McManaman and Giggs

[Damian_de]

Just wondering what people think of the relative merits of McManaman and Giggs, hopefully purely on the ability level rather than any other considerations (hard for many I know!)

 

I was just watching another Souness disaster on youtube, a match that features on the 'in this day in liverpool history panel', home 3-2 loss to Wimbledon... and there was McManaman popping up with a goal.

 

Obviously McManaman and Giggs's careers panned out rather differently, Giggs is still playing, one club man etc etc, but was there really that much between them as players? Both came through into first team contention at about the same time, both wingers (initially), both regarded as the hot properties of the time. In some ways McManaman was even eclipsing Giggs statwise in the mid 90s - 25 assists in 95-96, PFA team of the year 4 seasons on the bounce...

 

Yes, I know: white suits, bosman transfer, possible bad influence on Robbie... but like Robbie maybe just a great player at the wrong time?

 

Nailing my colours to the mast, I honestly don't believe there was much in it abilitywise between McManaman and Giggs, and that makes it all the greater shame that we never got more out of one of the best right midfielders I've ever seen play for us.

 

Feel free to reminisce

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Giggs has never been a bottler in front of goal

[Damian_de]

Maybe not... balanced out by McManaman's fine collection of quality strikes?

[Benitez]

McManaman had all the ability in the world. But maybe at the right club but very much at the wrong time. Whereas the opposite can be said for Giggs.

Plus Giggs attitude to being a football star seemed very different to McManaman!

[John am Rhein]

Giggs was (and is) better than McManaman

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

McManaman had all the ability in the world. But maybe at the right club but very much at the wrong time. Whereas the opposite can be said for Giggs.

Plus Giggs attitude to being a football star seemed very different to McManaman!

Giggs used to beat women, didn't he?

[Billy Dane]

used to?

[Chili Palmer]

when both on top form Giggs was a much much better player.

[Foo]

when both on top form Giggs was a much much better player.

 

I would have to agree with that. Kind of.

[John am Rhein]

Giggs used to beat women, didn't he?

 

Yeah, with a deft drop of the shoulder or even a little nutmeg.

[Stevie H]

giggs every time i'm afraid. he's been top, top class for about sixteen years now. probably the most under-rated british footballer in the last thirty years.

[Cobs]

there was nothing between them on top form,

 

Giggs' top form however lasted a lot, lot longer then McManaman's

 

 

it's odd how readily people choose to forget exactly how good Macca was for us

[Mike]

true that, on form macmanaman was practically unplayable

[Tones]

Giggs was and still is the better footballer. Great career he has had.

[Drexl]

Macmanaman was very good, but not as a right midfielder. Roy Evans may not have been a tactical genius, but he did get the best out of Macmanaman by giving him no restraints whatsoever.

[Rich Gobey]

Stylewise, Macca had more in common with Ronaldo than Giggs.

Edited September 27, 2008 by Gobez

[NWR]

Iremember that everytime we played Liverpool and he started a run down the left wing I used to think "f*** f*** f***, dont let this c*** turn inside and run towards the edge/front of the box" cause from there he could curl a shot into the top corner.

I thought he was your best player for a couple of years and was glad he didnt turn up for the Cantona Cup Final.

 

Its Giggs all the way for me though and I admit I am a tad biased here.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

there was nothing between them on top form,

 

Giggs' top form however lasted a lot, lot longer then McManaman's

it's odd how readily people choose to forget exactly how good Macca was for us

 

 

true that, on form macmanaman was practically unplayable

his problem was a lack of composure in front of goal though

[floyd the barber]

different types of players.....macca was fantastic on his day and more than a match for giggs.

 

Macca also proved himself at real madrid...played a part in one of their best sides of the past 20 years...also scored in a champs league final

[Foo]

different types of players.....macca was fantastic on his day and more than a match for giggs.

 

Macca also proved himself at real madrid...played a part in one of their best sides of the past 20 years...also scored in a champs league final

 

On his day.... Giggs has proven to have many more of those days than Steve Mcmcmmcmcmcnanananannanananmamananmnan. He must have an ancestor from Sri Lanka.

[Hassony]

his problem was a lack of composure in front of goal though

 

I don;t think Giggs scored many more goals than him to be honest

[madaboutlfc]

I don;t think Giggs scored many more goals than him to be honest

how many of giggs goals were from set pieces.. Mcmanaman at his best was a superior player in every department

[Flight]

Sad to say it as a red, but Giggs has always been a better footballer and a better person.

 

 

I'm red through and through but a big fan of Giggs. Apart from Schemeichel and Keane there is no other footballer alive I would have liked to have seen in our shirt,

[Hassony]

Sad to say it as a red, but Giggs has always been a better footballer and a better person.

 

I don't remember Mcmanaman hitting any women

[Flight]

Giggs was a victim of that s*** Ferdinand 'set up' TV program. They set up an old girl to pretend to be having trouble near his brand new £50k car in a car park. He sat her down in the front seat of it; they pretended she wet herself all over the front seat. He didn't care at all. He just wanted to make sure she was safe and that she was ok. Respected him ever since.

 

He's always been committed to is club before his international career in the same way Carragher has. I'd love to have seen him in our shirt for the last two decades, He would have made a massive difference to us.