United linked with van Gaal in the meeja

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Future still up in the air for Giggs and Manchester United with Van Gaal decision delayed

By Andy Mitten

The last time Ryan Giggs visited the Netherlands in mid-May, he had just made his debut as a Manchester United player.

Giggs made an impact after his March 1991 introduction, but he was still only 17 years old and travelled as a fan to see his new teammates beat Barcelona two months later in Rotterdam in the Cup Winners’ Cup final.

On Wednesday, Giggs, 41, returned to Holland by private jet, to the coastal town of Noordwijk, 30 kilometres north of Rotterdam. He went to meet United’s manager-in-waiting Louis van Gaal at his penthouse to discuss the future along with United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Expectations were that United would announce Van Gaal as their next manager on Thursday, with Giggs as his assistant, but any announcement is now anticipated next week. The meeting went well and Van Gaal remains keen to become United manager.

Potential transfer targets have been discussed for weeks, so United are aware of the players the Dutch coach wants, including the club’s own targets. The contract for Van Gaal was drawn up two weeks ago and agreed, but details are still to be finalised.

Van Gaal would have preferred the announcement came sooner, so that he could concentrate on overseeing the Netherlands’s World Cup preparations. He does not enjoy being disingenuous when being asked about United on a daily basis in news conferences, nor the distraction that it causes. He wants the deal done and dusted, rather than to be followed around Holland by the media, but agreement was needed over his coaching staff at Old Trafford and he did not meet Giggs until Wednesday.

Giggs likes Van Gaal and admires his forthright style and straight-talking approach. He respects his record, status and experience and says he feels that he can learn from the Dutch coach with the aim of becoming United manager himself in the future.

Giggs, with 963 United appearances since that 1991 debut, is still undecided on whether he will continue playing. He had originally anticipated another season, had David Moyes stayed as manager, but he may quit to concentrate on his role as an assistant.

If he does, he will see his wages cut dramatically from an £80,000 (Dh493,000) weekly playing contract to around a tenth of that as coach. Being assistant manager of Manchester United is not the most lucrative job in football, but it is a position from which Giggs can learn and hope to prosper. There are likely to be other changes among United’s coaches, with Phil Neville and Chris Woods expected to leave.

Van Gaal says he believes he can bring in quality players such as Borussia Dortmund’s central defender Mats Hummels, 25, players who will improve a United side who finished seventh in the Premier League last season.

Hummels would be considered a replacement for one of the outgoing central defenders. For example, Rio Ferdinand found out on Sunday that he will not be offered a contract. His teammates were not impressed by the manner in which the news was delivered immediately after the final game of the season at Southampton, but players are seldom satisfied with the manner in which they leave any club.

Nemanja Vidic made his decision to depart at mid-season, when all was not well at United under Moyes. Changes mean he is now a reluctant departee, but he made his decision to move to Inter Milan.

Vidic will be one of several departures, with Woodward telling a panel of New York Stock Exchange analysts yesterday that United’s revenue has increased 26 per cent in the previous year, with third-quarter revenues of £115.5 million.

“This puts us in a healthy financial position to continue to invest in the squad,” Woodward said. “Everyone at the club is working hard to ensure the team is back challenging for the title and trophies next season.”

United hope Van Gaal can improve those fortunes, though who will be assisting him in that task still awaits confirmation.
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Source
 
SteveJ said:
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:lol: The way he suddenly zooms into shot.
 
devilish said:
It is taking ages. I dont remember anything happening like that at any other club. Every deal at United seem full of drama.
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Last year, everyone knew Pellegrini was taking over City well before the season ended. For some reason, it was only announced on June 14. It wasn't full of drama or anything, probably because the City story was nowhere near as big as United. Had it been Arsenal, for instance, with a story similar to the 'Van Gaal saga', we wouldn't be thinking twice of it.

