Rio class above !

[Drew9]

i've been thinking it for some time now about who is the best centre back in the world ...
and right now there surely cant be anyone as good as rio ferdinand at the moment ? tonight against roma he proved that he could be the main leader when he has been criticised for not doing it when his partner nemanja vidic is not beside him but he for me along of course with ronaldo was the best player on the park and there was some great performances with the likes of ronaldo rooney scholes and even ji sung park :eek: (fair play to the lad he never stopped running)

so guys is he the best there is right now ? :rolleyes:

[fazman]

Rio for me is the best centre half in the world controlled on the ball and a rock in defence a true united great.

[Jazz 16]

Future United captain, hopefully future England captain.
he put on a performance of the highest calibre tonight.
Made a mistake in the first minute but after that he won
every single ball. He was a rock and was huge when Vida
went off. Rio is one of our most consistent players this season
if not the most consistent.

[fazman]

Future United captain, hopefully future England captain.
he put on a performance of the highest calibre tonight.
Made a mistake in the first minute but after that he won
every single ball. He was a rock and was huge when Vida
went off. Rio is one of our most consistent players this season
if not the most consistent.


correct for once mate rio is a mega star for me a better leader than giggs

[United_OG]

world class defender. Great to have him!

[Fergaiste]

Future United captain, hopefully future England captain.
he put on a performance of the highest calibre tonight.
Made a mistake in the first minute but after that he won
every single ball. He was a rock and was huge when Vida
went off. Rio is one of our most consistent players this season
if not the most consistent.


Have to say jazz you have converted me from a much earlier post. Rio you said at the time was the natural successor to Neville as captain and with his performance tonight I couldnt argue with that .An absolute stonewall at the back shows he is now playing with great maturity and concentration.

Bring on Boro on sunday!

[jd_united]

I've always thought Rio had the potential to become a top class defender, and I think he is one of the best in the world. Being captain on a more regular basis I think has helped him mature and helped take his game to another level. This season he has been top class.

When Rio plays with confidence and concentration, there aren't many better defenders around. He is quick, strong, athletic and a big lad. Not many strikers get the better of him.

Let's hope he get's this new contract signed and sealed quickly, unlike the last one, and look forward to Rio being at the heart of our defence for many years to come.

[Red Devil]

Ok, I can be cynical but I think Rio and Wes are playing for bigger contracts - but I hope not! They have been classy lately, lets hope it continues

[geoffraffe]

I don't think it's fair to keep bringing up the past for the bloke. In the past three seasons he's become a HUGE player for united. Last season Vidic took the headlines but this season Ferdinand has upped his game and proven what a great player he is.

I think it's time to forgive and forget the last contract fiasco. Rio's red true and true, so lets give the guy a break and acknowledge his outstanding talent.

[akash_reds]

good that he is with us.....he is a rock in defence and he is great going forward......which is surprising....anyway...he is a great player and i wish him all the best in his career...hope he retires at united too

[carlyluvsunited]

correct for once mate rio is a mega star for me a better leader than giggsJazzy is always right ... :mad:

Rio IS the next England Captain ...

How can Capello choose anyone else ?

I think Rio has improved by 10 times in the last 3 years ...

Is he the best in the World - Hmmmm ... maybe ... ;)

[sparkic]

Rio is world class. Brilliant and best thing he is consistantly performing well. Him stepping up to the plate after Neville got injured has impressed me loads and for me he is the best cb in the world at the moment. Even my liverpoo mates say Rio is doing very well and they dare not mention the Carragher > Rio argument anymore lmao

[nigelchin]

i agree. rio has really improved. and the way he has carried himself as captain, really impresses me. he is like gallas in a way. one of the older player in a team of youngsters. just one thing, gallas tends to lose his temper easily, unlike Rio. remember birmingham in the last minute?

that say, rio is a class act. he's been very consistent this season too. also, he contribute with goals too. look at the one he got against newcastle. and its really good news that he said he wants to retire at united. thats great, he can help mentor pique along too.

[yangch0000]

he is having a wonderful season, no doubt about that.
he can be united great if he continues his form

[nigelchin]

yup definitely. and he scored against liverpool a few times already during his time here. makings of a united legend. (:

[jkwan]

rio did all the work last night and o'shea didn't do anything..

[Lucky7]

He made Great Apperance last night and He Deservs to Be England's Captain...

[versa]

This thread is a clear winner because there will be no detractor. Er.... maybe not because I have not yet asked a new young member here. [Jk only.:D;) ]

Rio certainly deserves all the accolades and attributes, and fully deserves too his captaincy for England and for United yesterday. He is playing better and better of late. Gone are the earlier part of the season when he was occasionally guilty of some carelessness or lapses of concentration.

