carlyluvsunited
04-11-2007, 04:31 PM
Rio's perfect partner
RIO Ferdinand has hailed his partnership with Nemanja Vidic as the best he's ever
been involved in.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson fused the Anglo-Serbian alliance in January 2006 when
Vidic joined from Spartak Moscow. Last term they were the cornerstone of
United's Premiership title triumph.
Significantly, United's Champions League challenge only fell apart in Milan when
Ferdinand was out with a groin injury and Vidic was making his comeback after
breaking his collarbone.
But now they are back in harness and proving Fergie's most effective centre-half
combination since the days of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister with nine shut-outs
in 13 games this season.
"I think it is the most comfortable partnership I have ever had," said Ferdinand,
ahead of today's game at Arsenal.
"It is the most consistent and most productive. We have been playing week in
week out for the last 18 months and I have never really had that long before
with the same person.
"At Leeds it was Dominic Matteo for a while and then Jonathan Woodgate. I had a
few partners at West Ham too. I have never had that longevity that enables you
to get to know someone's game and he can get to know mine.
"Playing regularly means you get to know each other and their qualities.
"I said when I signed for United in 2003 that I hoped I would have a consistent
partner. But I didn't have one in the first two or three years here."
Instead Ferdinand had on and off working relationships with Laurent Blanc, Mikael
Silvestre, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.
"I always said once you get a settled partnership at centre half and the same
back four you would see the rewards of that," said Ferdinand. "I think we are
bearing the fruits of that."
Despite the plaudits the Ferdinand-Vidic ticket has received the England defender
insists any success United gain is due to a team effort.
"The foundation for any good team is a good defensive unit," the 29-year-old
added.
"When you have to defend you have to do it as a team. If it is just the back four
who are left to their own devices then you won't be successful.
"That's why we have a good defensive record. Being called the best defence is
not because of so and so, or so and so. It is the 11 players out on the pitch who
give you that record.
"It is the same as when we are scoring goals like we are. That's about the 11
players on the pitch.
Chances
"It isn't about the No 9 getting the goals or another guy who might be scoring all
the time, it is about the others creating chances for them.
"We are attacking well as a team and defending well as a team. We are not a set
of individuals."
Perhaps that theory has never been better illustrated than at Arsenal this term
where the Gunners have shrugged off Thierry Henry's departure to mount a
serious challenge to United's title.
"Thierry is a great player. His personal record is up there with the best," added
Ferdinand. "He is Arsenal's top goalscorer and has had almost every accolade
thrown at him.
"But there are a lot of young players there who might see this season now as a
breath of fresh air. It might be a new lease of life for them. The leash is off. But
they are a team. They have very talented footballers, know their jobs and are
also working well as a team.
"Cesc Fabregas has probably been the outstanding midfield player this season
bearing in mind the amount of goals he's scored.
"He is one of their main threats. Emmanuel Adebayor last season was one of the
top players in the league and you have to keep your eyes on him.
"But they have a number who of players who can open teams up so we will have
to nullify all of them."
Last January United's debut at Arsenal's new Emirates HQ ended in huge
disappointment.
After the Gunners had won at Old Trafford in September the Reds looked to be
exacting revenge with Wayne Rooney's second-half goal.
But United collapsed in the last seven minutes and were overturned by lates
goals from Robin Van Persie and Henry.
"Last season's defeats by Arsenal are a motivation for today," said Rio.
"We don't like being beaten by anybody. We want to walk out of the stadium at
the end with our heads held high. Last year we walked out very disappointed.
"When you are winning such an important fixture and then lose you come in at
the end almost dumbstruck. How can have we lost that game?
Trophies
"Things like that don't go away and the bad thoughts from that will be in the back
of our mind and inspire us.
"It is the game of the season because we are the top two teams in the league at
the moment. But this game will have no bearing on where the title will go. Titles
and trophies are not handed out at this stage.
"We want to go and win the game but it won't be the be all and end all if one of
us loses. We both know that.
"We are not silly enough to think anything different.
"There are only 10 or 11 games gone so to talk about any team being this or that
is too early to do. We will see who are the champions at the end of the season."
