Ferdinand: Best is yet to come

The underlying message from Rio Ferdinand sounds ominous for Manchester  United's opponents: we might be in pole position but we can still improve.

Although the Reds have now beaten Arsenal and Chelsea in successive league games, the defender admitted his team have yet to find top gear over a sustained period; the complete performance and with it a comprehensive victory, remain on United's wishlist.

"Yes it's been good but we're aiming for better," said Ferdinand, when asked to reflect on that significant pair of victories.

"I don't think we have hit a real purple patch yet, which we are really searching for. We played quite well today as a team and we defended well. But getting it all in one package and doing it all in a ninety minutes at the right times, we're still aiming for that and it will come soon, don't worry."

Whether it will come in the next few weeks remains to be seen, with United heading into four away games on the bounce.

But should everything fall into place on the road, or back at Old Trafford towards the end of the month, it seems inevitable Robin van Persie will be involved.

"He's been doing well for us, he's a natural born goalscorer and long may it continue that he keeps scoring the goals," praised Ferdinand, after witnessing van Persie's tenth strike of the season on Saturday.

The defender commended his colleague for the way he played against his former club Arsenal for the first time.

"Those games against your old team go one of two ways normally," said Rio. "Either you get a goal, you play well and you win, or you have an absolute beast, get sent off and lose the game. So it was good to see Robin get on the scoresheet and he celebrated in the right way I think. He showed a bit more class than probably  their fans did towards him."

"It's been good [beating Arsenal and Chelsea] but we're aiming for better. We're still aiming for the whole package in 90 minutes - and it will come soon, don't worry."

- Rio Ferdinand

Team P GD Pts

1.Man Utd 10 +12 24

2.Chelsea 10 +12 23

3.Manchester City 10 +9 22

4.Everton 10 +6 17

5.Tottenham Hotspur 10 +3 17

6.Arsenal 10 +7 15

7.Fulham 10 +5 15

8.West Ham 10 +2 15

9.West Bromwich Albion 9 +2 14

10.Newcastle United 10 -2 14

Read More

Papers: Robin's the new Ruud

Martin Blackburn writes in The Sun…

RVP's the new Ruud

Patrice Evra says Robin van Persie has given everyone at Old Trafford a Ruud awakening. The Dutch Master bagged his 10th goal of the season for Manchester United when he opened the scoring in the 2-1 win against his old club Arsenal on Saturday. And stand-in Red Devils skipper Evra believes the £22million summer signing is similar to United goal-scoring legend Ruud van Nistelrooy. Evra said: “People can now see that Robin is strong mentally. He seems like he has played for us for many years and he reminds me of Van Nistelrooy. I played with Ruud when I signed for United and remember what a great player he was.” Asked why he believes they are similar, Evra smiled: “First of all, they are both Dutch! But it’s the class and the touch they both have when you pass the ball to them. Robin is just a top-class player and you can see why United wanted him and why the gaffer worked so hard to get him. He has started so well and I just hope he can keep going because, at United, you have to do that in every game and we have to do everything we can to make sure he feels good. He can be one of the best.”

Evra is central to a debate which continues to rumble on after Saturday's victory over Arsenal, centring around the Frenchman's role in Jack Wilshere's second yellow card. The defender insists: “I think he didn’t look for the ball," while Arsene Wenger claims: "The players dive like they have been killed."

The Daily Mail highlights the behaviour of both sets of supporters during Saturday's game, with Wenger and van Persie subjected to distasteful chanting from opposing fans.

Staying on managers, The Sun quotes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on suggestions that he could replace Sir Alex Ferguson. “I’m not naive enough to say I can do that job but in life you should have big dreams and big goals," says the Norwegian, currently managing Molde. “It’s a dream but let’s take just one step at a time."

Read More

Robin revels in 'new' position

Robin van Persie believes his flexible, interchangeable partnership with Wayne Rooney has forged a new position up front for Manchester United.

Since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer, the Dutchman has been in sensational form and is enjoying an irresistible attacking alliance with his English team-mate. He feels their fluidity and tactical knowhow means they no longer fit the classic definitions of 'a number nine' - normally the poacher in the penalty area - and 'a number ten' - the more creative player linking midfield and attack.

“I call it a nine-and-a-half because you have two positions, the nine and the ten, and we are both nine-and-a-half ,” says van Persie. “We are just helping each other out. We both play behind and a bit higher up. It seems to be working well and I am very happy with Wayne - hopefully we can keep it going.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, a former centre-forward who scored an impressive 186 goals in just under 350 appearances as a player, agrees with van Persie’s theory and says there is more to come from the burgeoning strike partnership.

“I think he's right,” the boss declared. “There's flexibility there and the right type of movement. They also both have the courage to play in these positions. Robin’s not far away in that respect.

“They're both mobile players and good footballers with a great desire to play and win. I don't think you saw the best of them as a partnership against Arsenal.”

Read More