Has Giggs lost some of his abilities?

[RUnited]

After 40 minutes gone in the game the commentator said

"I'm sure they'll bring Giggs into the game in the second half, United badly needs width on that left side". First i thought it was very funny because we haven't seen Giggs out wide in so long.. and then, on came Giggs later in the second half playing out wide again after so long.

it was a very good feeling to see that Giggs actually stayed out wide most of his time on the field. He did dribble down the flanks and put in some crosses like in the old days, but:

1. He seriously looked like he lost some pace.
2. He wasn't trying very hard to take on defenders with his skills like he used to.

Has he really lost pace? He didn't look faster than Silvestre or O'Shea.. Has the injuries taken toll on him to the point where he's afraid to take on defenders for fears of getting injured?

I'd still put him in my first XI tho because his presence definitely intimidates oppositions, but has he lost much of his effectiveness? I thought it helped significantly that our other players were doing a marvelous job, so essentially it helped Giggs look better on the field.. but individually i'm not sure he contributed a great deal..

it's a depressing thought to think that Giggs has lost his most effective ability on the field. He's still a very important player to have and it was great to hear he wants to see out his contract with us, but at this rate will SAF let him go like how he's let so many other great players go on their decline?

 

[MrBurns]

Giggsy still has a lot to offer IMO.

To much to let him go.

 

[Vinay]

No, Giggs is not losing it yet. It is one of those times when he is just 'overburnt' and he needs some sharpening in his mind as to his game. He will come back roaring, I feel certain. Needs a few games off to get back to his level best.

 

[Ever hopefull]

Its not a case of him losing some of his ability, it's a case of 10 years of premiership football and his age catching up on his body.
He's has had a lot of problems with injuries over the years and the majority of them have concerned his legs, which will naturally take its toll. His pace has suffered.
The skill is still there and its that aspect thats means he is still performing a vital job for us

 

[Stanley Road]

Play him in the middle, that's where he's at

Mark Miwuurds

 

[uranushk1]

Obviously he is not running as fast as when he was 20. But speed is not everything. For e.g., I think he should at least control the ball and cross the ball better. Therefore, I think he is now in a bad form rather than he has lost his abilities. A rest can do him good. After that, hope he can work hard to regain his form, and I truly believe he can still prove all his doubters wrong later.

 

[MancFanFromManc]

20m for a 29 year old winger has to be worth thinking about.

He's a MU legend but like many before him, there comes a time when its right for club and player to move on.

ps. Happy New Year all (just blown the cobwebs off my PC, now if only someone would blow them off me!)

 

[vijay]

Am of opinion that Giggs is the finest player
to have played for us in the last decade.Please dont write him off ..back him.Cuper is ready to give him a high profile contract cos he belives Giggsy is still the best.He is out of form right
now But he will be back soon..for gods sake back him.....dont write him off...

 

[Ever hopefull]

Originally posted by MancFanFromManc:
<strong>20m for a 29 year old winger has to be worth thinking about.

He's a MU legend but like many before him, there comes a time when its right for club and player to move on.

ps. Happy New Year all (just blown the cobwebs off my PC, now if only someone would blow them off me!)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Agree to a point. It a tricky one. If a deal with Inter is in the offering i'd rather consider a swap for Recoba than just a straight cash deal. On the other hand is Recoba the kinda a left winger we want.
From what i've seen of him (admittedly not a massive amount) he doesn't look like the sort of player who runs a defenders. He looks to be more a Beckhamesq player. ie. great passing ability and a cracking shot on him.
I'm just wondering if that would make us a bit one dimensional. The same sort of play coming from both wings.
Like i said it a tricky one

 

[Dominant]

giggs really need to work on his crosses...
He never look like picking anybody out when he's crossing the ball in from the left.

 

[thumper]

He had a couple of crosses against Sunderland and if I remember rightly 2 didnt make it past the 1st defender and 1 made it past everybody and was cleared. He just needs a bit of serious competition for his place as he's never really had that except from Bloomquist in the last few years and he needs someone challenging him to let him know he's replaceable if he's not playing upto standard but I certainly wouldn't seel him in mid season.

