He was so exciting to watch in the 90's and then transformed his play from 00's onwards. One of my all-time favorite players. That assist to Van Persie in the West Ham FA Cup game, sheer brilliance (can anyone post that link?)
A tribute to Ryan Giggs
- Thread starter youngrell
- Start date
I remember one game specifically at OT on a cold Wednesday night, it was a 0-1 loss to a top tier Juventus team at a time when SAF's teams weren't quite there in Europe, but the only player that gave them trouble was Giggs.
Probably says a lot about the difference between match going and internet fans that he gets critiqued on here but was applauded by the Bilbao fans when we played them away.
Probably says a lot about the difference between match going and internet fans that he gets critiqued on here but was applauded by the Bilbao fans when we played them away.
I've been trying to find a video of his individual highlights vs Chelsea in the 2011 Quarter Finals. He was majestic that night, at the age of 37 and up against Lampard and Essien et al.
He got assists for all 3 goals over the 2 legs, playing alongside Carrick but popping up everywhere in attacking positions to hurt Chelsea's back line.
He got assists for all 3 goals over the 2 legs, playing alongside Carrick but popping up everywhere in attacking positions to hurt Chelsea's back line.
Absolutely adored him as a player, and until all the personal stuff came out for sure deserved a statue (though I'm kind of against statues in the first place). But there's no way he should get a statue after all that, it's pure scummy and unfortunately it's so hard to look at Giggs or talk about him without that topic coming up.
As a player though, absolute legend and was a joy to watch.
As a player though, absolute legend and was a joy to watch.
Class player with a superb football brain, to make the transition from flying winger to a more composed central role shows that. It's amazing the way he looked after himself to prolong his career at the very top level for so long l after all the early injuries.
His goal is this game is one of my favourites.
His goal is this game is one of my favourites.
He was always looking to attack with a run or a through pass. He was always dangerous.
I think that is trained out of a lot of youngsters these days so they don't have that same killer instinct to get into the box or try incisive passes or runs
I think that is trained out of a lot of youngsters these days so they don't have that same killer instinct to get into the box or try incisive passes or runs
Don't think he gets enough credit for some of his later seasons at United (say 08-11) . Some big performances in key games.
Surely no one really puts him in Ronaldo/Zidane category? He was brilliant, but not quite as brilliant. Although I'd only put Figo as a definitively better winger than Giggs during their era.
Oh that QPR one! God, he was unbelievable in those early days. Not just in those early days, obviously but he was so exciting when he started. And we weren't so jaded. Or old. And there was no Covid. Goddammit.
Giggs was booed by saintly match-going fans at Old Trafford around 2003, nice easy shot at 'internet fans' there though
A football club should be more than just about football. The academy for example don’t just teach the kids how to play football. Don’t want to be too judgemental, I don’t know him or the details of his life, but if he is a shitbag they should NOT build a statue of him.
At 39 or 40 years old he held his own against Madrid in 2013.
Peak Giggs today would be sensational.
the secret to eternal playing
The Best player to have ever worn the number 11 shirt. Absolute legend.
Eh? I've hardly ever heard of people critiquing him as a player over social media, other than to say that he's a bit of a twit.
Based on his personal affairs, he's a massive twit, so I'd say that's valid.
Nevermind the fact that Giggs was playing at a time when the social media age was just dawning. It was not up to the levels of anarchy we see today.
Seems like the entire point of your post was to find a way to echo a difference between match going or internet fans.
One day he will probably get a statue. Best also has one despite his private life. I don’t see an issue with that at all. It’s the footballer who matters to me. Fans don’t know the persons (even if some pretend to know them or base their knowledge on their media profile).
Yeah sure mate. Giggsy was awesome, water is wet.
Should have moved him infield sooner. Would have been a perfect number 10.
I don’t know why but I shit my self at the title of this thread thinking something horrible had happened.
