Vidic was great but he was a carthorse compared to Rio. The Van Dijk before the Van Dijk. The best of his generation.
UTD Unscripted: We drove each other on | Manchester United
Rio had "never heard" of Vida and didn't rate him when he signed! His story of what happened next is amazing.www.manutd.com
A good piece and insight into what has probably been our best ever partnership in the PL era - Rio and Vidic. I must admit, as a kid when I started watching these two, I simply loved Vidic! He was the tough, no nonsense guy and strikers would be terrified going up against him. It's only later that I came to understand just how classy Rio was - Probably ranks up there as one of the best ever defenders in the PL era. And their partnership was simply perfect.
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Legend Incredible
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Vidic is the definition of an old school, no nonsense defender: Aerially dominant and strong in the tackle. He wasn't however without flaws. He had the pace of Maguire and he was w@nk on the ball. He'd get easily outwitted by more guile, technically opposition ala Torres and Kaka.
Rio in his prime was the very definition of a modern day defender: Great with the ball in his feet and a brilliant reader of the game while being a great defender all round. Personally, I preferred Rio's footballing intelligence and elegance over Vidic's brute strength approach but they complimented each other.
Rio in his prime was the very definition of a modern day defender: Great with the ball in his feet and a brilliant reader of the game while being a great defender all round. Personally, I preferred Rio's footballing intelligence and elegance over Vidic's brute strength approach but they complimented each other.
That's nonsense mate. Sure, Vidic wasn't the fastest. but he is like La Ferrari compared to Maguire. And he wasn't weak on the ball. Again, nothing special, but he didn't need to. Also, find me a defender that wasn't outwitted by prime Torres and Kaka.
But Ferdinand was on a level above I agree.
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The three straight reds in three straight games against us were fun. Someone like Bellamy who was rapid used to run rings round him one-on-one.
But outside of Adamas and Keown, I'm hard-pressed to not agree he and Ferdinand are the PL's top CH pairing to date.
Saw on Twitter:
Zlatan in 2016/17 - goal contribution every 110 mins (35 in all comps)
Lukaku in 2017/18 - goal contribution every 115 mins (35 in all comps)
................... Martial's first season at #9 - goal contribution every 101 mins (33 in all comps, with significantly less minutes than the other pair).
So there's literally 0 drop off in output from the top "traditional" number 9s we've always been hellbent on (in fact, a little better. And he's won more penalties too which should be a more highlighted stat, imo) and he's providing a helll of a lot more for the team with his overall game (ability to provide rotations, his technique/associative game in comparison to Lukaku, his pressure on the ball & pace in comparison to Zlatan, etc.). I don't think I'd consider swapping him for any other striker on the planet bar maybe Benzema or Firmino based on how we want to play.
Zlatan in 2016/17 - goal contribution every 110 mins (35 in all comps)
Lukaku in 2017/18 - goal contribution every 115 mins (35 in all comps)
................... Martial's first season at #9 - goal contribution every 101 mins (33 in all comps, with significantly less minutes than the other pair).
So there's literally 0 drop off in output from the top "traditional" number 9s we've always been hellbent on (in fact, a little better. And he's won more penalties too which should be a more highlighted stat, imo) and he's providing a helll of a lot more for the team with his overall game (ability to provide rotations, his technique/associative game in comparison to Lukaku, his pressure on the ball & pace in comparison to Zlatan, etc.). I don't think I'd consider swapping him for any other striker on the planet bar maybe Benzema or Firmino based on how we want to play.
Theatre of Dreams83
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Angel Gomes close to joining Lille according to Bouhafsi.
And Utd in talkswith various Championship clubs for loan deals for Laird, Garner, Levitt, Kovar.
And Utd in talkswith various Championship clubs for loan deals for Laird, Garner, Levitt, Kovar.
Theatre of Dreams83
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Gomes will straight away be loaned out to Boavista as they have the same owners and Lille can’t guarantee him first team football.
Feel the young lad been poorly advised here!
Feel the young lad been poorly advised here!
Legend Incredible
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Can't say I feel sorry for him. The kid obviously thought he was better than he was asking for first team football ahead of the likes of Bruno and Rashford.
Theatre of Dreams83
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Nope I don’t. Talented lad who was promised a pathway and offered a good contract. But was poorly advised and fecked it all up thinking he would have clubs jumping for him.
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No news of Chong going out on loan. Wonder if this means one or both of Lingard and Periera are leaving this summer.
Theatre of Dreams83
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Just imagine watching this with Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Pogba, Fernandes and maybe a couple more signings ???.
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I'd refrain from judging a player from YouTube highlights. Sancho also does into no man's land often so his decision making could be improved
He's talented but not quite the finished article.
He's talented but not quite the finished article.
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Theatre of Dreams83
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I’ve watched him plenty and seen him live also. Obviously by no means the finished article. But the pure talant and quality is undeniable!
Theatre of Dreams83
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Personally think you won’t hear much about him from now. Shame really.
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Smalling coming back then. Italian clubs are stingy AF lol
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there not stingy its just outside of juv no 1 got any money
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After the season he’s had there and to sniff at the deal due to 3m. Oh well someone will have him off us for more than 12m Roma wanted him for and we will get a buyer for the 15m we was asking them for. Inter now have cash to but. Now with there new owners. Will make the league bit more interesting now.
In other news Bournemouth have also entered the race for Garner on loan
Smalling back for another season is ideal in many ways, perfect option to have in many comps next season and means we don't necessarily need a CB now.
Can focus on other areas and make sure they get done, feel for Smalling but no reason why he can't work his way in to the team anyway.
Can focus on other areas and make sure they get done, feel for Smalling but no reason why he can't work his way in to the team anyway.
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Ehhh, I'd still like a top class CB. Like I've said, Lindelof is a back up CB. Having Maguire and a new CB starting with Smalling and Lindelof as the backups is the ideal situation.
I don't think there is much between Lindelof and Maguire honestly, sure the latter is better aerially but there has been games where Lindelof has been the better of the two. Like take the last game of the season against Leicester, where Lindelof didn't put a foot wrong while Maguire nearly tripped over the ball in his own box. Lindelof doesn't get enough love for me and he's a real good defender on his day.
Am I saying he's perfect and we don't need to improve? Not really but defence isn't the priority, there is nothing in this league apart from Liverpool that has a defence on our level. You say we need another top class CB to partner Maguire..... no I'm afraid we just have to accept that he was meant to be that and isn't it.
Maguire is good enough though right now as our defence has improved. Plus there isn't any CB worth signing now who is that much better and won't cost ridiculous money I'll pass on the likes of Koulibally who has been poor recently anyway.