By John ST

Alex Ferguson is no stranger to infusing his squad with new blood and wielding the axe on senior players. Over the years, his risk taking on team selection had resulted in handsome rewards and some spectacular failures.

While the jury is still out for his latest bet on Michael Owen, nobody will debate the success he yielded in the ’90s when he threw his lot behind the fledglings comprising Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, David Beckham and Nicky Butt.

However, the stakes have gotten higher and Ferguson is not given to wholesale changes to his squad anymore. Competition in the Premier League has increased tremendously with the influx of foreign money and it is no longer a walk in the park or a two horse race between Manchester United and Arsenal. By embarking on spending binges, Chelsea, deprived of success for 50 years have become a Premier League powerhouse.

Manchester City are also building a team based on this formula and garnered initial success by demolishing Arsenal and going right down to the wire in the Manchester derby. While Arsenal continue to have a say in the title race, there are also lurking threats posed by the likes of Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa which have benefited from capable and consistent management.

In addition, the debt obligations of Manchester United, thanks to the Glazers’ leveraged buy-out, also mean failure is not an option. Catastrophic financial implications await Manchester United if their title chances and entertainment value decline.

Hence, it is not surprising that Alex Ferguson has developed an “unhealthy” dependence on Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Both have been the bedrocks of many brilliant Manchester United teams but age is no longer on their side.

Ferguson is reluctant to see Paul Scholes end his stellar service but the latter has indicated that this season could be his last. Scholes has been enjoying a renaissance the last few years after a successful comeback from illness and injuries. Impulsive tackles aside, he has established himself as one of the best midfielders to grace the Premier Leauge.

Paul Scholes is most impressive with the ball at his feet. He exudes an assuredness; even with opponents breathing down his neck, he is rarely forced into making stray passes. His passes may appear gloriously simple, yet the range and unerring accuracy are the envy of many footballers.

Indeed, the statistics speak for themselves. Against Birmingham, Scholes made 100 passes, 97 of them successful, while against Wigan, he made 41 passes, with 40 of them successful. Against Stoke City on Saturday, his record stood at 70 passes, 67 of them finding their targets.

The other indispensable veteran is Ryan Giggs whose recent displays has Alex Ferguson waxing lyrical on his longevity. Ferguson said: “I don’t know what else there is to say about Ryan. It’s not a matter of him defying his age, it’s that there’s no discernible deterioration in his game.”

“He is an absolutely marvellous player who has thoroughly deserved all the superlatives and praise he has had down the years.”

“The amazing thing about him is the youthfulness he continues to show. It’s as if he is just starting out his career. The other great thing about him is you can praise him to the heavens and he won’t be affected by a single word of it.”

To put Giggs’s longevity in context, it is not difficult to play football till 35-36 years old when languishing in the bottom divisions, but to play an influential role at the highest level for a club like Manchester United where there is always intense pressure to win is awe-inspiring.

Comapred to United’s right wing where many have come and gone, including Andrei Kanchelskis, David Beckham, Karel Poborsky, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jordi Cruyff, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, nobody has really toppled Giggs from his rooster except for Alex Ferguson’s decision to move him into central midfield.

Some fans had called Ryan Giggs the Benjamin Button of the Premier League and it is an apt description for the extraordinary way in which he rolls back the years. The youthfulness in Giggs’s play has coincided with his superb match fitness, lack of injuries and confidence.

Giggs turns 36 in November, but his form has been excellent so far. He created eight of United’s goals in his last three appearances. Micah Ricards, who has a tough job of shackling Ryan Giggs in the 4-3 Manchester derby loss, is not alone in feeling embarrassed that he cannot outrun nor outlast a player many years his senior.

Days later, it came down to the Welsh wizard to provide two magical moments for Manchester United to break down a stubborn Stoke’s defense through Berbatov and O’Shea. Wolfsburg were then given a reminder of Giggs’s evergreen status when they fell prey to his deflected free kick and a superb laid-off for Michael Carrick.

I believe Ryan Giggs is a better player than he was four or five years ago when Manchester United went three seasons without a league title and Giggs was singled out by the fans for his peripheral impact.

Appeasing the fans’ dissatisfaction by finding a scapegoat will have been an easy route for a manager to take. Fortunately, Alex Ferguson refused to bench the player and maintained his unwavering support during those dark moments.

It is impossible to speak about the legend Ryan Giggs without mentioning the crucial role Ferguson played as his mentor. From the day Giggs burst on the scene and displaced Lee Sharpe at the tender age of 17, Alex Ferguson was there to shield him from the impressionable media who drew comparisons to George Best.

Ferguson realizes that such attention could be a curse and destroy the budding talent if expectations fall short. Amid all the hype, he ensured his prodigy has his feet firmly planted on the ground, behaves in a professional manner and is kept away from bad influences in football.

Giggs has repaid his faith and today he is one of the seniors who passes on the proud Manchester United tradition to the youngsters and provides a calming influence, experience, motivation and close bonding on the pitch.

Looking at the accomplishments of Ryan Giggs, it makes me wonder if there will be another football player who can accumulate as much awards during his lifetime in this modern game. As Manchester United’s most decorated player, Giggs has won 11 Premier League titles, two European Cups, four FA Cups and three League Cups, as well as the PFA Player of the Year award last season. Yet, success has not bred any complacency in him. In fact, he remains as hungry for success as ever.

Giggs scored his 150th goal in all competitions during the Champions League victory over Wolfsburg and became only the ninth player to reach that landmark in the club’s illustrious history. He is also on track to breach the century goals in the Premier League, having scored in each season of the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

The goal scoring records are impressive given that Giggs’s importance has never been measured by the number of times he finds the net but rather the chances he created.

