United’s Brown is best defender in England, says Ferguson

Nov 27, 7:00 am EST

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MANCHESTER, England, Nov 27 (Reuters) - England international Wes Brown is the best defender in the country and still improving, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

The 30-year-old’s flourishing partnership with Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United’s defence has been a silver lining among a list of injuries to Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea and Jonny Evans this season.

“Vidic and Brown have been fantastic in recent games. It just reminds me that when Wes Brown is fit he’s the best natural defender in the country,” Ferguson told reporters ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to struggling Portsmouth.

“I think most people recognise how good Wes is as a natural defender. You have got to pay tribute to the lad,” he added.

Signed as a trainee in July 1996, Brown’s United career has suffered countless injury interruptions since making his debut against Leeds United in 1998.

“He’s kept coming back from the injuries he’s had in his career. He’s had two cruciates and a broken ankle and other injuries,” the Scot said.

“Last season he had a very stagnant season in terms of interruptions to his consistency, but the previous season he was our most consistent defender.

“Now he’s fit again and looking fantastic, he gets better all the time.”

Brown, who also plays at right back, has been capped 22 times by England and is likely to be part of Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad for the finals in South Africa next year.

“I keep thinking he’s only 22 or 23, he’s got such a young approach to life. He’s done well dealing with all the things he’s had to deal with and still comes out fighting,” Ferguson said.

Second-placed United travel to Fratton Park on Saturday looking to return to winning ways after Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat at home to Besiktas.

Victory for Ferguson’s men would cut Chelsea’s lead to two points for a day at least, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men playing at London rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

(Writing by Neil Maidment; Additional reporting by Graham Chase; editing by Justin Palmer; to comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) ((neil.maidment@thomsonreuters.com; +44207 542 7933; Reuters Messaging: neil.maidment.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; For the new Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/))

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Updated Nov 27, 7:00 am EST
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39 Comments

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  1. Matthew W
    38. Posted by Matthew W Fri Nov 27 10:36pm EST

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    vegeta,

    you need some serious help, either a shrink or a .45 to the temple.

    Your last post makes absolutely no sense what so ever. I am not even sure if it passes as pigeon English. Honestly, are you even trying to make a point with all your gibberish? So what if you do not like the EPL. So what if you love Serie A and La Liga. So what if Serie A was once relevant, which it is no longer.

    To each his own. You are comparing apples to oranges and you are just running in circles and making yourself look downright foolish. If your point is to turn people away from soccer/football then you are succeeding beyond your wildest dreams.

    Please stop posting and return to your cave. Your posts are nothing but wastes of space from a simpleton who is still living in the 1990s.

    La Liga is great
    EPL is rising
    Serie A is declining

    Whine all you want about Man U dominating the EPL. Whine all you want about its "fixing" of matches. Maybe they just learned how to do it from your Queen Juventes...you know the same club that was dropped to Serie B for illegally fixing matches for YEARS! Oh...hurts doesn't it. Be prepared to see another CL tournament where all the Italian clubs are knocked out before the quarterfinals and only Barca from Spain makes it to the semis.

    Please for the love of God just shut your f'ing mouth.
  2. Rosas, or Mr. Rosas
    37. Posted by Rosas, or Mr. Rosas Fri Nov 27 9:50pm EST

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    Brown is tough.

    Hope he gets to represent his country
  3. Vegeta
    36. Posted by Vegeta Fri Nov 27 8:27pm EST

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    35. Posted by Matthew W
    How many years Juv won compare to man uLESS 11 years CUP in the so CALL FIX LEAGUE
    the longest run JUV has is what count them 8 cup in what 12 years and that is compare to the so call NEW PRIMER LEAGUE NEW one how many TIME man uLESS won it since 1992 .. 11 cup.. straight not jumping or missing but straight that is FIX if not.. MAT8 (if it sound like a duck talk like a duck it is a DUCK more like FISH due to how much the EPL is a JOKE of a LEAGUE)
    1971–72
    1972–73
    did not win
    1974–75
    1976–77
    1977–78
    did not win
    1980–81
    1981–82
    1983–84
    did not win
    1985–86
    10 years did not win
    1994–95
    1996–97
    1997–98
    6 years did not win
    2001–02
    2002–03
  4. Matthew W
    35. Posted by Matthew W Fri Nov 27 6:13pm EST

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    "11 years champion that sound to me like a FIXEs"


    Oh, you mean like Juventes has for decades??????
  5. Vegeta
    34. Posted by Vegeta Fri Nov 27 5:21pm EST

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    Let address one thing that is clear you two are silly people due to the fact

    The fact is that post is date
    17. Posted by Vegeta Mon Aug 17 11:23am
    READ it WELL before .. this is how yahoo keeps reader and writers like you tow

