I agree. But as he wasn't a 'Lionheart' jumping all over the place and lunging into tackles all the time (hello John Terry and Scott Parker), I get the feeling he was never really valued as highly as he should have. I get the feeling that quality, in England, isn't as appreciated as it should be. It's not as sensational, but it's incredibly effective.
Rio Ferdinand
- Thread starter Logan!
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I'm delighted for obviously selfish reasons - but I can't really understand why Roy's so set against him. Just look at Rio's performances in the really big, important matches for us this season - nobody has been better, and in terms of fitness he has played a hell of a lot of games when so many of our defenders have been missing with injuries.
The whole thing involving England seems very disrespectful to Rio.
The whole thing involving England seems very disrespectful to Rio.
I agree, Hodgson hasn't left the door even slightly ajar he's just dismissed him out of hand.It seems odd to me that a player as experienced as Rio is and playing so well has no place in the England set up.
Mind you Hodgson thinks he's fecking Guardiola now he's beaten Brazil.
Good for us though but I do feel sorry for Rio.
Yeah but Bale.......
I'm being facetious
I'm being facetious
Think it's because Roy is the type of manager that will make players do the exact same drill the entire training session till they are able to pull it off in matches, and Rio can pretty much only play one game a week, so he's not exactly someone you can slot in seamlessly into a team backline and expect him to do it flawlessly.
Although the flaw in that thinking is that Rio can probably really just slot in seamlessly and that England plays Cahill/Lescott regularly and they're a bunch of buffoons compared to Rio.
Hodgson is a massive idiot so not surprised one bit with his recent comments.The way he handled the Terry situation and indirectly made Ferdinand pay for the Euro 2012 was a disgrace.He's an old fool who should retire altogether from the game
You have to feel for Rio because everybody knows he's being left out of the squad for non-footballing reasons. His brother gets racially abused and Rio's the main person to suffer for it. The FA and Hodgson have been a complete joke throughout it all, I mean Hodgson was boasting to people on a train before he'd even announced the Euro squad that Rio wouldn't be in it, how fecking stupid is he.
Iv hated the way the national team has been for years now anyway, from a personal point of view im glad he's not playing for that shower of shite.
Iv hated the way the national team has been for years now anyway, from a personal point of view im glad he's not playing for that shower of shite.
Couldn't agree more , I can't believe I was sorry for his treatment at Anfield
The Terry situation completely screwed Hodgson, as he'd clearly chosen Terry over Rio.
Now he's without both, and has to rely on chumps like Cahill!
Now he's without both, and has to rely on chumps like Cahill!
Completely disagree, Hodgson is the clearest most coherent manager we've had since Venables.
I think he's got the decision with Rio spot on even if the path he took to get there was confused.
Gerrard will be 34, and Lampard will also be 36, and Rio at the moment is better player than any of those two.
As for injuries, Rio over last two years has more appearances than Gerrard and just around ten less than Lampard.
Saying that, I'm glad he isn't playing for England, but how can anyone trust Roy when he said he isn't calling him strictly football reasons is beyond me.
The only footballing reason I can think of is that he wants to move on to players that will be present for the next several years but, seeing as he uses other older players as well - that can't be it entirely. Unless he only takes that view when it comes to defenders.
From a footballing perspective, Rio has shown he is still better than Smalling - not a slight on Smalling who is slowly becoming class but, Rio is still pure class.
In the end for me it comes down to Hodgson must have some deep seeded desire just not to have anything to do with Rio - god knows what reason, I just can't see any other logical reason behind is continued omission.
From a footballing perspective, Rio has shown he is still better than Smalling - not a slight on Smalling who is slowly becoming class but, Rio is still pure class.
In the end for me it comes down to Hodgson must have some deep seeded desire just not to have anything to do with Rio - god knows what reason, I just can't see any other logical reason behind is continued omission.
It's pretty obvious - he can't have the two in the same squad and he stupidly went for Terry.
Are you high?
I think that was right but Terry has gone now. Sadly Woy can't put Rio back in because it will then be obvious that it wasn't for 'football reasons'. (as if that isn't obvious anyway)
so he's clear and coherent but took a confused path? ......... Right
Rio is bound to be slightly disappointed by the latest snub but I’m sure he wouldn’t be too perturbed by it since he has already been noticeably dismissed by Hodgson for the Euros. He was treated shamefully last year by a manager who failed to acknowledge the vast quality (refined by experience) that Ferdinand clearly provides to any team. His current brilliant form for United which was demonstrated in several important matches of the season shows that he still retains that extra bit of class that none of the current center back options in the England set-up possess.
