Aug 07
Do you like Rio Ferdinand?
I read somewhere this morning that Rio Ferdinand was unpopular with Manchester United fans.
Now I don’t pretend to speak for all fans (and I regularly disagree with a majority of red devils) but I’d say that that as a player Rio is one of the more respected members of Manchester United.
Fellow fans may disagree, so I’d like to put these questions out to you guys:
1) Do you like Rio Ferdinand?
2) Do you think Rio Ferdinand is popular amongst Man Utd fans?
Let me know what you guys think.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Rio Ferdinand to setup football academy in Uganda
- Future Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand named England skipper
- Et tu, Rio?
- The Rio Ferdinand Situation
- PFA Players Shortlist: Where’s Anderson, Rooney and Rio
Tags: Manchester United Players
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
I should add that I’m a big fan of Rio Ferdinand – and I couldn’t give two fucks about what he does in his personal life as long as he keeps defending the way he did in the last few seasons (which has been quite good, mind you).
Like?
0 
0
Fans were left with sore taste at the time of contract negotiations but am sure Rio hasnt looked back since … last few season’s performance and leadership on the pitch …
Surely Luv him
Like?
0 
0
Well for me, I feel Rio Ferdinand is a
good defender.I remember few seasons ago
when he was suspended for drug abuse how
manchester united backline suffered as a
result from that.No doubt he makes some
mistakes at times but he still is
reliable.As for being popular among red
devils, when he came back after his
suspension his name was regularly chanted
in old trafford for the first few games
to show what he means to the fans and
squad.
Like?
0 
0
I’m a Leeds United fan & I’ve got a simple answer to question one …. No.
Like?
0 
0
A.) Never been his biggest fan since his ‘contract negotiations’s, but as long as he keeps doing the business on the pitch, I’ll allow him to stay.
Like?
0 
0
Of course I like him. Great player,
seems like a lot of fun to be around,
respected by him teammates. He’s far
and away the greatest defender we’ve
had for quite some time, IMO.
Like?
0 
0
I think the interesting thing in the post is the difference between ‘like’ and ‘respect’. I definitely agree he is one of the best defenders in the world, and respect his abilities, both as a player and a leader – him and Rooney should be captain and vice captain in-waiting. However, he doesn’t fill me with any kind of warm glow and very rarely makes me smile when I see him interviewed. And I too am a little synical about him since the contract stuff. Does this mean I don’t like him? Not sure.
Like?
0 
0
a good player but has some lapses in concentration, when people ask me who my faviourite united players are, rio ferdinand doesnt spring to mind but nonetheless he is a good defeder.
Like?
0 
0
@ Currycricketer,
You got lost or something.
I can understand why you hate him. I mean he only earned £29Million
for your club and they still ended up in the poo!!
Typical Leeds fan. Bitter & Twisted.
Like?
0 
0
yes
Yes
He’s had his fare share of ups and downs but he’s a nice lad to be around(Watch the prank show he did during the world cup airing with his england team mates)search Youtube with “Rio Ferdinand’s Punk’d Episodes”
he defends well has’nt had long injury crisis and frankly who gives a hoot what other fans think of a player in my team .He plays for the team and just what a timing chk this article out on manutd.com
Rio bullish over title defence
And leeds crying babies you’ve given us some good players but u ain’t gifted them us in chocolate wrapper we paid shit amount of money so stop whining
Nice to have u back Ahmed
Like?
0 
0
Would not swap him for anyone, maybe nesta. Rather have rio than terry, why u ask? Basically he is the best technical defender in the world, with two great feet and with age his concentration lapses will disappear.
Man utd fans can criticise him as much as u like, but when he’s not in the team, he is a huge miss. We all saw that against ac milan. The first time i went to old trafford, he was the best player on the park.
Like?
0 
0
yes and yes
He’s one of the best defenders in the world, so he’s indespensable to the team.
About his contract negotiations: it’s not unusual that these negotiations last quite some time. Often it’s just not in the media. Look at Lampard, Terry and the lot in Chelsea… same thing. It’s a thin line between wanting more in appreciation and greed… hard to say when it’s crossed. My point is that Rio’s negotiations were a major story in the English sports press, and practically every one of them biased it against Rio… I doubt any one of them actually knew what happened behind the closed doors.
Be careful what you accept as truth.
Like?
0 
0
Even roy keane had contract negotiations problems at one time i remember, no one went against him. Yes it didn’t do him any good, but he signed at the end, unlike that wanker ashley cole and also good old stevie g who nearly left pool for chelski aswell. He’s here now, and im glad, I still remember that blanc and brown partnership pre Ferdinand makes me creek.
Like?
0 
0
Yep ferdinand is a good defender with plenty of pace and as has terrific technique(his penalty was in the bottom corner).i wish he would be stronger though as he does get pushed around sometimes but overall our defence does need him
Like?
