Article

Redknapp rates Ferdinand among elite

23 February 2013 13:31

Harry Redknapp has defended Rio Ferdinand, claiming the Manchester United defender is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Ferdinand has been on the receiving end of criticism this season following some lacklustre displays that prompted questions about his ability to continue performing at the level required of a team challenging for the title.

However, with United plagued by injuries, Ferdinand kept his position in the starting 11 and has since helped Sir Alex Ferguson's move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Redknapp, who worked with the former England international when he was manager at West Ham, still believes the defender is of the highest quality.

"Rio losing a yard probably still makes him as quick as any centre-half in the country," the QPR manager told reporters.

"He was lightning quick, so if Alex thinks he's lost a yard that'll just bring him closer to the next-quickest centre-half – he's that quick.

"I just think he's a fantastic player. He's been a top player since he was 17 and he's been a great player for United. He's still top quality."

Info

Queens Park Rangers

L L L D L

0 - 2

Manchester United

D W L D W

Competition

Half-time: 0 - 1
Full-time: 0 - 2

Venue: Loftus Road Stadium (London)
Attendance: 18337

Goals

	0 - 1	23' Rafael
	0 - 2	80' R. Giggs (assist by Nani)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
33	Júlio César
5	C. Samba
19	José Bosingwa
3	A. Traoré
6	C. Hill
40	S. M'Bia
10	A. Taarabt
14	Granero
29	A. Townsend
25	B. Zamora
12	J. Mackie
Coach: H. Redknapp

#	Player	Bookings
1	De Gea
5	R. Ferdinand
15	N. Vidić
3	P. Evra
2	Rafael	23'
16	M. Carrick
18	A. Young
11	R. Giggs	80'
17	Nani
20	R. van Persie
14	J. Hernández
Coach: A. Ferguson

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
16	J. Jenas for Granero 46'
18	L. Rémy for B. Zamora 61'
23	D. Hoilett for A. Townsend 73'
1	R. Green
7	Ji-Sung Park
11	S. Wright-Phillips
15	N. Onuoha

#	Player	Bookings
19	D. Welbeck for R. van Persie 41'
10	W. Rooney for J. Hernández 62'
7	A. Valencia for A. Young 68'
6	J. Evans
8	Anderson
13	A. Lindegaard
23	T. Cleverley

Monday 20 May

21:07	Inter, Roma fined for racist abuse
20:15	Mourinho in quotes
20:14	Real Madrid part company with Mourinho
20:03	Rodwell called up by England
19:40	Messi keen on Barca stay
18:39	Atletico Madrid ready to sell Falcao
18:35	Abbiati extends Milan deal
18:32	Terry misses Chelsea tour
18:30	Schwarzer unaware of new contract offer from Fulham
18:19	O´Brien proud of West Ham finish
17:34	Doncaster appoint Dickov as manager
17:07	Hearts avoid SPL points deduction
16:53	Galliani to hold talks with Allegri
16:52	Hill blasts Hughes´ QPR signings
16:36	Lampard: I have not performed at World Cups
16:20	Kacaniklic targets first-team place
16:13	Jardim replaces Ferreira at Sporting Lisbon
16:10	Indonesia fined for crowd trouble
15:57	Mignolet not worried about speculation
15:42	Neville uncertain on future
15:07	Hummels could make Champions League final
15:01	Napoli stars hail departing Mazzarri
14:44	Juninho: Donovan gets advantage with referees
14:32	Harper hails ´incredible´ reception
14:27	Giovinco not leaving Juve
14:21	Lambert ´proud´ of top-flight return
14:21	Torres targets improvement
14:06	Fernandinho wants to join Manchester City
13:49	Galliani relieved with Champions League spot
13:33	Stramaccioni bemoans injury-hit season
13:19	Lewandowski focused on Wembley
12:57	Reading owner confirms Pogrebnyak clause
12:51	Owen thanks Stoke for ´great experience´
12:36	Rizzoli to take charge of UEFA Champions League final
12:18	Raheem Sterling case dismissed
12:14	Schuerrle expects Leverkusen exit
12:03	Howson delighted with Norwich progress
11:53	Milan players targeted in Florence
11:32	Lukaku: Fans inspired my performances
11:24	Williams dismisses Arsenal links
10:52	Scolari: Neymar will be a Barcelona idol
10:45	David Luiz praises ´amazing´ Benitez
10:22	Walcott wants title tilt next term
10:12	Carragher´s final Liverpool appearance full of emotion
10:05	Carrick: United must move on from Ferguson
09:56	Villas-Boas confident Bale with stay at Tottenham
09:13	AFC Champions League Preview: Guangzhou eye last eight
08:26	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Nahuelpan class buoys Barcelona
07:58	Liga MX Wrap: America, Cruz Azul reach final
07:53	MLS Wrap: Johnson does Dallas, Salt Lake sink Chivas
07:40	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Sporting Cristal shine on top
07:09	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Melgarejo on a winner
06:48	Chile Primera Division Wrap: Top two win again
06:20	Colombia Primera A Wrap: Tolima strike late to go top
05:56	Costa Rica Primera Division: Cartagines v Herediano
05:24	Cahill in top form in New York
04:45	Henry: Galaxy were better than New York
04:35	Fulham plan Schwarzer solution talks
04:13	Vilanova staying, says Roura
04:05	Merrick joins Phoenix as coach
03:53	Juric signs with A-League´s Wanderers
03:14	Mazzarri leaves second-placed Napoli
03:03	Campeonato Paulista: Santos 1 Corinthians 1 (3-2 agg)
00:47	La Liga Wrap: Barcelona, Deportivo notch victories
00:40	Allegri refuses to be drawn on talk of future
00:32	Ibrahimovic, Ancelotti land Ligue 1 honours
00:09	Primeira Liga Wrap: Porto confirm title, Moreirense relegated

