Rio Ferdinand's QPR team-mates think they are better off without him in the side

Rio Ferdinand's QPR team-mates think they are better off without him in the side





Oct 29, 2014 22:30
By James Nursey


Hoops players want to stick with the Caulker-Dunne centre-back pairing and keep the ex-England regular, who is 36 next week, on the bench



Rio Ferdinand is furious after being hit by a three-match ban for comments made on Twitter.

But Mirror Sport understands some of his Queens Park Rangers team-mates will WELCOME the suspension, as they believe the Hoops' side is stronger without the former England regular.

Ferdinand’s punishment – along with a £25,000 fine – is for using the insulting term “sket” in a social media conversation.

The 35-year-old defender is seething at what he regards as “double standards” by the FA, who are expected to take no action against former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay for exchanging racially insensitive text messages.

A source close to the former Manchester United player said: “Rio is very angry about this. He sees it as one rule for some and another for him.”

Ferdinand will hope to return to the QPR first team after serving his ban but will not find it easy, with a number of their players having lost faith in him.

Some were relieved the veteran defender wasn’t recalled for Monday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa.


Manager Harry Redknapp opted to stay with the Steven Caulker-Richard Dunne centre-back pairing after dropping Ferdinand for the previous game against Liverpool and getting an improved performance in a 3-2 home defeat.

The likelihood grows that the benched former England captain will retire at the end of this season.

Ferdinand was charged by the FA after a Twitter exchange on September 1, transfer deadline

 

Is Rio Ferdinand's QPR ban a blessing in disguise?

The former Manchester United defender won't be available again until the end of November.

Rio Ferdinand is set to miss QPR's next three games after being hit with a suspension and £25,000 fine due to a Twitter comment.

But how much of a loss will the 35-year-old's absence be?

Though Ferdinand will miss games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle, QPR produced two of their most impressive performances this season with the former Manchester United and England star out of the side.

The R's were close to securing a point at home to Liverpool a week and a half ago, drawing level twice in the dying minutes, and even though Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker both conceded own goals, the absence of Ferdinand as the third centre back in favour of the much more mobile Nedum Onuhoa gave a better ability to press when not in possession.
Against Aston Villa last weekend, QPR's second win of the season, Redknapp went with just two centre backs, choosing Dunne and Caulker for the first time this season. Previously, it had been Ferdinand that went with the former Spurs defender, and despite that combination working sufficiently when they beat Sunderland earlier on in the season, they still conceded fewer shots on goal against Villa.

Before those two games, with Ferdinand in defence as part of a central three or alongside Caulker, QPR had suffered five defeats from seven Premier League games, including big losses at Spurs and Ferdinand's former club United.

Ferdinand, who will turn 36 next month, had recently discussed the fact that he is likely to retire next summer, once his one-year deal at the Hoops comes to an end. Dunne is a year younger than Ferdinand, having only just turned 35, with Caulker and Onuoha in their early to mid twenties.

 

Well, the fans can see it so it is no surprise that the players sense it as well.
I guess the only one that can't see it is Harry but he can be excused because he's flat out with weighing tabby Tarbs daily, not to mention media appointments and book tours.

Anyway, hope old Harry can continue to find a way to keep us winning ............... 1-0 against Chelsea at the Bridge will do fine, thanks.

 

Now just hold on one cotton picking minute.................

Rio has been poor at times, but let's not carried away with the idea that all our ills have been down to him!

 

Certainly not all our ills, but it can't be ignored that as soon as he's dropped, we have had our two best games of the season. It's not the only change needed, but is surely one of them.

 

Of course not Col, the whole team has had a dose of it but now seems like an opportune time to flog Rio.
Let's face it, the guy hasn't done anything to help his cause. The book, the proposed retirement, the twitter of late, not to mention the fact that he would never had acted as such if he still was at MU.
Nope, he has come across as anything but showing some urgency on focusing on the team and getting some wins up.

It is almost ( I should wash my mouth out ) .......as if he has morphed into his brother Antons' mode of attitude and ability or is it the curse of playing for QPR. ( turning good players into mutton )
All in all, he is coming across a 'little too casual' for my liking. We need him at 100% committed.

 

We need him gone this ban may have saved him
Chelsea had something in store for him?

 

This has all the markings of a press story. Lets hope it just unifies the team

 

Sorry, but can anyone tell me which player has rated lower than RF this season? Possibly Traore but please let's not kind ourselves that RF has been anything other than 3/4 out of 10 most games.

 

Sorry this is just a journo with a big wooden spoon giving it a big stir. The nearest source quoted is one to RF himself, the rest is idle speculation and analysis by the journo. No where apart from the title does any source claim the assertation of the title. We are all hopelessly addicted like brainless gibbons that encourages this level of gutter-trash. The internet is really full of a load of old rubbish.

 

A Tasty bit of fiction, No Story here, lets move on.

 

Agree, but based on performances, possibly Rio's biggest contribution could be from a coaching/advising role

 

James Nursey is a tw@t.

I don't like him, but his mother was great in Blackadder.

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I don't think Traore has been that bad.

 

I may have been a tad harsh on Traore but couldn't think of anyone else remotely as bad as RF!

 

And here I was thinking it was Harry who dropped him...

 

It's just one farce after the next for you lot.

I don't understand how you can continue to support Redknapp, Fernandes and the other circus clowns that run your club.

You'll not progress while this kind of thing happens on a weekly basis.

 

Perhaps a season long loan to the fake hoops is in order so he can fulfill a boyhood dream and line-up with Anton?

He might actually do okay at that level.

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Anton Ferdinand has yet to make a first-team appearance

Reading FC stars Danny Williams and Anton Ferdinand to return from injury tonight in Under-21s match

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reading-fc-stars-danny-williams-8003476

 

Yes, and it will be even funnier when we're looking over our shoulder at your lot.

 

There is not one named quote to back up this journalists' assumption, it is utter and complete bollox.....