Having been dropped for United’s game against Everton at the weekend, Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested that Rio Ferdinand is no longer first choice for us.
Nemanja Vidic obviously has a place, whilst Rio will compete with Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones for the other spot in the centre of defence. Jones and Smalling have been used at right back whilst Evans seems to be Fergie’s preferred choice in the heart of defence.
“What I explained to Rio the other day is simply this: That we have two young centre-halves coming through and I’m have very happy to have four of them, and I hope to keep the four of them for a long time,” said Ferguson. “Rio is almost 33 now and obviously he has lost a yard of pace he had five years ago. That doesn’t mean to say he can’t tailor his game in a different way. Whereas he used to rely on his pace, he doesn’t do that now, he can’t do that now, that’s obvious. We’ve all faced that deciding moment in your career when you realise you have to change your game. I did it myself as a player when I lost that real sharpness and tailored my game differently. Rio will do the same and he’ll be fine. He will still play a big part for us.”
Man Utd News 24/7
Rio will rightly be remembered as one of the best center backs we ever had, not the best though….We all know who that is
Love you Rio but it might be time to start thinking about running all them businesses you set up full time… Good luck buddy
True
In other words, sort your game out! If not you’re not first choice
Rio is still quality & he’ll play a vital role in developing our youngsters & also in tough matches.
He is still class
cheers cedars,
well said…
But he is still a top quality defender in the league :p
Rio does need to step up his game. The Cittay loss showed some real deficits of the kind you can’t paper over. Almost a loss of will to be honest. Only Smalling seemed to still care as goals kept pilling in.
I personally think Rio still has it in spades, but we need to see it on the pitch.
That said, we need to find a new supplier of herbal supplements for the defenders. Chr*st they get alot of injuries!
thundercats
Hello! No doubt he is still top quality but every player has their time when they should call it quits… Whether Rio will have another season with us we will wait and see, only the boss knows….
I have seen so many great players leave our club through retirement or moving on elsewhere that I have become used to it, almost numb in a way
Nice to hear the boss admit this publicly. Might be just the kick up the arse Rio needs. We needed his experience and leadership to marshall our defence when we went down to ten men against Ciddy. What did we get? A horror show and a 6-1 thumping. Appalling.
Rio at 33 is still 10 times better than Evans will ever be….
There, I said it….
Cedars,
I agree on that. players hav to realise if their time is up or not. Not everyone can be giggsy
But, I personally feel rio would have been wit us for a few more years if he had quit england team when he was on the right side of 30s.
The only thing Rio did wrong was not get a grip of our fullback and organise against City. Rio is still first choice for me along side Vidic. That is until Jones, Evans or Smalling prove their better.
SELL HIM …. QUICK
Smalling, God I love you Chris Smalling- not in a gay way, just in a hey mate-I wanted to say, that you really can play mate.
He’s fucking class though is Chrissy lad- and Mrs CBT loves him, possibly in a gay way, but that’s okay.
Vida and Smalling would be my number one choice.
Evans, good Evans- you’re decent son, I just wish you’d concentrate for 90 minutes and not have little head-offs during the game about whether or not mustard is better than ketchup on a burger- I can tell you- 70% red sauce, 15% mustard, 15% mayo. There, no more head-offs and you’ll be okay because you are beginning to do my swede in somewhat. It ain’t player slating, its blatant stating.
By the way, Garth Crooks was in my building reception earlier- I had to double take as I thought it was the baddie from Dangermouse at first- I told him to pass my best on to Dion Dublin, who will always be: LEDGE.
Off topic.
SAF On OGS
“I don’t think he should rush into it because experience is good and the experience he has got at Molde is a very good one. He comes from the area. His wife and family are all back home there. He has won the championship and there is no need to hurry. The time will come and the timing will be important but he is easily capable of coming into English football.”
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1535727.html
Rio is United’s Maldini. So what if he’s 33, he can play until he’s 40!
He’s still good, but there’s room for developing our younger lads. Play him when they’re either burned out or need to get their act together..
I think fabio ought to be fit more.. He will definitely be better than evra.. Wonder when rafael will be back too! Miss watching those bouncing lads.. Bring so much energy to our play just like cleverley, rooney, young and chico..
Smart move by the boss this takes the pressure off Rio somewhat when he’s not in the side. Instead of people speculating about injuries it will just be a statement that he’s not playing. Bad news for the Evans haters though, he’ll be getting more games.
Bit of bad news on Cleverely though if not already been reported, won’t be back till after the international break.
Also Stan Kroenke running his mouth praising the glazers. Fuck off Stan, in case you hadn’t noticed This is England not America. You don’t even have relegation over there, as long as you have money you’re included thats the American sports model which I despise. Go focus on your boardroom cold war at l’arse, start raping them and see the backlash.
Also off topic.
Get yerselves over to Totti sport and vote for Phil Jones.
