Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he made a major mistake last season with Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov.
The former Spurs frontman, who arrived for £30.75million last summer, came under fire last season after not living up to Old Trafford expectations, but Fergie has said he played the striker too deep.
The 28-year-old started 36 games and scored 14 goals last term for United, but he often drifted in and out of games and was often disappointing in the big matches.
Ferguson said: "Berbatov probably suffered from a lack of confidence last season, he didn't show it outwardly but it may have affected his inner thoughts.
"But we were a bit unfair to him last season because we asked him to play too deep. We thought that suited him because of how he played at Spurs, but we were wrong.
"We realise now he is at his best in the final third of the pitch, where he's a real threat. We know how to use him this season and he won't change from that.
"Part of the image problem he's had is that he has this languid style of running. But although he hasn't the pace of Cristiano Ronaldo or Nani, he's still quickish. He is probably as quick as Rooney."
Berbatov was a starter in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield and put in an impressive performance with his link-up play with Wayne Rooney a highlight ahead of the new season.
Sunday's line-up was a big hint that Sir Alex will partner Rooney and Berbatov together for Sunday's Premier League opener against Birmingham with Michael Owen set to take his place on the bench.
Fergie seems confident Berbatov can improve on his efforts last season and United's switch to a more conventional 4-4-2 might just help him along the way.
His partnership with Rooney has shown promise, but the signing of winger Antonio Valencia could be key for Berbatov with the former Wigan man expected to provide a fruitful supply line from the right flank.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Rooney and Berbatov shine as new look United impress...
The Community Shield has all too often been little more than just another pre-season workout, but yesterday's curtain raiser provided much more than that. From a Manchester United perspective, it was the beginning of life without Ronaldo and Tevez following their high-profile departures, it was the first real test of Ferguson's re-jigged forward-line that consisted of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, so how did it go?
Well, United went on to lose the game on penalties following a two-two draw after 90 minutes -no big deal there - apart from the fact that Giggs and Evra took two of the most awful spot-kicks you are ever likely to see, but let's forget about the lottery of penalties and instead we should focus on what the fans can look forward to in the season ahead.
Personally, I didn't expect Ferguson to start with a 442 formation, but that is precisely what the manager did and all credit to him because it was a decision that could easily have backfired against a powerful looking Chelsea side who are keen to avenge recent defeats against the champions.
Nani and Park were on opposite flanks and in central midfield Fletcher and Carrick were in harness. Nani scored a very good goal and showed signs of improvement when working back for the team on defensive duties, but no doubting Ferguson will be taking him to task following a lapse of concentration which in part led to Carvalho equalising, in so doing wiping out the Portuguese winger's first-half effort.
It was so refreshing to see Rooney set free from being tied to the left flank where he has been stationed at the start of so many recent big games; his link-up play with Berbatov was very good. The Bulgarian had a fine game, so good in fact that he would have been my man of the match. I cannot recall seeing Berbatov play so well alongside any other United player during his relatively short time with the club, so there's much to look forward to there hopefully... at times against Chelsea, Berbatov's control and speed of thought was little short breathtaking. With the danger of going over the top, at times it seemed as though we were watching a different player because there seemed to be a greater sense of urgency where the former Spurs striker was concerned.
It wasn't just Berbatov and Rooney who played well in what was an absorbing opening period, barring Ben Foster in goal, the whole United team seemed to be sharper than the team in Blue. The champions first time passing and movement gave them an edge and the surging runs of Evra and Nani down United's left flank gave the West London club problems aplenty.
Both teams failed to capitalise on further first-half opportunities, but after the half time break it was Carlo Ancelotti's new team who took control of the game.
Chelsea are a very powerful side and they will always create chances against opposing teams who allow you to play and with Ferguson adopting a more offensive 442 formation, it was always going to be that way, however, the United manager had every right to be unhappy when Chelsea eventually took the lead through Frank Lampard (71), because moments earlier Ballack appeared to elbow Patrice Evra.
Michael Owen could so easily have put the champions on level terms after just failing to connect with a header after he'd replaced Berbatov late on. Fabio da Silva looked good at right back and Valencia looked useful when replacing Nani who came off with a shoulder injury.
In added time Wayne Rooney ensured the match went to penalties when he equalised after being put through by substitute Ryan Giggs.
On a day that ended in defeat there was many plus points about this United performance, the formation stood up to the power of Chelsea; the courage of Ferguson was rewarded with a fine fist-half display. It's very early days though and it will be very interesting to see how the new strike partnership of Rooney and Berbatov develops, the early signs look good with the Bulgarian looking as though he has taken onboard the manager's comments about the need for everyone to take up the challenge of replacing Ronaldo and his goals.
