Ferdinand replacement - rumoured

So what happened to the link to the article that was due shortly
 
I like Mexes but he's a similar aggressive type as Vidic. Rio keeps it cool.
Nesta is a great shout. Maybe he'd wanna have the chance to experience new things.

Arsenal could do with Mexes. He's French, he plays a position they need quality and he has some balls on him which they sorely need in defense. Someone who takes charge. Him, Koscielny and Vermaalen isn't half bad with Djourou as backup as well. I don't really rate Squillaci much.
 
Not this season he isn't. Only Zlatan has player more often. Last season he also played more than Rio even though Man Utd played a lot more games.
Rio has 20 games this season and managed 21 games last season. Probably won't play any more this season. And he's got two types of injuries.

I'm afraid he doesn't have much consistent football in him anymore.
Nesta has started all games for Milan but 1 this season. He was an unused substitute in that game. Would be surprising to see Milan not trying to hold onto him.
 
I find the premise of this thread rather strange. Even if Rio is out for the remainder of the year, he's likely to have a few more years in him, and with Smalling playing as well as he is, we will be fine imo.
 
jeston said:
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
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Ferdinand is struggling - even when he plays he doesn't look as mobile as he was.

It seems his problems stem from his back and specifically a nerve problem. Seems Rio has a career outside of football and if the Doc's tell him he's risking his future mobility by continuing to play he'll no doubt have a tough decision to make.

Also seems that Fergie can no longer rely on him being fit. Smalling and Vidic are top players but Evans and Brown have looked poor this year when asked to slot in and you need three top centre backs to be succesful over a 50 game season.

I reckon Gary Cahill could be a good shout. Good player, English and his contract expires season after next so wouldn't cost to much IF United do need to sign a replacement for Ferdinand.
 
I don't think Ferdinand is so crippled he is going to end his career, and we have Smalling and Evans to cover for him, occassionally Brown or even O'Shea can fill in. It would be difficult to sign a back up defender who would be both experienced and keen on sitting on the bench for nearly entire season, unless we are going to put him there ahead of Smalling which would be daft.
 
Cahill is a decent player but I'm not convinced he has what it takes to make it at United.

Subotic was someone we've been linked with before and looks impressive. Alves from Zenit?
 
We've had some interest in Joao Miranda before, I think. Or Subotic maybe.

I know feck all about these players. If we did get someone in, it would need to be an experienced defender - otherwise we might as well stick with Smalling.
 
That is definitely a strong aspect of Rio's game. He's a proper top class player and a leader on the pitch. That said, Vidic is a leader too - as long as we have one of them we should be alright.

Cahill would be a candidate on that basis, and I think he'd do well actually.
 
Subotic - good foil for Vidic. Sign Sahin from Dortmund at the same time, sorted.
 
Rodwell could be a good target.

Personally, I think he will mature as a DM/CM - but he could offer good cover at CB for when Rio is out, without impacting on the progress of Evans or Smalling.

Ciaran Clark is another I have heard we have an interest in - would provide cover at CB and LB, and we are a little short at LB with Fabio developing into a more forward player imo.
 
Raoul said:
I find the premise of this thread rather strange.
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Re-reading my op, it does look like I've already decided Rio's on his way out.

I meant the thread as more of a "if Rio doesn't get fit again, who would be a good cheap replacement for a couple of years," type thing.

Personally, I agree with those saying that Smalling/Evans should be the replacement(s).
 
Blair said:
Simon Kjear
Mamadou Sakho
Dejan Lovren

?
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Why would we want to sign a young player that would cost a fortune. We have Smalling. Kjaer has been utter tripe since moving to Wolfsburg, talk that he could be dropped from the team, Sakho would cost a fortune and I have never heard of that other lad.
 
Randall Flagg said:
Blanc was a fecking disaster though
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he was and he wasn't. By all accounts the defenders learnt a lot from him. So perhaps his long term influence was more important than short term influence.

I still think Blanc got stick because he was perceived as Stams replacement, when in fact he was bought to play alongside Stam
 
golden_blunder said:
he was and he wasn't. By all accounts the defenders learnt a lot from him. So perhaps his long term influence was more important than short term influence.

I still think Blanc got stick because he was perceived as Stams replacement, when in fact he was bought to play alongside Stam
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Blanc was signed after Stam was sold.
 
Ferdinand is not yet dead.

Rodwell would provide good cover both for midfiled and as a centre back.
 
I love this forum.

Having a full blown conversation about the replacement of one of our CBs without any indication that we need one.

Has no one noticed that Smalling has been rather good this season without Ferdinand playing?
 
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