Like most United fans, I am enjoying Ryan Giggs’ good form of late. He has successfully made the transition from winger to central midfielder, taking on players, providing goals (11th highest assister in the league) and starting to look more like a captain.
Whilst it’s great to see Giggs get the praise he deserves, particularly when considering he is the most decorated player this league has ever seen, with more appearances for United than any other player and setting a great example to any young professionals, however, I can’t help but think people are whipping themselves in to a frenzy. People are talking about him being named Player of the Season and how he looks better than ever before.
“There is an argument to say Ryan is playing better than he has ever done,” said Mike Phelan yesterday. “He goes on to another level every year. We can only be happy with that.”
Bollocks.
Ryan Giggs was a fucking superstar. He could outsprint anyone, one dip of his shoulder and he was gone. He did this on a weekly basis, several times a match, not just once in a blue moon, as he did against West Ham.
I understand Giggs’ role is different now and recently he’s fulfilled that role admirably, but that doesn’t make him better than he was at his peak. There have been stretches this season where Giggs has had one average game after another, and that’s putting it kindly. Wayward passing and frustrated hands-on-hips glares at the referee when he’s not awarded a freekick for losing possession characterised his game for chunks of the season.
This isn’t me ripping him to shreds or being unkind, merely trying to even out the balance. The press he’s receiving at the moment is bordering on hysteria and whilst I’m pleased to see him given his due, I think Giggs is being done a disservice when people claim he’s better than ever. He’s adapted well, he’s playing well, but at his best, Giggsy was special.
I’m made up that Giggs still has a part to play in our squad and I truly believe that after he’s retired all the praise he’ll get will be fully deserved, but let’s not downgrade Giggsy of days gone by with comparing him to his performances now.
Let’s remind ourselves…
Man Utd News 24/7
a bit harsh scott!
there is an argument that at the moment his decision making, awareness, passing, and ability to control a game IS as good as ever, if not better!
I completely agree with where you’re coming from, Scott. Giggsy is a living legend, and he has been brilliant throughout all his years of service at United. His form in recent weeks is undeniably excellent, but I don’t think he’s been getting better year by year, and I think the never-ending praise comes only because everyone is embracing the superstar they KNOW him to be all this time. I think this whole Giggsy fever is more of how all of us know that few other players in this game can remain so loyal and effective after so many years of playing, and we should celebrating that fact, rather than actually stating that he’s never been better in his illustrious career.
hail to sir ryan!
I don’t think Scott is being harsh. Firm but fair.
Its true, Giggsy in the 90s was amazing. I remember in the stretty, everytime he got the ball, everyone stood up. He is good now but its another example of Phelan opening his big mouth and looking like a fool I am afraid. I really am not keen on the guy.
Giggsy is a legend but Scott is right. The press are going in to hysteria mode and I bet Giggsy finds it embarissing. A perfect example is ignoring all of Vidic’s amazing performances, to say Giggs should win player of the year after a few good performances
Phelan didn’t help matters either but then what exactly has he helped since he arrived?
I honestly cannot imagine a Man Utd side without him. I’m a 19 year old therefore Giggs, Scholes and Neville are childhood heroes to me. When they leave (especially Scholes – my personal favourite) it will seem like a part of United’s soul has disappeared. =(
Giggs is obviously in fantastic form at the moment but he’s always been a bit erratic. Some seasons he’s been phenomenal and then the next a little off form, then back to his best. Considering he’s been at the top of his game for 17 years, it’s to be expected and I don’t think it surprises any long-term fan to see him returning to his best.
The man is an absolute legend and I for one will feel a little lighter in the heart when he eventually hangs up his boots. He’s been a joy to watch over the years and been an unbelievable professional throughout.
Lets hope he can stick around another couple seasons.
In terms of longevity,Giggs is football’s version of the Undertaker from the WWE.For those who don’t know,the Undertaker is a wrestler who has been wrestling for the company for 19 years,makes more sporadic appearances but his performances are as good as ever.What has made Giggs legendary in the past couple of seasons,is his adaption.He never stops to learn new things about football and how to use his strengths and conceal his weaknesses.I disagree with the notion that he should be player of the season because he hasn’t played so much.If we look at who has kept United alive through their most difficult time,then the award must go to Vida or VDS.Giggsy stopped being the winger who terrified defenses about 5-6 years ago.He then went on to learn the position of the second striker and in recent years that of the central midfielder.He is still useful as hell.