Result aside, there were some concerns, John O'Shea looked vulnerable at rightback and United's central midfield was stretched badly more than once in the second-half as the Reds pushed for openings in search of an equaliser. United were simply short on numbers at times and that's a dangerous game when you're facing players of the calibre of Drogba and Lampard.
Ben Foster looked nervous and edgy in goal and his kicking and decision-making left a lot to be desired on several occasions and Ferguson will no doubt be having some serious words with the stopper in the wake of what was a very average performance.
Well, United went on to lose the game on penalties following a two-two draw after 90 minutes -no big deal there - apart from the fact that Giggs and Evra took two of the most awful spot-kicks you are ever likely to see, but let's forget about the lottery of penalties and instead we should focus on what the fans can look forward to in the season ahead.
Personally, I didn't expect Ferguson to start with a 442 formation, but that is precisely what the manager did and all credit to him because it was a decision that could easily have backfired against a powerful looking Chelsea side who are keen to avenge recent defeats against the champions.
Nani and Park were on opposite flanks and in central midfield Fletcher and Carrick were in harness. Nani scored a very good goal and showed signs of improvement when working back for the team on defensive duties, but no doubting Ferguson will be taking him to task following a lapse of concentration which in part led to Carvalho equalising, in so doing wiping out the Portuguese winger's first-half effort.
It was so refreshing to see Rooney set free from being tied to the left flank where he has been stationed at the start of so many recent big games; his link-up play with Berbatov was very good. The Bulgarian had a fine game, so good in fact that he would have been my man of the match. I cannot recall seeing Berbatov play so well alongside any other United player during his relatively short time with the club, so there's much to look forward to there hopefully... at times against Chelsea, Berbatov's control and speed of thought was little short breathtaking. With the danger of going over the top, at times it seemed as though we were watching a different player because there seemed to be a greater sense of urgency where the former Spurs striker was concerned.
It wasn't just Berbatov and Rooney who played well in what was an absorbing opening period, barring Ben Foster in goal, the whole United team seemed to be sharper than the team in Blue. The champions first time passing and movement gave them an edge and the surging runs of Evra and Nani down United's left flank gave the West London club problems aplenty.
Both teams failed to capitalise on further first-half opportunities, but after the half time break it was Carlo Ancelotti's new team who took control of the game.
Chelsea are a very powerful side and they will always create chances against opposing teams who allow you to play and with Ferguson adopting a more offensive 442 formation, it was always going to be that way, however, the United manager had every right to be unhappy when Chelsea eventually took the lead through Frank Lampard (71), because moments earlier Ballack appeared to elbow Patrice Evra.
Michael Owen could so easily have put the champions on level terms after just failing to connect with a header after he'd replaced Berbatov late on. Fabio da Silva looked good at right back and Valencia looked useful when replacing Nani who came off with a shoulder injury.
In added time Wayne Rooney ensured the match went to penalties when he equalised after being put through by substitute Ryan Giggs.
On a day that ended in defeat there was many plus points about this United performance, the formation stood up to the power of Chelsea; the courage of Ferguson was rewarded with a fine fist-half display. It's very early days though and it will be very interesting to see how the new strike partnership of Rooney and Berbatov develops, the early signs look good with the Bulgarian looking as though he has taken onboard the manager's comments about the need for everyone to take up the challenge of replacing Ronaldo and his goals.
Result aside, there were some concerns, John O'Shea looked vulnerable at rightback and United's central midfield was stretched badly more than once in the second-half as the Reds pushed for openings in search of an equaliser. United were simply short on numbers at times and that's a dangerous game when you're facing players of the calibre of Drogba and Lampard.
Ben Foster looked nervous and edgy in goal and his kicking and decision-making left a lot to be desired on several occasions and Ferguson will no doubt be having some serious words with the stopper in the wake of what was a very average performance.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Predictions for United and the season ahead...
Seeing as the new season is just around the corner now seems as good a time as any to make a few predictions. Following a summer of low-profile signings United are unquestionably much weaker than they were last season having lost Ronaldo and Tevez. Everyone is asking where the goals will come from, Ferguson has responded by demanding the whole team scores more goals between them, but it's safe to say that many fans and neutrals alike do not share the manager's confidence.
Predictions:
United
Premier League: 3rd
Champions League: Group stage.