The most impressive thing for me was how he was able to change positions from out-and-out winger to a central role and be genuinely excellent at both. Others have done it in a different (and IMHO less impressive way; Beckham for example, but that's more because he was a midfielder with the ability to play wide). There is really not much cross over between the skill sets Giggs needed to achieve what he did in 1995, and the skill set he needed to perform as a central player 15 years later. There are very very few players I can think of who could make that transition and excel in both roles. If there was a criticism of him that stops him from joining that absolute upper echelon of world players I'd say possibly his goal scoring instinct is just a level below some other worldies. He scored 5 PL goals or less in 16 of his 24 seasons, all of which he spent playing at one of the most attacking teams in world football, and I do think he had the natural ability to do better. But that negative is obviously hugely outweighed by the positives he brought.
I'd love to know what an 18 year old Giggs would go for in the current market though, it would be astronomical!
I'd love to know what an 18 year old Giggs would go for in the current market though, it would be astronomical!
One of the greatest footballing brains I've seen, certainly at United. It's amazing how well he linked up with just about anyone of his teammates. Look back at highlights of some of our biggest goals, and you'll see how he provided countless goals to Cantona, Ruud, Chicharito, Rooney, Van Persie, Ronaldo, Park, Scholes. Even in his general wing play and when he moved infield, he had such a good understanding with Evra, Carrick, Scholes.
What did Beckham do?
Cheated on his wife and crying about not getting knighted.
Watching United goals from the 90s, it seems he was at the heart of every attack. He had amazing awareness and was pretty unselfish too.
He had so many dimensions to his game and that attributed heavily to his longevity at the highest level.
He had so many dimensions to his game and that attributed heavily to his longevity at the highest level.
had it off with his personal assistant Rebecca Loos back in 2003...
Getting a bit old for the "favourite player" bit, but the younger Giggs was without doubt my favourite ever player.
I put all the "other" stuff to one side, as they're footballers, most of them have something shady going on.
I put all the "other" stuff to one side, as they're footballers, most of them have something shady going on.
Why do British have this weird fetish with 'knighthood'? The whole concept of "monarchy" seems incredibly stupid in the 21st century. Yet you have footballers and ex-cricketers getting salty over it. Its one thing to be nominated when you weren't expecting anything and then you can decide whether you believe in this silliness enough. Its another to be actively lobbying for it and getting upset.
Once you get knighted you get a butler for life, suppose that makes one more eager to be knighted. Really
Agree was going to post that one myself, it was wow, cut across it spun in corner I dont think many could have done that.
Ah right, spicey doesn't cook, eh!
Ryan the footballer was fantastic and a great but Ryan the human was a grade A duche.
One of the best players I've watched live, along with Ronaldo CR7, and the Brazilian one, those are ones I remember watching live at OT and thinking these guys can play.
Because that was not his role as a chalk-on-boots winger. As a wide forward I'm sure he'd get more goals.
Now I'm curious as to how many non-deadball goals Beckham scored for us. Even Ronaldo in 2006-07 only scored a little over 20 goals playing that same position
For me growing up, supporting United meant watching Giggs run riot down the wing every week. My earliest memories of football coincide with his debut and first season so it was so weird him retiring and not being there.
Our current side would absolutely kill for an attacker like him who makes the right decision 7 or 8 times out of every 10.
Our current side would absolutely kill for an attacker like him who makes the right decision 7 or 8 times out of every 10.
Was a great player.
I actually think the Figo comparison is very close. A lot comes down to how we view those glorious La Liga years and how much better European teams were than us in the CL, I remember watching Figo and always thinking how good he was but I think Giggs in that Real team would have been elevated to god-like level.
He'd be utterly slaughtered on here now because of his risk taking.
Brilliant, brilliant player and symbolic too.
His combination with Ruud is extremely overlooked. Everyone seems to remember Beckham crossing for Ruud to score but if you watch all of Ruud’s goals, his combo play with Giggs is fantastic.
They obviously had more seasons together than Becks, but Giggs assisted him 26 times to Becks’ 10.
that slide tackle where he'd slide in and come out with the ball all in the same movement, never really seen anyone do that as well as him