I don't know, I think some fans do rate him that highly. He was also voted the best ever Premier League player in 2012.
A tribute to Ryan Giggs
- Thread starter youngrell
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I don't know, I think some fans do rate him that highly. He was also voted the best ever Premier League player in 2012.
Yes I do get that, it’s not like he was a more modern wide attacker like we see today. I still do think though that this was one very few elements of his game where he was not in the top category. Almost no footballers are perfect in every category so it’s hardly much of a criticism. There are quite a few players who are in general worse players than Giggs was, but who I’d prefer in a one on one situation
After Charlton, my favourite United player.
One of my all time favorites. Legend.
Probably the best no11 at United in my lifetime ( I am assuming Georgie is a no7).
Still my favourite ever United player. Became a United fan when I was 7 years old and my mother had bought me a Man Utd shirt after she'd taken her class on a schooltrip to England and she told me they were the best team. Starting reading Man Utd magazines and watching them as often as possible and he instantly became my favourite player. What's funny was when my sister saw a game with me when he playing at 37 and couldn't believe he was still playing. I remember him still being more or less Man of match at 37 in the QF against Real Madrid despite the Real Madrid being stacked with world class players in their prime. Personally I think Giggs had a unique aesthetic style of running I've never quite seen in another player. Was probably the best left winger in the world for more than a decade.
I think Figo definitely had a higher peak(winning Ballon D'or) and all that, but Giggs was also world class through most of his very long career and had his share of wow moments. I'd put them about equal over all with everything taken into consideration. But maybe that's just my Man Utd bias. I think if Giggs had chosen to play for England his international career would have been far greater and they might have won something.
Giggs for me was just below WC. He had some extraordinary moments but could be just as poor. So very good footballer. As for everything else. .well..
One of my favourite performances of his was vs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the CL QF, an absolute masterclass in centre midfield. I'd love it if someone could find a good video of his performance in particular.
The sheer number of assists he provided does often get overlooked a little IMO - a lot of rival fans I know are quite surprised to find him at the top of the assists chart and then also seem to credit that fact to his longevity, but in his later years he was just as good if not better at executing a killer ball as say someone like Bruno is now.
For me, he was the epitome of world class professional until Ronaldo just took things to a seemingly new level..
The sheer number of assists he provided does often get overlooked a little IMO - a lot of rival fans I know are quite surprised to find him at the top of the assists chart and then also seem to credit that fact to his longevity, but in his later years he was just as good if not better at executing a killer ball as say someone like Bruno is now.
For me, he was the epitome of world class professional until Ronaldo just took things to a seemingly new level..
People often underate his mental side of the game. It was not just skill, the man able to focus and concentrate every second. Intelligent on the ball and even when he drift out of the games and boy does he pop up at crucial times.
20 years. Top flight. Amazing
20 years. Top flight. Amazing
He is ranked at top 5 of my United legend list. Anyway here’s my top 10:
1. Cantona (my childhood idol, king of old Trafford, catalyst of the beginning of our domination during 90s)
2. Charlton (good old holy trinity)
3. Best (good old holy trinity)
4. Law (good old holy trinity)
5. Giggs (our longest serving player, most decorated Man Utd player ever)
6. Scholes (similar to Giggs, United through and trough, truly worldclass midfielder)
7. Keane (probably our best ever captain?)
8. Schmeichel (our best ever keeper)
9. Rooney (our all time top scorer)
10. Ronaldo (our only GOAT, won Ballon D’or and everything for us, although his spend majority of his peak years at Real)
1. Cantona (my childhood idol, king of old Trafford, catalyst of the beginning of our domination during 90s)
2. Charlton (good old holy trinity)
3. Best (good old holy trinity)
4. Law (good old holy trinity)
5. Giggs (our longest serving player, most decorated Man Utd player ever)
6. Scholes (similar to Giggs, United through and trough, truly worldclass midfielder)
7. Keane (probably our best ever captain?)
8. Schmeichel (our best ever keeper)
9. Rooney (our all time top scorer)
10. Ronaldo (our only GOAT, won Ballon D’or and everything for us, although his spend majority of his peak years at Real)
Giggs' mazy runs didnt happen only on the pitch
That said the most impressive part for me wasnt when he was a winger magician but when he did yoga and adapted to become a midfielder (and a good one) at such an old footballer age
That said the most impressive part for me wasnt when he was a winger magician but when he did yoga and adapted to become a midfielder (and a good one) at such an old footballer age
It makes you realise how different Giggs was when you look at how inverted forwards these days have been given an easier game by cutting in on their preferred foot.
Giggs used to cut in on his left foot on the left wing in arguably a time when the fullbacks were much more defensively capable. He used to make it work, goals and assists. Great player.
Giggs used to cut in on his left foot on the left wing in arguably a time when the fullbacks were much more defensively capable. He used to make it work, goals and assists. Great player.
I love that goal he scored at Coventry, when he slid in with a perfect slide tackle then curled it in from outside the box with his right peg.