He was in 1st yesterday but now 3rd behind some russian bloke.
http://www.tuttosport.com/sondaggi/calcio/risultati-1200/Vota+il+Golden+Boy+2011
SAF is saying stop turning up to the opening of a packet of biscuits and fecking twittering all the time — and remember your job.
Unfortunately it’s not that RioFerdy5 (TM) has lost a yard of pace he had five years ago — he’s lost five yards of the pace he had one year ago.
Neither should we consider Evans any form of adequate deputy. He should be cleared out now with that pudding Mr Blobby Anderson. So, we have three good CBs, one of whom is out for the next month. (And no world-class MF — unless Rooney stays in MF, which isn’t the worst idea I’ve heard).
Great read as always. hello all.
Rio has lost a steep we all can see that. He had a step to loose if he changes his game. More physical, stand people up. Smalling is ready for the chance/challenge.
Done his bit and much appreciated,time to move on Harry is reputed to have his eyes on him so if City aren’t going to pounce then flog him to Harry.
when you have lost your pace you cannot get it back.so i am afraid we are not gonna see him as we liked to.feel bad for rio but the progress the youngstars have made has really got sir alex thinking.i think we may see rio on parts when any of our centre backs has conceded a yellow card and we have to do some brave defending.
@Fletch thanks, I got my vote in.
Rio x capt. good in the locker room. SAF got Smalling and Jones and missed on Verne. He is looking for 2 more cb’s and 2 more fb’s. I see Evans as a JOS fill in when all healthy, fill in starter for the injured.
Yeah, I read that Harry wants Rio and Mike Owen in January. Might be worth selling them tbf – raise a few million squid to spend on another Bebe or Diouf.
What gets me is u never hear the media going on about carragher and the cunt terry who are in the same boat they are not the players they were 3,4 years ago but rio gets slated. Hate the cunting media just anti red. Cunts
I’m still hung over a little bit from Saturday night. heheheheOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
That’s age Zibbie ur hangovers get longer and ur cock gets softer. Ha ha
Not much appreciation for the man who captained the CL winning side in Moscow these days. Rio has been left out to dry by Evans and whoever his central defensive partner has been (not named Vidic). Funny because Rio was marking Aguero the entire match before Evans’ red card on Balotelli, who also didn’t sufficiently close down/mark Balotelli for the opening goal, and Aguero didn’t do anything until the man advantage…and who did Aguero get goal side/in front of for his goal…Smalling.
Partner Rio and Vida any day, any match and I’ll take my chances. The cavalier approach of Jones and Smalling have hurt the club a few times, but the result was never in doubt…until the City match.
Evra going forward has been a staple for years now, but leaving Rio to defend a high line without his main central partner in Vida looks/looked terrible.
Now that Rafa is back in training, the RB spot will be his again and he should be definitly first choice RB.
Atm I would start Smalling next to Vidic.
Arthur Daley can fuck right off. Rio has a few years yet. He can take Owen though(cue Denise Williams)
looking at the injury situation seems like we have trouble in midfield and defence till the international break ends…
wasn’t the injury problem gonna end after the last international break.
i personally think we need to buy a mid or atleast call back tunnicliffe if not that play pogba.
fletcher is not his old self anymore. and carrick is not the answer to our problems. cleverly is.
but we need one more player.. maybe one like him or a box to box no nonsense mid..
haven’t mentioned anderson.
he’s the shahid afridi of epl. too much of a hit and miss.
im sure cricket lovers will understand the analogy
i dont get the big fuss, Carvalho hasn’t got much pace and he’s a monster defender,same with Vidac, puyol is another example.Rio just needs to concentrate more. said it before say it again too much emphasis is put pace these days, add intelligence to your game and you’re on track. for all the pace Evans has what good has it done him ? Exactly.
Rio will do fine.
i really don’t understand why people slate him as much as Evans..
i mean really Rio’s one of the best organizers of a defense.
and i agree with what slim said.
Rio gets slated because he’s a cockney. end of story.
Keano99, lol!!!! And you balls hang, hair in the ear, on the nose and back. Wiping your ass 4 then 5 times and there is still shit on the paper and you think am I a play-doh dispenser after 8 wipes your ass is finally clean.
The joys of aging.
Funny, but I never thought Rio was particulary speedy or that speed played a huge part in his game anyway. He’ll be just fine, but lets be honest. Those around him have to adjust too. What Fergie might mean, is that 5 years ago Rio was fast enough to cover other defenders’ butts. Now they have to play closer as a back 4. Otherwise it makes Rio look like Laurent Blanc and that’s very unfortunate.
Cedars must be all drugged up!
Still much better than Evans
Corry Evans is only young mate. Give him time to develop.
Cyril Sneer @ 16:48: “Rio is United’s Maldini. So what if he’s 33, he can play until he’s 40!”
Maybe – but what’s troubling about Rio’s injuries is that they seem to be back-/core-related whereas, if my memory serves, Maldini’s injuries in his later 30s were connected to his legs. My sense is that a core/back problem is more serious as it relates to general wear-and-tear.
