"If we had a starting XI that no one could argue about it wouldn't say a lot for English football. We'd probably be on a downward spiral. It's good that people have different ideas about who should play"

In this quote, Rio Ferdinand is revealing his belief that having actually a set starting lineup that everyone settles on would not be beneficial for English football. He argues that having a diverse series of opinions and ideas about who need to play is actually a favorable thing. This allows for healthy competitors and keeps the group on their toes, avoiding them from ending up being contented. Ferdinand suggests that having a beginning XI that is continuously being discussed and challenged suggests a strong and competitive football culture. It shows that there are numerous gifted gamers to pick from and that the group is constantly progressing and enhancing.