Nonetheless, looking at the situation without sentimental reasons and if England are actually building a team for long term purposes, the fact that Rio has often struggled with nagging fitness issues over the years and that fact that he’ll be 35 by the time the World cup to be held in Brazil arrives, indicate that the recent decision to exclude Rio from the England team may not have been too ill-advised after all. Besides, I think some United fans (I being one of them) would prefer Rio to regularly feature for United and not participate in international games which may adversely influence his general fitness.
Nonetheless, looking at the situation without sentimental reasons and if England are actually building a team for long term purposes, the fact that Rio has often struggled with nagging fitness issues over the years and that fact that he’ll be 35 by the time the World cup to be held in Brazil arrives, indicate that the recent decision to exclude Rio from the England team may not have been too ill-advised after all. Besides, I think some United fans (I being one of them) would prefer Rio to regularly feature for United and not participate in international games which may adversely influence his general fitness.
When you see Lampard in there and he's a few months older than Rio and in a position we have more options, you have to feel sorry for Rio.
No, he's the first guy in a decade to get the midfield right. The players like him, the press like him and the team as a whole is going in the right direction.
The Rio comparisons with Lampard and Gerrard are pointless, Lampard is already being marginalised and neither of them have a physical condition that needs to be managed. Come the next tournament Lampard won't be around full stop and Gerrard will be the only one of that generation remaining and rightly so. It is so overwhelmingly time to move on from that era of players.
Did I say he was completely without fault? It's possible to have attributes and still make a mistake.
It's an incredibly difficult job to hold whilst simultaneously avoiding controversy. In fact I'd say impossible.
The decision that he made wrong is not what he recently mentioned in the media.It's what he did last season in the build up for the Euros, Rio was then available and good enough for England.He chose to not call him up for weak reasons and not because he is coherent.
What he said about Rio now makes sense I guess but he should not have waited this long to say it, he is about a year too late with this reveal.That would have been the most coherent thing to do and just wait several months later.
From the get go he should made things clear that Rio was never a part of his plan, it would have been simpler
I agree he handled it poorly, but take into account the situation at the time. The court case, it's delay, racism, unbelievable press scrutiny, pressures from above? This and he'd only just taken the job with a tournament in eight weeks.
Ultimately he made the right call on Rio and for the team that's really what matters.
How has he made the right call when the defenders he is using are not as good as Rio?
different situation though with a midfielder isn't it. Lampard is worth a place on the ability to come on for 20mins and nick a goal.
Rio would either play from the start or not bother bringing him. I think Hodgson has said as much.
I don't think any right thinking person would say Ferdy isn't worth a place in the squad.
According to Johnny Giles "he was always a brilliant footballer but never a good defender"
What does that actually mean?
What does that actually mean?
According to Johnny Giles "he was always a brilliant footballer but never a good defender"
What does that actually mean?
What does that actually mean?
Rio hasn't let us down on the big stage for God knows how long. Of all the superlatives handed out to our 'old' warriors, Rio deserves as much praise as Giggsy and Scholesy in my view. He's been sensational for the past 18 months or so, and I have no doubt he'll perform with ****** again tonight.
Best CB in the world, now and again ages catches up but tonight was a fooking masterclass.
How good was that? Love how he is so fecking calm with the ball even if it gave me a heartattack
Giles is an idiot?
Got me scared a couple of times with his twists and turns.
So yeah, he's still clearly the best English Centre-Back.
Best in the World, just too old.
Love having him around when we're under pressure. Absolute master. It's like he's already watched the games in his hotel room. Countless toe pokes and interceptions away.
Another big game. Another monster performance from Rio. Its just what he does.
That Giles is an idiot or he's getting him confused with David Luiz. You don't become the best centre back in the world if you are not a great defender let alone a good one.
He was great tonight but god does he worry me when he has the ball at his feet and is not bothered by an onrushing attacker.
Another top performance. The FA must be hating this 'footballing reasons' my fecking ass he'd be the first name on the team sheet if it was.
Hodgson is a bottler for not having him in the squad. It's a joke.
He just lapped it up out there...in his element. Guided Evans like a pro and did everything right. He is a big game player and still our best defender...tonight exemplifies that.