Things seem to be moving on anyway with bids and sackings. The official announcement is probably just a formality.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
By the sound of it the only thing 'up in the air' is if Ryan should continue as a player or not.
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Pretty much, it backs up last nights reports too. But it does appear that Giggs has yet to accept the role he was give, but he most likely will. I wonder if that's the hold up.
 
If it's a matter of (severely reduced) wages, then perhaps Ryan will go elsewhere.
 
SteveJ said:
If it's a matter of (severely reduced) wages, then perhaps Ryan will go elsewhere.
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Surely Giggs won't leave United over wages, he doesn't seem the type. Plus, don't coaches get pretty big bonuses when the team does well? That should balance out his 'poor' wage.
 
I don't get why the feck the future of Giggs is seen as the stumbling block If he wants to play, let him. If he wants to coach let the manager give him a job. Can't help but thinking this thing would have been concluded a long while ago if we stopped trying to sell 'accession project Giggs' to him.

It's maddening that his future is central to everything; Van Gaal clearly didn't want this dragged out for fear of it being a distraction to his world cup plans. Yet here we are and the sticking point STILL seems to be Giggs. Why? And I'm 100% convinced it isn't van Gaal insisting on him being a part of it. If he wants a job, van Gaal would offer him one. I don't see why his future is that important that it forms a central part and ultimately has a delaying influence on the appointment.

I know that van Gaal likes to keep some kind of link between the old coaching staff and his own but I'd doubt whether he'd want this to drag on well beyond the time he had hoped to be focusing 100% on world cup preparation to sort out the future of someone he's likely only ever met in passing before a flying visit to the hotel suite this week.

If we weren't trying to angle Giggs awkwardly into the situation then we'd have appointed van Gaal days ago as he wished so he could focus on the world cup and then decide who he wants on his coaching staff. Instead we've infringed upon his WC preparation time - all because we want Giggs involved. I'd have a VERY hard time believing van Gaal if give the choice wouldn't have insisted this dragged on as long as it did so he could find space for Giggs. I dont think he'd be that arsed.
 
Do people really think this is still not all done and signed? Stop being a drama queen, it will be announced in due time
 
Kayo said:
If Giggs wants to continue as a player he should go elsewhere.

(God that sounds harsh on a club legend)

However we should be giving his potential game time to kids like Lawrence.
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You are joking right?
 
redevil2 said:
Of course we can. Giggs' speciality is one of a kind. And it will maintain United as we want it to be throughout our history. We are not Chelsea or City without tradition

These are all a myth. Players turning manager does not necessarily shine in a lesser club especially with Giggsy's rich experience of the club. He would be frustrated, underachieved and learn not much. The transition from Fergie Era to a new era will be most appropriately with Giggsy as a right hand man.
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Experience counts though,I just feel there are better number two's out there than giving it to a guy that hasnt got experience.
 
royboy16 said:
Experience counts though,I just feel there are better number two's out there than giving it to a guy that hasnt got experience.
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Especially when the thing seems so awkward. I can't help but feel that van Gaal is entering into this 'project Giggs' thing reluctantly, which would provide an auspicious start to their working relationship. I can't believe that he'd be that bothered about whether Giggs, a man he's likely never had more than two passing words with in his life, was part of his coaching staff to the point that the decision was encroaching on the time he had hoped to be able to focus 100% on his World Cup preparation.
 
Van Gaal wants the job, we want Van Gaal. Nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong......

Maybe it's as simple as Van Gaal's time being taken up with WC prep-and so it takes time for him to agree to suggested contract changes.

I know I'm acting like a nervous Nelly-but I'll be glad once it's made official.
 
Plugsy said:
Especially when the thing seems so awkward. I can't help but feel that van Gaal is entering into this 'project Giggs' thing reluctantly, which would provide an auspicious start to their working relationship. I can't believe that he'd be that bothered about whether Giggs, a man he's likely never had more than two passing words with in his life, was part of his coaching staff to the point that the decision was encroaching on the time he had hoped to be able to focus 100% on his World Cup preparation.
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Well we will have to wait and see,hopefully LVG has the skills where he can work with an unproven number two.
 
