Ex-Blackburn star Ripley calls for a return to wingers

4:40pm Friday 10th October 2008

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By Andy Cryer »

STUART Ripley believes the foreign invasion’s new scientific approach has transformed the Premier League into the best in the world – but is adamant there is still room for the old-fashioned English winger.

The former Rovers wide man tormented full backs throughout the 1990s with his direct forays down the flanks and accurate crosses, with his type an increasingly rare breed in today’s forward thinking game.

The arrival of Arsene Wenger and co into English management has seen the introduction of revolutionary new thinking, covering all aspects of games from diet to psychology – something which Ripley has hailed as “brilliant” for modern day football.

But, with the old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation in increasing danger of being sacrificed for new-fangled tactics, Ripley has quickly jumped to the defence of his seemingly dying breed, insisting wingers are still the real entertainers.

With a tradition of wingers throughout English history, from Stanley Matthews to John Barnes, Arsenal’s Theo Walcott has helped reaffirm Ripley’s faith in the role of the winger.

Walcott is expected to line up on the right for Fabio Capello’s men against Kazakhstan tomorrow, in a throwback to days before the 4-2-3-1 formation, showing the former Ewood Park favourite his like will never be surplus to requirements.

Ripley said: “It has all changed and it is definitely true that teams don’t tend to play out-and-out wingers any more.

“There are wingers still around though, like Theo Walcott, but not many players are told to stay as wide as they can and to get the crosses in. I suppose football has moved on from them.

“But football is like fashion. Things are in vogue and then they are not, and I have no doubt there is still a place for an out-and-out winger in football.

“Football fans love a winger, because they like seeing players beat people. That will never change. Walcott showed that against Croatia and I am sure wingers will always be in football.”

During his 17-year career, Ripley experienced the transformation of football at first hand as the riches of the Premier League changed the shape of the game for ever.

With the money arrived an increasing foreign influence, as the likes of Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Gerard Houllier brought new managerial techniques across the waters.

Ripley said: “The game changed so much even during my career. I saw it when I was playing – suddenly the foreign influx came in and the way clubs did things started to change.

“I suppose it all started when Arsene Wenger came to Arsenal. He changed the way they eat, the way they trained and even the way they thought. That was passed throughout clubs then.

“I think it has been brilliant for the game. There is so much money around nowadays that these players are assets and it is only right the clubs look after them as best they can.”

Ripley, now a qualified lawyer working in Manchester, was one of the first to benefit from football’s money revolution as Jack Walker’s millions helped his Rovers side lift the Premier League.

With more than 200 Rovers appearances to his name between 1992-98, Ripley had the privilege of playing with some of the Premier League’s star names but he also vividly remembers his less glamorous days in football.

He said: “When I was playing at Middlesbrough, there was no training kit and you had to bring your old jumpers in.

“If you were not in early you did not get anything to wear for training because there was not enough stuff. It was first come first served.

“I remember when Boro looked as though they were going bust and they were about to lock the gates for good, or the times when we were not paid on time.

“They were hard times but I still loved my time there. I just loved playing football, it really wasn’t about the money and I am sure that attitude has not changed among most.

“I suppose the only problem with all the money is that it has made it very difficult for a club like Blackburn to do what they did before. You never say never though.”

Making more than 500 club appearances in a career to envy, Ripley’s international career never took off to the same effect.

But with two England caps to his name, against San Marino and Moldova, the 40-year-old has no regrets.

He said: “I am very proud of that achievement. No one can take those caps off me. How many people can say they have represented their country?”