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United !!!
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RIO Ferdinand has hailed his partnership with Nemanja Vidic as the best he's ever
been involved in.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson fused the Anglo-Serbian alliance in January 2006 when
Vidic joined from Spartak Moscow. Last term they were the cornerstone of
United's Premiership title triumph.
Significantly, United's Champions League challenge only fell apart in Milan when
Ferdinand was out with a groin injury and Vidic was making his comeback after
breaking his collarbone.
But now they are back in harness and proving Fergie's most effective centre-half
combination since the days of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister with nine shut-outs
in 13 games this season.
"I think it is the most comfortable partnership I have ever had," said Ferdinand,
ahead of today's game at Arsenal.
"It is the most consistent and most productive. We have been playing week in
week out for the last 18 months and I have never really had that long before
with the same person.
"At Leeds it was Dominic Matteo for a while and then Jonathan Woodgate. I had a
few partners at West Ham too. I have never had that longevity that enables you
to get to know someone's game and he can get to know mine.
"Playing regularly means you get to know each other and their qualities.
"I said when I signed for United in 2003 that I hoped I would have a consistent
partner. But I didn't have one in the first two or three years here."
Instead Ferdinand had on and off working relationships with Laurent Blanc, Mikael
Silvestre, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.
"I always said once you get a settled partnership at centre half and the same
back four you would see the rewards of that," said Ferdinand. "I think we are
bearing the fruits of that."
Despite the plaudits the Ferdinand-Vidic ticket has received the England defender
insists any success United gain is due to a team effort.
"The foundation for any good team is a good defensive unit," the 29-year-old
added.
"When you have to defend you have to do it as a team. If it is just the back four
who are left to their own devices then you won't be successful.
"That's why we have a good defensive record. Being called the best defence is
not because of so and so, or so and so. It is the 11 players out on the pitch who
give you that record.
"It is the same as when we are scoring goals like we are. That's about the 11
players on the pitch.
Chances
"It isn't about the No 9 getting the goals or another guy who might be scoring all
the time, it is about the others creating chances for them.
"We are attacking well as a team and defending well as a team. We are not a set
of individuals."
Perhaps that theory has never been better illustrated than at Arsenal this term
where the Gunners have shrugged off Thierry Henry's departure to mount a
serious challenge to United's title.
"Thierry is a great player. His personal record is up there with the best," added
Ferdinand. "He is Arsenal's top goalscorer and has had almost every accolade
thrown at him.
"But there are a lot of young players there who might see this season now as a
breath of fresh air. It might be a new lease of life for them. The leash is off. But
they are a team. They have very talented footballers, know their jobs and are
also working well as a team.
"Cesc Fabregas has probably been the outstanding midfield player this season
bearing in mind the amount of goals he's scored.
"He is one of their main threats. Emmanuel Adebayor last season was one of the
top players in the league and you have to keep your eyes on him.
"But they have a number who of players who can open teams up so we will have
to nullify all of them."
Last January United's debut at Arsenal's new Emirates HQ ended in huge
disappointment.
After the Gunners had won at Old Trafford in September the Reds looked to be
exacting revenge with Wayne Rooney's second-half goal.
But United collapsed in the last seven minutes and were overturned by lates
goals from Robin Van Persie and Henry.
"Last season's defeats by Arsenal are a motivation for today," said Rio.
"We don't like being beaten by anybody. We want to walk out of the stadium at
the end with our heads held high. Last year we walked out very disappointed.
"When you are winning such an important fixture and then lose you come in at
the end almost dumbstruck. How can have we lost that game?
Trophies
"Things like that don't go away and the bad thoughts from that will be in the back
of our mind and inspire us.
"It is the game of the season because we are the top two teams in the league at
the moment. But this game will have no bearing on where the title will go. Titles
and trophies are not handed out at this stage.
"We want to go and win the game but it won't be the be all and end all if one of
us loses. We both know that.
"We are not silly enough to think anything different.
"There are only 10 or 11 games gone so to talk about any team being this or that
is too early to do. We will see who are the champions at the end of the season."
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php