While past achievements are no indication of the future, Ryan Giggs has become more influential as he ages. To stay at the top, Giggs is disciplined in preparing his body for the rigors of Premier League and Champions League football.

Brazilians Ronaldo and Ronaldinho may have excelled in their prime but once they put on the extra pounds, they become liabilities to their teams. Fortunately, flab is not a word you associate with Ryan Giggs.

His temperament, experience and thirst to improve also sets him apart. Aware that blistering pace and dazzling footwork are no longer his forte, he has cultivated other areas of his game, like accuracy in dead ball situations and passing.

While Giggs is still skillful enough to stay close to the touchline and pull opponents wide, his conversion into a central midfielder means he has to play a more intelligent game and reads the game well to distribute passes. As a winger, he just needs to focus on getting past defenders and then cross the ball into the six yard box. His willingness to refine skills which suit Ferguson’s strategic requirements speaks volume of his versatility.
Manchester United’s Dilemma

On the surface, it is still a smooth ride for Manchester United. Apart from an early stumble at Burnley, the Red Devils have racked up victories against Arsenal, Stoke City, Manchester City, Besiktas and Wolfsburg.

Arsenal had outplayed United and so did Manchester City which eventually resulted in a debacle about added time. Wolfsburg gave United a mighty fright at Old Trafford and, with a little fortune, they could have won with their lead in the second half and several gilt edged opportunities.

Manchester United’s struggle against weak teams has been trying but their capacity for rallies ensure they stay in the title race. However, luck finally caught up with them again as Sunderland forced them into a 2-2 draw. Ferguson had not placed Ryan Giggs on the bench, which deprived the team of a vital inspiration. Two precious points are lost but considering that there are more tough matches coming up, Ferguson has to use Giggs sparingly.

Herein lies the problem. Though the Red Devils have a penchant for staging late comebacks to win games, Ryan Giggs is a key part of this revival and if he suffers a dip in form or is sidelined due to injuries, the result could be disastrous.

The expectations heaped on Ryan Giggs may also be counterproductive. The season is still young, nothing has been won yet but Ryan Giggs has already been feted by a multitude of eulogies. Some Manchester United fans are even clamoring to have him knighted.

I am not saying that Giggs is not deserving of a knighthood. His professionalism is a shining beacon to all sportsmen who endeavor to excel beyond the age limit.

However, football fans are capricious and their adulation can turn on a dime with the subject being hung out to dry after a string of lousy performances. And I will rather not see that happen to Giggs.

Where Is Alex Ferguson’s Future Team?

Despite Manchester United’s shaky start, there is no need to press the panic button as they do not usually gather momentum until after Christmas.

Nevertheless, Mark Hughes was not entirely wrong to say that United are not the same after selling Cristiano Ronaldo. Manchester United can still dominate possession but there are times when they appeared lost and didn’t know what to do with the ball as they press forward.

There are only two players now (Scholes and Giggs) who still possess ability to unlock defenses and deliver quality passes in the final third. Barring which, Rooney often has to drop deeper to create chances. The lighting pace at which United launch counter attacks when Ronaldo was around has also been blunted.

Currently, Manchester United’s vaunted attacking prowess are being hampered by a lack of quality wingers. If the players entrusted with the task of succeeding Giggs and Scholes, Alex Ferguson will have a pleasant headache and the fans can rest easy that the future team is ready.

Some of United’s critics are wondering what happened to Fergie’s team building? How can the title campaign of a world class club hinge so heavily on a man turning 36 years old? After all, this is an age where one can be forgiven for panting after climbing a few flight of stairs, not to mention being in the thick of action of a high tempo football match.

Has Alex Ferguson adequately prepared Manchester United for the day when the two icons hang up their boots? If not, for all his stellar achievements, Ferguson will have United miserably when the old guards call it a day.

Antonio Valencia is trying hard to fill the massive void left by Cristiano Ronaldo and so far, I believe he is more of utility player than a game changing maestro. Valencia is strong and pacy, but in terms of ball control, first touch and accuracy, he leaves much to be desired.

He had an open chance to score against Stoke City after beating the defense and leaving Sorensen stranded, but he can only fire the ball wide. Valencia committed the same mistake again when Wolfsburg granted him an open look at goal.

As for Nani, this is already his third season at Manchester United after a 17 million pounds transfer from Sporting Lisbon but his technical abilities have not improved much. He failed to make simple passes and doesn’t have the deftness to get pass defenders.

It could be a lack of confidence as the fans love to compare Nani to Cristiano Ronaldo. I believe If Nani cannot replicate Ronaldo’s mesmerizing skills, he should at least do away with the flamboyance.

Too often Nani overindulged at the expense of the team, gifting the ball easily when he runs at defenders or shooting on sight, when a team-mate was better placed. The spurned chances have left Wayne Rooney a frustrated and isolated player.

Nani’s impotent display at Britannia Stadium did not escape Alex Ferguson who brought on Ryan Giggs and the transformation in Manchester United’s play was immediate.

With two stunning assists, Giggs showed Nani that effective contributions on a football pitch do not have to be complicated. Dazzling ball skills may be candy to the eyes but it is the simple, efficient passes which can win you the game.

No doubt Giggs remains in a class of his own, and when he does eventually retires, his loss will be more keenly felt by Manchester United than any other player during Fergie’s illustrious reign.

But for the continuity of United’s success, this should be the last season that Giggs hogs the limelight in this manner. It is time for the youngsters to step up to the plate. Next season may pose a greater challenge to United’s dominance if Ferguson fail to find able substitutes to replace the legendary Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.