Opinon - Ryan Giggs: From Class of 92 to Class of His Own

Ask any right back to have faced Ryan Giggs in his pomp and they would probably only be able to recall a blur of shaggy hair, a red flash and a trip to the physio to get their twisted blood straightened. Like an alien abductee society, the right back collective suffer flashbacks, a feeling of humiliation and a sense of helplessness with regard to the experience they have been through.

There is nothing extraterrestrial about what they faced, however it is safe to say that many of them have not come across such a devastating force before or since.

To watch Giggs in full flow was breathtaking, to see him today is sublime. Having progressed with age from an explosive winger to a slightly slower, more creative force that he is today is testament to a man who has played at the very top level for over 2 decades. The level of performance has not dropped, from a fresh faced teen in 1992 to the grey stubbled figure that stalks the Old Trafford playing area in 2011. For Halftimebovril, Ryan Giggs is the flagbearer of the Premier League era.

It is said that statistics can prove anything. I challenge any reader to find ambiguity in the following set. 11 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups and 2 Champions Leagues prove that Giggs is a major constituent of a winning side. You would have to travel far an wide to find a player with such an extensive medal haul, and wags rumour that Giggs has argyria from all the silverware he has handled.

When discussing Old Trafford longevity, a name that is immediately brought up is that of Paul Scholes. The heartbeat of possibly the most perfect midfield to have graced the Premier League. Alongside Giggs he had Beckham and Keane, and has won everything that Giggs has won. But for Halftimebovril, Scholes is second best, The midfield maestro converted from being a striker to advanced central midfielder early in his admittedly astonishing career. Giggs has been an out and out winger converted to central midfield general to rejuvenated winger in more recent times, and has still showed the propensity to dazzle during his 21st year at the top of the game.

At 37 years old, one would expect Giggs to be settling down on the Football Focus sofa in a flowery shirt, or perched on a stool with a badly fitted suit yelping in the Soccer Saturday studio. Having signed a new one year contract extension, he will be 38 when he finally calls time on his career at the "Theatre of Dreams". A one club man, he is one of a small collection to have been at the peak of their sport for their entire careers. Anybody that can be grouped with players such as Matthews, Seedorf and Maldini is a special player. To still be playing in a Premier League based almost entirely on strength, height and pace, and be controlling the games he plays in suggests that in time he may be appreciated more than he is now.

The saying goes that "time stands still for no-one". Yet Giggs, a one man rebuttal of the theory continues to adapt his game. Week after week he finds space and time where other players couldn't. The half-second he allows himself provides opportunity for team mates and consternation for opponents.

It would be a disservice to hark on past glories, so Halftimebovril will leave you with one thought...If Ryan Giggs had been born in Sao Paulo and been called Giggsinho, would we now be celebrating the career of one of the greatest players to have ever graced the beautiful game? Somehow, Halftimebovril thinks we would.