Manchester United blog..

When you have been an integral part of the United first-team for as long as Ryan Giggs, it must be hard to accept becoming a squad player, which is precisely what has happened to the Welshman over the last couple of seasons. Giggs has pretty much been an ever-present whenever Fergie has played his strongest side. No more, because these days nothing is certain where selection issues are concerned, it is the same situation for "club captain", Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.

So it comes as no surprise that Ryan Giggs has stated he might retire at the end of the current season. According to the media, Manchester United are 'stunned' at this news. Well I am not, because I can totally understand why Giggs is saying that now might be the time to go.

True enough, Giggs can still do a job for the Champions, he's had some good games this season, but he obviously he feels that the end of his illustrious United career is in sight.

A part of Giggs may well feel that he's blocking the progress of younger players at the club. I am thinking of Park and Nani - but in my opinion, neither are fit to lace the boots of Giggs. I'd be quite happy to see Park and or Nani sold in the summer, as neither player is capable of delivering consistently.

I have torn my hair out at Ryan Giggs over the years when his crossing has let him down - but Nani is far worse as he is hopelessly wasteful when in possession. As for Park, he is just a headless chicken, his work-rate cannot be faulted, but a footballer he is not. Unlike Giggs, the South Korean lacks composure whenever a goal-scoring opportunity comes his way, he is the proverbial rabbit caught in the headlights and what's more unlike Giggs he cannot see a subtle pass.

Then we come to Carlos Tevez, he is another who is talking openly about leaving, but his situation is very different from that of Nani and Park, they've both been signed on longer term contracts whereas the Argentine is still waiting for United to come up with enough money to secure a deal.

I suspect Giggs, Scholes and Neville will hang around until Fergie calls it a day and from the outside looking in, I think the three of them have accepted that they are no longer first-choice picks. Nonetheless, it doesn't make it any easier for the veteran star trio to play second fiddle to younger players on match-days.

When David Beckham left United, it was a tragic mess, the whole thing was handled badly by his agents and as a result many Reds' were livid with a player who'd given so much in the Red shirt. I can tell you exclusively that before Beckham was eventually sold, United sent a high-powered club official to meet a group of hardcore United fans to find out what the likely reaction would be to the news in the event of the player being sold.

The said official was told that there would be no fan backlash, because like the club they blamed the Beckham camp for not signing that new contract and this in turn was conveyed back to United's decision-makers. Beckham was eventually sold to Real Madrid - there was no angry reaction from the fans - many were actually seething with Beckham and his camp for trying to suggest it was the club who'd done wrong, when all along it was the other way around.

In sharp contrast to Beckham; when Giggs, Scholes and Neville eventually leave United they will do so with their heads held high because they are, almost uniquely these days, one club players. They are special, because that club happens to be the biggest and best in the world.