RON BACKS RIO

Bill Shankly had a saying that the first thing you have to do in an away game
is quieten the crowd. Something tells me Rio Ferdinand might struggle to
manage that when he returns to Elland Road with Manchester United
tomorrow.

I expect him to have a harder time than Sol Campbell did last year when he
went back to Tottenham. Leeds fans are probably the most volatile in the
country and they'll be even more stoked up because they'll fancy their
chances of winning with Manchester United stuttering. They'd love to rub Rio's
nose in it.

Because Leeds were relegated in 1982 and didn't come back to the top flight
for eight years, I only went to Elland Road once when I was in charge at Old
Trafford. We got a draw and the atmosphere wasn't particularly nasty because
Leeds were on a downer at the time.

The following summer I took Arthur Graham from Leeds but it didn't create a
big fuss. He'd done well for them but people realised his time at the club was
more or less up and he did a smashing job for us as a stopgap when Stevie
Coppell got injured. He only cost £45,000.

Ferdinand's transfer was very different and the worst thing for him will be the
build-up. He'll feel uncertain because he's only 23 and it wasn't the same
going back to West Ham. I don't know him but he looks a sincere, almost
sensitive, type.

I got a lot of abuse when I went back to West Brom with Wednesday, but the
most intimidating atmosphere I came across was on United's visits to
Liverpool. We often thrived on that and Ferdinand has to do the same.

We'd get on the coach to Anfield and Gordon McQueen, who was 6ft 4in,
would be 6ft 8in by the time we arrived. He could be having a spell of games
where he wasn't at his best but when you took him to Liverpool he became a
giant.

I used to say to players, "Hurt them with your ability," and that will be
Ferdinand's best answer to the Leeds fans. He just has to make sure he's
gracious tomorrow and doesn't get involved making gestures to the crowd.

He gives you the impression he can deal with that and isn't the type to get
drawn into spats with supporters. I can see Alan Smith winding him up on the
pitch to get the crowd going but Rio will know what to expect. He has to keep
his nose clean and focus on the job.

The whole Manchester United team will have to show control and not get
carried away fighting Rio's battles. I think it's a safe bet Ferdinand will be the
best player on the field tomorrow. And, by the look of Wednesday's results,
he'll have to be.