No idea. He wasn't really rated by anyone early on his career. I remember on Match of the Day once when he was at Leeds, whoever the pundit was ripped it out of him saying he could only react to things after they'd gone wrong and not stop them from going wrong before they went wrong. Basically said he'd never make it as a top centre back.
He was capped by England a few days after his 19th birthday. Leeds broke the British transfer record to sign him when he was 21. Manchester United (Sir Alex Ferguson) broke the British transfer record to sign Ferdinand when he was 23. Or were you referring to his football career when he was in nursery school.
But then he was undoubtedly a top centre back and his ability to anticipate and prevent dangerous situations developing was one of his top assets. So all that proves is that he was underrated by pundits at the start of his career...
I'm not saying that it was me who didn't rate him. I've always thought he was very good. I just remember him being slated on Match of the Day once. Why are you defending him so aggressively? Chill out dude.
Well, it proves that one pundit was a numpty yes. I remember it as it was just so wrong. Rather like the David Batty penalty commentary. Memorable because it was so wrong.
You're talking nonsense. You said he wasn't really rated by anyone. Now you're saying what you meant by that was some pundit once criticised him on MOTD. Good to get an insight into where your football wisdom comes from. Saturday night highlights and Mark Lawrenson. Hardcore.
Don't worry... I'll regularly start using your feedback and opinions to better inform my footballing views. Oh no, that's right... I won't... because you're a fanboy.
No mate, you're better off taking everything you hear on MOTD as gospel! They must have said something nice about Sol once!
If I were to pick an all time premier league centre half partnership, not just United in the premier league, them it would be Stam and Ferdinand. Says it all for me, he just shades out Pallister (don't laugh, he was one massively underrated player). Ferdinand was an excellent centre half at his peak and would have formed a superb partnership with Stam, he is the one who made Vidic look better than he actually was. If anyone was over rated, it was Vidic. Got to laugh at Sol Campbell, who was extremely limited at best. Adams and Terry are/were both great players though.
No, I get exactly what you were saying Cini I think that's half the problem. Ppl when they talk about being underrated or overrated are either talking about the opinions of fans, or pundits, or both. Your point is he was underated by pundits early on. The fact he was picked for England or bought by Leeds or United doesnt come into that. What I dont get is how some on here claim he is overrated. Overrated by who????? Seems to me they mean United fans. But thats stupid bcos you could apply that logic to Terry with Chelsea fans or Adams with Arsenal fans. In fact one Chelsea fan comes on here saying a United fan is overrating Rio by arguing that Terry was better. The irony in that comment is unreal. Anyway I think we'll be bloody lucky to find anyone like Rio in this transfer window. That says it all really.
I think he's overrated by anyone who says he was the best defender of his generation/the PL era, be they pundit or fan of any club. Just because the current crop of young defenders are far worse doesn't change that for me.
Yeh but you could apply the same logic to Terry, Adams and a few others. Do you call them overrated too? I doubt it.
I do consider Terry the best defender of his generation/PL era, so for me he's not overrated by those who say that.
Whereas I don't. So by your argument bcos I believe you (and anyone else) says he's the best must mean he's overrated. All in all a pretty pointless contribution tbh. You could apply that about any player.
As much as any individual opinion is pointless, which was all I offered. Sort of the point of a football forum.
