its only one or two.
If we can get Danny Simpson through for now, then we have a couple of years, maybe three, to develop Danny Welbeck. It doesn’t look too bad anymore then, but I’m not very hopefull with all these foreign kids who are too old for the academy coming in. Simmo seems to be out again, anyway.
Frazier Campbell is a player I am interested in seeing come back to United. Simpson is a dead cert and Cathcart and Gibson, to name a few are looking like great potentials for us.. It’s always tough to produce a team of world beaters from your own youth system, which is what is so amazing and remarkable about the babes and the class of ‘92.
I wouldn’t say Giggs and Scholes lack passion, maybe our young squad is just moving too fast for them at times being the grandads that they are? :Op
Simpson is back in the reserves for unknown reasons. He’s hardly had a chance all season, eventhough Ferguson keeps talking about him. I’ve seen it all before, so I’ve stopped hoping. Why are we linked to various fullbacks if he’s actually seen as a replacement for Neville?