0 
0
I guess the obvious answer is that I like him as a player but he seems like a bit of a self-obsessed prat off the pitch. He gets judged harshly as player because we paid a little over the odds for him but I cannot think of an English defender I’d rather have on the books.
I can’t say I’m too bothered about the contract nonsense. Time heals all wounds and all that. His unpopularity will, if course, be nothing to Gabi Heinze’s should the arbitration panel rule in his favour!
Like?
0 
0
I love Rio. I doubt Manchester United fans dig him. Because they perceive him as lazy. When he is anything but.
Like?
0 
0
any idea when tevez signing will be done?
Like?
0 
0
a little bit off topic Red…:-)
Hopefully he will sign tomorrow… at least that’s what the papers say. If he does, he can play in one of the 2 matches tomorrow, which obviously would be really great.
Like?
0 
0
1)Yes
2)Yes
Sure, he makes mistakes sometimes, but everybody does…
Like?
0 
0
don’t know whether you mean ferdinand the person or ferdinand the footballer but i’ll say i definitely like ferdinand the footballer. brilliant defender and a crucial member of the team, but can be dopey, as highlighted by his eight month absence in 2003/04 which IMO cost us the title that season. great penalty taker too…maybe he should be our first choice penalty taker in regular time so he can get his name on the scoresheet more often; lack of goals being his only major downfall IMO.
Like?
0 
0
yes and yes, people go on about turning against him when he stalled
on the contract signing, but what amazes me hugely is the heinze
situation….jesus christ he wants to leave and join our rivals,
biggest rivals!! and nobody seems to be giving heinze as much
grief as rio did for just stalling on a contract???
Like?
0 
0
he had a bit of a falling out with us united fans during the contract negotiations,
but i think realized his error,
he seems to love united and i would say he is one the best defenders in europe
a big yes, i am a fan of rio
Like?
0 
0
Rio is a great defender. However he is human and certainly not Italian therefore, he is prone to the occasional mental lapse and this lack of concentration can occasionally cost Manchester United. United would be hard pressed to find a better central defender and leader to replace him. Rio is as solid as a ROCK and I as well as most United fans love him to death.
Like?
0 
0
this is pissing me off now, see link:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2645625,00.html
Like?
0 
0
Rio is class. He is playing his best footy for years now he’s teamed up with Vidic. Who cares about his contract “scandal”, its ancient history and his peformances the last few years have showed his commitment. Yes and Yes.
Like?
0 
0
Neutral.
I respect and appreciate that in him, we have one of the best defenders in England – excellent tactically and he plays with a undeniable elegance. We missed him sorely in the CL. We’ll be a poorer team without him, definitely and he’s certain captain material.
The contract negotiations and the missed drugs still rankle though and I cannot deny that that takes the lustre off for me, at least.
Like?
0 
0
Rio will be the next captain of Manchester United. If Hargreaves had come last year, i’d say by the time the captaincy is about, he would have a big shout for it, but this could well be Gary Neville’s last season what with the injuries. Giggs will be too old to take it up, as will Scholes, and Rooney too young (and probably a bad choice). That leaves one player that has been at the club long enough, is english, has the kahunas to do the job, and is guaranteed to be on the pitch if he is fit. Rio Ferdinand.
Like?
0 
0
I disagree with u chris, i dont think rio would be able to lead the team aswell as fellow defender gary neville, imho he is not captain material, rooney on the other hand will have 5 yrs experience in the top flight of football-too young???-and his ‘never give up attitude’ will be an inspiration to others in the team, rooney 4 captaincy after neville, not rio.
Like?
0 
0
damn it if smudge were here, i think it’s gonna be hard to fill the boots of keano, and i think rio dosent cut it. i think it will be vidic, hargreaves or if he shines, tevez. rooney is to agressive for captin- that said maybe rooney could be like keane.
Like?
0 
0
I doubt SAF will appoint Rooney as captain, if a new one was needed from next season. Usually he’d go for a older more experienced played. Remember that experience is not only on-pitch experience but also life experience in general. Rio would be the natural choice following Neville imo, and after Rio, Rooney could step up… or perhaps Hargreaves.
Like?
0 
0
I don’t really know. I’m kind of half and half. I like him because he plays for United but if he was with another team I could see myself really hating him. He is a good defender but is not world class in the Vidic mould. He is a bit overrated because he is English and is a bit arrogant.
Like?
0 
0
well i guess rooney will just miss it on captaincy though i have seen SAF taking care and even read somewhere that he sees rooney as a future captain but until rio is ther ehe’ll lead the side as he is senior vidoc and hargreaves dont stand a chance
Like?
