Stats suggest QPR are right to keep Rio Ferdinand benched Richard Dunne is being favoured to Rio Ferdinand at Queens Park Rangers, and his Premier League numbers suggest that is the right call. View image | gettyimages.com Queens Park Rangers saw their capture of Rio Ferdinand in the summer of 2014 make plenty of positive headlines, and rightly so. A man with 81 England caps to his name and a winner of 11 major honours during a successful 12-year stint at Manchester United had numerous options to consider after dropping into the free agent pool. He may now fall into the ‘veteran’ bracket at 36 years of age, but the feeling was that he could still do a job in the Premier League and his vast experience was expected to be a priceless commodity for QPR. Ferdinand has, however, become something of a forgotten figure at Loftus Road. He has slipped out of Harry Redknapp’s starting plans, with another long-serving performer, Richard Dunne, favoured in his place. Some may be surprised to see one of English football’s most decorated defenders picking splinters out of his backside on the bench in west London, but Opta statistics suggest that he has not done enough to earn a place. Total Tackle GAME Won Tackle GAME Outfielder Block GAME Duel Won GAME Total Clearance GAME Interception GAME Appearances Mins Played Richard Dunne 2.77 2.15 1.54 6.77 10.46 2.23 13 1,113 Rio Ferdinand 2 1.75 0.75 4.13 7.38 1.63 8 720 Dunne has said of the competition between the pair: “The manager has signed players, but everyone is having their chance. It’s great to be given the chance to repay the manager's faith in me even though he has options, and to be kept in the team is really good." The former Republic of Ireland international has been looking solid alongside Steven Caulker and helped to lift QPR out of the top-flight drop zone. SEE ALSO: England keeper on why QPR loanee should be embracing move He should expect to keep his place for the foreseeable future as Redknapp will be reluctant to break up a partnership that he has worked so hard to forge. Ferdinand, though, will offer quality cover if required and has offered no indication that he is about to start rocking the boat and question the logic of his boss. Does Richard Dunne deserve to start ahead of Rio Ferdinand?
Has been clear all season but the Sheffield United game season sealed it. He is past it. Looks like he is treading water when he runs and because he is so slow he is scared to commit to tackle's because if he misses it then there's no chance he'll catch them. Redknapp should be ruthless and tell Rio he won't play for us again so unless he wants to leave and find a new club he's effectively retiring him Played 3-5-2 to try and protect Rio. And it's failed. Donaldson should have played last week but with Harry close to retiring he isn't bothered about Rangers future just keeping his old mates sweet particularly one that will be on the media circuit together when they both leave Rangers
The corner flag stood a bet chance of catching Cambell-Ryce for the 3rd goal last week...time to send him to the glue factory.
