 |
| Fergie looking to the future |
The Premier
League season 2011/12 will be remembered as the most scintillating in English
top-flight football history, although it was undoubtedly a season Sir Alex
Ferguson would rather forget. As the media produces a cacophony of apparent
support in Roberto Mancini’s favour, despite having rallied wholeheartedly for
his removal just three weeks previous, the Manchester United faithful focus
their own spotlight on the man responsible for their club’s unrivalled success in
the last two decades.
Originally
set to step down as manager in 2002, Ferguson has since scrapped two further
dates for his retirement, claiming, "Retirement is for young people... If
I get off the treadmill, where do you think I am going? Down there. Trust me.
When you get older, don't retire."
No Manchester
United fan would dream of questioning Ferguson, yet those left shell-shocked by
the manner in which their ‘noisy neighbours’ stole their Premier League crown,
are understandably concerned at their recent inability to perform in big games.
Blame for inconsistent performances must fall on the players, but a closer
analysis of the tactics employed by the Red Devil’s boss raises questions of
their own.
 |
| The famous night in Barcelona |
A brief
history of England’s most successful domestic outfit is not complete without
mention of the likes of Best, Charlton, Law, Cantona, Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney.
These names illustrate a few examples of the ruthless attacking potency that has
defined United’s success – a club based on fast, direct, skilful offense,
bombarding defences with unrelenting waves of aggressive football.
‘Ruthless’,
‘direct’ and ‘aggressive’ are indeed adjectives that many would have chosen to describe
Ferguson, especially in his earlier years, but at the ripe age of 70, the
Scotsman’s number two, Mike Phelan admits “He has mellowed out, definitely.”
The boss himself concedes, “I don't have any confrontations really, not
nowadays, although maybe when I was younger I would have.”
Ferguson,
famous for recognising potential talent and moulding great teams over time, has
always had his personality firmly emblazoned on every side that has graced Old
Trafford. His never-say-die attitude has become a trait so dominant in each of
his creations that United are now renowned for scoring late goals to save and
win matches, such as the 2-1 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich
in 1999 at the Camp Nou, owing to two injury-time goals.
 |
| Too much on his shoulders? |
As Ferguson
ages and his ability to become aggravated subsides, his tendency to err on the
side of caution dramatically increases, powerfully highlighted this season
through his choice of formation and tactics in numerous games, in which United
have failed to gain the result they required and were expected to achieve.
In seven
key fixtures this season, Ferguson fielded a United team that boasted just one lone
striker, resulting in four defeats and three draws, causing their exit from Champions
League, F.A. Cup and Europa League competitions and directly effecting their
surrendering of the Premier League title:
Sep 27 Basel Champions League 3-3 Draw
Oct 15 Liverpool Premier League 1-1 Draw
Nov 22 Benfica Champions League 2-2 Draw
Dec 07 Basel Champions League 2-1 Loss
Jan 28 Liverpool F.A. Cup 2-1 Loss
Mar 15 Ath.
Bilbao Europa League 2-1 Loss
Apr 30 Man
City Premier League 1-0 Loss
United have
won countless trophies in the past, operating a tried and trusted 4-4-2
formation, allowing two strikers to work together, forming a lethal partnership
and running opposition defences ragged, exemplified by combinations of: Bobby
Charlton - George Best, Mark Hughes - Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke - Andy Cole, Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer - Teddy Sheringham and Wayne Rooney - Cristiano Ronaldo.
 |
| United legends |
However, in
recent seasons, Ferguson has felt the need to play a lone striker in United’s
big games, in a move that signifies a lack of belief in his team’s ability to
overpower their opposition. The only successful operation of a lone striker
policy arises when the chosen forward is exceptionally tall and able to win
every aerial battle, or outstandingly fast, capable of breaking offside traps
and running around defenders.
In Rooney,
United have a wonderfully talented player, but one that is neither especially
tall, nor particularly quick, yet, Ferguson insists on forcing his most talented
asset to play a role he is entirely unsuited for. Rooney is a world-class
striker who has shown through electric partnerships with Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Cristiano
Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez that he can
expertly dictate games against even the classiest of opposition.
To strip
Rooney of a striking partner is to remove The Hulk of his anger – it
significantly reduces any threat that he may otherwise pose. For United, this
has led to opposition teams being given a free ride in defence, confident that
four men could always outrun or out-jump the England international.
 |
| Will the power shift be temporary? |
In Ferguson’s
defence, the modern game has evolved and we are currently in an era where possession
of the ball is more important than ever before, as so flawlessly exhibited by
Barcelona and the European and World Cup Champions, Spain. Increased numbers of
teams flood the midfield in an attempt to retain possession in a Muhammad
Ali-esque tactic, which focuses on tiring the opposition, both mentally and
physically, before launching scathing attacks. When playing superior opponents,
who are masters of the art of ball retention, it becomes necessary to match
their numbers in midfield and for this reason, we witness a growing popularity
of a lone striker formation.
United
supporters must also appreciate that having never replaced Ronaldo or Tevez,
that they are not the force they once were. In relying on players in their late
30’s, such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, who lack pace, there is always a
vunerability in the midfield. This is often accounted for through use of an
extra holding midfielder, at the expense of a striker and although Michael
Carrick had his best season for United, when comparing any of this trio to a
player of Yaya Toure’s ability, the gulf in class is all too apparent. In any
case, the best form of defence is attack.
United followers
will be hurt by their loss this season, but given City played the better
football, they will be more concerned by the manner in which they seemed to
surrender their apparent stronghold on the title. Playing a midfield five at
the Etihad of Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Park and Nani, against City’s 4-4-2,
Ferguson made a shocking error of judgement. Only Nani boasts any pace, though himself
and Park had a mere three starts between them in the previous ten outings. The
likes of United’s most in-form stars in Valencia, Young and Welbeck, who all offer
speed in abundance, languished on the bench as the one striker policy provided
City with 90 minutes of unanswered domination. In essence, Ferguson played for
the draw and was punished for doing so.
 |
| The young, ruthless Ferguson |
If you pose
no attacking threat to your opposition, there is only one possible outcome. Being
beaten by a better team holds no shame, but failing to play for victory is a
sin at any level, especially for Manchester United, one of Europe’s elite empires.
A sin that a young Ferguson side would never make.
With
Manchester United enduring their first barren season since 2004/05, the future
looks uncertain at Old Trafford. Manchester City fans are quick to suggest this
is the end of an era for the red half of Manchester, though only a fool would
fail to recognise this is hopeful optimism. United still hold a strong squad,
thriving with young talent and their narrow failure this season will undoubtedly
result in significant summer signings.
However, personnel
aside, the real key to United’s response lies not in the hands of Sir Alex
Ferguson, but in his head. The lack of confidence in his players’ ability was
all too apparent this season, epitomised by his negative tactics. If he is to mastermind a comeback, as he has done
on so many occasions before, he must take heed of the Manchester United motto
and once again ‘Believe’.
Written by Dom Wallace
