Evergreen Giggs delivers a masterclass in longevity

20th October 2008, 05:27

Quote:

If there was one passage of play which encapsulated Manchester United's enduring brilliance, it arrived when there were already early leavers filing towards the stadium exits and you could hear the dull, thudding clank of seats being emptied. The score was 3-0, the game was won and, with a Champions League tie to follow against Celtic the most successful players in English football could have been forgiven for wanting to conserve energy. But that, of course, is not the United way.

When Ishmael Miller, possibly the fastest player in the West Bromwich squad, got away from John O'Shea and started haring towards goal, the next player on his shoulder was the oldest outfield player on the pitch, with the first flecks of grey in his hair, no reputation for tackling and enough in credit to believe he could probably get away with leaving the task to the team's defenders. The chase began close to the halfway line and ended inside the penalty area before Ryan Giggs finally caught his opponent, 13 years his junior, and did just enough to make it comfortable for Edwin van der Sar to tip the shot over his crossbar.

"It was the 88th minute and Ryan must have sprinted 70 or 80 yards to get to our centre-forward," Jonathan Greening, the Albion midfielder who began his Premier League career at Old Trafford, marvelled. "He [Giggs] has played 700-odd games, he's in his 30s, and then you see him doing that and you know he's still doing the business."

The next time the ball dropped at Giggs's feet it was from Albion's corner and he was just outside his own penalty area. One quick glance ahead, one accomplished swish of that left boot and the ball had carried 50 yards up the pitch to Dimitar Berbatov. Two passes later and Nani had turned in Wayne Rooney's cross for the fourth goal. Giggs, 35 next month, was still in his own half when the net billowed and United's defenders converged on him. "What a pro, what a player," said Greening. "You simply can't fault him."

Greening was full of admiration for his old club and went as far as questioning whether Rooney, with eight goals in his last six games for club and country, deserves to be thought of as currently the best player in the world, given the talent on show in the rest of the team.

"I don't think it is the best he has played for us," Ferguson later argued, refusing to go with the flow. "I know there is this English thing about Wayne Rooney at the moment, to look upon him as the saviour of English football, but Wayne was just part of a team today. As good as he was, there were others just as good."

Ferguson's conservatism was understandable given that it is only a few weeks since we were still debating what had gone wrong with Rooney. That said, this was a destructive performance from the striker, including the first goal and assists in two others. Albion coped admirably throughout the opening half, even if Rooney had a perfectly good goal disallowed for an alleged push on Gianni Zuiverloon, but the gulf in class was brutal after the interval. It culminated in United's 34th 4-0 victory under Ferguson.

The manager described it as their best display of the season and the only possible concern, apart from the hamstring injury that forced off Patrice Evra, was Ronaldo's peculiar reaction after he had placed a left-foot shot through Scott Carson's legs. Too much can be read into a goal celebration, but compare Ronaldo's glower with Rooney's double knee-slide or the sunrise of a smile that crossed Berbatov's face after he had turned in Nani's cross to make it 3-0.

Nani himself went in for a back-flip. Yet Ronaldo spent so long over the summer trying to get a move to Real Madrid there are times when he looks as if he is here against his will. And that alone will have taken the gloss off this victory for some of United's supporters.

Great read from guardian

VoetbalWizard · 20th October 2008, 06:11

best player i've ever seen live. en eff tee.

Johnno · 20th October 2008, 06:25

Saw Giggs score his first (proper) goal for us v Norwich at OT in Sep 1991. They gave him the goal versus City in May of that year but it was never his, an own goal by Hendry but anyway Ryan Giggs is an absolute legend and should be regarded as highly as Charlton, Best and Law, not to mention Cantona, Robson etc.

hotshot2004 · 20th October 2008, 06:57

Absolutely cracker of a player, i am proud that he played his entire pro career with us.

Alex · 20th October 2008, 07:04

One word: Legend

Johnno · 20th October 2008, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

One word: Legend

that's three words (including the 'one word' bit)...

The Hairdryer · 20th October 2008, 07:39

Quote:

Evergreen Giggs delivers a masterclass in longevity

This sentence doesn't make any sense.

SecondFig · 20th October 2008, 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hairdryer

This sentence doesn't make any sense.

Yes it does.

The Hairdryer · 20th October 2008, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondFig

Yes it does.

No it doesn't. How do you deliver a masterclass in longevity?

Denis' cuff · 20th October 2008, 09:25

he's a different player these days isn't he? I know that's stating the obvious and I must admit I get frustrated with some of his wayward passing which is (and never has been) that good, but you just know it's a matter of time before one of his touches unlocks the door. Thought he was excellent the other day and it reminded me of that early season period he had in m/f a couple of years back when he was brilliant.

anything about now · 20th October 2008, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hairdryer

No it doesn't. How do you deliver a masterclass in longevity?

longevity could be seen as an art or a practice.

