Rio Ferdinand: Are We Witnessing the End of the Manchester United Defender?

"The greatest trick Fabio Capello ever pulled was convincing himself that Rio Ferdinand didn’t exist”

(The above statement might be laced somewhat in irony.) 

Regardless of how I interpret the staggering oversight committed by don Fabio in seemingly informing the world and his dog of his captains imminent removal, apart from said captain himself; like Kaiser Soze in the hit 90’s film “The Usual Suspects” he was obviously very convincing.

This week it has come out in the press that Capello even told Steven Gerrard of his decision to renege Ferdinand’s right to the armband without, as yet speaking to the disposed captain himself.

Apparently the man who the Italian had chosen as the bastion in which to store this proud nation’s hopes and dreams is no longer worthy of a phone-call.

I find it nigh on impossible to justify Capello’s actions, to any degree. The disrespectful, spineless manner in which Capello has handled the saga should, in my opinion, effectively tender his resignation.

Yet I digress from the point of this article; what does this really say about Rio Ferdinand? Under the circumstances, are we witnessing the beginning of the end for Peckham’s finest defender?

Ferdinand is, at present, sidelined with the calf injury that has kept him out for the best part of a month. In his stead the mantle has passed to his eventual replacement in the Manchester United rearguard, the young Chris Smalling.

The sad ignominy of the situation for Ferdinand is that Smalling’s performances alongside Vidic in the games in which he has played, have led some to question the validity of Ferdinand’s claim for a starting position at all.

Smalling’s performances have belied his 20 years; picked by Ferguson in some critical games, including the Champions League round of 16, he has played with an assured maturity that indicates he is almost ready to become first choice.

At 32 years of age (33 in November), Rio Ferdinand is in the twilight of his career.

This coupled with the plethora of injuries that have beset the former captain in recent years have led some to the inevitable conclusion that Ferdinand’s is a star on the wane.

Now the saga over the England captaincy has been farcically settled, where now for Ferdinand? Just under a year ago he was team captain for club and country (Gary Neville was club captain at United).

Fast forward 11 months and he has now been disposed as both, with the less injury prone, younger, Nemanja Vidic chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson as the man to lead the Old Trafford outfit.

A captain at the peak of his game is not removed from his duties (well unless you like sleeping with team-mates girlfriends). The fact that it has happened to Ferdinand twice in a year or so, makes it a given that rumours about his longevity in the game will circulate.

Much, in my opinion centres on how Sir Alex Ferguson will approach Ferdinand’s return to fitness.

If he returns Rio straight back to the starting line-up, disposing Smalling of the spot he has made his own, the former skip will have a good chance to stake his claim for a few more years at the top.

However, he could also take the ulterior viewpoint, complementing Ferdinand’s experience and composure with Smalling’s youthful ability, rotating them somewhat as Vidic’s partner: Essentially grooming Smalling as Ferdinand’s replacement.

In that eventuality next season will be Ferdinand’s last as a Manchester United player.

Then there is England.

It has come out in the media this week that with a stoicism his manager should take note of, Ferdinand has rang love cheat John Terry to express support for his replacement.

Whilst Ferdinand has expressively indicated his willingness to continue to represent his country, the real question is does Capello see him as first choice, or any choice for that matter?

Although not abundant with centre-back fruit, there are a number of candidates to anchor Capello’s team.

Bolton’s Gary Cahill, who performed against Ghana for the national side last night, is simply the most impressive of a roll-call that includes, Joleon Lescott, Ryan Shawcross, Phil Jagielka and youngsters Smalling and Jack Rodwell.

With Terry now as captain, that leaves one automatic starting position; at 32 maybe Ferdinand does not quite adhere to Capello’s policy of looking to the future. Maybe Rio Ferdinand’s time is up…

The next few months to come will provide a true watermark for Rio Ferdinand’s immediate future in the game.

Whilst his tenure currently looks decidedly shaky, a few Ferdinand-esque performances on his return for United and the likelihood is he will return for England as well.

Fail to reassert his United starting birth, however, and parallels with Kaiser Soze will suddenly seem depressingly apt.