After a decent performance against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, it has come to some debate whether Ryan Giggs is still capable of playing at the highest level or not. Now 40 years old, Giggs is a seasoned veteran. His experience will be good use when it comes to Premier League games, as he has won England’s biggest prize a total of 13 times. Though this season United have been lacking something out wide, due to Nani’s loss in form, Ashley Young’s inability to compete at the highest level, and seemingly, Giggs’ old age.
There is no doubt that the older generation of United fans love him, seeing him progress through the ranks from academy member to first team winger has given them a sort of sentimentality towards the Welshman, but that should not lead to the over-hype of a player who is struggling to keep up with the younger generation. Having said that, he could still be used as an impact substitute, though most of Europe’s big guns’ ideas of that are a young, talented player seeking game time, such as Real Madrid with Jese Rodriguez and Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich.
With the Manchester United squad ageing as Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs are all now at the wrong side of 30, younger replacements must be bought, and the ageing sold on or demoted to the bench. Of course van Persie still has a lot to offer and means a lot to the United first team, but the others have struggled this season and are arguably the reason why United have endured such a tough start to the season.
With everything taken into consideration, Giggs can still bring something to the table at Old Trafford, but whether he is worth the place in the squad and the wage they are paying him is something that David Moyes must weigh up when it comes to the end of the season, if Giggs should retire or be refused a new contract offer, it would offer a position on the squad and also give United a little more power when it comes to offering wages, it may be best to let the Welshman move on to a career outside playing professional football.