TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
England might struggle at the World Cup
JP/Gary PallisterThe managerial change from Alex Ferguson to David Moyes yielded Manchester Unitedâs worst league ranking in the Premiership era
Change Size
JP/Gary Pallister
The managerial change from Alex Ferguson to David Moyes yielded Manchester United's worst league ranking in the Premiership era. A glimmer of hope emerged when Ryan Giggs was appointed as an interim player-manager and brought the team to a 4-0 victory over Norwich City during his managerial debut over the weekend. Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Pallister recently sat down with The Jakarta Post's Hans David Tampubolon to talk about the future of the club and England national team's chances in the 2014 World Cup. Here are excerpts from the interview:
What is your view on the future of Manchester United after a completely different performance had been shown by the team under Ryan Giggs?
Certainly the team played great last night. They are under Ryan, Nicky [Butt] and [Paul] Scholes. I am sure the players really enjoyed that. The three of them are legends at the club and there was a really feel good atmosphere at Old Trafford last night and that was what we are hoping to continue with. We want to be playing that run of football, that style of football and I think everybody knows Ryan was absolutely delighted last night. It was great to see him walking out there in his club suit as the manager and the players responded and the crowd responded. It was a tremendous performance, a real good atmosphere at the stadium and may that continue.
Should Ryan continue as the permanent manager next season?
That's a difficult one to talk about. I mean they [Manchester United executives] are going to look up all options I guess. There's a lot of people, I am sure, who want to be manager of Manchester United and I am sure Ryan is one of them but the club has got to make a decision. He is interim manager at the moment and the experience I think, could stand against him, but one thing that Ryan knows about is Manchester United. But that is the decision of the people at the higher up at the club [...] I'm not quite sure which way they are looking but I am sure they are going to bring in someone who has the full support of the players and everybody fancy.
England is in a difficult World Cup group with Italy and Uruguay. Can the team go far?
I'd love to say yes but you know, my gut feeling is that we are going under the radar this time. I don't think there is any real expectation on England. Maybe that can help us because we went there so many times in the past and people had said 'this is a golden generation', 'this team got a real chance' and we disappointed. I think this time there is no expectation on the England team and that might help them. But my gut feeling is it is going to be a bit of a struggle.
Who will become England's key players during the World Cup?
I still think you are looking at the likes of Steven Gerrard. What a season he has had with Liverpool. Eventually he is going to get that championship medal he richly deserves and I still think he still looks as the inspirational figure for England. So if they can keep him fully fit, he has got a great chance of being one of our top players ' and obviously the form that Wayne [Rooney] is in as well. You know, he had some disappointing tournaments I guess; playing for England, he went out there with injuries and lack of form. But he's been fantastic for Mancheser United this season and hopefully he can take that form into the World Cup and if he is playing at his very best then England might surprise a few people.
This season, there are two emerging players ' Southampton's Adam Lallana and Liverpool's Raheem Sterling. Should they be given a chance despite of their lack of international experience?
Exactly. You pick players that are in form. Lallana and especially Sterling have really hit top form for the last two or three months. Sterling kind of broke into the team and had a down period where he was left out of the side and had other issues. He seems to get that out of his head and his form for Liverpool has been exceptional. So now these players have been playing so well, you cannot not have them on your team. That's Roy Hodgson's choices and he's got to get the right blend of players, players that are in form, players that hungry and if he can get that then maybe England can surprise a few people.
