Ferdinand replacement - rumoured

Minkaro

Full Member
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
11,760
Rio Ferdinand battling to save his Man Utd career. Fergie already searching for replacement. Link available shortly
Click to expand...

From Mark Ogden's Twitter. Already posted in the Ferdinand thread, but I thought it might be an idea to discuss the possibilities.

It's likely to be somebody in their 30's, on a one or two year contract whilst Smalling is still learning. With that in mind, we're not going to want to spend too much money (if any) on them, and it'll need to be somebody willing to step aside for Smalling (as he'll need first team football) on occasion.

Are there any experienced centre-backs who's contracts are ending in the summer? Maybe it'll be a season-long loan deal. Maybe we'll go all Arsenal, and offer Jaap Stam a contract.
 
Jaap Stam :lol:

Don't we need one? Smalling's doing fine. Evans & Brown, even O'Shea can cover. Maybe just another young one to be Smalling/Vidic's understudy.

The whole story/rumour is probably BS though
 
Berba can play that role.

He has the height and he is excellent on the ball and a good passer.
 
I'd be amazed if we buy someone around the same age as Ferdinand. When you look at the way Neville was kept on even when it looked likely he wasn't going to get back to his best, and contrast those performances with the performances Rio's been putting in then I think Fergie will have a place for him when he's fit.
 
Mexes is 6 years younger than Blanc was when he signed for us, and if his contract is up in the summer we could do a deal tomorrow.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
Mate, it'd be a terrible 'Blanc style shout'. What does he have in common with the World Cup winning captain apart from nationality?
Click to expand...

Blanc wasn't the captain of the world cup winning team.

I guess they have that in common too.
 
Why would it have to be a veteran?

If anything, we need another hard bastard like Vidic with decent leadership/organising skills. We've shown we can cope without Rio, but struggle without Vidic.
 
I'd like Evans and Smalling fighting for Rio's replacement alongside Vidic.

We need that, just like Barca do.

Both of them are capable of that, I'm sure Evans after that injury will finally find his form and Smalling is just amazing. Fingers crossed.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
Blanc wasn't the captain of the world cup winning team.

I guess they have that in common too.
Click to expand...

OK - so the former World Cup winner and national team captain...

My point is that I'd say a 'Blanc style' signing is the short term signing of a player of undisputed class and experience who's been there, done it all and won everything, allowing him to fit right in.

I'd say Larsson was another similar signing - although very short term - and VdS was probably intended as something similar but confounded expectations by playing at this level till 40 years of age and becoming far more than a short term signing...
 
Starkie_1 said:
Have either of you seen him play in the last 2 years? Genuinely?
Click to expand...

No more than 4 times, I'm not advocating signing him, just putting the name out there. He is a highly rated player at an age where you'd expect him to be close to his best.
 
Tumbling-Dice said:
Sylvain Distin has impressed me at times over the years.

Just over a year of his contract left at Everton but should have two decent seasons left in him while the young lads come through.
Click to expand...

You must be mad

He is a hoof the ball merchant that can barely string two passes together. If you want a replacement for Rio you need someone that can bring the ball out from the back.

Smalling is already a better player than Distin.
 
BaldwinLegend said:
OK - so the former World Cup winner and national team captain...

My point is that I'd say a 'Blanc style' signing is the short term signing of a player of undisputed class and experience who's been there, done it all and won everything, allowing him to fit right in.
Click to expand...

I agree. Don't want Mexes anywhere near Old Trafford.

Actually Blanc himself was pretty bad in his first season atleast in the first half of it.
 
If he is out for the season, it'll give the journos a perfect excuse to make shit up till the start of new season.
Someone had to start it
 
TheReligion said:
You must be mad

He is a hoof the ball merchant that can barely string two passes together. If you want a replacement for Rio you need someone that can bring the ball out from the back.

Smalling is already a better player than Distin.
Click to expand...

And Hangeland is fecking Beckenbauer is he ?

Distin would do a decent short term job for us which is the question asked in the OP.
 
datura said:
Why would it have to be a veteran?

If anything, we need another hard bastard like Vidic with decent leadership/organising skills. We've shown we can cope without Rio, but struggle without Vidic.
Click to expand...

This. Hangeland/Cahill are the sort I would look into, we have no one in the pipeline to replace Vidic.
 
Tumbling-Dice said:
Of course he would. You're being silly.

Have you been drinking or is this just the beligerence of an arrogant policeman ?
Click to expand...

First of all it is double L in belligerence,

Secondly, I say this because I personally think Distin is shit. He is strong a nippy and thats about it.

Hangeland would be a far better option.

If Distin ever graced the United shirt I would be sick in my own mouth and question Sir Alex's state of mind.
 
TheReligion said:
First of all it is double L in belligerence,

Secondly, I say this because I personally think Distin is shit. He is strong a nippy and thats about it.

Hangeland would be a far better option.

If Distin ever graced the United shirt I would be sick in my own mouth and question Sir Alex's state of mind.
Click to expand...

First of all, it is 'strong and nippy' not 'strong a nippy'.

Apostrophe between the 't' and 's' in that's.

Strong and nippy is good. The OP is asking about short term off-the-cuff options, he's worth throwing into the ring as a suggestion as is Richard Dunne. Being as they are both ex-City I see the likelihood of either being slim. Hangeland would be a big money signing. Distin's a big strong lad and fairly mobile for his age, experienced, good in the air. He's far from shit.
 
Tumbling-Dice said:
First of all, it is 'strong and nippy' not 'strong a nippy'.

Apostrophe between the 't' and 's' in that's.

Strong and nippy is good. The OP is asking about short term options, he's worth throwing into the ring as a suggestion as is Richard Dunne. Being as they are both ex-City I see the likelihood of either being slim but Distin's a big strong lad and fairly mobile for his age, experienced, good in the air. He's far from shit.
Click to expand...

He is technically poor, often gives the ball away cheaply and is prone to major mental lapses and monumental feck ups.

I just don't have the foggiest how Distin has come into your head as a short term option for Rio Ferdinand, I really don't
 
Distin's been a very good PL CB. There are much worse options out there like Mexes.
 
Christ, have either of you watched many Everton games?

The Caf has gone nuts tonight, although Distin is probably the type of Centre Half Arsenal would go for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.