This United squad stronger than the 1999 one - Fergie

Stam was a much better defender than Ferdinand has been.

Ferdinand has done well for us, but I've always felt he was carried a little by Vidic throughout his best days with us.

Ferdinand has been known to loose concentration quite abit over the years, which I feel has held him back from getting to Stam or Vidic's level

 

You could say that about any defender.

 

Stam was great. Big, strong, comfortable on the ball and rarely did players beat him for pace. Great player.

 

True, Ferdinand's a great reader of the game, imagine those 2 in our defence today.

 

Would prefer Stam over Rio though just probably. Vidic plus Stam would scare the hell out of most forwards. Heading ability defensively and attacking would be 2nd to none.

 

We would keep clean sheets in every game if we had those 2 in our defence.

 

Dunno about carried by Vidic, but the two of them definitely complemented each other very well. As with all good CBs, the partnership is often better than the individual.

 

Have to agree with this. Vidic the all-action man, while Ferdinand the thinking type. Vidic-Stam combination might be like the Pepe-Ramos type, too much action, too many fouls and red cards.