Snubbing Jose Mourinho for Ryan Giggs is small time thinking by Manchester United
Manchester United is set to snub Jose Mourinho’s interest in their managerial position in favor of Ryan Giggs
I’m sure that Ryan Giggs is an excellent man who loves Manchester United right down to his very core. I also know that he had a tremendous playing career at Old Trafford that endears him to United fans. The unfortunate reality is that none of those qualities make him the right choice to take over for Louis van Gaal.
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I am absolutely stunned by the Daily Mirror’s report that Jose Mourinho is resigned to the fact that Giggs will be the club’s next manager. The alleged reason for sticking with the van Gaal/Giggs tandem is the idea that they are more likely to develop homegrown talent than the Special One. While I don’t doubt for a moment the validity of that statement, it’s an idiotic reason to justify a small-time managerial decision.
There might not be anything more small time than promoting a manager from within your own ranks. On rare occasions it can be the right move when a club is unquestionably moving in the right direction before losing its manager, but that’s clearly not the case at Old Trafford.
While the Red Devils have played better as of late, they aren’t playing anywhere near the potential of the club. Even if they splash copious amounts of cash this summer as most believe they will, they’re unlikely to be serious Premier League title contenders next season. It makes zero sense for them to promote Giggs after van Gaal’s contract is up on the basis of continuity.
This is the type of the move I might expect to see a club in League Two to make. It’s quite unbecoming for a club that fancies itself as the top franchise in the Premier League. There’s no excuse for United failing to cast their managerial net far and wide.
Instead, they have settled on appointing Giggs. Make no mistake, this is conservatism at the utmost. The powers that be at United have chosen Giggs because he’s been a good servant of the club and they believe he will be easy to control. It’s a decision that smacks of Sir Alex Ferguson’s back room power.
The club has little to no idea whether or not Giggs has what it takes to be a top-notch Premier League manager. They might like what they see of him in the assistant role, but moving over one spot in the dugout can be a massive adjustment. It’s not a gamble that a club like United has to take.
Make no mistake, I have serious reservations about whether or not Mourinho is a good fit at Old Trafford. His egomaniacal personality would not sit well with many at England’s most storied club. He’d cause a great deal of roster chaos and certainly wouldn’t be at the club for more than three seasons.
Choosing to pass on Mourinho is a decision I can understand entirely. It’s just the fact that they are allegedly going to pass on the very established Premier League manager to give Ryan Giggs some kind of service award that I have an issue with. Again, nothing against Giggs as a person, but this job is well above his head.
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At a time in their history where Manchester United have the opportunity to make a big move they’re set to do a small-time thing. Promoting Ryan Giggs to their esteemed managerial position may satisfy a certain sense of nostalgia at Old Trafford, but it’s a decision that might set the club back even further behind their Premier League rivals.