Ryan Giggs: Who Can Fill His Boots?

It is a very good time to be a Mancunian faithful.

The Red Devils just wrapped up a successful World Club Cup campaign. Their bitter rivals Arsenal battled league leaders Liverpool to a score draw, meaning the two squads have cancelled each other out in an intriguing battle.

Also, we are fast approaching the post-Christmas part of the season, the time in which, historically, Manchester United have been very strong.

Amidst all this promise, there is the long list of fixtures, injuries to key players, and a certain jet lag problem that haunts the gaffer at Old Trafford.

United has the squad to revive from the aforementioned problems, but there is one position in the field where United might be having some problems as the season progresses—the left wing. Also known as left midfield, this position has been ably marshaled for years by one of the United greats: Ryan Giggs.

This season we have seen Sir Alex Ferguson using Park and Nani at that position, where they sometimes swap with Ronaldo.

Park is a very good player in his own right, but he is not a classical winger who can run at players, dribble past them, get to the by-line, and then deliver a teasing cross. He is more of a battler, and while this quality often helped United in very crucial games last year, there have been times when United have lacked the creativity or inspiration that someone like Giggs has offered over the years.

Nani, on the other hand, is more the classical winger mould. He has all the attributes needed in a winger: skill, speed, and stamina.

But he has been largely wasteful of the opportunities provided to him by Sir Alex. Rarely has he shown us glimpses of that talent, which might have prompted United to invest in him. While there is no doubting the talent this Portuguese lad has, for a player that was once touted as "the next Ronaldo," his progress has been less than encouraging.

Now, given Giggs' age, he can definitely not play week in and week out, and would surely be used sparingly. So, there is a huge vacancy for the position of left midfield in the United starting lineup. It remains to be seen if Nani can step up his game and live up to his hype.

If not, the potential new arrival, Serbian Tosic, will have huge expectations to fulfill. But, again, given the low profile of the Tosic transfer deal, one does not expect him to burst into the first team anytime soon. That is, unless he turns out to be another find like young Rafael.

One knows the Gaffers' policy of not spending huge in the January window, so we are not expecting any big arrivals soon.

But this is one problem which Sir Alex will have to solve soon. We know it's on his mind.

Remember the summer window approach for Valencia's Silva?

Until then, the search for Giggs' replacement continues.  Any suggestions?