The Pod People May Have Taken Rio Ferdinand
By: Taylor Rockwell | August 12th, 2009
What do you get when you combine a team that is notoriously slow to start the season with a defensive stalwart who’s suddenly looking decidedly out of sorts? Answer: A recipe for trouble. And that’s just what Manchester United have, if Rio Ferdinand’s most recent performances are any indicator.
I was willing to write off Ferdinand’s Community Shield performance as nothing more than… well… nothing. It’s a glorified pre-season friendly (says the guy who’s trying to rationalize the loss). It’s an opportunity to get some of the rust off prior to the beginning of the season, so I wasn’t too worried when Ferdinand seemed incapable of communication with Ben Foster or the rest of the defense. I wasn’t worried when he was outrun time and time again. I wasn’t worried when he dove in with clumsy tackle after clumsy tackle. I wasn’t even worried when multiple errant back passes gave Chelsea easy chances. At least, I wasn’t worried when those things happened individually.
However, when the match ended and the parts became whole, our defensive leader suddenly looked a bit vulnerable. Then came England’s friendly with Holland. An opportunity for Ferdinand to really kick it into gear and show he meant business. Which he did… in the Newcastle sense of “business”. He was shambolic. Once again, off the pace. Once again, incapable of adequate communication. Once again (most notably), incapable of completing simple passes.
The most obvious example of this when a VERY poor backpass from Ferdinand directly set up a goal for Holland; an error which Ferdinand promptly made up for by standing in place and watching the counter attack end in Orange celebrations.
Two meaningless matches. Two meaningless performances. Again, nothing to worry about. Until it becomes something to worry about. As the past two seasons have shown, United tend to start slowly. A key to us staying in close matches is a strong defense, and if Rio continues to… ahem… have his head up his ass, we could be in trouble early. Our schedule is relatively light to begin, but I don’t think we can afford silly slip-ups early on in this campaign.
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Comments
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Maybe the day has come and Rio decided to treat football like a job? I mean, like a “job” job? :>
Posted from
Ireland
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Rio just hasn’t shook off the cobwebs yet but I reckon he’ll be back to his best for the league opener….at least I hope so
Posted from
United States -
He’ll get there don’t worry, he’s not about to lose all his ability over one summer.
In other news, Jonny Evans is injured.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
I believe giving up on Pique was Man Utd biggest mistake.
Even though the Ferdinand-Vidic partnership was clikcing back then. I bet pique as a holding midfielder is times better than any alternative Man utd used since Roy.
Now you would have no worries. There is a pique to pull back whenever needed. But as in some other cases, lack of playing time, upset, left.
And hope no one will say he was not ready. He moved to Barcelona, and turned to be a key player in the treble winning team. Whose defence is underrated and outshined by the offense brilliance.
Posted from
Sweden -
well, ramzi, it wasn’t really us giving up on pique. he had outgrown his role as a bench player (as he showed last year), yet he wasn’t good enough to be a regular starter (it’s hard to be a cb on the same team as vidic and ferdinand). mix that with the fact that his boyhood club had an opening, and that is how the transfer was made. united didn’t really give up on him or his abilities, they more just realized that he had outgrown his situation.
Posted from
United States -
True, SP. Thats why I didnt consider not using him as a CB as a mistake. But the foul commited was not using him as a holding mid. Anyone who doubt his quality there only need to watch him next january when he may play the Yaya role in midfield, who will be at the ACN.
I believe its there where Man Utd problem is. A holding mid who can also act as a CB. Specially if Da silva proved being the quality expected on the RB. With him on the right and evra on the left, there is a need for a DM who can act as a 3rd CB while the team is doing the transition from Offense status do defence status. Keeping in mind that most teams will try to hunt Man Utd by counters. Put this kind of players with Fletcher in the midfield, Offer Carrick more comfort to run the show upfront with less defensive contribution needed. With Rooney, Berba, and Valencia/Nani/owen upfront. It will also create a strong platform for both fullbacks to contribute on the flanks at the same time, opening the field. You will always have a 3 CB (2 CB and the pique like player)+Fletcher as 3/1 to guard the space behind.
Andersson is not the answer.
Carrick in my opinion will be lethal playing just behind the offense trio mentioned above, than being a second midfielder with Fletcher in a 4-4-2. Thats the answer for the After-Scholes era.
But may be its only me who do not like the 4-4-2 in principle.
Posted from
Sweden -
An interesting analysis Ramzi, but that sounds an awful lot like Chelsea’s 4-2-1-2-1 (or 4-5-1 / 4-3-3, whatever you want to call it), which I must say I am not a huge fan of. 4-4-2 worked very well for us in 07/08, I don’t see why it can’t work again. You have some great ideas, it just seems a little too defensive for my liking.
But…say we were to do that, who do you see in that role? The name that immediately comes to mind for me is Veloso.
And I think Anderson will be a great player for us. He’s not a goalscorer but he’ll pop up everywhere in an offensive position and he has great vision. He’s only 19 don’t forget.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
wouldn’t it be great if anderson were only 19? sadly, he’s really 21, but that is still young enough to be improving every year.
ramzi, although i’m not doubting that pique would make an excellent DM, i would have to see him there consistently before i make my mind up about something like that. he seems a lot more suited to CB than anything else (although he’s probably one of the better attacking CB’s on the planet)
Posted from
United States -
maybe he’s too busy smokin’ blunts with Fitty Cent to focus on the task at hand ..
Posted from
Canada -
martin, I will never ever never recommend anything similar to anything near chelsea, not even close!
Its not the drawing that makes the tactical structure awful/attractive, or Offense/defence oriented. Its the strategy imbedded in the structure. Inter played 4-3-3, dry, rough, Ibra dependent…But Barcelona also plays a 4-3-3. And believe me, that’s the last team to label as defensive.
It may look defensive because in principle you are investing two midfielders for defensive duties. But that will end up releasing the majority of your players for the offense dance. Its the argument that use everyone for something specific rather than making everyone doing everything.
when the two Fullbacks open the field continuously on both flanks in your opponent third, with no worries as they left 3 CBs Behind. they practically create an advanced line with carrick in-between orchestrating the show, while Rooney and (Owen?) rooming around the opponent box and penetrating inside to receive the fullbacks crosses with Berba camping as a target man (his quality to play with his back to the goal will make Rooney and owen movement toward the box lethal). I don’t see that as a defensive approach. Specially if you push your lines up with the 3 CB camping near the half line and the forward trio making continuous pressure on the opponent defence.
As for anderson, he convince me more as a Box-to-Box midfielder, than being a Holding mid. Still understudy, but his potentials meet more the Box-to-box profile.
Posted from
Sweden -
Steven, remember that time that you sold Xabi Alonso and then Lucas publicly stated that he would carry the team? Remember how hilarious that was…
Posted from
United States -
Who is ready for the start of the season this weekend? Lord knows I am. If I read another story about how “United has been placed on high alert over Ribery / Silva / Neuer” I might barf.
Can’t wait for Sunday! Ordered my new away kit too, went with Hargreaves.
Posted from
United States -
Season preview will be up in a bit…
Posted from
United States -
Yeah can’t wait Colin, and good choice on the kit. I’m getting the exact same shirt, once I get a job!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Lucas can carry the team….well, more their luggage but there’s still carrying involved….
Posted from
Canada
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