KeninDC said:
Van Gaal wants the job, we want Van Gaal. Nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong......

Maybe it's as simple as Van Gaal's time being taken up with WC prep-and so it takes time for him to agree to suggested contract changes.

I know I'm acting like a nervous Nelly-but I'll be glad once it's made official.
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But we know van Gaal wanted it sorted before now. Then we go and fly Giggs to him. It does look as if that was at our behest rather than his, or at least he asked to meet the guy before appointing him. Every day almost leaks from reliable journalists oddly put Giggs' future as somehow central to everything. It should be, with the greatest of respect to him, barely a side issue. Yet every day almost we here: Giggs future not decided, United want Giggs to be given a prominent role, Giggs to meet with van Gaal, Giggs to decide on offer. For the life of me I can't understand why he seems to matter so much, especially to the point where he may well be a delaying influence.

He's was an interim boss and coach. The 'What Will Giggsy Do' narrative which seems to be seen as equal importance to van Gaal, is bizarre to me and I think it's at the club's initiative.
 
The Giggs thing will feck things up in the long run, No doubt about it. We're putting ourselves in a complicated position that looks to hand Giggs the job when LvG leaves no matter the situation. In 3 years who knows what managers are available, I don't like the idea of turning down/approaching a world class manager because Giggs as already been lined up.Can you imagine the press if LvG enters a tough spell? questions will be asked about Giggs taking the job on a regular basis, it will turn into a circus. Giggs is a legend but we need to move on, if he truly wants to become a manager he should go and prove himself elsewhere or at least in the reserves (Guardiola style)

Let LvG do what he thinks is best, he's shouldn't be here to hold Giggs hand, he's here to rebuild the squad and challenge for trophies. Honestly if Giggs was really up for the job he should have taken a coaching role under SAF 2-3 years ago. Bizarre as feck that he decides to take up his coaching badges/role when the greatest manager ever retires.
 
redevil2 said:
Really? What makes you feel that? News for you, there aren't!
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So in the whole world of football there's not a better assistant manager than someone who has never done the job before?

How do you work that one out?

That's up there with "Welbeck will score 20+ goals a season" that is.
 
Castia said:
The Giggs thing will feck things up in the long run, No doubt about it. We're putting ourselves in a complicated position that looks to hand Giggs the job when LvG leaves no matter the situation. In 3 years who knows what managers are available, I don't like the idea of turning down/approaching a world class manager because Giggs as already been lined up.Can you imagine the press if LvG enters a tough spell? questions will be asked about Giggs taking the job on a regular basis, it will turn into a circus. Giggs is a legend but we need to move on, if he truly wants to become a manager he should go and prove himself elsewhere or at least in the reserves (Guardiola style)
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How much do you know about football management to spout these rubbish?! Fact of matter is, nobody knows what life is like post Fergie. If new manager does not want to take advantage of getting an assistant who knows the club inside and out for 26 years, the manager is not worthy of keeping.

Castia said:
Let LvG do what he thinks is best, he's shouldn't be here to hold Giggs hand, he's here to rebuild the squad and challenge for trophies. Honestly if Giggs was really up for the job he should have taken a coaching role under SAF 2-3 years ago. Bizarre as feck that he decides to take up his coaching badges/role when the greatest manager ever retires.
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You seem to have a lot against Giggsy, angry even. FFS, what's wrong with people.
 
Browniee said:
Exactly! We are embarrassing, we dither over frigging everything.
We bring unwarranted attention to the club, negative attention.
Of course we don't know why it's being delayed but I'm putting my money on wages or transfer budget.
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You have no idea yet you say we're embarrassing? :lol:

Everything points to it already being agreed. Just because we haven't announced it doesn't mean it isn't happening.
 
