Replacing Rio: United's Options

[The Hitman]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=286930&cc=3436

A piece on Soccernet putting all the options out there on how The Champions are going to replace Rio Ferdinand at centre back. The problem with the piece is that it rules out Fergie buying or loaning in a defender, and only explores options already at United.

So what do you think Fergie will do, and what do you think is United's best option.

I personally feel we can cover Rio's loss ourselves, but with blokes like Hofland and Mexes being sniffed at, maybe we can bring in an immediate replacement (domestically, at least).

Roy Keane is very good from the back, and with Scholesy back in the saddle, perhaps we don't need him in the guts. Perhaps we should put off selling Nicky Butt and play the skipper at centre back?

Wes Brown returns soon, but fitness has to be a query. O'Shea might be too adventurous (especially in Europe), and Neville too incompetent for a continuous run at the centre of defence.

My first option is to bring someone like Mexes in, giving us another young defender, and someone who can be used immediately whose known position is actually at centre back. If that can't happen, then use Keano. The problem with that is that if injuries occur, we might be exposed.

Alternatively, Rio's suspension could be shortened via appeal and United will not be in this quandry.

The Hitman

 

[moomba]

Originally posted by The Hitman
Alternatively, Rio's suspension could be shortened via appeal and United will not be in this quandry.

The Hitman

I've got a feeling that any reduction in suspension will be just enough to rule him out for the season, but allow him to play Euro 2004.

Maybe you can bring Larry White back

Moomba

 

[Dipper]

I'd love it if they tried to play Keane at centre back for the next 8 months, it'd be good just for one game against Henry.

The talk is that Man U are much more likely to sign a striker now, but they've been sniffing round that Van Buyten for a while, so if they're genuinely interested then maybe now's the time to make him an offer he can't refuse.

I don't think Hofland is the player he was, or the player that people thought he was.

As for Mexes he's a gooner.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Personally I think United have enough depth down back to cover for Rio. Fortune is a more than capable left back, Dj-Dj can play right back which means Gary Neville and John O'Shea can both partner Silvestre until Wes Brown is back to full fitness. Options up front need to be assessed first and foremost, if we can pick up someone to play down back then fine, but I don't think it should be a priority.

 

[The Hitman]

I don't buy this talk that we need a striker. If we need a striker so badly, how come we score a hatful of goals? Our midfielders score a lot of goals, and we have one of, if not the best, strikers in both the EPL and world in RVN.

A striker would be good for back-up, but unless Fergioe changes his formation (which he won't - he wants European success), then whoever we purchase will not be a front-liner. Scholes, Giggs, Kleberson, Bellion, Solkjaer and Forlan can all play in the gap behind RVN, so a new signing would have to be pretty good to get straight in.

It's not like we're struggling financially. Why couldn't we get a striker and defender? We're not friggin' Leicester! We don't need to break transfer records this month; we just need to pick up quality that can cover injuries and possibly develop into first team players.

The Hitman

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I wouldn't break the bank for a striker either. But the fact remains that too much is put on Ruud, and with the amount of games being played over the next few months someone else needs to be brought in, along the lines of Defoe or someone like that. United are scoring enough goals as it is, true, but you never know what will happen down the track and a good squad needs adequate depth up front, which United don't have.

I'm not against buying a defender either, and I think Fergie will probably be on the lookout for defensive cover too this month. I just think if anything, United need to look up front first, because there is still enough to cope without Rio down back, even allowing for injuries. Up front they can't allow for injury.

 

[Nandrolone Stam]

If Ruud gets injured, we've got issues.

Diegoal and Bellion are not target men like Ruud is. Neither is Ole for that matter, but he seems destined for the right wing when he returns.

I'm not convinced on Saha, even less so at 15 million. I would rather buy quality (even if they are cup-tied) than a stop-gap measure.

The way I see it, we may not need a defender, but a lot of that depends on Wes Brown being able to play without injuring something.

 

[Weaver]

United have seemingly switched to the 4-2-3-1 formation that the Spaniards like. Arsenal as well for that matter.

They have Keane, P.Neville or Butt to play as the two deeper midfielders. With Scholes, Giggs, Solskjaer, Kleberson, Ronaldo, Forlan and Fletcher all able to play as one of those 3 attacking midfielders you wouldn't have thought they would need another option.

Finding an understudy for RVN will be tough. It is hard to find someone who is good enough to play as the lone striker, but prepared to be an understudy, is hard work.

Defence though was a problem before Rio got banned. Particularly if P.Neville continues in midfield. They would really only have 5 guys for 4 positions (G.Neville, Brown, Fortune, O'Shea, Silvestre) and most of those are natural full-backs.

 

[BT]

Originally posted by Weaver


Finding an understudy for RVN will be tough. It is hard to find someone who is good enough to play as the lone striker, but prepared to be an understudy, is hard work.

Who's doing that job in the reserves?

 

[Slax]

Everyone seems to forget that in the appeal process Rio can still play. I think Man U will drag it out and wouldn't be surprised to see it end up in court.

 

[Dipper]

Originally posted by Slax
Everyone seems to forget that in the appeal process Rio can still play. I think Man U will drag it out and wouldn't be surprised to see it end up in court.

Under FIFA rules if they challenge it in court they get kicked out of the official football fraternity, would love to see them try the they could spend their time going on the endless tours of America & the Far East that they love so much, they could become just like the Harlem Globetrotters.

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by The Hitman
I don't buy this talk that we need a striker. If we need a striker so badly, how come we score a hatful of goals? Our midfielders score a lot of goals, and we have one of, if not the best, strikers in both the EPL and world in RVN.

While that is true, the thing is that RVN and the formation forces the opposition to defend deeper than usual, thus giving Scholes and Giggs the space to get goals. If we lose RVN and don't have another striker who is capable of getting at least 15 goals, then I think that the goals from Scholes and Giggs would dry up too.

A striker would be good for back-up, but unless Fergioe changes his formation (which he won't - he wants European success), then whoever we purchase will not be a front-liner. Scholes, Giggs, Kleberson, Bellion, Solkjaer and Forlan can all play in the gap behind RVN, so a new signing would have to be pretty good to get straight in.

Scholes, Giggs, and Solksjaer have all proven themselves. I reckon Kleberson will be a very good player for us. Bellion has done very little as a senior player and Forlan, well, the jury is still out on him. He gets goals, but I think the term "supersub" might be used when the biography of his United career is penned.

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by DIPPER
they could become just like the Harlem Globetrotters.

Gee.....I hope that no-one from the PLC's board of directors reads that one. It sounds like the City's (er, that's the blue AND financial variety) wet dream.