Plus going by the Ramos argument, Giggs' trophy cabinet makes the Figo comparison nonsensical
I was born in '93 so I don't remember him as a young player but what I'll remember him for is UCL quarter finals vs Chelsea back in 2011. He was on his last legs as a player at the time and still came up with two incredible performances on such a big stage.
Got to say I hated Chelsea at the time as I couldn't stand their rise to popularity after financial takeover, they were also our bane and I felt anxious every time we were to play them.
Anyway, first leg, an away game at Stamford bridge Carrick plays a Hollywood pass to the left wing and Giggsy with his first touch completely breaks the fool back and sets up Rooney for the away goal, and then in the 2nd leg he brilliantly sets up Chicha and Park to seal the win. It was almost as he was a puppet master pulling the strings and orchestrating the games.
2nd moment I'll always remember him for is the last minute winner vs Norwich in 2012 I think, can't recall if it mattered in the end, it may've been the year we lost the title on goal difference but I went crazy when he scored that goal as it was a very nervy game, almost as nervy as the one against Wolves this season when Rashford nicked it with the last minute deflection.
Got to say I hated Chelsea at the time as I couldn't stand their rise to popularity after financial takeover, they were also our bane and I felt anxious every time we were to play them.
Anyway, first leg, an away game at Stamford bridge Carrick plays a Hollywood pass to the left wing and Giggsy with his first touch completely breaks the fool back and sets up Rooney for the away goal, and then in the 2nd leg he brilliantly sets up Chicha and Park to seal the win. It was almost as he was a puppet master pulling the strings and orchestrating the games.
2nd moment I'll always remember him for is the last minute winner vs Norwich in 2012 I think, can't recall if it mattered in the end, it may've been the year we lost the title on goal difference but I went crazy when he scored that goal as it was a very nervy game, almost as nervy as the one against Wolves this season when Rashford nicked it with the last minute deflection.
I still have a black Sharp Viewcam shirt with #11 Giggs on the back.
I think it was the first time you could buy shirts with a name on the back!
I think it was the first time you could buy shirts with a name on the back!
He was so good but why are his stats so low? Like Scholes they're not players you can use statistics when explaining how good they were.
Where is Robson you madman?
Well, assists were not tracked for a good chunk of his career. When, I think, @Mrs Smoker , painstakingly went back and tracked assists and goals his assists figures were extraordinary.
I get what you mean. Its like why cant we listen to Rolf Harris anymore. Put aside his pedophilia. That's a different topic. Lets concentrate on the music and the art. He should have a statue as well. All these people jumping up and down over bad sht they did. It doesnt matter. They were talented.
A bit of tie me kangeroo down while watching Giggsy is what its all about.
A bit of tie me kangeroo down while watching Giggsy is what its all about.
Are you seriously comparing sexual abuse of a minor to adultery? Fecking hell.
Read the stats in the OP, they are not low by any stretch.
Im not. Im pointing out that you cant just refuse to countenance moral or legal absolutes when our so called heroes are guilty of despicable behavior. There is no moral line that says you dismiss this behavior but not that. The sin is the sin. It is not separate from the talent or the man.
Tribute to Ryan Giggs. A statue of Ryan Giggs . Does not mean you can pick and choose. The man is the same as the footballer. And his acts on and off the field should be accountable before we start erecting statues.
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Like someone said they only started recording assists quite a bit after Giggs had already started playing. I think Giggs has the highest assist tally in the PL and the think I've always noticed is that in the Fergie era when watching our goals, Giggs was nearly always directly invovled in all our goals. Of course which isn't surprising since he's our record appearance holder.
I think this thread was just specifically about the player and not his behavior off the pitch.
In my 11th place.. ok I wasn’t born in that era, I wasnt born in Holy Trinity era either but they have a statue at old Trafford and won quite a few trophies during 60s, so they must be high in everyone’s list... Robson I heard he is great captain but the other 10 I placed above him had won more than him... different era I know...
I’ve read he has over 300 or 350 assists during his career, or something, whatever it is I’ve heard it’s more than Messi. So his stats wasn’t too bad I guess.
Many people say he scuffed it. I mean, why would he like to strike it through the laces and put it into row z? Obvious he meant that, sick goal.
I think he's underrated when it comes to the discussion and recognition of great attacking players, even though he's won the 4th (i believe) most trophies in history for a player, it seems to come down to individual statistics for a lot people, while neglecting the importance he played to the "team" to win all those trophies.
I mean look at Salah for example, hes eulogised about, sure, he has great stats but he's not going to win a 3rd of what Giggs won, and if Giggs played as a forward for the majority of his career, rather than LM, tracking back defending, as much as attacking, he too would have been scoring 30+ goals per season.
I mean look at Salah for example, hes eulogised about, sure, he has great stats but he's not going to win a 3rd of what Giggs won, and if Giggs played as a forward for the majority of his career, rather than LM, tracking back defending, as much as attacking, he too would have been scoring 30+ goals per season.