In yesterday's game, despite Vidic having suffered a freak injury, Rio marshalled the defence superbly and was a monster. He was here, there, everywhere, mopping up after his fellow defenders, filling in any gap, and intervening decisively with precision and class. He just could not put his foot wrong. That was how immense he was for us that enabled us to withstand the first fifteen minutes of relentless onslaught from Roma in the second half.

So another clean sheet, another important victory. In fact, Rooney paid tribute to the awesome defence too, no doubt an important factor for our proud (and rare) away victory in a CL quarter final.

Wonder if we have any song or chant for Mr Fantastic, black eye or not...



P.S. On a side note, thought Evra was not himself yesterday. He seemed pretty distracted and was caught at seas on a few occasions. Hope it is not the contract.

[Wazza1989]

Rio has been outstanding last nigt..incredible....if he keeps playing like this..Van der Sar shouldn't be worried...great game...great result..good work Rio...you looked like a true captain last night!

[Jazz 16]

I don't think it's fair to keep bringing up the past for the bloke. In the past three seasons he's become a HUGE player for united. Last season Vidic took the headlines but this season Ferdinand has upped his game and proven what a great player he is.

I think it's time to forgive and forget the last contract fiasco. Rio's red true and true, so lets give the guy a break and acknowledge his outstanding talent.

Excellent post, your 1st one and all ;)
Rio will play out his career at United and become a legend, Im sure of it.
He has had his problems but they were in the past.


RD-you are being very cynical. They play for the best team in the world.
You think they are only playing well for an extra 10 grand??? rubbish they
would play great regardless as they are true professionals.

C-thanks for havin my back ;)

[fazman]

Jazzy is always right ... :mad:

Rio IS the next England Captain ...

How can Capello choose anyone else ?

I think Rio has improved by 10 times in the last 3 years ...

Is he the best in the World - Hmmmm ... maybe ... ;)

and you are always right to carly is this the perfect women everyone

[abojodeh]

last season he improved and i hope he will be our next captin at united and england
he is better than terry

[Red Devil]

and you are always right to carly is this the perfect women everyone

Are you a stalker? :mad:

[fazman]

Are you a stalker? :mad:

nah mate love the reds as does she and she is stunning so why not let her know i think that

[Red Devil]

Because you have been doing it for a while ....................

[RedForceRising]

The Herald 02 April 2008
Frank Malley
The headlines were all about Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. No arguments there. Ronaldo's courageous headed goal in Manchester United's 2-0 victory at Roma on Tuesday night confirmed the Portuguese winger as the most complete and exciting player on the planet.

It nailed the lie that he could only strut his stuff against the chaff of the Barclays Premier League, while Rooney's performance demonstrated a vibrancy that has been missing of late when he has worn an England shirt.

As brilliant as they were, however, there was an equally impressive aspect of the performance which virtually guarantees United a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Step forward Rio Ferdinand, a man who at last appears to be justifying the faith and fortune invested in him as he hurtles towards his 30th birthday.

Ferdinand was the epitome of defensive responsibility against Roma. Solid and reliable when partner Nemanja Vidic was injured, composed when the Roma storm arrived, alert when a desperate lunge was required to prevent Philippe Mexes from scoring. It was not before time.

The truth is that when history comes to judge the contribution of Ferdinand to the English game, many of the chapters will be heaving with frustration.

So adept was he at carrying the ball and reading the game as a youngster at West Ham that he was dubbed The new Bobby Moore'.

That is a heavy burden to carry and too often he has spoilt his undeniable natural talent with lapses of concentration on and off the field, the most serious of which culminated in his eight-month ban for missing a drugs test. Ferdinand was in need of a few decent headlines. And he followed up a dignified outing as England captain against France last week as he lead by example while wearing the United armband in Rome.

Ferdinand at last seems to have got the message. Greatness comes from accepting responsibility, not just in your own behaviour and performance but by inspiring those around you to raise the level of their game.

That was the secret of Bobby Moore. And while Ferdinand will never reach the heights of England's best-loved footballer and arguably the world's best ever defender, the similarities no longer appear so absurd.

The fact is that while football has never seen more change, the essentials remain the same. For all the swashbuckling charisma of Ronaldo and Rooney, the foundations for a team's success are laid in the quality of the defence. By men such as Ferdinand, Vidic and athletic full-back Patrice Evra.

United, with 68 goals to date, are the highest scorers in the Premier League this season but they also boast the meanest defence, having conceded just 15 goals, eight fewer than next-best Chelsea.

That is why Sir Alex Ferguson was buoyant after the Roman conquest. Not just by the result and two away goals, but by the knowledge that his side is consistently solid and maturing with perfect timing.

[yangch0000]

Because you have been doing it for a while ....................

come on, i am sure all the guys here love to have a woman who loves utd as much as we do