Rio In Midfield

[all_funkt_up]

Anyone see the Wolves game the other day, a lot seems to have been made of Man U playing Ferdinand in midfield. Hmm, not really sure whether Rio in midfield is a masterful bit of tactical awareness or yet another demonstration of United in decline.

I hear on the radio that he can pass the ball and is much more than JUST a defender. He apparently started out as a midfielder and thats why he's so "comfortable" on the ball. To me he over does it a lot of the time and doesnt do the simple things well enough.

Fergie has started re branding some of his players, first turning attackers into midfielders now this. To me it just shows that their squad past the first XI is piss poor and far to thin. Fergie has brought in expensive flops and now he is resigned to playing people out of position. Why play the most expensive defender in English football in Midfield? If he's that bloody good he should stay there and nothing more surely? You wouldnt play Van Nistelrooy as a winger would you, even if he was good there. His job is to score. Ditto with Rio.

They might have won at a canter, but play that same formation at Stamford bridge etc and see then if you win.

Ferguson is on the wane and as a consequence his team is on the slide too. Would he really be playing in midfield if there was a fit Roy Keane or Paul Scholes there instead?



Give up Fergie, before you make any more of an ass of yourself.

[ONEDUNME]

Rio is comfortable on the ball FOR A DEFENDER but not good enough to be a creative play-maker type of player.He looked OK against a shit Wolves side.

Fergy has already taken a good striker (Smith) and made him look like an average midfield player. He's tried one of the best midfield players in the world in his day (Keane) at sweeper and made him look slow and totally devoid of positional sense-albeit on a needs-must basis and now he's using Rio in midfield.

What does it tell us? It tells us that he's not been making the right decisions in the transfer market, otherwise he'd have good players in the squad to cover these positions.

He's a cunt.

[slick]

I've always said Rio is good with the ball @ his feet going forward but he cannot defend when a player turns him as he marks to close or runs at him.
He's good @ picking up loose balls and dribbling his way out of a situation and passing it on.
Midfield would probably suit him more knowing he has a man behind him but don't expect him to win balls in 50/50 situations like Keane did.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Every thread in here seems about overrated players

Don't rate Rio at all and is too "comfortable" in games for his own good. Tries to do everything at his own pace and is far too relaxed for me to have any confidence in him.

I don't think England should start him either and it should be Terry and either Campbell or Carragher that is the defensive pairing.

[slick]

Its gonna be a tricky one Kiko especially with Campbell getting no younger and becoming gradually that bit slower.
Terry should be coming of age now and we need to expect big things from him, with no Woodgate its looks like a Swapsy's between the 3 and Ledley King filling in when need be.

[slick]

Forgot all about Carragher, i should imagine he'll be in the squad as a utility player but can't really see him being one of the first on the teamsheet.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

I agree about Campbell ageing but whenever i see him play for Arsenal he is as good and solid as ever.

Woodgate wouldn't be a bad option i don't think. Watched him last night when he came on and he looked quite decent i thought. Far better than the rest of the mugs Madrid have at the back. Hopefully he will be giving a good chance there as he has a lot of quality with only his injuries holding him back.

[mrmuzeman]

Same here Kiko ive always thought Rio Ferdinand was overrated. When I watch united games quite a lot of goals seem to stem from him not doing something as good as he should I think.

[crowie]

Aye Rio looked decent in midfield. v a mid table Championship side who were well outclassed. He didn't look like a Pirlo or Makelele or Emerson (they good one) though.

He has came onto a game for Man Utd over the past month or two though but its no coincedence that it happened at the same time as Wes Brown's return to the team. Hard to believe but the two of them looked pretty solid together.

[slick]

Wes Brown imo is looking solid Crowie, ive even argued this with Man U fans who keep telling me he's shite but since his comeback the defence looks a lot more secure.

Hopefully he's now over the worst and getting his confidence back as even though he's a Red he could come in handy in the summer.

[crowie]

Funnily enough Slick, with his current form, I was wondering how far he would be away from the England squad for the summer. He has certainly looked decent and its also probably helped that its meant Silvestre being punted out to left back and out of the way

He would have to do something about the hair though surely?

[slick]

I think he'll make the squad through the presence of Gary neville alone as he can play along side him or replace him if need be.

I suppose the hair takes the attention away from him resembling a satsuma, he should than his lucky stars he aint dutch.

[Grga]

Who knows maybe Van der Saar can play in midfield and Roonie is a new keeper?
In my opinion Rio is better midfielder than O'Shea...

[ONEDUNME]

I'd disagree there Grga. I reckon O'Shea could do a job in midfield.If he'd pack in doing all those Max and Paddy videos and concentrate on football he might show us what he can do

[zonker84]

I must say, Alan Smith is not a good striker. That was another horrendous signing. £7m fee and £2m per year wages over 4 years, £15m down the drain. He'll never score consistently, so ended up in midfield by default. He is a pretty terrible midfielder too by all accounts. In my opinion, he is a mediocre player, who is fine if you're happy finishing mid-table, but not if you want to finish at the top.

As for the defence, if you're picking on form over the past 12-18 months, then Terry and Carragher should be automatic choices for the two central defensive positions. I'm an Arsenal fan, but Campbell hasn't played enough games in the last year to have done enough to prove he is worth his place. Until recently, Campbell and Ferdinand were automatic choices, will be interesting to see what happens if they're both fit and available, along with Terry.