Sep 07
Much Ado About Ferdinand, And Some Loads of Ballacks
One of our readers, JB, pointed me out to this article by Oliver Holt. The ‘bloke’ at Soccerlens also wrote about it, but since I found it interesting myself, I thought I would also contribute to the clutter.
Oliver Holt, of course, is a fine lad who is a columnist at the Mirror. Although the use of the words ‘columnist’ and ‘Mirror’ in the same sentence might be regarded by many as an odd use of the English language. That doesn’t stop said paper rag from proclaiming Holt as the best Sports Writer in Britain. But prejudices aside, the article had enough in it to warrant a retort of some kind. In that respect, well done Mr. Holt.
Now this wouldn’t be full blooded nit-picking on my part. I will credit where it’s due. The comparisons, examples he brings out are quite tenuous really and there are just a couple of facts in his article that ring true. One of them was Rio’s frequent lapses in concentration, and the other being Rio not having realized his true potential – out of which I wouldn’t really accept the latter fact entirely.
So let’s move on to his article and pull out our surgical tools:
Hoddle saw Ferdinand’s ability on the ball as the key to the classic sweeper system he hoped to implement.[...]Ferdinand moved to Manchester United and somewhere between then and evading a drugs test, he had all the adventure beaten out of him. Ferguson might give his forwards and his midfielders free rein to express their glorious talents but his defenders defend.He’s still a fine player in many ways. He won a league winners’ medal with United last season after all.
But he’s lost what made him special. He’s lost what made him different. The system chewed him up and spat him out as an Average Joe. He’s a stopper now but his heart’s not in it. Just because he doesn’t get forward in open play any more hasn’t stopped him losing his concentration. He was poor against Germany in England’s last game and even in United’s colours, he is looking increasingly slipshod.
Agreed, Ferdinand is very comfortable on the ball and so on and so forth. But this article takes a (veiled?) shot at United and Ferguson for not letting Rio come into his own. Apparently his game has gone backwards ever since he put on the United colours. There are reasons why he didn’t perform to Holt’s high expectations in United colours. Defences work in partnerships, and until the arrival of Nemanja Vidic – a player who is an uncompromising centre half, who prefers to stay back – we were really struggling to have a reliable partner to Rio who would give him the sort of assurance, he needs, to bring the ball out of defence and move forward. In the 05/06 season the lack of really good partners – Wes Brown was settling in after a bad injury layoff – was a problem for Rio and he had many lapses such as the comical one when Blackburn defeated us 4-3, among others.
In the 03/04 season he, and United, was doing quite well before the missed drugs test, following which we lost our way in the league too. In England colours, which is Holt’s main concern anyway, he was by far the better defender than John Terry in the World Cup. It must be noted that Holt is using recent cases to further his argument. The Germany game, some moment in the Spurs game. That, according to him, seems like enough reason to call him a waste of a talent. It seems enough to mask the fact that he has been mostly without much fault helping United win the title with among the best defensive records in the league.
It is rather unfair on Rio, be it his alleged demand for a major pay rise (which didn’t go down too well with fans) or his performance last season, his contributions seems to go unnoticed. I can remember plenty of crucial tackles he made which was possible because of his excellent awareness and pace that a player like Carragher would have made it seem spectacular because it was a last second lunge. (Honestly Carragher’s awareness and positioning is not a spot on Ferdinand. It’s Carra’s timing in his tackle that helps him out on numerous occasions) For a natural like Ferdinand, such things come so easily that one does not notice when he does good. But when he does have bad days, he becomes ridiculed.
This season (as well as last) he has moved far up field. Holt’s argument that SAF expects Rio to ‘hoof the ball up’ now sounds ridiculously silly. In most games that United have played this season, it’s become familiar seeing Ferdinand run so far up the pitch. On a couple of occasions I saw him go up the right flank – Brown, are you listening? – and get in a cross.
Yes, he does have his faults. He has his moments where he loses concentration. We did see that in the Community Shield game where Malouda made him look silly. Or in the Portsmouth game last season. But mostly he has an assured air about him that for England at present makes him easily the better defender than most other candidates. While Terry’s been great for Chelsea, he hasn’t really convinced on the international stage. Honestly none of the England players (bar Hargreaves) have managed to translate their club form on to the international stage on a consistent basis. The problem lies in the England team itself and the muppet that manages it more than any particular player. A failed 3-5-2 means Ferdinand is crap? Jesus, it’s not football manager, where a formation change just enables you to add that many more attackers or defenders to your side. The players need time to gel.
Holt questions his commitment, which was there for all to see in the interview he gave. Of course, the use of the word catastrophe (if England don’t qualify) was taking it too far.
Anyway, that should be it. Should lay off Holt for now. Untill he writes another column saying Ferguson could have been the Duke of Edinburgh before signing off with the title ‘Best Political Analyst’.
Meanwhile there’s been loads of noise made over what could have been had Ballack signed for us. Well, I would have liked it if he signed, but I really wonder if he would have given us our defensive protection that Hargreaves is now giving us. In Bayern, Ballack was given the licence to attack. He had people shielding the defence for him. That wouldn’t be the case for Chelsea or United. He would come in the way of Scholes (and in Chelsea’s case, Lamps). Anyway, I would be sad if he leaves Chelsea. I’d love him to keep playing alongside Lampard. Keeps the Rent Boys playing boring as shit. Actually, anything that keeps Essien out of the equation. That guy scares the hell out of me (and a player I would have loved to have been at United). Just hope Mourinho never really allows Essien the freedom he affords Fat Frank.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Do you like Rio Ferdinand?
