While taking in Thursday nights absorbing scenes and thoroughly unscripted climax from the Bronx as Derek Jeter said his emotional goodbyes to Yankee Stadium, I couldnt help but think of Ryan Giggs. Matt Cullen Jersey . Then thoughts of Frank Lampard crossed my mind, but more on Manchester Citys joint top scorer another time. Giggs, like Jeter, will be remembered as a one club man. The Welshman trotted out at Old Trafford for a remarkable 23 seasons before eventually hanging them up in the spring. For Jeters five World Series rings, he won a pair of European Cups and 13 Premier League titles. Now installed as Louis Van Gaals right-hand man in the dugout, Giggs has certainly endured a baptism by fire since joining the managerial ranks. It wasnt exactly plain sailing after he took over from David Moyes in late April. With ?￡150 million invested in the transfer market and Louis Van Gaal installed as Sir Alex Fergusons Heir Version 2.0, they were certainly meant to improve on last seasons Annus Horribilis. Hardly. The Dutchman likely wishes he could take a can of that vanishing spray and wipe this early part of his tenure off the records. If getting trounced in the Capital One Cup by MK Dons wasnt bad enough, last Sundays second-half meltdown against newly-promoted Leicester must rank as one of the worst moments in recent club history. Perhaps you have to go all the way back to that infamous Denis Law back heel against his former club back in 1974 for a comparable moment. It wasnt so much the calamity Jane-type defending. It was the cavalier attitude from too many wearing one of the first famous jerseys in world sport. And Van Gaals wholly unbalanced team selection provided added motivation. Whether or not Van Gaal took the opponent way too lightly, well never know. If he had any illusions of how utterly competitive the BPL was, they should surely have evaporated away when Ulloa tucked away Leicesters fifth. In the aftermath, Giggs ex-team mate Phil Neville suggested the English giants needed to invest a further ?￡100m over the next two transfer windows for United to be in position to challenge for a title. Not sure the supporters nor the majority shareholders are willing to write off upwards of two more seasons. Van Gaal was bought in to have an impact with immediate effect. It seems by his news conferences that hes spending more time thinking up excuses and laying blame with all others than he is even willing to accept responsibility. His pre-match comments regarding a scarcity of central defenders ahead of Saturday mornings encounter at Old Trafford (against a resurgent West Ham who put Liverpool firmly in their place in East London last Saturday) is his latest. Even our 12-year old recognized in early summer that Manchester United were in desperate need of Grade A centre-halves and the hallmark leadership qualities of the departing Nemanja Vidic. Ive forgot how many trees have been torn down over the months as the football media kept up their incessant write-ups about a desperate and immediate need for central defenders - and yet one didnt even arrive on a Falcao-type loan. If its because Van Gaal couldnt acquire the one or two players he wanted most, then he has no right to plead centre-half poor. Everyone wants Cristiano Ronaldo, but hes not for sale - at least not just yet. Did that prevent United overpaying for Angel Di Maria? Apparently not. Van Gaal might already be ruing his Leicester pre-match comments that only Wayne Rooney is guaranteed a starting place, where it now seems Englands first choice centre-forward will have to get fully accustomed to the midfield role Van Gaal has now bestowed. Any more of this and Wayne might have to slot into central defence. With the Leicester debacle fresh in the minds of 75,000 plus at Old Trafford, West Hams manager Sam Allardyce fears a Manchester United backlash. All Fat Sam has to do after breakfast Saturday is show his team the video of that classic West Ham victory at Old Trafford in the 2001 FA Cup. Paolo Di Canio, in acres of space, slotted away the legendry winner as Uniteds completely exposed goalkeeper Fabien Barthez went the mind game route as he desperately tried to con the referees assistant into awarding an illusionary offside call. Even in defeat, Giggs starred for United that day. You wonder though if he hung up more than his boots last May. Manchester United vs. West Ham is live Saturday on the TSN and TEAM Radio Network with pre-game coverage at 9:30am et /6:30am pt. Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Luke Kunin Jersey . 1 Caroline Wozniacki and three-time champion Serena Williams cruised into the semifinals, while last years runner-up Vera Zvonareva succumbed to Aussie Samantha Stosur in Thursdays womens quarterfinal action at the U. Tyler Ennis Jersey . - David Tomasek had two goals in regulation time and was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Belleville Bulls upset the Oshawa Generals 6-5 on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.hockeywildauthority.com/zach-parise-wild-jersey-c-5/ .ca. Hi Kerry, Welcome back! Im sure you heard Peter Forsbergs comments last week regarding Canadian referees in the gold medal game. 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