Speaking with the Enemy…Ryan Giggs

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs joins the Highbury & Heels squad for an epic chat. From Sir Alex Ferguson, Mourinho, Wenger & that insane Arsenal rivalry to Giggsy’s coaching ambitions & his disappointment in not becoming Manchester United manager.

Plus you won’t want to miss the quickfire round where we find out his favourite cheer-up movie, his love for Game of Thrones and which Neville brother he’d choose to save! Get stuck in.

The End of an Era…

article-2326429-19DC48F0000005DC-327_634x422 It’s that time of the week where I send my weekly verbal memo to the lads over @TheFootyShowKCC. In a nutshell…

Twas the season where everyone retired. Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and of course David Beckham. All legends in their own right. All have had signature moments in football. Sir Alex the best at his craft in England. He’s won it all. He’s managed great players. He leaves a legacy like no other.

This week’s memo however is all about Mr.Beckham. Father. Footballer. Global sports icon. Beckham has had an illustrious career and leads a dazzling life. A phenomenal ambassador for his country and for his sport, he leaves the game having cemented his name in the football history books.

If you agree or disagree with anything outlined in this week’s memo, lob or header us @soccerdiva.
Football, soccer, call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Legend Paul Scholes…

scholesnewIt’s time to add another Premier League legend to the British Soccer Diva list.

When Sir Alex Ferguson introduced his so-called “kids” to the football world in the 90’s, not many journalists, pundits and fans would have bet or believed legends would be born from that Manchester United team. Paul Scholes was one of those kids and he would not only become a legend, he’d become the midfield wizard of Old Trafford.

Scholes is one of the greatest players to have ever played for Manchester United and England, and is undoubtedly a huge contributor to world football having entertained fans for years. He is probably the only English player who could have ousted Xavi or Iniesta from the Barcelona midfield. In fact, when Scholes retired the first time around, Xavi had this to say about him. “For me, and I really mean this, he’s the best central midfielder I’ve seen in the last 15, 20 years. He’s spectacular, he has it all, the last pass, goals, he’s strong, he doesn’t lose the ball, vision. If he’d been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.”

Truer words were never spoken. Have you ever seen a more sophisticated passer of the ball? Have you ever seen a player with a long-range shot like Scholesy? His highlight reel is sublime. Despite the football talent, critics will point out his tough tackling and that at times he was a very dirty player. Scholes received 90 yellow cards and 4 red cards making him the 3rd most booked player in Premier League history. But the beauty certainly outweighed the beast in this football fairy tale.

Scholes played for Manchester United his entire career. He had 466 appearances and 102 goals from 1993-2011. He returned from retirement for the 2012-13 season and made a further 31 appearances and scored 5 goals. He leaves the game with 66 England caps, scoring 14 times for his country. He retired from international football way too soon and Fabio Capello failed in his attempt to bring him back for the 2010 World Cup. And how much did England need him in that tournament? But Scholes didn’t need England and in the end, he wanted to give what he had left to his one of his true loves, Manchester United.

Like Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, Scholes has winners medals bursting from his trophy cabinet. 11 Premier League titles, 3 F.A. Cups, 2 Champions League, 2 League Cups, 5 Community Shields, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 1 World Club Championship. He has won it all and was also inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

His biggest disappointment was probably missing out on the memorable 1999 Champions League Final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou. Because he didn’t play in that game due to suspension, he doesn’t consider the medal as something he earned. “Roy Keane and I both got medals but they didn’t mean anything to either of us because we hadn’t been a part of it. You have to play in the final to warrant a medal, that’s my opinion. It’s the biggest game of the whole competition and you have to be on the pitch or at least on the bench to earn a medal.” That’s a very different opinion and approach to John Terry, who was banned from the 2012 Champions League Final yet had no problem lifting the trophy after Chelsea’s victory. Paul Scholes certainly isn’t cut from the same cloth as John Terry. A blue collar lad who never felt entitled to anything and wanted to earn everything that came his way, Scholes was never a selfish player.