Sunday 19 May

23:48	Redknapp laments squad quality
23:46	Pochettino not setting goals yet
23:42	Clarke believes West Brom could have snatched victory against United
23:41	Laudrup rues prolifcacy in Fulham defeat
23:37	Serie A: Siena 1 Milan 2
23:31	Hernandez: Ferguson has changed world football
23:28	Benitez happy with Chelsea spell
23:21	Moyes bemoans wasted chances
23:16	Di Canio´s anger at Sunderland´s ill-discipline
23:06	La Liga: Barcelona 2 Real Valladolid 1
23:03	Serie A: Inter 2 Udinese 5
22:43	Porto clinch Portuguese crown
22:35	Jol pleased to end ´horrendous´ run
22:24	Pardew: We owe debt to fans
22:21	Rodgers: Replacing Carragher difficult
22:03	Turkish Super Lig Wrap: Galatasaray win, Besiktas beaten
21:59	Wenger praises Arsenal belief
21:41	Pulis: Club will deal with pig´s head incident
21:41	Players not to blame after ´emotional´ week, says Kidd
21:33	Martinez refuses to be drawn on future
21:29	Hughton pleased with ´outstanding´ Norwich
21:06	Eredivisie Wrap: Twente, Utrecht advance
20:53	Lambert praises Aston Villa fans
19:52	Russian Premier League Wrap: CSKA Moscow win title, Zenit stay second
19:48	Ancelotti asks to leave PSG
19:22	Premier League: West Ham 4 Reading 2
19:18	Premier League: Swansea 0 Fulham 3
19:16	Premier League: Chelsea 2 Everton 1
19:14	Premier League: Tottenham 1 Sunderland 0
19:13	Premier League: West Brom 5 Manchester United 5
19:05	Premier League: Manchester City 2 Norwich 3
19:03	Premier League: Wigan 2 Aston Villa 2
19:01	Premier League: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1
19:00	Premier League: Southampton 1 Stoke 1
18:58	Premier League: Liverpool 1 QPR 0
17:31	Nasri denies PSG rumours
16:30	English League One: Brentford 1 Yeovil 2
16:13	Diego confirms Atletico interest
14:07	Leonardo: PSG honoured to have Beckham
13:17	Conte plays down Tevez talks
13:10	Jones apologises to Whelan over incident
12:51	Benitez hails Torres return to form
12:41	Ashley ´offers incentive´ for Magpies win
12:09	CSL Wrap: Guangzhou Evergrande, Shandong Luneng win again
11:56	K-League Wrap: Ulsan upset Pohang
04:59	Badstuber suffers injury blow
04:43	Ranieri eyes Falcao swoop
04:22	Carragher open to coaching role
04:07	Stramaccioni resigned to Inter fate
03:58	Clichy extends City stay
03:39	Vilanova not involved in Neymar talks
03:19	Neymar future up in the air
03:17	Hodgson wants players released
03:00	Conte has big plans for Juve
02:32	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Jazira go third, Al Ain lose
01:50	Emotional Beckham thanks PSG
01:27	Home-town club farewells Heynckes in style
00:26	La Liga Wrap: Valencia, Sociedad notch vital wins

Saturday 18 May

23:50	Allegri: Players should not have to tackle racism
23:11	Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain 3 Brest 1
22:57	Serie A: Sampdoria 3 Juventus 2
20:26	Thai Super League Wrap: Muangthong extend their lead at the top
19:15	Vilanova to have more cancer treatment
19:13	SPL Wrap: St Johnstone snatch European place as Inverness lose
19:05	Mazzarri coy over Napoli future
19:04	Bundesliga Wrap: Hoffenheim make miracle escape
17:59	Parkinson: Bradford fans deserve promotion
17:47	Lambert wants highest possible league finish
17:31	Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 2
17:27	Celtic´s Wilson pleads for longer break
17:21	Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach 3 Bayern Munich 4
17:11	McArthur wants Wigan to end on a high
17:05	Cortese to remain executive chairman at Southampton
16:31	English League Two: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 3
16:18	Rodgers praises Carroll´s West Ham form
16:15	Brighton investigate dressing room incident
16:14	Pardew admits to second season struggle
15:59	Laudrup keen on bringing in Michu assistance
14:43	Hughton insists Holt will stay put
14:34	Jol outlines summer transfer plans
14:08	Colback eyeing Tottenham shock
13:07	Villas-Boas would welcome technical director
13:01	Tiote: Newcastle have not been good enough
12:25	Neville proud to win over Everton fans
12:08	Mancini sacking is ´amazing´, says Ferguson
11:31	Benitez coy on lap of honour
11:08	Wenger: Bayern win was turning point
05:28	Liga MX Wrap: Monterrey share spoils with America
02:47	Simeone: We no longer fear Real Madrid
02:31	Mourinho laments ´horror season´
00:26	Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 (AET)

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester United	38	+43	89
2	Manchester City	38	+32	78
3	Chelsea	38	+36	75
4	Arsenal	38	+35	73
5	Tottenham Hotspur	38	+20	72
6	Everton	38	+15	63
7	Liverpool	38	+28	61
8	West Bromwich …	38	-4	49
9	Swansea City	38	-4	46
10	West Ham United	38	-8	46
11	Norwich City	38	-17	44
12	Fulham	38	-10	43
13	Stoke City	38	-11	42
14	Southampton	38	-11	41
15	Aston Villa	38	-22	41
16	Newcastle United	38	-23	41
17	Sunderland	38	-13	39
18	Wigan Athletic	38	-26	36
19	Reading	38	-30	28
20	Queens Park Ra…	38	-30	25

Related