I expect the Red Devils to have a good start in league and we could head the table in the early weeks of the season, but I do not see this squad scoring enough goals. The best United can hope for is to win either the FA Cup or the Carling Cup.
Liverpool
Premier League: 2nd
Champions League: Quarter-final
Like him, or more likely loathe him from a United perspective, the Liverpool manager has been doing a good job. However, the loss of Alonso could affect the Merseyside Reds this season because whenever Gerrard was missing through injury the Spaniard ensured the skipper was not missed. If Gerrard and Torres can remain fit they will push Chelsea all the way in the title race.
Chelsea
Premier League: 1st
Champions League: Semi-final
Chelsea are the strongest of all the accepted top four having kept hold of their big star names. Do not expect the West London club to have it all their own way from the start to what is likely to be another close run finish. The jury will be out on Ancelotti, but I think he will do well and go on to secure his first Premier League title. The best hope for Chelsea's challengers is that their new Italian manager takes time to settle in early doors, but the former AC Milan coach has bags of experience and I expect him to come through.
Arsenal
Premier League: 4th
Champions League: Group stage
Of all the leading manager's Arsene Wenger is under the most pressure. Arsenal haven't won a trophy since 2005 and that is a long time for the Gunners. Like Ferguson, Arsene Wenger has seen some of his better players sold, and just like his opposite number at Old Trafford he has been unable to replace them like for like.
Manchester City
Premier League: 5th
With the danger of upsetting many United fans, I can see City doing something they've not done since 1976, that is win a trophy.
Champions League: Barcelona
FA Cup: Liverpool
Carling Cup: Man City
Finally, for those of you who love your football check out the launch of The Season, the Guardian’s ultimate guide to the new football season, its free with the paper on Monday 10 August. As well as providing you with essential team-by-team information, The Season, also offers readers some off-the-wall and interesting critiques on the football league's top teams. This all comes in a handy guide size, small enough to take to the terraces, but large enough to satisfy your appetite for endless stats and rumours.
Highlights include:
Manchester United without Ronaldo
Manchester City’s prospects after spending almost £100m in the summer
Rafael Benitez, Liverpool’s history and their need for the title
Foreign players' experiences in England focusing on Wigan’s Roberto Martinez
World Cup qualifying clips and great World Cup clichés
Newcastle's chances of getting out of a tough Championship
Carlo Ancelotti's Twitter page
The Michael Owen-style brochures you might have missed
The possible shift in power from the Premier League to La Liga
ESPN and the BBC’s involvement in showing live football
A funny look at the new and very complicated Europa League
Uefa's experiment with five referees per match
Also, Featured:
Premier League team-by-team guide and previews of the Championship/League
One/League Two and the Scottish Premier League
Predictions:
United
Premier League: 3rd
Champions League: Group stage.
I expect the Red Devils to have a good start in league and we could head the table in the early weeks of the season, but I do not see this squad scoring enough goals. The best United can hope for is to win either the FA Cup or the Carling Cup.
Liverpool
Premier League: 2nd
Champions League: Quarter-final
Like him, or more likely loathe him from a United perspective, the Liverpool manager has been doing a good job. However, the loss of Alonso could affect the Merseyside Reds this season because whenever Gerrard was missing through injury the Spaniard ensured the skipper was not missed. If Gerrard and Torres can remain fit they will push Chelsea all the way in the title race.
Chelsea
Premier League: 1st
Champions League: Semi-final
Chelsea are the strongest of all the accepted top four having kept hold of their big star names. Do not expect the West London club to have it all their own way from the start to what is likely to be another close run finish. The jury will be out on Ancelotti, but I think he will do well and go on to secure his first Premier League title. The best hope for Chelsea's challengers is that their new Italian manager takes time to settle in early doors, but the former AC Milan coach has bags of experience and I expect him to come through.
Arsenal
Premier League: 4th
Champions League: Group stage
Of all the leading manager's Arsene Wenger is under the most pressure. Arsenal haven't won a trophy since 2005 and that is a long time for the Gunners. Like Ferguson, Arsene Wenger has seen some of his better players sold, and just like his opposite number at Old Trafford he has been unable to replace them like for like.
Manchester City
Premier League: 5th
With the danger of upsetting many United fans, I can see City doing something they've not done since 1976, that is win a trophy.
