01 Mar 2018 03:07:31
I saw a video yesterday of Wright, Danny Murphy and Shearer discussing All time PL team and when talking about CBS they said Rio was better than Vidic or something along those lines, like Vidic looked good because of having Rio alongside him.
So what is everyone's take on this who do you think was better? I think they were one of the best pairings ever for us but I prefer Vidic over Rio if I have to take a pick. Vidic for me is the best defender I have seen play (.
{Ed0333's Note - wow deependra you must be no older than 14
01 Mar 2018 03:20:34
Pressed send before finishing.
Vidic is the best defender that has played for United since the turn of the century, and he was a leader as well and a strong character too. So who is your pick eds Rio or Vida.
P. s I am 21.
{Ed001's Note - Rio. Don't worry about ed0333, when people get as old as he is, they get cranky and like to blame everything on the 'yoof of today'.}
01 Mar 2018 03:31:46
Deep
Rio was a rolls Royce of a defender, regarded as the best in the world when we bought him. As a partnership with Vidic it worked really well but as a player Rio was well ahead. Technically excellent with pace, knew how to defend by staying on his feet and read the game extremely well, Rio was a great central defender when great is a too often used description, yet Rio deserved it. SAF built teams on strong central defensive partnerships and Rio/ Vidic was his best in my opinion although Pally and Bruce were very good. Rio by far the best and oh for him now.
01 Mar 2018 03:38:30
I should add that I go back to Bill Foulkes playing in CD and what a player he was. Jim Holton 6 foot 2 eyes of blue, Martin Buchan another. You will also have missed Jaap Stam another fantastic central defender, all of those every bit as good if not better than Vidic.
01 Mar 2018 05:13:21
No denying Rio's talents but he sometimes looked not much fussed because of his superiority and thus at times lacked concentration, grit and focus. Vidic though less talented gave every ounce of his on the field. That's just my opinion.
Rio could have been even better than he was he was just class above most of his generation.
What's your take on Rio and Vida ed1?
{Ed001's Note - Rio was a far better player, I would take Pallister over Vidic as well. Stam too. Vidic was ok, but he went to pieces at times, there were certain opponents that could destroy him and he would fold against them. Rio was the key to that defence, sometimes he did coast, but he was so good that it was too easy for him at times and that was the problem. However, when he was tested in a game, he would rise to the occasion most of the time, Vidic could get himself in a flap, as he often did against Liverpool when Torres was there. Rio Ferdinand was a class apart and the huge fee paid for him (at the time) was fully justified.}
01 Mar 2018 05:34:46
Stam from whatever little I have seen is like the cross between Rio and Vidic. Quick, Strong, Good on the ball, Good positioning and reading of the game. Vidic lacked pace and wasn't great on the ball.
But when you talk about these defenders from past you realize the lack of quality right now.
{Ed001's Note - defenders were much better in the past because they were taught to defend and read the game defensively. Nowadays they spend all their time learning flicks, tricks and how to pass the ball. There is a lack of balance in the game right now. Too much emphasis on attacking and not enough on the defending. Mind it will probably be the opposite way round in a few years, as it tends to over-adjust when it goes too far one way.}
01 Mar 2018 07:23:42
Guys yoyr clearly forgetting about Prunier! What a player!
Rio was awesome. A unit of a man that could outpace most strikers. His positioning wasnt great but his pace usually got him out of any trouble. He would have been captain for years if he never messed us around with contracts early on. Fergie wouldn't officially give it to him.
Vida wasnt technically great but had the heart of a lion and you knew he always gave 100%. Like Redman said Bruce and Pally (Daisy and Dolly! ) Were very similar. Bruce the no nonsense and Pally swept up with pace. Yip Jaap was a monster. Pace, power and won everything. Just couldn't keep his mouth shut! It was ok as we got Blanc on his zimmerframe.
Its weird though. I mean I've just turned 31 and was chatting to an 18 year old in the pub the other day. he's never really watched Cantona, Robson, Schmeical etc. couldn't get my head round it! I gave him some homework assignments from 1955 onwards. Learning the history of the club made me fall in love with it. But I suppose i'm one of the old boys now who harps on football was better back in my day! Turning into Redman! ha ha.
01 Mar 2018 08:26:50
Rio was far better than vidic and ed is right so was stam and pallister.
Back then defenders where allowed to defend tho.
01 Mar 2018 09:17:08
Paul mcgrath was better than them all but never proved it at united because he was an alcoholic. Stam then rio for me.
{Ed001's Note - McGrath! What a player he was despite having no knees!}
01 Mar 2018 10:22:39
Best I've ever seen ed001. Bryan robson said he was the best player he ever played with and the best player he ever played against.
{Ed001's Note - he was sensational.}
01 Mar 2018 10:33:53
Stam was an amazing defender and pips it over Vidic for me. Vidic was one of my favourite players but he did often struggle against strikers with serious pace such as Torres. But Rio is the best for me. So good on the ball as well as a proper defender. Would be worth £80-90m in today’s market. Would be the perfect defender for a pep system. We have in a way kind of replaced Vidic with bailly. But we have never replaced Rio. Perhaps Lindelof can with his ball playing abilities but he is streets behind Rio in his defensive capability at the moment. But I think he has the talent to be a very good player for us.
{Ed001's Note - 80-90? And the rest mate. He would be a 100m+ player I think.}
01 Mar 2018 11:04:53
Yeh your probably right ed!
{Ed001's Note - I always am ;-)
01 Mar 2018 11:48:47
Stam was an exceptional player for United, pure class. Pity he fell out with Fergie. Now I'm not saying he was the best or anything like but he often gets over looked but he was a brilliant defensive player for us: Ronny Johnson. Cool as a cucumber, tough and could play a bit as well. Very underated in my opinion.
Glad someone mentioned Mcgrath. Top player. One of the best readers of the game I can remember. I used to love watching him play. Hard as nails as well. A great player at United.
01 Mar 2018 12:06:37
Torres made mincemeat of Vidic. Ferdinand was better, Vidic was very good but appeared better than he was thanks to the players around him.
01 Mar 2018 13:31:09
Yellow,
We are all hard as nails when we have had a few drinks haha.
We have been lucky to have such great centre backs over the years, I do think Stam and Johnsen are underrated when people talk about our best defensive partnerships, perhaps because we had May and Berg as well stepping in, it seemed like Dolly and Daisy played every week back in the 90s. I know Pallister played every minute of every game in the 93/ 94 title win which wasn't repeated again for almost 20 years.
Rio absolutely amazing on his day, probably was the best of the lot, Vidic not far away and would probably be in the top 3 best ever at most clubs but we have had such great ones he probably doesn't make the top 5.