Tuesday, October 06, 2009

THE RED MAN SPEAKS




Manchester United News & Views

The Ryan Giggs Tribute


The Plaudits seem to be endless, the praises deeply appreciative & one poster stated “Arise Sir Ryan Giggs”. Indeed one of the greatest Manchester United players to have graced Old Trafford. The veteran of 36 still glides pass players 10 years his junior. The way he danced passed defenders in the Manchester derby was sheer eye candy. Stephen Ireland must have felt dizzy when Giggs turned him inside out as he produced quality cross after cross down the left. Against Wolfsberg yet again his vision & intelligence around the box was immense. His simplistic approach in dismantling Stokes defense cannot heap enough superlatives. Where are all the boo boys & doubters who questioned his PFA award last season. He has been the cornerstone of Sir Alex’s record haul of 11 Premier Titles & 2 Champions League triumphs & deserves every ounce of praise.



Key to his success is his discipline off the pitch, Ryan by his own admission has made a lot of sacrifices. His clean lifestyle & level headed approach to life has kept him away from the tabloid wolves. He has endured Ferguson during his time, learnt from him, taken his advice & reaped the rewards. Simply put where Beckham failed Giggs has succeeded. A panel of Sky Sports pundits this past week were discussing his amazing longevity & evident were his fitness levels & desire & hunger to keep playing football at the highest level. He has captained United predominantly over the last 3 seasons & you cannot pick a better role model. Giggs has reached yet another milestone in his marvelous United career joining the elusive group of players who have hit 150 goals for the club with his equalizer against Wolfsburg. The most capped United player of all time & most decorated player in English Football recalls his five best goals in the video: Ryan Giggs True Red - The Life of a Legend.

v MANCHESTER CITY on full league debut, Old Trafford, May 4, 1991. United won 1-0


I remember running across the front post, sticking my foot out. I don't think I touched it. I think my shoe laces might have touched it. People thought it was Colin Hendry's own goal. Everyone came running across and started celebrating with me, so I was happy enough. It was Manchester City. We were beating City in the derby and I had scored the goal. It couldn't have gone any better.


v JUVENTUS Champions League, Old Trafford, Oct 1, 1997, United won 3-2


This was a game when we felt we'd sent out a message of intent to Europe. Juventus were a great side with top players like Zidane, Deschamps and Del Piero in their prime. We were 2-1 up with about a minute to go and I ran down the left, went past a couple of defenders and hit a shot high into the net.


v ARSENAL FA Cup semi-final, April 14, 1999 (Villa Park) United won 2-1


It was just an instinctive thing. I got the ball and tried to beat whoever was in front of me. The next minute I found myself in the box and facing David Seaman, who is an imposing figure. I thought, 'I'll have to hit this as hard as I can' and it went in. I have never done a celebration like that before. Maybe it was because the goal was a bit of a relief. I had come on as a sub and given the ball away three or four times. The celebration was like the goal. It was pure instinct. I thought 'who cares'. But I got some stick for my hairy chest.


v JUVENTUS Champions League, Stadio Delle Alpi, February 25, 2003. United won 3-0


I scored two. The second followed a run from the halfway line when I went down the left and cut inside. This is one of my favourite moments. To score a goal like that against Juventus, or any Italian team, is very special to me. I'd been getting a bit of stick. It wasn't the best of seasons for me up to that point and that goal got me back on track. There was a lot of speculation that I was going to leave, but that was one of my best seasons.


v CHELSEA Champions League final, Moscow, penalty kick, May 21, 2008. United won 6-5 on pens


I had practised during the week and thought I would aim for the corner. I felt if I kept the same technique and hit it low and hard into the corner it meant if he did save it, it would be a good save. It was a relief to see it go in as it meant Chelsea had to score the next one. Edwin (van der Sar) saved (Nicolas) Anelka's penalty and we had won.


Steve Bruce recalls the day Ryan Giggs first joined United:


“My first memory of him was when Fergie was nicking him from Man City and he was saying we have got this young kid coming over so just be careful with him today, he is going to train with the first team; he was obviously wanting him to sign. He joined in but we thought 'oh well, he's going to come and just join in with us.' But he took the mickey out of Viv Anderson, dribbled round him three times and we were saying 'who is this?' “That was my first memory of him and I just went 'wow'. I have never seen anyone as natural. Running, dribbling, it was just effortless for him to do any running session. He would glide. With the ball he was just as quick with the ball as he was without it. Did he get past me? Oh yeah, very, very easily. He's as good now as he was then…”


Games


vs. Sunderland 2-2. A disappointing performance in our own backyard as Sunderland were well worth a point if not 3. But such is the luck of Champions even when you having an off day you manage to graft a result by staying positive. Apart from Berbatovs goal United lacked imagination up front. I was hoping Giggs & Valencia would start but oddly enough Welbeck was given a wide role with the unpredictable Nani. Yet again the talking point has to be Ben Foster, Bent is a striker on form but you just know Van Der Sar might have got a hand to that shot from that distance, what was it about 20 yards? Sunderland’s second was another keeping mistake from Foster who looks very unsure of himself when dealing with aerial attacks. Subsequently Foster has not been named in the England squad for the upcoming games & the writing is on the wall. Its time Kuszcak gets a deserved run in the first team. Fergies attack on Alan Wiley was surprising & seemingly obvious he wanted to deflect attention away from a bad team performance. He now faces an FA enquiry.