Champions League: Barcelona
FA Cup: Liverpool
Carling Cup: Man City
Finally, for those of you who love your football check out the launch of The Season, the Guardian’s ultimate guide to the new football season, its free with the paper on Monday 10 August. As well as providing you with essential team-by-team information, The Season, also offers readers some off-the-wall and interesting critiques on the football league's top teams. This all comes in a handy guide size, small enough to take to the terraces, but large enough to satisfy your appetite for endless stats and rumours.Highlights include:
Manchester United without Ronaldo
Manchester City’s prospects after spending almost £100m in the summer
Rafael Benitez, Liverpool’s history and their need for the title
Foreign players' experiences in England focusing on Wigan’s Roberto Martinez
World Cup qualifying clips and great World Cup clichés
Newcastle's chances of getting out of a tough Championship
Carlo Ancelotti's Twitter page
The Michael Owen-style brochures you might have missed
The possible shift in power from the Premier League to La Liga
ESPN and the BBC’s involvement in showing live football
A funny look at the new and very complicated Europa League
Uefa's experiment with five referees per match
Also, Featured:
Premier League team-by-team guide and previews of the Championship/League
One/League Two and the Scottish Premier League
Owen set to take Berbatov's place in United's starting XI?....
Towards the end of last season it appeared as though Ferguson had realised that just perhaps he'd made a big mistake in signing Dimitar Berbatov as the manager left him out of the starting line-up when facing Arsenal on three occasions, as well as the team that faced Barcelona in the Champions League Final.
Ever since his arrival from Tottenham last summer his worth has divided opinion among the fans, some were unhappy when the champions opted not to sign Carlos Tevez but instead the club chose to shell-out £30m to acquire the services of the Bulgarian striker - in fairness, it looked like a reasonable deal at the time even if the asking price was over-inflated.
Roll the clock forward 12 months on following the high-profile departures of Ronaldo and Tevez and everyone including Ferguson is wondering where the goals will come from this season, added to which the United manager has started his mind-games early when attacking rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, some fans are asking exactly why this is given we are still in pre-season. The suspicion is Ferguson is trying to deflect attention from his own problems. As ever though, the talking counts for little because once the action starts the real talking points will centre on results on the pitch and not what goes on off it.
Tomorrow United face Chelsea in the Community Shield, the West London club have installed Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager and it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of his first overseas appointment, but given the Chelsea squad has so much experience they are likely to be as strong as ever this season and they must start Sunday's curtain-raiser as firm favourites.
United will be without Vidic, who we are told has a "calf injury", Jonny Evans is set to deputise. Edwin van der Sarr is out with a broken figure, but Ben Foster is more than an adequate replacement.
As far as Berbatov is concerned there must be a strong possibility that he faces being benched again, only this time it's likely that Michael Owen - a free signing from Newcastle no less - will be his replacement. Even if it doesn't happen at Wembley on Sunday it is only a matter of time before Owen edges out the Bulgarian at some point, because the simple truth is despite Berbatov's hefty price tag and reputation, he is unlikely to be United's main striker this coming season and that's despite what Ferguson said recently. Like last season, Ferguson will almost certainly leave out the former Spurs striker, possibly for the some of the most important fixtures, not least because doubts persist about Berbatov's commitment and desire, but somewhat frustratingly, there are no questions about his ability.
Some say Ferguson is a lucky manager and you do wonder if fate will play a part in the season ahead, because the United manager may not have a lot choice but to blood his budding young players due to missing out on his main transfer targets this summer, the fans like nothing better than to see a rising star come up through the ranks and make it in the United first-team. The club has a long and proud tradition of producing home-grown talent and so even if Ferguson missed out on players like Benzema we might well see the emergence of Macheda and Welbeck.
It promises to be arguably one of the most interesting seasons in Ferguson's amazing reign as United manager and if he actually goes on to win the Premier League title it could well be the most rewarding of all given the squad at his disposal. On that note Ferguson went on record last season stating that the current squad was his strongest ever, you do wonder what his response would be to the same question a few months down the line?...
Ever since his arrival from Tottenham last summer his worth has divided opinion among the fans, some were unhappy when the champions opted not to sign Carlos Tevez but instead the club chose to shell-out £30m to acquire the services of the Bulgarian striker - in fairness, it looked like a reasonable deal at the time even if the asking price was over-inflated.
Roll the clock forward 12 months on following the high-profile departures of Ronaldo and Tevez and everyone including Ferguson is wondering where the goals will come from this season, added to which the United manager has started his mind-games early when attacking rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, some fans are asking exactly why this is given we are still in pre-season. The suspicion is Ferguson is trying to deflect attention from his own problems. As ever though, the talking counts for little because once the action starts the real talking points will centre on results on the pitch and not what goes on off it.