    33. Posted by Grant N (who is the knobhead.. read the date and try to be up to date on THE DATE)

    30. Posted by Denise S (your slow to understand the fact on how the EPL is a run away league due to TV MONEY talking about the 4 TOP MONEY making CLUB before 1992 ... so those 4 clubs from England pulled away and MADE IT CLEAR vai TV contract THEY WILL NOT SHARE MONEY with the rest of the LEAGUE ..La Liga .. Seira A all the other League share the POT for the LEAGUE .. so why not share TV right with the rest of the league.. in the so call PRIMER League simple to KEEP 1 team up on TOP.. MAN uLESS .. 11 years champion that sound to me like a FIXEs.. if you do not like that fact well that is up to you to GROW up and live in the real world of adults who understand MONEY and FUTEBOL.... you sure missed that 101 futebol lesson in futebol school )


    17. Posted by Vegeta Mon Aug 17 11:23am EDT
  6. Grant N
    33. Posted by Grant N Fri Nov 27 4:42pm EST

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    vegeta you knobhead, you copied the exact same post of yours from a different article..... wtf? think of something new to say mate.

    ps... if you quit posting all together, more people would be encouraged to read these articles
  7. Colin N
    32. Posted by Colin N Fri Nov 27 3:39pm EST

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    Arsenal is the best team in the epl, if they play at their best, they are very few teams in the world that can play with them!
  8. Colin N
    31. Posted by Colin N Fri Nov 27 3:34pm EST

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    Denise---you are soo on point, they are only a few teams that one can watch in the Italian game these days...the league is slow and the football is boring...if they are so good as these people say, why are they always out to fht champions league sooner than the teams from the EPL and La-L? Italians are living on pass history...the leaue is too old and slow!
  9. Denise S
    30. Posted by Denise S Fri Nov 27 2:17pm EST

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    Vegeta is still quoting those LAME stats! Everyone on here knows where the best football is played. EPL followed closely by La Liga. Please, please watch the games then comment! Serie A is no longer a top league.
  10. aklilu
    29. Posted by aklilu Fri Nov 27 2:09pm EST

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    hi manchisterian the only proplem of the team is the manager i hope we will see next year with out him
  11. aklilu
    28. Posted by aklilu Fri Nov 27 2:07pm EST

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    hi manchisterian the only proplem of the team is the manager i hope we will see next year with out him
  12. Matthew W
    27. Posted by Matthew W Fri Nov 27 1:26pm EST

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    the EPL overrated????

    for the past three years they have put 3 clubs into the CL semi-finals! how is that overrated??

    La Liga and the EPL are the two best leagues in the world. Serie A has fallen off the face of the earth and its stars are fleeing to greener pastures.


    I don't have access to exact figures, but look at the money Italian teams were spending in their European hay day in the 1990s compared to that of the EPL? Money put them in a position of power and their current lack of it has now dropped them from the level of top clubs/leagues.

    there are ups and downs in football just like everything else. England is up while Italy is down. In 5 years or 10 years the trend will reverse.
  13. SEC Owns All
    26. Posted by SEC Owns All Sat Nov 7 11:52pm EST

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    Man U pants head go. Fergie man the coach with the Rooney. I look to the EPL for me watching.
  14. nuboy
    25. Posted by nuboy Mon Sep 21 6:38am EDT

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    Man U shpuld have an AD welcome to Manchester with Michael Owen arms outstreched ( ha Ha Ha )
  15. i might need a bailout
    24. Posted by i might need a bailout Sat Sep 19 6:27pm EDT

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    I'll have to get up early and watch this.
  16. paul
    23. Posted by paul Sat Sep 19 3:25pm EDT

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    What would be great for football is an upset for Man City ...and a changing of the guards...keeps true excitment in football...

    Fergie needs a good lesson in life too - he is not God...
  17. Pacheco
    22. Posted by Pacheco Fri Sep 4 4:35pm EDT

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    such lame stats vegeta by those stats european leagues all suck. non euro leagues have many different champs every year cause they are more balanced. look it up since u seem to look up stats anyways. plus in the champions only reason england doesnt win them more is beacuse they have to knock eachother out before the finals. i cant remember the last time spanish teams knocked each other out. and u keep using the same stats every article that u care to comment about. lame stats. epl is better because it offers more then just a title race like la liga, serie a and all other big leagues.u have uefa spots battles, relegation battles. and much better single games then other leagues
  18. <i>sitimadenis@...</i>
    21. Posted by sitimadenis@... Fri Aug 21 10:16am EDT

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    Untd "ve often startd slowly,bt dat has has nt stopd us winnin the premier league title.Da same way it has been startin 11 times in da last 17 seasons includin da last 3 succession.U "ll get surprisd especially;ERICKO, BENJA, & JUDY
  19. Brian W
    20. Posted by Brian W Mon Aug 17 3:05pm EDT

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    Vegeta - did I not read that England put six (6) players on the UEFA players of the year awards list? All from different teams! Spain's six players all came from the same team - Barcelona. The Italians had 0 on the list. It appears more like the Spanish league was created to help one team - Barcelona! What I am talking about is caliber of play from top to bottom and I still say the EPL is the best league in European football.
  20. cynthia
    19. Posted by cynthia Mon Aug 17 2:59pm EDT