Looking Ahead
After Chelsea’s win over Liverpool, United slip back to second & the title chargers are starting to shape up. The two man hopefuls from Merseyside are starting to feel the loss of Alonso & lack real depth in every department. But a wounded animal is a dangerous one & we face them in 3 weeks time. That is a grudge match for Fergie & probably a season saving one for Benitez. Arsenal are starting to find there form with their impressive demolition of Blackburn. Yet again Wenger looks to be a genius at finding talented individuals in Vermaelen & Arshavin who have been superb. Man City have a game in hand which could see them level for second in the table. They were dominant against Villa & are showing all the signs of lasting the distance with the pace setters. After the International break next week its Bolton at home then a trip to Moscow that will mark the halfway stage of the group phase.


RedMan

17 comments:

  1. Well said Redman, it was a disappointing performance from Utd. The big guys have to come to the party ifUtd have any chance of retaining the title. At this moment they are hibernating and producing mixed performances. Hopefully they will strike form after the internationals.

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  2. Ryan Giggs Salute.That is why he is great

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  3. Red Man.Do you think Valencia has made an impact this season?

    Greg

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  4. Im sure Arsenal fans remember the goal in that FA Cup Semi Final

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs Running down the Wing,Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs running down the wing

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  6. Red Man.Is it true that Ryan Giggs swopped England for Wales.He had a chance to choose and he didnt.This would have certainly solved Englands problems on the Left side of midfield. I mean England would have been fantastic with Giggs under Venables.
    And it could have handed Giggs the ultimate accolades that he misses and that is International honours and spotlight.
    How true is this.
    Azee,Isy Moosa your input will be appreciated here as a Lion

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  7. Giggs played for England School boys interestingly enough but was actualy born in Wales so when it came to his full international call up he chose Wales. His father also represented wales in Rugby. In a way it is a tragedy he could have played in major international tournaments with England. But if you think back to USA 94' wales were a penalty kick away from the finals in there last qualifying game, missed it 7 instead Romania I think qualified. THat was a great Welsh squad:
    Mark Hughes
    Ryan Giggs
    Ian Rush
    Dean Saunders
    Neville Southall

    As for Valencia I think he just needs more game time. What on earth Fergie was thinking playing Welbeck on the weekend, F** knows. Valencia's finishing might be a problem he missed an absolute against Stoke.

    RedMan

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  8. "How Could I possibly appraise him. Fantasy Star. Yeah thats Ryan Giggs"
    "This is embarassing to say but I have cried twice in my life watching a footballer. The first was for Roberto and the second was for Ryan Giggs"-Alesandro Del Piero

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  9. Also Mr B.The Welsh cannot compare to England. Giggs would have achieved so much in internationally with England. Will it be a move he lives to regret

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  10. how does a liverpool player win the league ?

    he joins MAN UNITED !!!!

    wa ha ha ha ha

    "go" RYAN GIGGS YOU BEAUTY

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gigss was asked once if he would have represented England & he responded there was no chance at all it would have ever happened. I think its more about allegiances in Britain.


    THats a nice vid Swoosh

    RedMan

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  12. Ryandinho - The Welsh BrazilianWednesday, 07 October, 2009

    Hey Redman

    Don't you think that the toppy is rotating the wingers too often.

    Valencia especially hasn't been given enough time to settle in the team. You'd expect him to get a run of about 5 successive games so he can settle and get used to the United flow but he plays 1 and sits out 1.

    He has decent pace, some good skills and the ability to beat defenders. He needs to work on his finishing though.

    Hey Marty do you remember the 2003 FA Cup game against Arsenal when Giggs rounded the keeper and shot over the bar. We lost the tie 1-0.

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  13. Giggsy is definitely my footballing hero but i also have another hero.... 'The Red Man' now i know all u liverpool plonkers will be asking why 'Red Man' well coz unlike all u liverpool supporters and bias comments 'Red Man' hits the nail on the head....

    A word of advice Liverplonkers - learn from the 'Red Man'

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  14. Its about time he gives that lity tosic a run.

    redman

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