A lifelong fan of Oldham Athletic, Paul Scholes is the perfect role model for any kid who wants to play professional football. He always behaved like a gentlemen off the pitch and enjoyed a career that was scandal free. A very shy man, Scholes always put family and football first. Granted he wasn’t a marketer or sponsors dream like his colleagues Ryan Giggs or David Beckham, but none of that even mattered to someone like Scholes. He just wanted to play football.

Loyal. Professional. Clinical. Aggressive. Beautiful. Spellbinding. Class. Scholes will be missed not only by Red Devil fans but also by fans of the game. This season it looks like he’ll be retiring for good. And as effective as Michael Carrick has been for United in their acquisition of another title, the departure of Scholes will still leave a void in that midfield and at the club. You rarely see English players with his technical skills and ability. They don’t come along very often.

It’s certainly the end of an era at one of the world’s greatest clubs. It’s been fun watching this fiery red head play. He made his debut as one of those so-called kids, but he left the club a man with a great influence on many other kids coming through at Manchester United. Paul Scholes, you are a legend…

The Weird Science of Football…

John Hughes provided many happy memories for angst ridden teenagers everywhere.

He was the man who gave birth to the more than cool 80’s Brat Pack. He was the man who let Ferris Bueller run riot on his day off. He was the man who dared to give Saturday detention to a bunch of troubled students in the Breakfast Club. And he was the man who made us believe we could create the perfect woman on a homemade computer in the completely outrageous Weird Science.

And that’s the John Hughes flick that got my football brain thinking…

In Weird Science, the nerdy teenage boys were desperate for some girl attention. Problem is, they had no game. They were hopeless, immature and lacked confidence. They couldn’t even attract bees to honey if their lives depended on it.

You could liken the characters from Weird Science to Arsenal in the transfer market. No matter what Arsenal do, their hopelessness and inability to buy quality players is evident. So what do you do if your team doesn’t buy? You build right?

How wonderful would it be if you could really utilize the Weird Science theory and manufacture the ultimate football player? Some would say you should just re-create Lionel Messi. But where is the fun in that? The beauty of this little exercise is to mould your player by using the best parts of all the great players available in today’s game.

Physically who would be your guy? Ronaldo of Real Madrid? Hulk of Porto? Both are sculpted like Greek Gods and could battle with anyone on a football pitch.

Mentally you would want someone like Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs wouldn’t you? A player who has experienced everything in the game can be of high value in the mental stakes.

Technically the talent of Barcelona’s Iniesta would be beautiful wouldn’t it? And what about Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger’s grit and determination? Or the strength and courage of Barcelona captain Carlos Puyol? Then there is the endurance of a British player like Wayne Rooney who is used to the gritty requirements of a long football season.

The choices are endless because the football talent in today’s world is vast. From Europe, to South America and beyond, dare to dream. Put your geek on just like those Weird Science boys. Start building your perfect player today. It’s actually quite comforting and you don’t have to be an Arsenal fan to enjoy the Weird Science of Football…

Remind you of someone?

Gareth Bale saved Tottenham’s blushes in Europe last night with a stunning hat-trick against Inter Milan. Let’s face it. After Tottenham’s first-half display, nobody saw Bale’s second-half performance coming. If Lionel Messi had scored three goals in that fashion, everyone would be lording him today.

Bale was the only Spurs player who didn’t look like a deer in headlights at the San Siro. He turned the travelling fans experience from a nightmare into an almost amazing dream. Still. Well done son. You are without doubt, a future divo in the making. In fact, last night, you officially arrived.

The Welsh star has long been considered one of the most exciting British prospects in years. He went through a miserable time when he first joined Spurs from Southampton. Every time he’d play, they’d lose. But Bale didn’t let it bother him. He fought back and was given a position in the side that is almost the nucleus of the current Spurs team. Impressed? I am.

Does Bale remind you of another flying winger from Wales? He’s almost identical to Ryan Giggs in every way. Let’s hope Spurs can hang onto him for a good few years. He can become a legend at the Lane if he wants. But the lure of money could lead him to pasture new. For now, soak him up Spurs fans.

It’s a crying shame…

johnterry6aJohn Terry has the world at his feet but continues to screw up. His rap sheet over the years is nothing short of grotesque. It’s a crying shame the captain of England and Chelsea behaves badly and actually gets away with it. If he were the bloke down the street, we’d be yelling out “scum bag.”