Giggs is in amazing form at the moment, but i’ll always love the days when he used to tear players inside out he could and still can take on more players than Ronaldo.
These days he has more experience which obviously helps and his decision making is better but back in his youth he took on more players got more crosses in and scored more goals, He’s was a fantastic player then and he still is now.
Giggs will tear you apart againnnn…..
obviously he won’t be as good as he was when he was a less hairy teenager tearing defenders to shreads. but his form of late has been nothing short of outstanding, he ran the midfield against fat frank, deco, ballack, money grabbing mikel. and the other day he was man of the match no matter what Beglin said.
Giggs will tear you apart again…
i agree 100% scott
I think the reason they say he’s better now than ever is that in his days of sheer pace, he relied more on instinct rather than his brain, i.e. reliant on what he did automatically/naturally.
Now the pace has gone and he has to think more, he’s shown he can still mix it with the best. That’s true class.
So, is it more exhilarating to watch him fly past players and jink past defenders? Yes. Does that instantly make him a better player than the experienced, studied player he’s become? Debatable.
glad im not the only one who thought like this. giggs was extraordinary in his prime, and he’s still playing well now. its a shame he hasnt won player of the year.
but truth is he has only played well since the turn of the year.
vidic is definitely a shoe for our player of the season.
I think the hysteria is warranted….it’s about the fact that last season and the one before that, I and many others thought his career was about to come to an abrubt end…simply because he couldn’t cut it anymore and Ferguson himself hasn’t been shy of dropping or shedding players despite their loyalty if they can’t hack it anymore…The hysteria is not just about his new position, his better awareness, passing and now often vital creative touch in the middle but the fact his form is unbelievably better than that of the last two years…Nobody is saying he is better than he was when he was young and it’s a bit of story-creating to play on the words that Phelan clearly isn’t a master of using…It’s nearly unheard of for a player who struggled at 33 and 34 to adapt markedly more into a position and come into his own at 35, that’s what the hysteria is about…people say things in hyperbole all the time, it’s human nature, not a story.
Agreed but he’s definitely up for player of the month and they need to give him something when he retires!
Poor article!
100% accurate scott
Giggs has been good since Chelsea,4before that id rate his performances this season as 4/10
…..what actually has he done??
GIggsy has changed so much as a player. He hasn’t got the pace he had, although he is still very fast. He’s adapted to new positions and has been fantastic in many games this season. But the biggest from my point of view is his decision making. He’s making fewer errors than before and is more involved as a central player then when he was only playing wide left.
Although I thing everyone would prefer the old Giggsy like when he was in his twenties,he’s been absolutely brilliant this season.
The winner last Sunday for starters.
realred what are you on about……….Im sorry but ryan giggs has been our best player this season by a long way (except for vidic). He put in outstanding performances before the chelsea game…….everton and west brom for example. The man is fucking unbelievable. I think he deserves all the praise hes getting because for a winger, with the mileage hes done, to dominate games in centre midfield is sensational. Id love to see any other winger in the world attempt to play centre midfield let alone, dominate it. Hes been superb for us this season. I cant understand why hes getting all this praise now hes been fuckin unbelievable for 19 years……….I agree with the article tho Giggs was a fucking superstar and through the 90s he was unstoppable and thats when he was at his best…..but even now hes still a mathc for anyone else………If SAF says he deserves to b a contender for world player of the year i dont think anyone can argue.
Ryan Giggs – Legend
What people seem to forgett is that running around isn’t the only way to be an awesome player. What impresses about ryan is that he has absolute control of what goes on in the pitch, he knows where the ball should go, where it is, and where everyone should be, directing the moves afterwards, or making defence-sliting passes. Just look at Riquelme at the last world cup for example. That guy wouldn’t run even if he was about to get raped, but he still was one of the highest rated players because he did exactly what ryan is doing right now. It’s not all about goals and sprints. And no, I don’t think that he’s better than ever, but he’s damn close to that, that’s for sure.
seems some people have a beef with mr phelan rather than giggsy!
spencer- u say, regarding phelan, “what exactly has he helped since he arrived?!?!?!”
let me ask you. what do you think he has helped? and what do u think he hasnt helped, that he should have? im all ears, educate me please, as u must know things that go on at carrington that the rest of us dont.
what a fantastic fight happen on this
hes better now
no he was better as a teen
but he’d had the speed
now he has the brains
im just overjoyed he is united
has always been united(good stuff city letting ryan wilson out of grabs)
and always will be
sir ryan is a must
bossdem, I agree nobody actually knows what he does or doesn’t do, if CQ was still at the club people would be saying our recent record would be down to him.
