14 March 2024 , 22:11
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Gary Taylor-Fletcher has slammed Nemanja Vidic and admitted he doesn't think the ex-Manchester United defender was anywhere near the level of Virgil van Dijk, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
Vidic spent eight successful years at United between 2006 and 2014 after joining from Spartak Moscow, making 300 appearances and winning 10 major trophies. The Serbian is generally renowned as one of the greatest centre-backs in Premier League history.
However, Taylor-Fletcher, who came up against Vidic twice during Blackpool's top-flight campaign in 2010/11, hit out at Vidic and doesn't think he deserves the praise he receives.
In reply to a tweet which hailed Vidic and his achievements, Taylor-Fletcher said: "Yeah and I tore him apart twice for Blackpool in 2010/11 season. He was no where near levels of Ferdinand, Terry & VVD. He was the same level as [Martin] Skrtel. Solid good player. Not elite."
Taylor-Fletcher retired from football in June 2019 following a spell at Welsh side Llandudno. The 42-year-old previously played for the likes of Blackpool, Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield and Lincoln, scoring a respectable 136 goals in 637 appearances during his 20-year career.
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He spent six years at the Tangerines and notably struck against United on the final day of the 2010/11 season. Taylor-Fletcher lined up against Vidic at Old Trafford - and in the reverse fixture - as he put Blackpool 2-1 up, before they eventually fell to a 4-2 defeat and relegation back to the Championship.
In Taylor-Fletcher's tweet, he didn't think Vidic was up the same level of Ferdinand, Van Dijk and Terry before claiming the Serb was at the same level as ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.
Nemanja Vidic won five Premier League titles for Manchester United (Getty Images)Fans reacted to Taylor-Fletcher's admission and it got mixed reviews. One said: "Thank you for speaking nothing but facts." Another agreed: "I'll buy you a drink whenever you're down next." A third admitted: "This is true. He did. At Old Trafford as well." A fourth said: "He's not lying."
Meanwhile, some disagreed. One said: "Never seen something so ridiculous and I've been on this app for 12 years." Another claimed: "former blackpool & premier league player saying this is sane." A third said: "Funny that Gary I seem to remember that same nemanja vidic sending you down on the last day of the very season."
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