Rio Ferdinand tipped to battle back for Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand Gary Pallister has a message to anyone considering penning Rio Ferdinands Manchester United and England obituary: Dont write him off.
Ferdinand has been one of the first names on Sir Alex Fergusons team-sheet since 2002.
With 81 full caps on his CV, hes been a regular international squad member for over a decade.
But a hamstring injury this season has cost him five United matches and opened the door for 16.5m Old Trafford summer newcomer Phil Jones.
The 19-year-old ex-Blackburn defender has won an army of admirers within two months of his senior Reds debut, putting a strain on Ferdinands position.
Last Saturday, after playing back-to-back matches against Stoke and Basle, Ferdinand was benched by Fergie for the Norwich game, coming on with 14 minutes to go.
Jones, meanwhile, added to his reputation with a commanding man-of-the-match display against the Canaries.
Ferdinand suffered another blow on Sunday night when Fabio Capello left him out of the England squad for Fridays crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
Instead, it was Jones who was named in the 24-man party, with Boltons Gary Cahill expected to partner captain John Terry in Podgorica.
The events have all left Ferdinands position with both club and country looking under serious threat.
However, ex-United star Pallister insists the 32-year-old still has much to offer both the Reds and the Three Lions.
Most definitely you dont write Rio off, Pallister told M.E.N. Sport.
People have been writing Rio off for about 18 months now but hes still a top class defender. Hes stylish and silky and still top drawer. He still looks a fantastic player to me.
I think Fabio Capello would be a fool to continue to over! look him . I am sure he will be looking at him as an important member of the squad for Euro 2012 if and when we make it to the finals next summer.
Ferdinand will be 33 next month and Pallister says that 30-somethings get a raw deal from the critics.
It seems you cannot get away with a bad game when you are over 30 years of age, added Pally.
At 21 you can have a poor match and nobody bothers. You can do the same at 26 or 29. But get to 31, 32 or 33 and suddenly everyone is saying Your legs have gone.
It has been the same with Frank Lampard this season. Hes 33 and because hes not been playing as regularly as he did at Chelsea suddenly the critics are claiming hes finished for his club and England.
What does he do? He scores a hat-trick at Bolton last weekend and nobody is on his back anymore.
Rio seems to be going through the same critical process. But hell have seen it all before with other players. Hes long enough in the tooth to know how it works, no matter how wrong it is.
Hes well aware what the media can do. But hes old enough and has big enough shoulders to brush it all off and come out fighting.
Whatever anyone writes about him doesnt hold any sway in the dressing room and it is Sir Alex Ferguson who matters. There is no question he has a future at Old Trafford and I am convinced the same applies with England.
Do you think Rio will battle back? Have your say.
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Ferdinand has been one of the first names on Sir Alex Fergusons team-sheet since 2002.
With 81 full caps on his CV, hes been a regular international squad member for over a decade.
But a hamstring injury this season has cost him five United matches and opened the door for 16.5m Old Trafford summer newcomer Phil Jones.
The 19-year-old ex-Blackburn defender has won an army of admirers within two months of his senior Reds debut, putting a strain on Ferdinands position.
Last Saturday, after playing back-to-back matches against Stoke and Basle, Ferdinand was benched by Fergie for the Norwich game, coming on with 14 minutes to go.
Jones, meanwhile, added to his reputation with a commanding man-of-the-match display against the Canaries.
Ferdinand suffered another blow on Sunday night when Fabio Capello left him out of the England squad for Fridays crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
Instead, it was Jones who was named in the 24-man party, with Boltons Gary Cahill expected to partner captain John Terry in Podgorica.
The events have all left Ferdinands position with both club and country looking under serious threat.
However, ex-United star Pallister insists the 32-year-old still has much to offer both the Reds and the Three Lions.
Most definitely you dont write Rio off, Pallister told M.E.N. Sport.
People have been writing Rio off for about 18 months now but hes still a top class defender. Hes stylish and silky and still top drawer. He still looks a fantastic player to me.
I think Fabio Capello would be a fool to continue to over! look him . I am sure he will be looking at him as an important member of the squad for Euro 2012 if and when we make it to the finals next summer.
Ferdinand will be 33 next month and Pallister says that 30-somethings get a raw deal from the critics.
It seems you cannot get away with a bad game when you are over 30 years of age, added Pally.
At 21 you can have a poor match and nobody bothers. You can do the same at 26 or 29. But get to 31, 32 or 33 and suddenly everyone is saying Your legs have gone.
It has been the same with Frank Lampard this season. Hes 33 and because hes not been playing as regularly as he did at Chelsea suddenly the critics are claiming hes finished for his club and England.
What does he do? He scores a hat-trick at Bolton last weekend and nobody is on his back anymore.
Rio seems to be going through the same critical process. But hell have seen it all before with other players. Hes long enough in the tooth to know how it works, no matter how wrong it is.
Hes well aware what the media can do. But hes old enough and has big enough shoulders to brush it all off and come out fighting.
Whatever anyone writes about him doesnt hold any sway in the dressing room and it is Sir Alex Ferguson who matters. There is no question he has a future at Old Trafford and I am convinced the same applies with England.
Do you think Rio will battle back? Have your say.
Tweet
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