- Man Utd v Tottenham: Preview
- Future Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand named England skipper
- Rio Ferdinand to setup football academy in Uganda
- The Karim of the Crop?
Tags: Opinions/Columns
September 7th, 2007 at 11:25
Spot-f**king-on.
Great article. I would love to see Rio retire from the England setup. That would pave the way for the people’s favourite defensive partnership of Terry and Carragher. We’ll see how well these two ‘world class’ defenders do. Of course, it is easy for me to say so, because I don’t like England.
The article is also completely and absolutely correct w.r.t. Essien. He is one of, if not the best player at Chelski, and I love to see him play in central defense. That probably won’t happen anymore. He is talented, and ridiculously powerful. If he got the freedom that he deserves, he’d be possibly the best box-to-box midfielder in the world.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:59
Oliver Holt also wrote once that Fergie was stupid to go for Rooney and not move in for Bellamy!!! He must be a manutd fan for all we know! You got noticed for writing negative articles, even more if you write crap. He probably won this award because he gets the most responses for his articles for obvious reasons. Also his articles are mentioned in most united forums and blogs.
The point i’m trying to make here is we must stop responding to such crap from him or anyone else because i’m sure he’s just doing it for the publicity and his views are not really his.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:25
Perif: If I’m not mistaken I believe Holt is/was a United fan. Fair play to him though, his job is to shift papers and get people talking which he has probably achieved! An interesting description of Holt from another message board some time ago.
“The problem with Holt is he thinks he’s Brian Glanville but he’s really Sean Custis in a gorrilla suit.”
For me Ferdinand’s true capability is only obvious when he is absent. In 2003/4 the first half of the season our defence looked nigh on bullet proof. Silvestre was amongst the top defenders in the league, Brown and the Nevilles were playing well and O’Shea was coming off the back of a great debut season. Then Rio misses a drugs test and the ENTIRE back line completely falls apart. That is his real strength; his presence enhances the entire defensive unit, bringing an air of calmness and stability that few other defenders in the world can provide. That was what we paid the £30m for.
September 7th, 2007 at 13:15
I concure.
September 7th, 2007 at 14:22
Fully agree with JB.
I think Holt writes shit because shit sells well.
Regarding Ballack/Robben thingie,
not so sure about Ballack (might have been another Veron), but Robben for sure. Imagine having Robben and Ronaldo operating the flanks? Whew!
The biggest regret however remains Essien. We were looking for a Roy Keane, thee he is. I wonder if Fergie can’t unsettle him, the way Liverpool did with Heinze? It’s definitely worth a try.
September 7th, 2007 at 15:32
i dont think essien will ever leave chelsea. was reading a magazine about the EPL men of
the season (got to love the gingers deep interviews!!)and he was quoted as saying he wants to play
out his career at stamford, and just signed a new contract. regarding ballack i would love to see
him head to real, as much as i hate them i just think he deserves the chance to play champions
league football especially as the captain of a national team that was looking like world cup
winning material. i dont know why real didnt make a large offer for the both ballack and robben
earlier. i think chelsea would have bitten. its not as if those rich spainards cant aford to dig
a little deeper.
anyway lads got to get ready to head off to the east coast to go and see tevez in action with
argentina against the good ol socceroos…finally a classy team in aus!!!
September 7th, 2007 at 17:23
classy team sam, argentina are pure shit and the mighty canarinha (brasil to you uneducated people) proved it, by beating them in the 3rd consecutive major tournament final,
September 7th, 2007 at 18:20
i totally disagree wit the article.
1st. the problem with england of late, has never been defensive. in both world cups ferdinad has played in the defensive has been extremly solid. ferdinand was better thn terry in the last world cup. im tired of thm using him as a scape goat, and kissing terry’s arse, as tho he has been the be all and end all of the team.
beckham although nt an outright captain was a better captain thn england, and more influencial.
2nd the problem with englan is the foward line, thy only have 2 world class strikers in owen and rooney. also the attackin impetus and originality is extremly poor. they play a mixture of middlesbrough and chelsea’s football. ie a mixture of maclaren and chelsea
September 8th, 2007 at 9:56
adil mate you are dreaming…yea brasil, is probably the best team in the world despite the average wc, is better but argentina is class. the football they played up to the final of copa america was fantastic to watch. just is a pity that “juan roman the magic man” isnt making an appearance. in a country where ’soccer’ isnt the major sport…or close to it having a team like argentina come with messi, tevez and co..and that money grubbing scouser loving drop kick is a fantastic thing. you people who are lucky enough to watch world class club football live week in and week out enjoy it because for us tv is the closest thing we can get. ive been to europe 6 times now and watched a handful of games live but that only makes it harder to come home and watxh it on tv!! so dont take this away from me!!!!!
September 9th, 2007 at 6:07
Ferdinand’s recent lapses in concentration have been placed in the spotlight and yes, John Terry will have replaced him in the England’s centre back pecking order.
I do not think Ferdinand’s inability to develop into the elegant player Oliver Holt envisaged has anything to do with playing for Manchester United.
United has always adopted an open style of play but defenders are not expected to support the attack. In fact, Manchester United has paid the price for being too cavalier in Europe by playing 4-4-2 and that is why Ferguson toyed with the system of 1 outfield striker only.
If “defenders defend” concept is wrong and that has destroyed Ferdinand’s talent, so be it.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:31
‘canarinha (brasil to you uneducated people’ here why would you call them the canarinha? Make yourself feel smarter than everyone else? Get a life like… call them brazil like every other normal person…
September 10th, 2007 at 19:12
Ballack was better in the bundisliga !