The way Woodward speaks it sounds like the deal is done.

The Giggs nonsense is being reported by the daily bra, make of that what you will I'd say it's BS.
 
Plugsy said:
So in the whole world of football there's not a better assistant manager than someone who has never done the job before?

How do you work that one out?

That's up there with "Welbeck will score 20+ goals a season" that is.
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Well, Giggsy's contribution to the club and the new manager is not something you can get from someone new from outside. You think it is easy to come to United and fit right in? In your dreams, mate! Noone knows what the future holds but having giggsy around will calm a lot of nerves and make the life of the new manager easier. A good manager knows what to listen to and what not. He is still the person in charge to make decisions. If he's weak and incapable of good judgment, and do the right things, then it's the manager you should worry about, not the #2.
 
Giggs needs to be treated with respect whatever happens, probably why it's taking so long to iron it out. The guys appearance record and medal haul will stand forever, we don't want him leaving on bad terms.
 
redevil2 said:
Well, Giggsy's contribution to the club and the new manager is not something you can get from someone new from outside. You think it is easy to come to United and fit right in? In your dreams, mate! Noone knows what the future holds but having giggsy around will calm a lot of nerves and make the life of the new manager easier. A good manager knows what to listen to and what not. He is still the person in charge to make decisions. If he's weak and incapable of good judgment, and do the right things, then it's the manager you should worry about, not the #2.
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So Rio Ferdiand would make a better assistant than, say, Danny Blind for the same reason?
 
redevil2 said:
How much do you know about football management to spout these rubbish?! Fact of matter is, nobody knows what life is like post Fergie. If new manager does not want to take advantage of getting an assistant who knows the club inside and out for 26 years, the manager is not worthy of keeping.


You seem to have a lot against Giggsy, angry even. FFS, what's wrong with people.
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It's not the football knowledge its knowing the British press. Giggs want's the job, everybody knows that there's no doubt the press will be all over the Giggs bandwagon if LvG goes through a tough spell.

I love Giggs, he's a club legend. But why does that guarantee him a job in which he has no experience? it's barely 12 month since he even started his coaching badges isn't it? there's no room for sentimental decisions, get the right man for the job and let them work under there own conditions.
 
Sixpence said:
Giggs needs to be treated with respect whatever happens, probably why it's taking so long to iron it out. The guys appearance record and medal haul will stand forever, we don't want him leaving on bad terms.
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He won those medals as a player. I don't get where the leap comes from where we insist suddenly he's part of the senior coaching staff, assistant manager no less. Not one month ago the club weren't arsed when he was so junior he probably wasn't even senior enough to be given the duty to putting the cones out. What happened to the "he has a huge medal haul" then? Where was the club insisting Ferguson employed him on the coaching staff? His medal haul has only added one Community Shield winners medal since then.

I don't think it's disrespectful to Giggs to wonder why out of the blue he's suddenly become the sun in our managerial solar system.
 
Castia said:
It's not the football knowledge its knowing the British press. Giggs want's the job, everybody knows that there's no doubt the press will be all over the Giggs bandwagon if LvG goes through a tough spell.

I love Giggs, he's a club legend. But why does that guarantee him a job in which he has no experience? it's barely 12 month since he even started his coaching badges isn't it? there's no room for sentimental decisions, get the right man for the job and let them work under there own conditions.
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Yep, the press/pundits are really into British managers getting top jobs no matter how average/how little experience they have, so if Van Gaal doesn't perform then he's bound to come under pressure unfortunately. Like AVB at Spurs compared to the much easier ride Sherwood got.
 
A delay in resolving the coaching futures of Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville has held up the confirmation of Van Gaal’s appointment, however, with Ryan Giggs understood to be considering an offer to become assistant manager to the 62-year-old.

