When everyone is fit and well, he'll still have a part to play, but probably won't be a guaranteed starter. I'd say another season after this maybe, and he'll probably call it a day. Until then it'll be about managing his injuries and fitness and rotating. Vidic when fit will be first choice, and we'll rotate his partner as and when we can. He isn't as fit as he once was, and obviously isn't as quick as he was, but his experience and knowhow is priceless, he has a wealth of knowledge to pass onto Smalling, Evans and Jones, and his experience of winning trophies could yet be vital in the run-in.
Rio Ferdinand
- Thread starter Logan!
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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.
Evans has been very good overall for the past few weeks, but if i have one concern with him is that he seems to lose his composure in the big games.
Sent off against city, not tight enough soon enough to RVP against Arsenal, caught out by Carroll against Liverpool, and not a very assured performance from him again against Chelsea today. Not at fault for the og today, not much anyone could have done about that, but it is something i have noticed before, and it seems to happen more often in the high profile matches.
Saying that im not knocking him, it is only to be expected really. He is only young and it is a big ask for a young player to play so many games consecutively without making some errors. Rio himself was susceptible to the odd loss of concentration when he was Evans age and he turned out all right.
If he continues to improve as i believe he has this season, then with a bit more experience, hopefully he will be a very good defender for us for many years to come.
Harsh to blame him on the RVP goal, it was an excellent finish, Jonny didn't do much wrong. Carroll was him switching off a wee bit but why's Jonny marking Carroll when you have Smalling in the team and what was Evra doing after that. I think Jonny is slowly but surely ironing out the flaws in his game, at the moment him and Smalling are my first choice pairing and I never thought I'd say that as recent as now after their performances together last year.
Rio is done? Bloody hell... you lot are incredible, always speak in absolutes 
"He's brilliant, best in the world!" - "He's finished."
"We're are the 3rd best team in the world after Barca and Real!" - "We're shite, heading for relegation..."
"He's brilliant, best in the world!" - "He's finished."
"We're are the 3rd best team in the world after Barca and Real!" - "We're shite, heading for relegation..."
I think this criticism of Rio on here is very harsh and unwarranted. Evans was by far the weaker of the two centre backs today, both in terms of tackles made, aerial challenges won, and positioning. For the record, with Luiz's goal, he wasn't even Rio's man - he was covering across and got very unlucky; for me it was Carrick's fault, who moved towards the ball when the free kick was taken, inexplicably, and ended up marking thin air in front of where the goal was headed in from (i.e. where he should have been).
Thought he was pretty good today. Unlucky for their 2nd. Apart from that he was pretty solid I thought.
Evra was marking Luiz and Luiz pushed him out of the way just as the ball was played. Ferdinand tried to cover, but couldn't quite get there in time.
I thought Ferdinand played ok today.
Rio is done? Bloody hell... you lot are incredible, always speak in absolutes
"He's brilliant, best in the world!" - "He's finished."
"We're are the 3rd best team in the world after Barca and Real!" - "We're shite, heading for relegation..."
It's the caf, there is no grey.
Reading the responses would suggest there is.
Cred to Rio for ignoring Suarez, shame no other United player did.
Like a boss today.
I think most of them were just shocked atm to see such audacity.
I think most of them were just shocked atm to see such audacity.
His best performance this season.
So, he was past it on Sunday, and six days later he's back to his best?
Rio, great performance, keep it lad, you were amazing.
Rio, great performance, keep it lad, you were amazing.
Great behavior by Rio refusing to handshake Suarez's hand. Celebrated with Pat at the end of the game too.
It would have been nice to see every player ignoring him, but well...
unlucky the ball bounced off him which led to suarez's goal.
apart from that he was excellent.
apart from that he was excellent.
Hopefully his back is ok after Evra jumped on him 
welbeck ignored him too
Rio's a top, top player and leader too. Fairs to him ignoring Suarez.
No he didnt, im nearly 100% sure he shook his hand.
It did look like he tried to pull away
He was immense today, you could tell that incident before the match fired him up. I do think he'd have shook Suarez' hand only for how Suarez acted with Evra.
Fair play to Rio, legend.
Fair play to Rio, legend.
https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/benhibbs/status/168363174024839168
@BenHibbs Those Rio pics have put me off my toad in the hole for tea
What's the Rio pics he's on about?
@BenHibbs Those Rio pics have put me off my toad in the hole for tea
What's the Rio pics he's on about?
I thought Evans was the better defender today by far. Rio put in a great tackle on Suarez but was at fault for the goal..
I thought he was great. He might be on the decline but he's still a bloody good player who is well worth his place in the team.
Does anyone have a gif of Evra taking out Rio?
I've not seen it since but it looked to me like Evans was at fault for the gol as he didn't get across the line of the ball and allowed Suarez to run off of him. Rio didn't look like he was expecting it to come through.
also at the end of the game when Evra was celebrating, Bellamy was having a word with the twins (don't know if he was having a go) and Rio directly rushed in and stood up for the twins.
Loved Rio's comments on Suarez in his post game interview on MUTV. Put it on him. Straight.
what did he say??
Just had a scouser on fb asking why isnt rio a disgrace to the club? I obviously responded in regard to him not shaking Suarez's hand. Then he comes out with how he wasn't talking about that but the fact he's a druggie!
What?!
What?!
No that was Suarez who shook his hand and then realised Welbeck was black and immediately pulled away.
It could look like he rushed in to intervene just to prevent a clash between Evra and Suarez...Hopefully his back is ok after Evra jumped on him
It reminded me of when Evra ran into Heinze in the Milan match we won 3-2.
Also Rios best game of the season. All it took was him to be dropped on his neck. I actually thought he was done when that happened. It looked horrible so fair play to Rio getting on with it and being quite immense. Him and Evans works just as well as Smalling/Vidic imo.
On the odd occasion you can see the pace he's lost, but he's compensating quite well for the most part. No longer the best in the world, but still an excellent defender. He'll have a big role and passing the torch over the next few years.
There's a picture of Rio during the game looking a tad... "excited", if you catch my drift. Tent-tastic.
That was in the game we lost 3-0.
Apparently (rumours) Agger challenged Rio to a fight after the match in the car park?
What a shameful club
What a shameful club