Former Red Gary Pallister told the MEN:
"As a talker and organiser Rio Ferdinand has come on leaps and bounds in 18
months at Leeds,”
“I was never aware of that side of his game at West Ham. It wasn't evident
that he was cajoling and marshalling at the back. But as I monitored him at
Elland Road it became more and more obvious that he was encouraging and
organising.”
“In the end he was bawling and shouting, badgering and co-ordinating things at the back the way Steve Bruce used to do for us at United."
"If Sir Alex Ferguson has been monitoring for a while then he'll have been
delighted to see that side of his game progress because the one thing
United's back four has lacked since Brucie left was a talker."
While in the Guardian Gordon McQueen explained how the hate was expressed at hi by Leeds fans after his move from Leeds to Manchester.
“I'd signed a four-year contract shortly before I left and there was a column
in Shoot magazine where I'd said: "I'm at Leeds for life." I got about 100
copies of that through the post with notes and letters not wishing me all
the best. I'm pretty sure Rio will get a lot of post as well.”
“I once made the mistake of sitting in the main stand at
Elland Road for a midweek game and had to leave early because there was a
lot of abuse flying around.”