Rio- back to his best
All this as I said being rumours, but I’d be quite a bit disappointed if he did.
Ignore the missed drugs test and the “supposed” chat with Kenyon and Zahavi, and we’re talking about a top drawer player – One of United’s best ever centre backs. And I don’t say that lightly, with others such as Vidic, Stam, Pally, Bruce, McGrath and Buchan are right up there too. If I was to pick a best ever United XI, he’d be very much in contention, while also being part of the clubs best ever central defensive partnership.
The reason I’d be disappointed has nothing to do with nostalgia however. I firmly believe that having Rio on our payroll is an asset. This being not only on the pitch, where he has still got a great, great deal to offer, but in the dressing room and on the training ground. It’s like paying a coach to show our young promising centre halves how it’s done first hand.
Ferdinand is now an elder statesman at the club. He passes his wisdom on to the younger players and by all means sets a good example.
There are players like Jones, Smalling and Evans who certainly look capable of taking the reins in the future, but also players that have a lot to learn. Why not let them learn from a club legend, while he still has it in him. Notably his ability on the ball, positioning, leadership and organisation.
A man that is calmness personified (Not Berba but the good type). His experience, just like that of Scholes, Giggs and Neville in their later years will be vital in title run-ins and against the big sides when you need to perform, while also keeping your head, but don’t get me wrong there; he’s still got the desire of any Manchester United footballer, if not more. Did you see the passion against Liverpool, where Ferdinand and Evra went crashing into each other in an attempt to stop Suarez? That’s shown without any doubt by him on/off the pitch. Just check his twitter feed after a defeat. There are no new updates, I can assure you.
Personality wise, he has to be right up there with Rooney, Giggsy, Scholes and Vidic as the most respected footballers at Manchester United. He’s got a family, he looks after himself and judging by his performance against the Scousers at the weekend, where he didn’t give Suarez an inch – he’s still got it!
I know he’s had his injury problems and will still have some injury problems, but without Vidic as it is this season, he is one of the first names on the team-sheet. What’s to say we won’t have another defensive crisis next season? It’s happened twice in the last three years!
Rio may have been offered a deal in the US, I’m not too sure, but if The Boss still wants him, he’ll be at the Theatre of Dreams next year. And I for one will be delighted because there’s nothing worse than seeing players go before they’ve past their sell-by date. Our former European Cup winning captain has still got the “silks” to carry on playing for the Reds, don’t you agree?
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