Today’s revelations about his affair with former teammate Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend – model Vanessa Perroncel – and his attempt to cover it up has angered many. Vanessa Perroncel who has a child with Bridge is supposedly one of Toni Poole’s best friends. Toni Poole is Terry’s childhood sweetheart. They have three-year old twins together. The man has a family. He is captain of England and Chelsea. What do his actions say about his character? There is a disturbing trend to John Terry’s behaviour.

Does a man who urinates in a beer glass at a night club bar warrant to be England captain? Does a man who secretly arranges behind-the-scenes tours of Stamford Bridge and receives 10k a pop for doing it deserve to be England captain? Does a man who’s mother and mother-in-law shoplift deserve to be England captain? Does a man whose father sells drugs deserve to be England captain? Does a man who has an affair with his ex-teammate’s girlfriend deserve to be England captain? I think not.

To be honest, it’s shocking that John Terry is still captain of England and Chelsea. After he was exposed by the News of the World selling “tours” of Stamford Bridge, I was convinced he would be stripped of the skipper’s armband for both club and country. How can you respect John Terry after seeing him on video telling an undercover reporter to keep things “hush, hush” because it would reflect badly on him if he were to be discovered. Were Chelsea Football Club not offended by that? Is this the type of man Fabio Capello wants to lead his men into battle against the rest of the world at the World Cup? Unbelievable!

John Terry isn’t the only player in the modern game who has “classless spoiled brat” written all over him. So many young professionals these days are given way too much, way too soon and they abuse the power they have without remorse. Gone are the days where they had to clean boots, toilets and scrub floors. Gone are the days where they were made to do things so they would understand and appreciate the value of being a professional footballer. John Terry did work hard as an apprentice, but he has obviously forgotten where he came from. He has become so arrogant, he thinks playing in the Premier League or any league for that matter is a right. You are wrong John Terry. It’s a privilege.

If I were a budding footballer, I would look to the likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paolo Maldini for my inspiration. John Terry is watched by kids week in, week out. They admire him and look up to him like a hero. To think this man could lift the World Cup for England is quite sickening to be honest. When Sir Bobby Moore lifted the World Cup for England people watched with pride. A gentlemen of English football was representing his country and the nation couldn’t have admired him and the team more. How can we sit in front of our flat screen TV’s or watch from the stands and think the same of John Terry?

I understand that everyone has a right to their privacy. What goes on behind closed doors is not really our business. But when we pay good money to watch the likes of John Terry play football and when he puts on that armband for club and country, he represents more than himself. His behaviour is beyond shameful and no different to a football hooligan. He has publicly disgraced himself numerous times. I think fans deserve a little better than that from their captain. More than that, so does his wife and childhood sweetheart Toni. So do his three-year-old twins. And so did his teammate Wayne Bridge. How can any of his fellow professionals trust him?

Don’t shed a tear for John Terry. He doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself…

And the PFA award goes to…

giggsyRyan Giggs was named the PFA’s Player of the Year today. It’s the icing on the 20 year career cake for Giggsy. He’s twice been named as the Young Player of the Year, but he never won the big one. A lot of people in the media think he didn’t deserve to win as he only started 12 games for Manchester United in the Premier League this season. Most people think it should have gone to his United team mate Nemanja Vidic and that this was a heart string vote by his fellow professionals. One thing you can’t deny is his contribution to football and Manchester United. But that’s not what this award is about is it?

Not knowing if Giggs would return for more football next season, the PFA seem to have pulled an Academy Award type move by rewarding the great Welshman in a season that was definitely influential, but not necessarily his best. It’s a bit like the year when Paul Newman won Best Actor for the Colour Of Money. He’d been nominated so many times before for great movies and he’d never won. But in 1996, the Academy were bitten by the nostalgia bug and before anyone could say “and the award goes to…”, the statuette was already on proud display in Paul Newman’s downstairs bathroom.

Is Ryan Giggs the Paul Newman of football? Do you thinks Giggs deserved it this year? Was he named PFA Player of the Year because of his legend? It’s undeniable he’s one of the best talents the Premier League has seen. But should this have been Steven Gerrard’s year?