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If Giggs was coming through now the temptation would be turn him into the modern wide forward, cutting in and shooting. Might get him better stats, which are so treasured by so many, but I would have loved to him in a midfield 3 earlier in his career. Even at 35 plus he could cause chaos with his ability to run with the ball from deep and ruin defensive shape, for me one of the most valuable skills in football is the ability to beat men in the middle of the pitch and force the defense to adjust, creates so much space for others.
He was a wonderful player, beautiful to watch, yes inconsistent, but on any given night he could look like the best in the world, especially on European nights at OT, when for much of early part of his career he carried Utd as an attacking force, while Scholes and Beckham were still developing. Natural runner, amazing control of a ball at top speed, but was always more than a pure winger, had a cleverness and imagination to his game that gave him a variation that made him so hard to contain. Like Bruno now he was a risk taker, would give the ball away a lot at times, but was never afraid to keep trying the difficult that wins games.
For youngsters just looking at stats as their guide his goal record is average, and in truth he was never a great finisher(another reason why wide forward might not fit him, also the Robben style cut in and shoot spamming bores me), really should have ended up with 250 goals+ but his creative ability was fantastic, no selfishness in his game, happy to pass up a decent chance for a better chance, tracked back, won headers, never shirked a tackle. Great player, I can't put Scholes above him.
He was a wonderful player, beautiful to watch, yes inconsistent, but on any given night he could look like the best in the world, especially on European nights at OT, when for much of early part of his career he carried Utd as an attacking force, while Scholes and Beckham were still developing. Natural runner, amazing control of a ball at top speed, but was always more than a pure winger, had a cleverness and imagination to his game that gave him a variation that made him so hard to contain. Like Bruno now he was a risk taker, would give the ball away a lot at times, but was never afraid to keep trying the difficult that wins games.
For youngsters just looking at stats as their guide his goal record is average, and in truth he was never a great finisher(another reason why wide forward might not fit him, also the Robben style cut in and shoot spamming bores me), really should have ended up with 250 goals+ but his creative ability was fantastic, no selfishness in his game, happy to pass up a decent chance for a better chance, tracked back, won headers, never shirked a tackle. Great player, I can't put Scholes above him.
Best, Law and Charlton all won the Ballon D'or. Charlton won everything possible in his career and when England won the WC in 1966 Charlton won player of the tournament (Golden Ball) and won the Ballon D'or that year, along with Fifa World Player of the Year, he has to be in GOAT category surely? Especially for midfielders.
My top 10 is
1. Sir Bobby Charlton( regarded by many as England’s and United’s greatest ever player)
2. George best
3. Dennis law
4. Roy keane
5. Bryan Robson
6. Ryan giggs
7. Wayne Rooney
8. Paul scholes
9. Eric Cantona
10. Cristiano Ronaldo
Further more
11. Gary Neville
12. David Beckham
13. Big Pete
14. Rio ferdinand
15. Nemanja vidic
Giggs is, was and forever will be a United “great”. Watched him play throughout his career. Trying to stack-rank him to others based on stats, trophies etc ignores the quality, IMHO, he brought to the pitch.
United were simply BETTER when he was playing.
United were simply BETTER when he was playing.
They are never rank near to top 5 GOAT in most people list, surely for me Best and Charlton are probably among top 10-15, but that's only for ranking, they are not really serious contender of this GOAT title, but still one of the all the greats though.
I recently found a huge poster on the loft from my childhood from 99 with Giggs. One of those you could flip out and had a United player on each side. Had Solskjær on the frontside, and then a Ryan Giggs with insanely much bodyhair on the other side holding the CL Trophy. You could almost see the life inside the body hair as the poster was huge. Would probably be wildly inappropriate to have up as a 10 year old as it somehow oozes sex 
At least Solskjær won the battle for my wall.
What a player Giggs was. Also my favorite along Cantona and Scholes.
At least Solskjær won the battle for my wall.What a player Giggs was. Also my favorite along Cantona and Scholes.
I remember all the love for him too shown by our fans, when he was close to retiring, but still went on some seasons more. Every time he would take a throw in, the fans cheered him wildly like I havent seen with another player. And you could sense this through the telly, not even by being there. He was a god. Things looked so easy for him.
MY Top 7 in my years of following United
1. Bryan Robson
2. Eric Cantona
3. Ryan Giggs
4. Peter Schmeichel
5. Wayne Rooney
6. Roy Keane
7. Rio Ferdinand
There is no dispute about his ability, in fact I think he was massively underrated in actual fact.
When he was young he was absolutely rapid and was one of those players who didn’t seem to slow down much with the ball. Probably the best balance I have seen for a winger.
The way he was able to stay fit and reinvent himself was equally impressive, he really is one of the best players to ever grace the Premier League.
No comment on his personal life! We all have skeletons in the closet but from the outside looking in it doesn’t look great.
When he was young he was absolutely rapid and was one of those players who didn’t seem to slow down much with the ball. Probably the best balance I have seen for a winger.
The way he was able to stay fit and reinvent himself was equally impressive, he really is one of the best players to ever grace the Premier League.
No comment on his personal life! We all have skeletons in the closet but from the outside looking in it doesn’t look great.