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29 March 2024

Spurs show time-up for Man Utd’s senior citizens: Giggs, Scholes, Rio

Manchester United's Paul Scholes (L) challenges Tottenham Hotspur's Clint Dempsey during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, September 29, 2012. (REUTERS)

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By Staff

That Manchester United played with a five-man midfield and yet Spurs first two goals came from Jan Vertonghen
And Gareth bale being allowed to run over 20-30 yards through the middle of the park is insult to injury.
 

That Paul Scholes made over 120 passes and completed 91 per cent of them is perhaps most worrying of all for Sir Alex Ferguson and every dyed-in-red Devil on the Stretford End.

Between Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes United are now relying on two players whose combined age is 72.

Spurs yesterday showed Sir Alex that there is no way United can continue to dominate the Premier League with that kind of set-up.

Tom Cleverley and Anderson should be playing the Spurs game and Scholes and Giggs the Capital One Cup.

It was a shocking lack of speed and general vigour and prowess that cost United the two goals in the first half.

Sir Alex himself has, time and again, warned Rio Ferdinand that he needs to reinvent himself having lost that extra yard of pace that he once had.

Rio, also not exactly on the youthful side of 30, allowed poor positioning to leave him chasing Gareth Bale’s heels.

Giggs for all his great service to United has had only performed mediocre at best in these first six games.

His impact is diminishing – not least because he is being called upon to work the flanks like it was 1999.

Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers have risked it all. Arsenal have, more or less, done the same.

It is time for Sir Alex and Manchester United to let the youth play. Or else, like Spurs, teams will make you pay.

Paul Scholes remains the wonder, but the sooner United find and blood his replacement the better it will be, because even with him, right now, the title is slipping away.