I thought this article was a little churlish, but you made up for it with the video! Let’s drop this debate and concentrate on enjoying McAteer falling over like the idiot he is. Brilliant!
You’re right, but it’s still great hearing the pundits go on about how good he’s been, because he’s only managed to be the best player on the pitch several times in a short stretch, two decades into his career…We lack the inspiration #10 provides us, and #11 has stepped up. Only behind Vida and Carrick as player of the season so far.
Sir Ryan Giggs! He’s done nothing to complain about, and there’s no one with a bad word to say about him. Not even Scholesy can say that, since everyone he’s ever tackled would write to the Queen in protest!
Giggsy has been amongst the most under-rated footballers in the league. He never got talked about and rah-rah ed as much as players like Henry or Shearer. So if Giggsy is getting credit for United’s recent successes, i dont see a reason to be apologetic zbout it. Finally a player of his calibre is getting his due from the moronic press who cant seem to get their heads out of the arse’s of the likes of Fattie Lampard,Gerrard and co.
As for as Player of the Season goes, its a LITTLE bit too much.Giggsy has had a distinctly average season and fans seem to forget his mediocre performances a few months back. If anybody deserves the award its Vida, hands down .
scott’s argument proven – 2:05 beat that
Good post. I agree with most of it, but I still think Giggs might just deserve to be Footballer of the Year as this award (as opposed to Player of the Year)has occasionally tended to reward lifetime achievement.
Credit must go to Fergie for deploying him as central mf.Giggs has found this new position very comfortable.I guess hardly any genuine wingers can switch to central mf in europe.Giggs deserves to be called Sir.Ryan Giggs,surely after he retires
giggsy in my opinion has adapted to a different role now, having accepted the fact he cant sprint down that left wing anymore. So with that in mind i dont think you can compare the old giggsy with the new giggsy. They’re 2 totally different roles for ryan. He’s bringing calm assuredness to the team rather than energy and sprints down the wing. His decision making from that central midfield role has improved hands down and his passing has been nothin short of fuckin brilliant. I think ryan deserves the player of the year award this season. he’s been brilliant. And to be honest, sentiment aside, he should have won it a long time ago. How he’s not won this before is totally beyond me.And for me he’s the greatest premier league player of all time.
If Beckham was at united still, Who do you think would be the better player out the two and offer more?
Phelan is doing my head in a bit……..
RE: Tevratov
A discussion we had at the group I went with to the match on Sunday. Quite a few are getting irritated with Phelan. I don’t know what it is, I think its just because he seems quite unprofessional to the press and doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut or what to say
Fergie so blatantly didn’t want him as an assistant but he was forced because he couldn’t find anyone else as short notice
I think the reason to name him Player of the Year
is down to his great form, obviously, but also due
to the fact that there actually is no obvious option,
obviously Vidic has been an excellent performer but
it’s rare that a defender gets the Player of the Year
award.
I like Phelan but he isnt good enough to be the assistant at United he seems abit star struck and realises he’s lucky to of been given such a huge job hence the fact he talks alot of drivel to the press he gets abit carried away with it all he looks out of place.
Top bloke and understands United well he’s good to have on board but not good enough to be assistant, we need someone with good tactics and someone that can offer something different for Fergie, Fergie can handle the league on his own no doubt but its the later stages of champions league i worry about i cant see Phelan being much help to be honest.
Love this pic of Giggs – made me buy that kit and may I say is still one of my favs – for some reason it worked….may have been the fact that it was soo bad that it looked good especially as they wuped teams and started the golden days back then
ALL TRUE..BUT RIGHT NOW HE IS FUCKING FANTASTIC!!!
the question shouldnt be has giggs gotten better or worse.. what hes playin now and the things he did down the wings in his hayday are completely different.. we shouldnt be comparing, we should just be glad hes been on our side thruout his career.
p.s. i bet its those same wankers who were calling for his head a season back are the same dipshits who’re proclaiming hes god now. fickle bastards.
I agree (again).
Nice post