Crustanoid · 20th October 2008, 09:50

Still trying to get the 'Ronaldo leaving' embers burning at the end there

krazyrobus · 20th October 2008, 16:34

That chase made me smile. Bless him, old Giggs would have caught him comfortably, it's awesome that he still did it considering Rio was already there covering and Neville was tracking the only 1 other player in our half.

Raven_Blade · 20th October 2008, 16:40

Looks like he is adapting well to his new position. He doesnt have to be tearing up and down the wings all the time but he is still capable. His creativity and genius is best served from the middle where he can orchestrate the play of our team.

ZIDANE · 20th October 2008, 16:46

Yeah that chase was great. I feared for his hamstrings.

I think VDS got up and said "Are you okay?"

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber · 20th October 2008, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippersripper

Great read from guardian

Agreed. I believe he is the greatest player in premiership history. He has been directly involved in securing all the league medals he holds. Not mention his two champions league trophies. A true legend if there ever was one.

reelworld · 20th October 2008, 17:32

His passing was fantastic. He was on hand on 2 of our goals.

Psmith · 20th October 2008, 17:41

Good article apart from the nonsense in the last 2 paragraphs about Ronaldo's celebration.

MadDogg · 20th October 2008, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIDANE

Yeah that chase was great. I feared for his hamstrings.

As did I. I was literally yelling at the tv telling him to stop chasing so hard, as I was having nightmares of him suddenly pulling up with his hammy gone.

redfromcanada · 20th October 2008, 23:45

When Scholes is unavailable, Giggs is the only player in midfield that can come close to replicating his form and poise on the ball.

marcus agrippa · 20th October 2008, 23:56

thought he started a bit shakily, giving away possession carelessly. but then he settled into his stride.

21st October 2008, 02:56

We should be really proud that we produced two of the most technically gifted players of the era where British players are rated based on heart and passion only.

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20th October 2008, 06:11	#2 (permalink)
VoetbalWizard First Team Sub Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: at the altar of ryan giggs Posts: 6,450	best player i've ever seen live. en eff tee.

20th October 2008, 06:25	#3 (permalink)
Johnno Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 10,225	Saw Giggs score his first (proper) goal for us v Norwich at OT in Sep 1991. They gave him the goal versus City in May of that year but it was never his, an own goal by Hendry but anyway Ryan Giggs is an absolute legend and should be regarded as highly as Charlton, Best and Law, not to mention Cantona, Robson etc.

20th October 2008, 06:57	#4 (permalink)
hotshot2004 Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Promise Land Posts: 2,233	Absolutely cracker of a player, i am proud that he played his entire pro career with us.

20th October 2008, 07:04	#5 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	One word: Legend

20th October 2008, 09:25	#10 (permalink)
Denis' cuff Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,287	he's a different player these days isn't he? I know that's stating the obvious and I must admit I get frustrated with some of his wayward passing which is (and never has been) that good, but you just know it's a matter of time before one of his touches unlocks the door. Thought he was excellent the other day and it reminded me of that early season period he had in m/f a couple of years back when he was brilliant.

20th October 2008, 09:50	#12 (permalink)
Crustanoid First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SpoSpa revolution Posts: 6,555	Still trying to get the 'Ronaldo leaving' embers burning at the end there

20th October 2008, 16:34	#13 (permalink)
krazyrobus Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, USA Posts: 1,430	That chase made me smile. Bless him, old Giggs would have caught him comfortably, it's awesome that he still did it considering Rio was already there covering and Neville was tracking the only 1 other player in our half.

20th October 2008, 16:40	#14 (permalink)
Raven_Blade Attention Whoring Common Crow Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: You cant reason with stupidity. Posts: 25,069	Looks like he is adapting well to his new position. He doesnt have to be tearing up and down the wings all the time but he is still capable. His creativity and genius is best served from the middle where he can orchestrate the play of our team.

20th October 2008, 16:46	#15 (permalink)
ZIDANE First Team Sub Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: "..undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation." Zizou on Scholes Posts: 5,892	Yeah that chase was great. I feared for his hamstrings. I think VDS got up and said "Are you okay?"

20th October 2008, 17:32	#17 (permalink)
reelworld Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: "I was never a great player" - Roy Keane, after being reminded that great players rarely make great managers. Posts: 5,612	His passing was fantastic. He was on hand on 2 of our goals.

20th October 2008, 17:41	#18 (permalink)
Psmith First Team Sub Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,593	Good article apart from the nonsense in the last 2 paragraphs about Ronaldo's celebration.

20th October 2008, 23:45	#20 (permalink)
redfromcanada Reserve Team Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 768	When Scholes is unavailable, Giggs is the only player in midfield that can come close to replicating his form and poise on the ball.

20th October 2008, 23:56	#21 (permalink)
marcus agrippa First Team Sub Join Date: May 2005 Location: "Clattenburg!- Jesus God!" - SAF Posts: 6,536	thought he started a bit shakily, giving away possession carelessly. but then he settled into his stride.

21st October 2008, 02:56	#22 (permalink)
Merman Guest Posts: n/a	We should be really proud that we produced two of the most technically gifted players of the era where British players are rated based on heart and passion only.