Quote Originally Posted by Charlie View Post
Genuine question.
Would you have been just as pissed of with Giggs missing friendlies if he had been playing for another,maybe less high profile club than Man U? with a less combative manager than Fergie?
Personally i always felt more let down when lesser players, who could have put a stake down and showed what they were capable of pulled out of the squad. We all knew what Giggs could do at any given time so 45mins or so against some minnows wouldnt have been a great deal of help to the management.
Maybe im remembering wrongly but im sure someone like James Collins pulling out of many a squad with a day or so's notice and quite a few others with far less fuss and bother.
Yes turning up for every game shows great commitment but would that have affected our qualifying chances at any stage of his playing career with Wales?
Giggs set the example. Can cite Collins and others all you like - Giggs was the first to regularly withdraw for fake injuries. Can't claim one rule for Giggs and another for the rest.

Compare and contrast with Bale. Bale misses Real games due to injury. Giggs had claimed hamstring problems yet was ready to play 3-4 days later.