QPR manager Harry Redknapp has this week suggested that one of their new star players, Rio Ferdinand would still get a game for Manchester United.
The Manchester United legend was released in the summer and many believe, soccersweep included, that his departure was premature.
Louis van Gaal searched in vain for an experienced centre half to bring composure to a back line which is very youthful and so the decision to offload all three of their great defenders at once – Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand – did a seem strange.
With Luke Shaw coming in we understand the departure of Evra, particularly as United’s workload has been decreased but their absence from Europe this season. Shaw will be a marvellous replacement for the brilliant Frenchman.
We could also see a case for letting Vidic go. He seemed to want a fresh challenge and is most definitely on the wane physically. But, after coming through a few injury pocked seasons at Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand seemed to be at peace with his body ounce more and his new training regime was warding off the niggling injuries that looked, at one stage, to be putting him out of the game permanently.
Rio Ferdinand is the best centre back we have ever seen. Some would take Vidic in his prime over Rio. But while defensive hard men are fairly easy to find, Rio’s talent is incredibly rare.
He was always very quick and still has decent pace in his mid thirties. But, with the youthful legs around him at Manchester United we feel that he could have gone on for a couple of years at Old Trafford – particularly in a system which uses three centre backs.
The quality of distribution from defence this season has so far been poor. Rio would have been the perfect ball player to add composure and quality passing into the midfield. So, while Louis has got most decisions right this season, we feel that Harry is correct when he says:
‘Rio will not be fazed by it at all. It will be an emotional day for him of course, he is an absolute legend at that place and rightly so.
‘Rio is a top professional and he could still get into the United team, absolutely he could,’ said Redknapp.
We agree and we expect him to get a hero’s welcome at Old Trafford this weekend.
Manchester United fans: should Louis have held on to Rio?
utdfan
Sep 13, 2014 at 4:55 am
NO perhaps Vidic but not Rio who was just freeloading off the club. Vidic probably would not have left had he knew that LVG was coming to be manager. Vidic left because he gave up on the stupid Scot as manager.
cyrus wah
Sep 13, 2014 at 10:35 pm
I would have prefer vidic instead to remain at old troufer. But he has already departed, so let us believe in the ones we have available.