POMUS: Groupthink in the Media: The Case of Ryan Giggs

A fairly brief blog here on the subject on a phenomenon that is widely found in the media, but I have chosen this one given they represent two of my convergent interests. 

It is incredible how over the last week I have heard repeated over a range of mediums: newspaper, radio and television, the same opinions and sentiments. It lead me to think - they're being repeated, but is this because they are accurate and of value, or merely a representation of Groupthink?

Opinions in the case of Ryan Giggs are that he is somehow qualified to become manager of Man Utd. Now I have never really considered the player to be that suited as role of manager. In general hard, steely faced centre backs make the best  managers, and they get less suited the further forward in the pitch they play - as defenders get a far better overview of the game. Ryan Giggs was, in his prime, a nippy, knee-jerking, twisting winger so doesn't fulfil that criteria.

It does seem to be the case also, that a connection with the fact many of Alex Ferguson's former players go on to become managers, plays a role here. It's commonly thought that it is Fergie that has transmitted the essential ingredients of management to the players - but I disagree. Fergie was notoriously fastidious in his recruitment - he would've signed players that were intuitive readers of the game and that hapenned to have the important ingredients prior.

Furthermore, the reception to Giggs' temporary appointment brings up the incongruity of his treatment in comparison to other novice managers - the universally ridiculed Sherwood, Garry Monk etc. I have seen nothing in Giggs to suggest those that say he has a divine right to be manager, or should "definitely be manager after next" has any good grounding. Yet you hear them repeated...repeated...repeated.