ManU must move fast with vital window looming

 

LONDON, April 23 (Reuters): Manchester United must move quickly to appoint a new manager and give him maximum time to operate in what will be a critical transfer window for the club.

A season of abject failure under David Moyes brought a swift end to the former Everton manager's reign at Old Trafford and United will have to act equally decisively to install the right man to try to revive their fortunes.

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal is the favourite and he has the necessary experience and record of success. Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund's Juergen Klopp have also been linked with the job, although the German appeared to rule himself out of contention on Tuesday.

But bringing in at least four top-quality internationals and moving out several ageing players and serial under-performers will not be an easy task. The United defence needs a complete overhaul. Centre backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were key players in United's success under Alex Ferguson but Vidic is joining Inter Milan and Ferdinand, 35, is also long past his sell-by date.

French left back Patrice Evra has given sterling service in eight years at the club but he too should be allowed to leave along with firebrand Brazilian right back Rafael, a talented attacking player but defensive liability. Then there is the midfield, for so long a major strength of United sides under Ferguson with the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs contributing so much in their contrasting styles.

Moyes had to rely on the experienced but one-paced Michael Carrick as his central linchpin and the acquisition of the skilful and creative Juan Mata failed to address United's glaring issue in the centre of the pitch - a lack of speed. Darren Fletcher is a disciplined player and a solid shielder of the defence but his lack of creativity will always be exposed at the highest level while Tom Cleverley has failed to show the necessary quality.

The signing of Marouane Fellaini from Moyes's former club Everton, a panic buy for 27 million pounds ($45.4 million) at the end of the pre-season transfer window, will go down in history as a microcosm of the manager's doomed stay at the club. The lanky long-haired midfielder has looked like a fish out of water at United, failing to score a goal and frequently lumbering ineffectively around the centre of the pitch.

He must also be moved on along with Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa who has had limited opportunities to prove his worth but looks too similar to Mata to be accommodated in the same team. Moyes rarely played with two wingers, a cornerstone of Ferguson's success, but the emergence of 19-year-old Adnan Januzaj was a beacon of hope in a depressing season.

HIGHLY INCONSISTENT
The highly inconsistent Ashley Young and Nani must also be moved on, though pacy and disciplined right winger Antonio Valencia may have a future at Old Trafford. Perhaps Moyes's best achievement at United was persuading England striker Wayne Rooney to stay and his form has been consistently good in a difficult season.

The same cannot be said of Robin van Persie, whose 26 league goals fired United to the title 12 months ago in Ferguson's last season in charge. The Dutch striker has been a peripheral figure under Moyes, plagued by the injuries which afflicted him at former club Arsenal and clearly unhappy at playing in a losing team.

England forward Danny Welbeck has shown flashes of his ability but the Manchester-born 23-year-old hinted last week that he was unhappy at Old Trafford and he could also leave. One plus has been the reliability of young Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea and he will stay at United, a player along with Rooney, Januzaj, Mata and young defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans for the new manager to build a team around. United have been linked with some of the best players in the world.

 

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Giggs returns
to center stage

MANCHESTER, April 23 (AP): Marginalized on and off the pitch in the fateful David Moyes era, Ryan Giggs had almost become the forgotten man at Old Trafford this season.
That's all about to change. In the most turbulent period at Manchester United in a generation, the club is turning to one of its greatest players to bring some order. Giggs was appointed as United's temporary coach on Tuesday following the firing of Moyes after a woeful 10 months in charge.

The Welshman is still in United's playing squad at the age of 40 — he is into the 23rd season of a remarkable career at the club — but was a member of Moyes' coaching staff and has had aspirations for a while of being a manager. Now he'll get his chance. With four league games remaining, Giggs is likely to be in charge until the end of the season — starting with Saturday's home match against Norwich. The task? To lift some of the gloom surrounding the club and aim for 12 points that could earn United a place in next season's Europa League, a crumb of comfort from a sobering year.

"I definitely think Ryan will be a manager," former United captain Bryan Robson said on Tuesday. "Whether he gets it full-time at a club like Manchester United is a big ask." A person with knowledge of the situation at United said Giggs was not being considered for the full-time position and that the club would be seeking an experienced manager to replace Moyes on a permanent basis. It was not guaranteed that Giggs or Phil Neville would even be part of the new manager's coaching staff. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the club was yet to announce the moves. Four straight wins to end the season may just make United's board think again, however. Especially if his team plays with the vim, heart and adventure that has characterized Giggs' distinguished playing career. "For me, I think in the last four games, there will be more togetherness and playing a brand of football that is more eye-catching," said Dwight Yorke, who played alongside Giggs in United's famous treble-winning team in the 1998-99 season.