WALES MANAGER RYAN Giggs has sprung to the defence of Manchester United winger Daniel James after the 21-year-old was accused of diving during his side’s draw with Wolves.
James was booked for simulation following a challenge from Joao Moutinho and subsequently booed every time he touched the ball at Molineux on Monday night.
Giggs, however, believes the youngster needs protection from referees as he makes the step up to the Premier League.
“You’ve seen he gets kicked a lot,” Giggs said after naming James in his 26-man squad for next month’s crunch Euro 2020 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Cardiff.
“Sometimes when you anticipate it, it can look like a dive,” explained Giggs. “The speed he’s going at… it can look worse, but I’m not worried about that.
“He gets a lot of stick and referees need to protect him.
“I think when you are a front player or a wide player you are going to get kicked, and Dan does get kicked a lot.
I think it’s a tough job for referees but when you try and anticipate it, it can look worse than it is.”
Monday night’s Premier League draw at Wolves was James’ first start for United following his £15 million summer move from Swansea City.
Despite the criticism for alleged simulation, Giggs has impressed with the youngster’s progress, stating: “I watched a lot of the pre-season games and he did well as he usually plays on the left.
“It gives me a different option as well if he’s playing his club football on the right. If I want to do that I can.”
Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit and former United full-back Gary Neville has praised the youngster for his impact at Old Trafford.
If he gets one-on-one it is obscene the pace he’s got,” Neville said. ”He makes six, seven, eight yards in the space of 25 yards.
“The big challenge for him is how does he cope when teams are playing deep, when there are five spread across the back.”
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Might not be tge best judge of a Cheating Diver,our Ryan,considering he played with Ashley Young,Ronaldo,and Rooney,and never commwnted on their theatrics..?
@Gerry Campbell: what were Rooney’s theatrics?
@Shimmy Shammy: https://footballburp.com/lists/top-10-wayne-rooney-dives/
@Gerry Campbell: in fairness young was called out by both fergie and moyes for diving. Ronaldo has said the players at old trafford told him to cut out the diving. Every single football club has someone who will dive.
@Gerry Campbell: ask Ryan’s brother!
@Shimmy Shammy: https://youtu.be/VTxl799Q2t4. And more and more,and more….just another cheat really,poisioning the game.
@Brian Dunne: yes,true, but its blood boiling, I tend to lose the plot on the subject…Calmness restored,thanks..
@Gerry Campbell: very similar to Gerrard. Dived to win the pen in Istanbul
This lad would seriously want to get simulation out of his game, the diving last Monday night was cringeworthy against Wolves.
Its actually surprising to see a btitish guy in his first year as a Premiership player doing this..
No doubt has talent and should concentrate on.jis football..
@Money Magnets: First point. It hasn’t been called the Premiership in 15 years. Second point, he was actually caught by the Wolves player for the one he got booked for. Not every contact is a foul, and likewise not every player going to ground is diving.
@Mark Wallace: it was a simpler time 15 years ago, I miss peter Collins Ray houghton and Kenny Cunningham on rte at 7 on a Saturday night, feigning illness to get out of mass so I could watch it. Ahhhh memories
@Mark Wallace: first and second point. He dove, he cheated
Blinkered …… dived a couple of times . Hate to see this in the game .
@Tricksy: what do you make of Celtics lack of action in the Celtic boys club situation??
More accurately, he was already being booed prior to the yellow card. The booking was his second dive, the crowd were already on his back for it before, not subsequent to, the yellow. I thought he was honestly lucky not to be sent off for what looked another dive in the second half. Three blatant dives in the game. He should have been gone if the ref is being anyway consistent. The first one was the worst. No yellow. Booked the second one. Got away with the third one entirely. Lucky kid. That won’t fly for too long with opposing full backs, and it’s not a good way to introduce yourself as a youngster making your first premier league start. No defending him for that performance. Let’s see if it’s a once off. Nerves or trying to make an impression maybe. But I can’t stand him already
@Ed Dunne: He hasn’t much time for you either
OGS says James gets kicked a lot; too bad he wasn’t kicked in the box last weekend, when it would have helped him