The point everyone is missing is that ferdinand wouldn't look half as exposed if our dinosaur of a manager were to play the right formation and players in front of him. I do agree that he was the right man for three at the back, but I wouldn't mind seeing ned in there with caulker now that we're playing a four. Isla was a million times worse than Rio!
Isla's a wingback played out of position in a league he has no experience of though, and he's not keeping anyone better out of the team. Rio's played 442 in this league all his life, and is preventing proper club players having their crack of the whip. Re the part in bold- we can't alter our entire formation/lineup simply to accommodate a past-it 36 year old. Who is he, Messi? I'm sure the press would love it though, because apparently Rio's bigger than the club- and we should be ever so grateful to have him.
Defensive lapses aside, I think playing Rio - or Clint for that matter - puts us on the back foot offensively. We have to defend deep simply because we can't risk fleeter players getting in behind them. They just don't have the pace to recover. This, for me, was the reason we didn't have a better go last weekend. We were constantly sat back in the final third. Our only outlets when we got possession were either long balls up to an extremely isolated Austin or hopeful rugby style punts in the direction of the corner flags for Phillips and Hoilet to chase. There was no plan to turn defence into cohesive attack with us going forward as a unit. It has to be Ned and Caulker for offensive and defensive reasons.
How is it there is unaminous agreement that Ned should start. But our management fail us. Why is TF so enamoured by HR? Boyhood crush?
It's way past the time for Rio to give way to Onuha. Ned & Caulker would be the best pairing for a long term solid defensive structure. Even if one was to get injured, I'd bring Clint Hill in ahead of Rio, if nothing else you'd get passion and determination.
Tony was persuaded to give Rio a chance with pressure from Harry. Tony was told to speak with Rio which he did. Rio told him he still had a lot to offer. He believed the bulls**t and let Harry sign him. We should keep away from Man Utd rejects, did the Korean, the Brazilian, or the young English striker we had last year prove to be any good?
Sorry mate but this still spectacularly misses the point. I agree that ferdinand has been at fault for some goals. However, any combination of centre backs will struggle with such an open midfield in front of them. As soon as Henry sat in there we looked far more secure.
Oh sorry I see what you're saying. Still, we played 4 CM's yesterday initially. Even without a CDM, they should've offered enough protection to the defence? We were mainly on top until Barton went off- yet still every time Stoke attacked, the back 4 just melted in front of them.
Great post! We'll be a lot more secure once we've got Ned and Caulker playing, with either Sandro or Henry in front of them. I say 'once' as if this is ever going to happen.
Looks like we'll have to agree to differ mate. I thought we were simply awful in the first half and certainly not mainly on top. I do agree that Barton was our most effective midfielder in the first and we missed him when he went off.
