And why is he willing to pay so much to land him?
Well, let us take a look at it in general terms.
We currently have a central defence that consists of Blanc, Brown, and O'Shea, so we obviously need a new defender to be put into that mix, and then another to come next year.
Many think that we should try to solve our central defensive problems right now and buy a Nesta and an Ayala.
What is the point in this however? A reasonably young Italian who many think is the best defender in the World, but we don't know if he could fit into the PL, and an ageing Argentinian defender (who I think is the best in the the world), who we also don't know how he would fit into the PL. We can ask for any quality CB in the world, but that question is always there - how will he fit in?
That is the difference with Ferdinand, we know that he will fit in. But will he be able to perform in Europe? Rio has only ever tried it once at that high level, where Ayala has been in the thick of things - at the very thick of things more than once.
Nesta and Ayala would IMO provide us with far better CL winning potential at this moment in time, but would not work so well in the PL environment.
So, it comes back to the original question. Why, when SAF covets the European Cup more than anything else, why does he choose to pick Rio Ferdinand?
Well, it's obvious really. Rio can help us to regain the PL, of that there is no doubt depending on who he is partnered with. With Blanc, we will not win the PL IMO.
Rio could also help us have a better crack at the whip on the European stage, but for that he needs to be partnered with Blanc for the CL games.
So, what is all leading to?
Well, it's all to do with age isn't it?
We might pay way over the odds for Rio right now, but what Fergie has on his mind is the long term well being of Manchester United. Think about it, we have a 21 year old Irish lad, and if we get Ferdinand, a 23 year old Rio and a 22 year old called Wes Brown. The two of them look like they will be the linchpin of Englands central defence for ten years after the next European Camps. Both playing in the same team at club level and international level.
And what about O'Shea? Where does he fit in? This is the main dilema, but as he is so young it really doesn't matter right now. Brown could be being groomed to replace Gary Neville at right back, with Rio and O'Shea in the middle.
Think about it, just for a few extra million quid, we will be puting together a very young backline (include Silvestre), that could play for us for the next 10 years as a unit, and is composed of the three best defensive talents playing in England today.
SAF isn't daft.
He's delivering us another sackfull of PL titles as well as a few European Cups to go with them. Oh, and Verón will have something to do with that too!
Rant over.
Well, let us take a look at it in general terms.
We currently have a central defence that consists of Blanc, Brown, and O'Shea, so we obviously need a new defender to be put into that mix, and then another to come next year.
Many think that we should try to solve our central defensive problems right now and buy a Nesta and an Ayala.
What is the point in this however? A reasonably young Italian who many think is the best defender in the World, but we don't know if he could fit into the PL, and an ageing Argentinian defender (who I think is the best in the the world), who we also don't know how he would fit into the PL. We can ask for any quality CB in the world, but that question is always there - how will he fit in?
That is the difference with Ferdinand, we know that he will fit in. But will he be able to perform in Europe? Rio has only ever tried it once at that high level, where Ayala has been in the thick of things - at the very thick of things more than once.
Nesta and Ayala would IMO provide us with far better CL winning potential at this moment in time, but would not work so well in the PL environment.
So, it comes back to the original question. Why, when SAF covets the European Cup more than anything else, why does he choose to pick Rio Ferdinand?
Well, it's obvious really. Rio can help us to regain the PL, of that there is no doubt depending on who he is partnered with. With Blanc, we will not win the PL IMO.
Rio could also help us have a better crack at the whip on the European stage, but for that he needs to be partnered with Blanc for the CL games.
So, what is all leading to?
Well, it's all to do with age isn't it?
We might pay way over the odds for Rio right now, but what Fergie has on his mind is the long term well being of Manchester United. Think about it, we have a 21 year old Irish lad, and if we get Ferdinand, a 23 year old Rio and a 22 year old called Wes Brown. The two of them look like they will be the linchpin of Englands central defence for ten years after the next European Camps. Both playing in the same team at club level and international level.
And what about O'Shea? Where does he fit in? This is the main dilema, but as he is so young it really doesn't matter right now. Brown could be being groomed to replace Gary Neville at right back, with Rio and O'Shea in the middle.
Think about it, just for a few extra million quid, we will be puting together a very young backline (include Silvestre), that could play for us for the next 10 years as a unit, and is composed of the three best defensive talents playing in England today.
SAF isn't daft.
He's delivering us another sackfull of PL titles as well as a few European Cups to go with them. Oh, and Verón will have something to do with that too!
Rant over.