 

[Ever hopefull]

His crossing has never been up to much, so i can't see them getting any better at this stage in his career, especially now that he blatently wants to play through the middle

 

[blythy]

'Form is temporary, class is permanent'

 

[Ever hopefull]

Originally posted by blythy:
<strong>'Form is temporary, class is permanent'</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thats true, but do you continue to select a player who is out of form so he can play himself back in or do you rest him.
I'm not saying we're carrying Giggsy but could someone else take his place in the meantime

 

[Veedey]

Well, let as assume that next season we have a new LM who scores 4 goals and make 5 assists in 22 matches in the EPL plus 3 goals and 2 assists in the CL, playing partly in the first team and partly as a sub. What would we say about this guy? Guess most of us would say he’s OK.
So why do some people slag Giggs off while he has the same stats (7 goals +7 assists)? Is it just because we remember him to play better? Yes, he’s probably lost his pace that is ‘just’ good but not as awesome as it was before.
It’s funny that anyone assumes Giggs of being ‘not faster’ than young O’Shea. Show me any young fast player and I’d predict (with a fecking smart face) he’ll lose his pace when he’s 29. But Giggs still has good skills, intellect and experience. We need him till Richardson will get stronger.
He should stay or what would we say about Keano if he had another 2-3 performances like he had on 29 Dec and 1 Jan?

 

[Neil Thomson]

Originally posted by blythy:
<strong>'Form is temporary, class is permanent'</strong><hr></blockquote>
Ginola's not so good now though is he? Eric was right to retire in his prime, and then relax with Beach football. Don't advise Giggs goes into acting though, he's the most awkward player in front of a camera I've ever seen.

 

[giggzy]

Still too early to say whether he's finished.

and, yep...he's friggin crap infront of the camera.. sounds like a bloody robot. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[redevil2]

Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>
Ginola's not so good now though is he? Eric was right to retire in his prime, and then relax with Beach football. Don't advise Giggs goes into acting though, he's the most awkward player in front of a camera I've ever seen.</strong><hr></blockquote>

with hindsight, perhaps it's possible to say 'one should retire in thier prime'. But when is a prime really a prime?? Teddy S is 36 and has never thought of retiring! Even in eric's case, who is to say he has reached his prime?? he was only 31 when he retired. Who is to say he was in his prime?? Eric has made a conscious decision to leave football for many reasons, maybe when he knows he was not as good as before is one of them. And a perfectionist like himself would bear the thought of having a low at any stage!!! But who is to predict that he wont bounce back should he stay on a couple of years (if he has the will to carry on!!). Even he himself couldnt. But when he hasnt the will to continue (for whatever reason) certainly he has reached his prime already cos he would not be enjoying the game any more so as to practice and improve/maintain.

In football, age is certainly one reason to change a footballer's performance, but it's more complicated than that!! The will to win, the will to carry on.... etc are important! Like our mighty Keano!! Experience counts a lot in a game and with improved skill and all that, fitness becomes not the most important element.

Tbose united fans who have suggested (or even thought of) the idea of off loading Giggs should look in the mirror and ask themselves what they are really talking/thinking about!

 

[Vinay]

Originally posted by Dominant:
<strong>giggs really need to work on his crosses...
He never look like picking anybody out when he's crossing the ball in from the left.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Giggs never was the best crosser of the ball. His first strength has always been his ability to run at defenders confusing them with his mazy style. It would have been great to have him cross like Beckham or even Ole. But, for that he needs to be more composed on the ball. That is not Giggs' personality. He is about tiny touches to the ball to keep changing directions abruptly. So, I guess it is not something to be expected to see Giggs cross like Beckham. But, then, Beckham cannot run like Giggs, can he? We'll surely take everyone's talent as it is and make full use of it.

 

[mitch]

Originally posted by vijay_vr:
<strong>Am of opinion that Giggs is the finest player
to have played for us in the last decade.Please dont write him off ..back him.Cuper is ready to give him a high profile contract cos he belives Giggsy is still the best.He is out of form right
now But he will be back soon..for gods sake back him.....dont write him off...</strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree. Anyone doubting Giggsy's influence on a game should review the Champions League fixtures this season. He was awesome against Deportivo and most Continental defenders are uncomfortable when facing wingers with genuine pace, like Giggs. Perhaps the Captaincy responsibility affected his consistency, but I am sure Giggsy will return to his prime starting today against Portsmouth.

 

[Ever hopefull]

Originally posted by mitch:
<strong>

I agree. Anyone doubting Giggsy's influence on a game should review the Champions League fixtures this season. He was awesome against Deportivo and most Continental defenders are uncomfortable when facing wingers with genuine pace, like Giggs. Perhaps the Captaincy responsibility affected his consistency, but I am sure Giggsy will return to his prime starting today against Portsmouth.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Your post has just summed up why we are so frustrated with Giggsy at the moment. He was fantastic against Depor. He ran at defenders, so why doesn't he do that every week