0 
0
indianpunk, hargreaves does stand a chance atchully, your just arogant. anyway, i forgot to mention that i know rio, anton and les ferdinand’s cousin, he told me today that he’s related. and its its true, im an assitent coach at this football thing, and well this, kid has been here for years, and 1 of the head coaches who were thee when this thing started, said that there related, on his father’s side. aparently 1 of the ferdinands came there to watch him(probably anton). you learn something everyday.
Like?
0 
0
Ferdinand is technically a great defender. He reads the game well and is reliable.
reliable. I don’t think he is the kind of player to be popular with
United fans. He isn’t a Gary Neville or Ole Solskjear. He might be
better than them, but he hasn’t got the personality and way about
him.
Like?
0 
0
in two years time wayne rooney will be our captain imho if gary neville retires at the end of this year our captain will be giggs and the rooney, hargreaves is an interesting choice as well but i would still go 4 wayne. rio wouldnt be able to lead the team aswell as say rooney or neville or possibly even hargreaves, tho rio is a good defender,as i said b4, he doesnt strike me as ‘captain material’ rooney, on the other hand, does
Like?
0 
0
by the way on a completely different note, this has been circulating in the papers, apparently SAF isnt going to go 2 either of the matches 2night because his wife is making him help her, as they r moving house. if it is true it will be interesting to c who will manage 1 of the teams (carlos will be the obvious choice 4 1) p.s will tevez play 2night?
Like?
0 
0
I think he is one of the more respected players on the team, but maybe thats because he’s been with us for a while.
Like?
0 
0
oillie, unless he signs in the next few hours, i doubt it. the reserve coach will probably be the manger for 1 team.
i want hargreaves and anderson to play the glentorian(whatever its called)game, so i can see them.
Like?
0 
0
SAF was pretty certain he would play so im not sure
Like?
0 
0
Here’s something on the tevez saga
Like?
0 
0
that ws on te bbc yesterday, the premier league is really getting on my nerves, he hasnt played a single pre-season match(apart from copa), and he could of played today but the premier league got slack and started the paperwork the day before the last pre-season match.
Like?
0 
0
i really hope he plays 2day 4 us alongside rooney, but even if he doesnt i still think he will play on saturday
Like?
0 
0
you ment to say sunday, but your fingers said saterday for some reason,
.
Like?
0 
0
Like?
0 
0
Does tevez need to be registered to play in friendly matches?
He is not registered with anyone at the moment, cause his registration with west ham was cancelled yesterday.
Like?
0 
0
im not sure harry i guess we will find out 2night!
Like?
0 
0
I love Rio. Yes he is prone to the occasional mental lapse. It should, however, noted that for every instance where he endangers the united goal with an episode of momentary carelessness, he makes innumerable game changing defensive plays that few even register because he makes them look so easy. His silky-smooth style is the perfect complement to Vidic’s uncompromising force.
Personally, I could give a toss how many spliffs he smokes in his free time (so long as that’s not the cause of his concentration lapses). As for the contract dispute, who cares? That’s been long resolved. Long gone are the days when footballers played for the honour of wearing the badge. It should come as no surprise to anyone that professional atheletes like money. So do agents and club boards for that matter.
I reckon it’s a bit early to nominate Hargreaves for united captain. He hasn’t even played a match for us yet. The captaincy of the greatest football club of the modern era must be earned through consistent dedication, performance and leadership. I don’t think Owen will have spent the requisite time with the club to earn the armband before Neville retires.
Rio would make a solid case for captain. He has proven his dedication, peformance and leadership. Especially in the last few years.
If it were up to me, Rio would just miss out as the next united skipper and be vice-captain to Wayne Rooney. For me Rio’s approach to football is just too nonchalant too be full-time captain.
This definately couldn’t be said for Wazza. He is only young, but is certainly respected enough by the rest of the squad. His work rate and intrepidity will serve as inspiration to the entire club down through the youth sides for years to come.
Like?
0 
0
got to agree with what some guyz have said, rio is an excellent football but i think he loses his concentration i n the big stage which costs us big,,f.a cup i particular..
Like?
0 
0
Sorry dan if u find me arrogant but seriously dude vidic has just come on top this year u remember the first yr when both of them evra and vidic got a ton of slack and hargreaves lets be honest he still hasnt played first class footy with us yet seeing him as a captain is the last thing of the Red devil fans mind.
And to be honest seniority comes first – though i would have loved to see rooney leading the side now gary/giggs/ole and scholes have last year to lead from the front, next year they’ll be more of subs if their contracts are renewed
And this tevez thing is pissing me off just wanna klashnikov the f%@#ing premier league
Like?
0 
0
lol, but still, we all know what hargreaves can, he’s just as good as keane, but the differnce is that, hargreaves wont brake peoples ankles, and get red cards, he’s never gotten a red card btw, he’s disiplined, and he can displine others, thats why to me he could be atleast vice-captin.
Like?
0 
0