Giggs is mulling over the offer this weekend, with the Welshman keen for Butt, Scholes and Neville, all of whom were expecting to learn their fate on Thursday, to be given a clear indication of their future before committing himself to the Van Gaal regime.

Sources close to Giggs and his coaches have spoken of the group becoming disappointed and frustrated by the lack of communication and clarity from Woodward in relation to their positions at the club.

But with Van Gaal due to be announced as manager early next week, Woodward has made it clear to the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach that he will be expected to return the club to the Champions League at the first attempt in order to make up for the financial impact of missing out under Moyes.
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By Mark Ogden in the Telegraph. Poor effort from Woodward if that's what led to the hold up.
 
Castia said:
It's not the football knowledge its knowing the British press. Giggs want's the job, everybody knows that there's no doubt the press will be all over the Giggs bandwagon if LvG goes through a tough spell.

I love Giggs, he's a club legend. But why does that guarantee him a job in which he has no experience? it's barely 12 month since he even started his coaching badges isn't it? there's no room for sentimental decisions, get the right man for the job and let them work under there own conditions.
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It's been 12 months since Giggs attained the last of his coaching badges meaning, as far as the badges are concerned, he's a fully qualified coach. I'm not sure why assistant manager is being treated as such an exclusive job all of a sudden after years of Phelan being completely mocked.
 
Is it just me who is finding this bullshit insufferable? Firstly, why should the futures of Butt and Scholes be in question? Nicky Butt had nothing to do with the first team. Scholesy likewise. Phil Neville did which is why he was going. Now all of a sudden the list gets longer. Next it'll be the tea lady who started 2 weeks ago. It's complete horseshit from the media, they don't have a clue yet they continue to spout shit.
 
I think Woodward has boxed himself into the corner. Suddenly the decision was made in April that the class of 92 must be central and I think much of the delay has been from having to inevitably having to gradually and eventually retreat from that position that was frankly ridiculous and IMO seems to have been borne out of some kind of sense-of-duty panic that didn't ever really made any sense.
 
Conrad said:
It's been 12 months since Giggs attained the last of his coaching badges meaning, as far as the badges are concerned, he's a fully qualified coach. I'm not sure why assistant manager is being treated as such an exclusive job all of a sudden after years of Phelan being completely mocked.
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Well said! We are wasting our breath to be talking to these close minded people who have zero knowledge how a #2 works, and they just go by "Giggsy has no coaching experience, he should not be guarantee a job for sentimental reasons, he should learn the trade elsewhere first..." cliche. Its insane
 
It's being reported by Ian Ladyman of the Mail:

Manchester United run the risk of alienating the Class of ’92 for good with their ongoing prevarications over the make-up of Louis van Gaal’s backroom staff.

United have delayed the confirmation of Van Gaal’s appointment until next week while they continue to talk to Ryan Giggs about his role in the new set-up. The Welshman is still considering his response to Wednesday’s chats with Van Gaal in Amsterdam.

Giggs is known to have reservations about how United have handled the whole affair since David Moyes was sacked last month.

His former team-mates Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt are said to be increasingly unhappy about being kept in the dark, too.

The three United legends — who worked with Giggs during his spell as interim manager — thought they would receive phone calls from the club on Thursday but the trio were still waiting.

An Old Trafford source said: ‘They just want to know one way or the other. If it’s bad news and they aren’t being kept on, then the least that should happen is they should be told.

‘To keep them hanging on, after the way they have served the club, is unfair.’

Neville was told after last Sunday’s game at Southampton his future — and that of his colleagues — would become clear this week.

United chief executive Ed Woodward had hoped to confirm Van Gaal as new manager on Thursday but it is understood Giggs, who wants to stay, is still considering the offer of a senior role.

With Van Gaal in charge of the Dutch national team for their friendly against Ecuador in Amsterdam on Saturday, it is not expected that anything will now be finalised until after the weekend — even though United sources have stressed there is ‘no significant problem’ with the process.
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Backing up Ogden's story.
 
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