i think i just a saw a story the other day about being linked to him, on youtube he didn't look better than evans tbh, but its just a video, not seen too much of him
Rio - SAF's greatest defender?
- Thread starter Massive Spanner
- Start date
i think i just a saw a story the other day about being linked to him, on youtube he didn't look better than evans tbh, but its just a video, not seen too much of him
What? Sergio Ramos played at centre back for Sevilla and repeatedly said he was a centre back, yet for a good 5+ years he played at right back for Madrid and Spain. Puyol played at right back for Barcelona for quite a while. Carragher played at right back for quite a while. Ivanovic has been Chelsea's right back for however many years. It's a completely normal thing to do.
I should have qualified that statement by saying 'our centre-backs' as right-backs. My bad.
Jones and Smalling simply are not right-backs. Too hesitant going forward, and when they do, have absolutely zero end product. The amount of times they get into good positions to cross and they end up wasting them. Maybe growing up on a diet of Gary Neville forward bursts and pretty consistent crosses has me a little spoiled, but I wince every time I see one of our centre-backs named out there.
At their peak Vidic >>>>> Rio.
Rio needs to be dropped, he's lost a yard of pace and is mostly second to everything.
My Dad said it last year and i didn't want to believe it but i think i'm starting to agree with him. He's getting a bit past it now perhaps.
It's too soon to say he's gone, it could just be down to being overplayed.
I thought he was excellent last season but he just doesn't seem to have gotten going this season. His pace went a while back but he doesn't seem as agile now and his general body movement is slower.
I just think he's been overused in last few weeks, he can't just turn into "old and shit" after few months, he was great last season.
God, you post a load of tripe. I thought the Caf might suffer after Fergie left but bloody hell, it's like they all escaped the mental asylum.
Let's not beat about the bush. That was up there with Jonny Evans against west ham (3 years ago?) as the worst performance from a united centre half I can remember. Not a knee jerk fan but that was complete and utter dung served up from start to finish. Check out every West Brom attack and it arises from a Rio mistake. Absolutely brutal performance
God, you post a load of tripe. I thought the Caf might suffer after Fergie left but bloody hell, it's like they all escaped the mental asylum.
Indeed. What a load of shit. Granted Rio's had a shocking start to the season but his current form shouldn't muddy the waters of what he was like at his peak. He was fecking brilliant. One of the best ever.
At their peak Vidic >>>>> Rio.
Rio needs to be dropped, he's lost a yard of pace and is mostly second to everything.
I don't think it's about pace at all. Brwned pointed out earlier that it has nothing to do with pace... And the goals we've conceded because of him haven't been about the lack of pace. They have been about slow lateral movement, poor concentration, and poor management by Moyes. There really isn't much of a difference between this season's Ferdinand and the one, who was arguably the best centre-back in the league, last season. The major difference is that Moyes hasn't done a very good job of assessing Ferdinand's situation. Instead, he's been playing two consecutive games, which doesn't match what his body is capable of handling at all.
God, you post a load of tripe. I thought the Caf might suffer after Fergie left but bloody hell, it's like they all escaped the mental asylum.
Go on. Tell me Rio was a better defender at his peak than Rio... you're having a laugh.
You're pissed mate. Obviously.
I believe Rio's peak lasted longer but in terms of who was better overall, it was Vidic.
He might not be finished just yet, but feck me he needs to sort himself out. He looked like a wandering drunk at times today... I thought City was the worst I'd ever seen him defend, but today was new levels...
Even though I disagree I haven't got a problem with anyone saying they think Vidic was the better whilst at their peaks as it's close. They both were/are absolutely top drawer. But to suggest the gap is as large as you're making out is fecking stupid.
Agree with this but there is a huge difference between that Rio and the early Rio and the current one.
At the time he was very composed passing the ball and was excellent bringing it out of defense. His positioning and concentration was top notch, he'd gotten enough experience ironing out his weakness from the first few seasons, but was still in his physical prime, and for 3/4 year he was pretty much the complete article. Time passed however and through injuries he lost a few yards of pace which he always had to rely on to cover for things, his concentration has gotten very iffy, and paired with pace loss was acceleration loss/turning speed, which is the main blame for some major errors: today for example, that he turned slower than an bloody truck after his ineffectual attempt to tackle.
He shouldn't be starting more than the odd game at this stage given his weaknesses currently are more than his strengths, I'd much rather any of our other options (smalling/jones/evans) ideally paired with Vidic, and if no Vidic should be Evans for sure with one of the others.
Problem with Rio is that he is a senior player and there is nobody to take him to task when he decides to switch off, which was for most of the match against West Brom. Should be dropped immediately.
Rio had two good seasons. 06/07 and 07/08. Before that he had a brain fart once every few games alongside Silvestee or Brown. He's not a great leader for me. Just look at his performances with Jones as centre back. As a young centre would rather have Vidic alongside you than Rio.
Where did this four seasons nonsense come from? Since 07/08 he's had his back problems. But never really looked like the player he was in those two seasons. VDS, Vidic and Evans were key reasons we had that clean sheet run in 08/09.
Where did this four seasons nonsense come from? Since 07/08 he's had his back problems. But never really looked like the player he was in those two seasons. VDS, Vidic and Evans were key reasons we had that clean sheet run in 08/09.
Dearie me.
Vidic was better, and when fit still is.
Rio needs to be dropped for me.
Rio needs to be dropped for me.
Weird that you're trying to discredit one of the key players in the most successful period in our history. Rio played in 8 of those 14 games.
Rio played 43 games in 08/09.... And 8 games in our clean sheet run.
I really don't know how we can justify having him in the squad in this case, never mind building our defence around his needs.. This sort of issue is a burden on the team, the manager, and our younger centre backs.
Ferdinand became the best in the league basically as soon as Keane retired (for the second half of 05/06), and was fantastic before his suspension. Then you've got 2011/12 and 12/13 which, again, were both very good seasons, with him looking somewhat near the player he was in 07/08 at times last season. He had that same sort of look about him even though he hadn't the same physical attributes.
This season has been poor, but to say he's only had two good seasons is way off the mark.
Agreed. Needs to be taken out of the side until he can get his shit together. We have 3 talented youngsters to come in. Lets use them.
Couldn't find another Rio thread so...
Even though I'm in the Moyes out camp, having one of your senior players talking like that when the chips are down doesn't exactly help Moyes or the team.
Even though I'm in the Moyes out camp, having one of your senior players talking like that when the chips are down doesn't exactly help Moyes or the team.
Why is he sprouting things like that at a time like this? What an idiot.
Not good at all.
I said that he'd mentally departed with Ferguson.
"He who has no stomach to this fight, let him depart..."
"He who has no stomach to this fight, let him depart..."
Hm. Not the greatest timing. Is the presser over?
Shut the feck up, Rio.
Players doubting him already.
fecking hell Rio. What an idiot.
So it begins....
Ho-hum. Cue "Moyes has lost the dressing room!" headlines (and threads on here). Well, it's part of the game - it just hasn't been a part of United's game for the past quarter of a century.
belated lol at this !
Jam that hype fam