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    i dont c y man u shuld joy over 1 goal.Arsenal were da boooomb on saturday.they opened the league in style.go go go Arsenal ur time is come.doom on fergie dis round.
  21. <i>dinesh_pk23</i>
    18. Posted by dinesh_pk23 Mon Aug 17 11:46am EDT

    Report Abuse

    man utd is d best team around.. dey can win dis even witout ronaldo... its uniteds season again... glory glory man utd...!!!!
  22. Vegeta
    17. Posted by Vegeta Mon Aug 17 11:23am EDT

    Report Abuse

    The EPL is an overrated league that is a fact look at the numbers. Let’s take it from 1992 the when NEW PREMIER LEAGUE was created. 1992 -2009 NOW please READ it WELL

    Looking at EPl it like a ponzi scheme or pyramid scheme... the Premier league was created to help one team... it people (FANS of the EPL) look before 1992.. The FA was balance... why create another LEVEL or LAYER ... of division with TITLE PREMIER ... to sound BETTER or MAKE people THINK it's BETTER or GOOD.. the number below do not lie... those are hard number... it people want to talk about show me the Money or the best.. well... the FA was better before 1992.. now it's control be one group of people who want to keep it that way..

    Taking from the point of the NEW PREMIER LEAGUE of ENGLAND (OVER RATED LEAGUE)
    The number do not lie it look likes LA LIGA, LIGUE and BUNDESLIGA is more balance compare to the over rated league of ENGLAND
    Premier League
    4 different teams from 1992 -2009 Man U 11 championship
    Arsenal 3 championship
    Chelsea 2 championship
    Blackburn Rovers 1 championship
    4 different champions in the span of 17 years

    La Liga
    6 different teams from 1993 -2009 FC Barcelona 6 championship
    Real Madrid 6 championship
    Valencia CF 2 championship
    6 different champions in the span of 17 years

    Seira A
    5 different teams from 1993-2009 AC Milan 5 championship
    Juventus 5 championship
    Inter 4 championships
    Roma 1 championship
    Lazio 1 championship
    5 different champions in the span of 17 years

    Bundesliga
    6 different teams 1993-2009 Bayern Munich 8 championship
    Borussia Dortmund 3 championship
    9 different champions in the span of 17 years

    Ligue 1
    9 different teams 1993-2009 Lyon 7 championship (the last 9 years)
    Nantes 2 championship
    7 different champions in the span of 17 years

    Eredivisie
    5 different teams 1993-2009 PSV Eindhoven 8 championship
    AJAX 6 championship
    4 different champions in the span of 17 years


    CHAMPION LEAGUE
    1992 - 1993 Olympique de Marseille Lost - AC Milan
    1993 - 1994 AC Milan Lost - Barcelona
    1994 - 1995 AFC Ajax Lost - AC Milan
    1995 - 1996 Juventus Lost - AFC Ajax
    1996 - 1997 BV Borussia Dortmund Lost - Juventus
    1997 - 1998 Real Madrid CF Lost - Juventus
    1998 - 1999 Manchester United FC Lost - Bayern München
    1999 - 2000 Real Madrid CF Lost - Valencia
    2000 - 2001 FC Bayern München Lost - Valencia CF
    2001 - 2002 Real Madrid CF Lost - Bayer 04 Leverkusen
    2002 - 2003 AC Milan Lost - Juventus
    2003 - 2004 FC Porto Lost - AS Monaco
    2004 - 2005 Liverpool FC Lost - AC Milan
    2005 - 2006 FC Barcelona Lost - Arsenal FC
    2006 - 2007 AC Milan Lost - Liverpool FC
    2007 - 2008 Manchester United FC Lost - Chelsea F
    2008 - 2009 FC Barcelona Lost – Manchester United FC

    5 cup winners from La Liga
    Real Madrid 3x champion
    Barcelona 2x champion

    4 cup winners from Seira A
    AC Milan 3x champion
    Juventus 1x champion

    Premier League (this league is just above over the Bundesliga by just 1 cup that is it...)
    Manchester United FC 2x champion
    Liverpool FC 1x champion

    2 cup winners from Bundesliga
    BV Borussia Dortmund 1x champion
    FC Bayern München 1x champion

    Ligue 1
    Olympique de Marseille 1x champion

    Eredivisie
    AFC Ajax 1x champion

    The EPL fans can only talk only about the last 4 years that how far there memories just takes them. Please look at the full 17 years and compare what league has done GREAT and what league is overrate in both the domestic and UEFA cups… CHAMPION LEAGUE.

    Spain and Italy is by far the best league in relation to the 17 years of existing so please Altidore is going to a overrated EPL league and a weak butt ass team…
  23. BEC
    16. Posted by BEC Mon Aug 17 9:46am EDT

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    Have your say guys..... Man U will always live upto the "challenge"...! Its upto the other F. Clubs to prove otherwise. Man U lets do it again guys!!! The race has just stated.
  24. Muhamad Anas Bin Aiderus
    15. Posted by Muhamad Anas Bin Aiderus Mon Aug 17 8:55am EDT

    Report Abuse

    man u the loosseeeRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!
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