I still think that Rio’s future might be in some sort of sweeper/midfield role in a “five-man” back line (I said “five man” because the way TheLads’ full-backs bomb forward and often are found up-field). My sense is that SAF is having-a-think about how he’s going to deploy his primary attacking option (TheWayneBoy) and Rio, who has been a rock as a central defender for a decade but is now showing signs of being off-the-pace. For both of them, the availability of other options would seem to suggest an evolution in the way that both of these guys get deployed. Just an opinion, mind ……
Jonny Evans is one of the shittest player i’ve ever seen along with Darron Gibson. Fergie stop this obsession with these bag of wank irish and scottish players. Stop looking at Jordan Rhodes and instead track Gotze who will go to Madrid for about a tenner and we’ll have missed another bargain that will make this average midfield 100 times better.
Oh and as for Rio when he is next to Vidic there are not many teams that get a sniff at goal so he is still world class but what do you think a lower back injury is going to do to him Fergie? Make him faster?
he fucking he
Costas … you wrote what I was about to write, so saved me the trouble hahaha! To me, it’s a “so what?” story. Even at his prime, if someone had asked to list the things that made Rio great (and let’s face it, he is great!), “speed” would not have been on the list. In fact, “mobility” would not have been on the list period.
Still, it leaves me wondering. If his speed was average to start with (to the extent that it was not a pillar of his game), and if he’s now lost a yard (to the extent that he needs to modify his game), that doesn’t sound good. What’s he supposed to do? Stand still like the Rock of fucking Gibralter? I mean, if it was Evra, you might think “well, that’s the end of him tearing up and down the sideline like a winger” (and I might add, “… and a bloody good thing that is, too”). But with Rio, I just don’t know. Nor am I sure about the boss’s motivations in speaking about this publically.
KR … are they wankers because they’re Irish or Scottish, then? I’m not Irish or Scottish, but if I was, I’d take fucking exception to that comment. And aren’t the two you mentioned, Evans and Gibson, both Irish anyway? Who’s the wanker Scottsman then? Jordan Rhodes, who plays for Scotland but was born in England and is a striker anyway?
We should play Rio as like a sweeper for Jones and Vidic …. its not as silly idea as you might think when you give it some thought.
Rio was lightening in his younger years. His ability on the ball though, is what made him stood out from other players at West Ham. He was compared to the late great Bobby Moore because of his composure on the ball. He actually started out in midfield. I’m not sure, but I think he scored on his debut, for the hammers at Blackburn? As for the timing of Fergie’s comments. I don’t think it’s much of an issue. The boss already spoke to Rio first, before making these comments. I still believe Rio has a few years left in the tank yet. His problems are twofold though. The first is his constant injury worries. The second is obviously competition for his place. He’s still a very capable CH. Always been a massive fan of Rio. He’s a classic defender imo. Much better John Terry. For all his qualities, and he still has them, Smalling would be my choice to partner Vidic on a regular basis. When he returns from injury of course lol.
Somebody’s gonna have to make way for De Laet.
Just saying..
KR – What does nationality got to do with anything? Care to explain?
@Zibbie your a a total nut.
The solution to the hangover thing is reported to be don’t drink. Or so they say. I haven’t tried it.
As usual Fergie does a good job of putting it in the media.
@ Keano Well said re Terry and Carragher. Both of them and Gerrad as well are in obvious decline. But it works in our favor because as long as they are puffed up to think they still have it we will own those biatches. and speaking of the scouse I watched the first half of their game vs WBA. Suarez , though a genuine threat, is a pathological cheating and diving disgrace. They were noticibly playing for a free kick or PK. We should be able to tear them a new one at OT.
WillieRedNut, no offence to those nations its just you cant really name any scotsman since Dalglish who was ridiculously talented and also i don’t know the last world class irish player and please dont say Robbie Keane.
Thats what i mean by us trying to unearth some gem from these nations because they are technically not as good as english players nor european players and honestly i think we should ask Best’s family to check he really was from Northern Ireland because i’m sure he was quarter argie/brazillian with those skills.
WillieRedNut, What KR is trying to say is for Scottish or Irish football to really improve more Scottish or Irish women must sleep with Argies and Brazillians…….:) . Does that help KR?? Glad I could help.
George Best was 100% Northern Irish. As to finding gems in other countries? I’ll defer to Sir Alex and his staff on this one. IMO, I don’t look at where someone comes from, to determine if they’re talented or not. Sure, countries like Brazil and Argentina seem to produce supremely talented players, more so than Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. Maybe there’s a wider issue there though. Better coaching. More relaxed culture. Also, the onus on British players is to produce big physical lads. Whereas, the young Brazillian and Argentinian lads, are coached to be comfortable on the ball. Hence, when England get to major tournaments, they can never seem to be able to keep a hold of the ball. Food for thought anyway.
KR – You’re a United fan, and you don’t know the last world-class Irish player? Here’s a hint: he shares his last name with a player you’ve mentioned…
LOL must be a WUM.