The transfer window is starting to close shut and the gaze of the footballing world is starting to point in new directions. Where does it rest its unceasing gaze for the next few months? Well, onto the Player of the Year awards, and who are the likely contenders for this season’s prize. Last week Sir Alex Ferguson stated that Ryan Giggs would be enjoying another extension to his contract and that he also thought Giggs was is line for a personal award this time round too. Was this comment the crafty machinations of a fatherly manager, or is English football’s most decorated player a genuine challenger for the title of best Premier League Player 2009/2010?
There are a few different accolades on offer but the two most prestigious are The Football Writer’s Award and the PFA award (or player’s player of the year). Whilst the voting for these two comes from different areas, the criteria for both is roughly the same. Namely, that you need to be the outstanding player in the league over the course of a season. It can be awarded to a player who is head and shoulders above the rest, see Ronaldo last season, somebody critical to a highly successful team, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Thierry Henry. Or, more suspiciously, it somehow finds its way into the hands of a glamoruous player who plays for a London club, see David Ginola winning it in 1999 after United’s treble.
So,why hasn’t Giggs won this award before? There are those who argue that the two seasons in which Giggs was truly outstanding were his first two. They might feel that as he was awarded the Young Player of the Year award in those years that he was justly rewarded. Perhaps this is true, but I can attest to the tremendous consistency of a player who I have been watching since his debut in 1991. The reality is that he has just been unlucky. During his immense career, at certain times, there have simply been more talented players who have hit peak and shone a little brighter. After Keane declined and Henry sulked, instead of Giggs taking their limelight other great players have come to the fore and gobbled the plaudits. Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo have grabbed more headlines during their marquee seasons, but Giggs has been quietly in the background collecting the medals. Perhaps this approach suits him. Giggsie found himself in trouble with Ferguson a couple of times during the early days and now he seems to enjoy not being the centre of attention. I remember clearly him stating he was glad when Beckham became famous because it gave him a break.
The talk about Giggs winning it this year seems to have started since his performance against Chelsea at Old Trafford. He was, undeniably, awesome that day. Playing in a position that is relatively new to him, he managed to control the game in a manner many midfield veterans would have been proud of. But, and it is a big but, does that alone qualify you for the trophy? If we look around the country it is indeed a year where Player of the Year candidates are not standing out obviously. At Chelsea, only Frank Lampard looks interested, and he is having a phenomenal season. At Liverpool, Steven Gerrard is performing utter heroics, the amount of times that guy drags Liverpool up of the floor is just incredible – he reminds me of Robson. But for me, so far, the season’s best player has been Ashley Young of Aston Villa, solid, reliable and (dare I say it) more menacing than any of the other three at present.
The campaign for Giggs to win the award this year will be long and loud. The question we have to ask is will he deserve the award on merit, or will it be a sentimental gesture, much like Paul Newman winning Best Actor in the Autumn of his career after five failed nominations.
The good news is that I cannot give you an answer now for the simple reason that the season is not over yet. The PFA Award, much like everything else, is all still to play for. I am happy that Giggsie is in the running (and am right behind our player) but only want him to win if he truly deserves it, denying somebody else would probably not be right. Whether he wins it or not, he is still one of the all time greats.
There is a problem regarding Giggsy. Stand on top of the Stretford End and survey the entire history of this greatest of all clubs and you will see few players with more natural ability. Duncan Edwards, probably (we can’t be sure; when he died he was 14 years younger than Giggsy is). Georgie, perhaps. Bobby Charlton, for his shooting and for the best bodyswerve the game has ever seen. I can’t think of any more. And of course Giggsy has won more medals than all three of them put together. But how often has he done a Stadio delle Alpi 99, or a Lisbon 66? Has he done so as often as someone with his divine abilities should have done? I don’t think so, Of course there was his immortal 10 seconds against Arsenal in that semi-final, and one or two other wonder goals too – QPR, Spurs, Juventus – but how many times has he run a game, or turned a game upside down, or just taken charge? And when he has a one-on-one do you expect him to score? Really? A very fine player, a United man through and through, a perfect example to kids, Yes. An All Time Great? No, in my respectful opinion.
Good point by the Grimace, however I would contend that it is very rare that a winger actually runs a game, certainly not in the modern era. Apart from Figo in Euro 2000, who dragged them through to the Semi’s on his own, it quite simply never happens.
Most influential players of the last 10 years? Henry, Keane, Zidane, Kaka, Ronaldinhio etc, not one of them is an out and out winger like Giggsy, a man who will get chalk on his boots.
Great shouts on player of the year, a point I made in the comments section of your previous blog by the way……………
Yes Matt, thanks for the nudge on that one. However, we have both criminally overlooked Vidic.
Check this out:
http://blogs.soccernet.com/manchesterunited/
The best player I have ever seen in the red shirt was George Best. Full stop.
Today, Giggsy deserves every accolade he gets for his abilities, his medals, his years of contribution to the Cause and for his loyalty, this last quality an increasingly rare commodity, please note Ronnie.