The key to getting the best out of Ferdinand is to give him the ultimate responsibility.
He can become our Brucie and Pally rolled into one if given the chance.
He's had an unspectacular start to his United career to say the least. We all know he's not yet really got going and the injuries have not helped, but...the quickest and surest way of making him look like money well spent will be to hand him the armband.
After a nervy start at Leeds, O'Nearly quickly made him captain, and it worked. Rio soon galvanised and became the heart of that Leeds team.
But it's not that simple, this is Man Utd we are talking about I hear you cry. What about Roy Keane, David Beckham?...how is even Laurent Blanc meant to defer to Ferdinand?
Well, no-one said the issue is an easy one and I don't think Fergie will grasp the nettle till next season.
Blanc will have retired by then, and if we are to believe Keano, he'll have come back more mellowed and focused and ready to give us the best 3 years of his career.
I think not having the weight of being United captain might just help Roy deliver that promise.
Of course there is Becks...and it would be kind of awkward with the England situation.
But that really should not be United's concern.
United have some classy young defenders in O'Shea and Brown, not to mention the maturing Silvestre. Ferdinand has the mental strength, leadership and talent around him to forge a rock solid defencive unit and provide a platform for Fergie's last great United team.
Rio for captain!
He can become our Brucie and Pally rolled into one if given the chance.
He's had an unspectacular start to his United career to say the least. We all know he's not yet really got going and the injuries have not helped, but...the quickest and surest way of making him look like money well spent will be to hand him the armband.
After a nervy start at Leeds, O'Nearly quickly made him captain, and it worked. Rio soon galvanised and became the heart of that Leeds team.
But it's not that simple, this is Man Utd we are talking about I hear you cry. What about Roy Keane, David Beckham?...how is even Laurent Blanc meant to defer to Ferdinand?
Well, no-one said the issue is an easy one and I don't think Fergie will grasp the nettle till next season.
Blanc will have retired by then, and if we are to believe Keano, he'll have come back more mellowed and focused and ready to give us the best 3 years of his career.
I think not having the weight of being United captain might just help Roy deliver that promise.
Of course there is Becks...and it would be kind of awkward with the England situation.
But that really should not be United's concern.
United have some classy young defenders in O'Shea and Brown, not to mention the maturing Silvestre. Ferdinand has the mental strength, leadership and talent around him to forge a rock solid defencive unit and provide a platform for Fergie's last great United team.
Rio for captain!