David Moyes has a problem with Rio Ferdinand

Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand has had a poor run of form for Manchester United. In his last two games against Manchester City and West Brom, he was left red faced on both occasions.

The 34-year-old found himself exposed and had poor performances. It was Ferdinand in complete contrast to the one who had earned himself a spot on the PFA Team of the Year in the previous season.

Since West Brom, Ferdinand hasn’t played. 

He sat out the games against Liverpool and Shakhtar Donetsk since West Brom. Liverpool was because Jonny Evans was chosen ahead of him but he suffered a groin strain that ruled him out of the game against Donetsk.

The big problem that Moyes faces is to judge whether Ferdinand is simply in a bad run or form or whether it is time for him to hang up his boots?

Following his long term injuries with his back, Ferdinand faced the same questions about the end of his career and responded emphatically with one of his best seasons ever in a United shirt. He was integral to United regaining the Premier League title, especially in the absence of Vidic who battled to regain fitness for a lot of the campaign.

On his current form, Ferdinand doesn’t deserve to get in the team but if he plays to the level he showed last year, he still remains our first choice centre-back.

Form is temporary, class is permanent. It is a cliche phrase but it is true in this situation. Similar questions were being asked of Vidic after his injury but he has shown that he has returned to his best form in recent weeks – something I expect Ferdinand to do over the course of the season.

Ferdinand knows he has played poor but he is far from finished. You don’t go from being one of the best centre backs in the Premier League to a castaway within the space of nine months.

He may have to play less games in order to maintain his fitness but on his day, Ferdinand still remains one of the best centre backs that United have and Moyes knows that, so Rio will keep playing.