yes, it's been a while since last saturday, and this is my first chance to post since.
So, on to matters of Rio.
Went through the irish and english papers last sunday.
English: "below par performance", "not at his best"
"struggling to find his best from"
Irish:
"at fault for 2 of the goals" "how the fans aren't crucifying him for taking 100k a week.." "Roy must look at him in disgust on the pitch"
Now, we all know which one is accurate, but how how how do grown up, journalists with college degrees, and some experience in matters of sport conveniently avoid/ignore the fact and incontrovertible eveidence that he is in fact shit? Consistently shit at that.
The "Dilemna" for Sven on which centre backs to play? Come on!!!
Terry, Cambell, King maybe - but Rio????? Tony Adams surely must have a shout at this rate - even Gary Breen must be looking for English ancestry.
He even has his 'supporters' on this board - not mentioning names, but you know who you are! Blinded by red devotion methinks. Get yer heads out of yer arses - if he's shit, he's shit. Whoever he plays for.
Someone please back me up here:
Liverpool fans: Garcia, Traore, Kewell ?
Arsenal: Lauren a liability? Pires a temperamental nonce?
I'm sick of losing sleep over this! - I just need someone to confirm what we ALL know.....
The words "get over it" spring to mind
First of all, who gives a fuck about Engerlund and Sven.
Secondly, it's the second time in a few days a non man United fan has started a thread about Rio, who EVERYONE here agrees was crap at the weekend, i said it myself in the last thread, and i'm one of the people who you are probably saying has blind devotion (i've always said United need him and he has steadied their defense overall)
This blind devotion thing is also nonsense, i've previously criticised him with a big thread over the summer for stalling on his contract and i admit the guys concentration has been not always up to par.
Read these threads closely and you will also find United fans like Rolo and some more don't rate him and this is fair enough. It's hardly blind devotion from them is it?
As someone who does rate him though i'll say what i think
Yes, he cost 30 milion but was that his fault?
Why are non Manchester United fans so obsessed with Rio and all things United?
Where are all the Sami Hypia threads?
The words "get over it" spring to mind
First of all, who gives a fuck about Engerlund and Sven.
Secondly, it's the second time in a few days a non man United fan has started a thread about Rio, who EVERYONE here agrees was crap at the weekend, i said it myself in the last thread, and i'm one of the people who you are probably saying has blind devotion (i've always said United need him and he has steadied their defense overall)
This blind devotion thing is also nonsense, i've previously criticised him with a big thread over the summer for stalling on his contract and i admit the guys concentration has been not always up to par.
Read these threads closely and you will also find United fans like Rolo and some more don't rate him and this is fair enough. It's hardly blind devotion from them is it?
As someone who does rate him though i'll say what i think
Yes, he cost 30 milion but was that his fault?
Why are non Manchester United fans so obsessed with Rio and all things United?
Where are all the Sami Hypia threads?
Getting a bit paranoid Steve? Were 3 Liverpool players not mentioned at the start of the thread? And at least Hyppia had the excuse of being ill, what was Rio's excuse? Surely he isn't just chronically over-rated?!?
yes, it's been a while since last saturday, and this is my first chance to post since.
So, on to matters of Rio.
Went through the irish and english papers last sunday.
English: "below par performance", "not at his best"
"struggling to find his best from"
Irish:
"at fault for 2 of the goals" "how the fans aren't crucifying him for taking 100k a week.." "Roy must look at him in disgust on the pitch"
Now, we all know which one is accurate, but how how how do grown up, journalists with college degrees, and some experience in matters of sport conveniently avoid/ignore the fact and incontrovertible eveidence that he is in fact shit? Consistently shit at that.
The "Dilemna" for Sven on which centre backs to play? Come on!!!
Terry, Cambell, King maybe - but Rio????? Tony Adams surely must have a shout at this rate - even Gary Breen must be looking for English ancestry.
He even has his 'supporters' on this board - not mentioning names, but you know who you are! Blinded by red devotion methinks. Get yer heads out of yer arses - if he's shit, he's shit. Whoever he plays for.
Someone please back me up here:
Liverpool fans: Garcia, Traore, Kewell ?
Arsenal: Lauren a liability? Pires a temperamental nonce?
I'm sick of losing sleep over this! - I just need someone to confirm what we ALL know.....
wasnt a similar thread already created about this topic?
For the record Rio is a fine defender in many areas, but is over rated by the media.However, compare united's record with and without him and I think you'll find we're far better off with him
yes, I am guilty, - a thread was created for last saturdays performance. It just doesn't do justice to the overall concept. Far too specific.
Kinda like a "ferdinand has 8 below par seconds in 2 matches costing 3 goals thread"... and so on!
"united's record with and without him "
- united's record with Bryan Robson or mark Hhughes etc....hmmm, they didn't win many league titles, that must mean they were shit....
And for the record - this is not an anti united, or an anti-united player thread. It's an anti-Rio thread.
Obsession works both ways!!! ...only some variations are blind.
I'm just wondering should I rest until a united player happily stands up and says:
"I, being of United mind and body, do declare Rio Ferdinand Esq, whose exorbitant wages I help pay with my loyal support, to be the mother of all disappointments, in his specific role as central defender, regardless of any transfer fee bequeathed upon him by said club or any other club."
the rio debate revolves around (yet again) the british media hyping up a half decent player to ridiculous levels.
rio is a good defender and as a footballer i have a good deal of time for him,as stevie and others have said as a whole united are stronger and more solid defensively with him on the pitch.
as for rio the person,i think he is an ungrateful selfish prick typical of the modern footballer.
rio has many strengths such as his pace and hes comfortable with the ball at his feet - i just wish to fawk he would attack a ball every now and again!
every player has their strengths and weaknesses, and as they go through their careers they try to improve and eradicate these weaknesses - rio will be 27 in november and has his best years still ahead of him.
i expect him to continue to get better and having signed his new contract i look forward to united benefiting over the next few seasons.
__________________
And now i know how Joan of Arc felt,
As the flames rose,
To her Roman nose,
And her iPod started to melt......
Yes, i agree he should attack the ball more too. I thought the Damien Duff goal was a one-off last year but Blackburn and Fulham scored similar goals lately which he should have learned from.
Good point about the English media, which the likes of Rio et al use to their own benefit all the time too; in fact, Rio has come out in the papers today saying he is sorry and will put his form right etc etc etc blah blah
One final thing about his personality (of which i'm in general agreement with most of ye here), In this months United We Stand someone made the good point that Rio personally met with United fans last summer who were berating him about his contract. The writer (normally as cynical as anyone) observed that not all players would be willing to actually go and talk to these fans in such a situation. The Rio's of the world are genearlly sadly far removed from the people who pay their wages these days and in this respect i agree with the critics.
The bottom line though is his performances and while i agree with some of Dirtyfingers observations about Saturday, sometimes i think the fact that it's Rio blows it out of proportion.
With regard to Man United fans most of the ones on this forum have never been slow to criticise the players/manager/tactics/club and that's the way it should be.
And there goes me bumping the thread even more...........!