Vidic and Rio

CnutOfAllCnuts

Bald Boring Cnut
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
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Noticed in the last couple of games that they've swapped sides.

Rio has always played on the right, with Vidic on the left. The last two games it has been the other way around.

Sir Alex or any of the players said anything about it?
 
Maybe Vidic prefers the right but before he played 2nd fiddle to Ferdinand for it? Now he's the main man so gets first choice.

Pure speculation though, they could just be having the craic.
 
I remember Vidic saying Fergie asked him to play on the right but I don't think he said why.
 
I think the logic is that Rio used to be the quicker of the two but isn't any more. The left side has Paddy to cover for pace, where we play a number of different players on the right, some very quick, some less so.
 
sincher said:
I think the logic is that Rio used to be the quicker of the two but isn't any more. The left side has Paddy to cover for pace, where we play a number of different players on the right, some very quick, some less so.
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Surely he's still quicker than Vidic though.

Pogues theory is the most likely.
 
It's Rio's pace, imho. The swap of positions came right after Fergie's comments in the press about Rio losing a yard of pace (and then defending that statement as being just a natural part of the footballer's ageing process and that Rio would adapt).
 
Judging by his comments of late I would think so, though I'd think it's also of the fact that he plays with the youngsters on a more regular basis?
 
I'm not sure that's it though. I reckon Jones is only slightly slower than Evra, and surely you want the best defender on the most exposed side, which at the moment is Evra's?
 
Its pretty simple imo. We dont have a settled RB, makes sense to have a settled Right CB. Whoever plays at RB thus knows what to expect from vidic because he'l always be the closest CB to them.

On the left, evra's a certainty while with rio's injuries, the Left CB will be different players at different times. whoever it is makes sense to have them always be with evra.

1 settled player on either side really. to avoid all kinds of chaos in case rio gets injured and we have both a new RB and a new Right CB.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Why's he only just made the switch?

We'e had inexpericed right backs throughout last season.
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I keep thinking this. The only answer I can come up with is JOS. But I don't remember him playing the majority of games either? Smalling did though, and he was solid defensively.

I actually don't know, but if I have to go out on a limb it's because Jones needs more looking after than Evra. At the minute.
 
Came directly after Sir Alex talked about Rio needing to change his game because he's lost that bit of pace, so you'd think it's linked - can't see in what way though. He's no less exposed for pace on the left side because he's constantly dragged out there, more so than on the right. And it seems strange to think that it'd be anything to do with wanting Vidic besides Jones/Smalling because he repeatedly talks up Rio's communication skills and how useful he is when bedding in new young defenders.

I thought this made sense:

Burrow said:
I noticed this last match aswell, and it seems to be working well so far. I think it might have something to do with all of the injuries that Rio have been suffering, and that we've rotated heavily on the right back. With Vidic back, no matter who plays at right back will have the same player covering them at all times. No matter if we play Fabio, Rafael, Jones, Smalling or even Valencia, we'll always have Vidic at their side which means they will more easily adapt whenever they are thrown into the team.

With Evra staying clear of injuries, it's important that the person next to Evra / Vidic will know who they are playing alongst and will get to know their style of play. It's easier to play an somewhat inexperienced player in the centre of our defense when he's got players like Vidic and Evra next to him every time he plays. It's more benefical to play alongside someone as reliable and experienced as those two, instead of having to play alongside a different right back nearly every time you play. Atleast this is how I look at the reason for change, and I think it's very sensible of Fergie if that's the case.
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Simply because Vidic is a lot less likely to miss games, it makes things easier for the right back or centre back to have the same player covering you every time, rather than trying to get used to Smalling's style, then Rio's, then Jones' every couple of weeks. You'll always have either Vidic (as a RB or left-sided centre back) or Evra (as a left-sided centre back) playing beside you to ease the bedding in process. That said, does Vidic play on the right side when Jones plays in the middle? I don't think he does with Smalling...none of it really makes much sense to me. It doesn't seem a like game-specific change though.
 
Orcould it be that playing RN Vidic has to run less and cover less than when Evra goes upfield. I have had a calf problem and its annoying _ I suspect Vidic is carrying the injury and playing through it.
 
I always thought the better distributor of the ball always played on the right side, i.e. Ferdinand, Carvalho, Pique etc, in the event that there are two right footed CB's. I still think the majority of the time this is the case, but I've no idea why they've decided to switch, because although Ferdinand's distribution isn't as good as it has been over the years, its still very good and better than Vidic's, who passing was absolutely catastrophic against Swansea. It'll take time for them to adjust, I guess.
 
My theory has always been that the change was to acclimatise Vidic to the right side as when everyone is fit the back 4 will now be

RB: Smalling
CB: Vidic
CB: Jones
LB: Evra

Don't like the idea of Smalling being the first choice RB personally nor do I think Jones should be played ahead of Rio but that's the only reason I could think of and how long can Fergie fail to play Smalling and Jones week in week out?
 
I was asking myself the same question.

It has to be due to Rio losing some pace.

Why should it matter whether one is on the left or the right as a CB?

Maybe since more players are right footed, they end up moving to their right. Maybe the right CB can come to help more often, and thus he needs a bit more pace.

Jonny Evans is always put on the left, and Smalling is usually put on the right.

It would be interesting to find out conclusively what the reason is.
 
Which calf muscle did Vidic injure?

Did he injure his left calf muscle?

If so then if he played on left c/b he would tend to set off using the left leg more and thus put more pressure on that leg?

It's just a thought as I have had a niggly calf injury in my left leg and I can dive to my right easy but struggle at times diving to the left when I push off on my left leg.
 
Remember posting this in the Vidic thread after the Everton game. Not quite sure :confused:
 
Probably because Rio with his injury record is no longer a regular starter and Fergie thinks the younger ones would be better off playing on the left where they will be flanked by 2 experienced defenders in Evra and Vidic.


or maybe not
 
Could just be the fact that Fergie began to see the lads getting a little too complacent. I think switching them keeps them on their toes and makes them have to concerntrate a little more than usual. As they will need to be more aware of runs and balls coming into areas they aren't as comfortable in.
 
Sometimes they switch to combat specific threats. I don't know why they would be doing that at the moment though.
 
cina said:
Why must we always end up comparing them?
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Seems mental to do it all the time, as both look somewhat diminished without the other. It's the perfect partnership, the best one in world football over the last five years.
 
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