Tomorrow United face Chelsea in the Community Shield, the West London club have installed Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager and it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of his first overseas appointment, but given the Chelsea squad has so much experience they are likely to be as strong as ever this season and they must start Sunday's curtain-raiser as firm favourites.
United will be without Vidic, who we are told has a "calf injury", Jonny Evans is set to deputise. Edwin van der Sarr is out with a broken figure, but Ben Foster is more than an adequate replacement.
As far as Berbatov is concerned there must be a strong possibility that he faces being benched again, only this time it's likely that Michael Owen - a free signing from Newcastle no less - will be his replacement. Even if it doesn't happen at Wembley on Sunday it is only a matter of time before Owen edges out the Bulgarian at some point, because the simple truth is despite Berbatov's hefty price tag and reputation, he is unlikely to be United's main striker this coming season and that's despite what Ferguson said recently. Like last season, Ferguson will almost certainly leave out the former Spurs striker, possibly for the some of the most important fixtures, not least because doubts persist about Berbatov's commitment and desire, but somewhat frustratingly, there are no questions about his ability.
Some say Ferguson is a lucky manager and you do wonder if fate will play a part in the season ahead, because the United manager may not have a lot choice but to blood his budding young players due to missing out on his main transfer targets this summer, the fans like nothing better than to see a rising star come up through the ranks and make it in the United first-team. The club has a long and proud tradition of producing home-grown talent and so even if Ferguson missed out on players like Benzema we might well see the emergence of Macheda and Welbeck.
It promises to be arguably one of the most interesting seasons in Ferguson's amazing reign as United manager and if he actually goes on to win the Premier League title it could well be the most rewarding of all given the squad at his disposal. On that note Ferguson went on record last season stating that the current squad was his strongest ever, you do wonder what his response would be to the same question a few months down the line?...
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Foster set for United chance
Edwin van der Sar’s untimely bad break has given Ben Foster the chance he has been craving for at Old Trafford.
Van der Sar is facing the prospect of eight weeks out after undergoing surgery on a broken finger and bone in his left hand.
The 38-year-old Dutchman sustained the injury saving a penalty from Danijel Pranjic in the Red Devils' 7-6 shoot-out defeat to Bayern Munich in the pre-season Audi Cup in Germany.
It means Foster, who played the first half of United’s 2-0 friendly win over Valencia on Wednesday, is in line to face Chelsea in the Community Shield at the weekend before starting the season as United’s number one.
The 26-year-old, who has appeared 10 times in the United first team, is expected to be Fergie’s preferred choice ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak.
Ferguson is a big fan of the player and believes the former Watford stopper will go on to become an England regular, despite the fact that he’s only played once for his country under Fabio Capello.
“Ben Foster will be England's goalkeeper in South Africa, I have absolutely no doubts about that," Ferguson said last month.
"He is streets ahead of any other English goalkeeper.
"He has magnificent abilities. He is lightning quick, has excellent use of the ball and is exceedingly brave. He is a top drawer goalkeeper."
Foster, who has just penned a new four-year deal, has himself been the victim of a catalogue of injuries since he was signed from Stoke four years ago.
After two seasons on loan at Watford, a cruciate ligament injury wrecked his first season at Old Trafford, a broken finger then cost him a place at last year's Club World Cup in Japan before a thumb injury ended his hopes of appearing on the bench for last term's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
The latter problem was particularly costly given Foster would almost certainly have won two more caps in the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra last month.
Van der Sar is facing the prospect of eight weeks out after undergoing surgery on a broken finger and bone in his left hand.
The 38-year-old Dutchman sustained the injury saving a penalty from Danijel Pranjic in the Red Devils' 7-6 shoot-out defeat to Bayern Munich in the pre-season Audi Cup in Germany.
It means Foster, who played the first half of United’s 2-0 friendly win over Valencia on Wednesday, is in line to face Chelsea in the Community Shield at the weekend before starting the season as United’s number one.
The 26-year-old, who has appeared 10 times in the United first team, is expected to be Fergie’s preferred choice ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak.
Ferguson is a big fan of the player and believes the former Watford stopper will go on to become an England regular, despite the fact that he’s only played once for his country under Fabio Capello.
“Ben Foster will be England's goalkeeper in South Africa, I have absolutely no doubts about that," Ferguson said last month.
"He is streets ahead of any other English goalkeeper.
"He has magnificent abilities. He is lightning quick, has excellent use of the ball and is exceedingly brave. He is a top drawer goalkeeper."
Foster, who has just penned a new four-year deal, has himself been the victim of a catalogue of injuries since he was signed from Stoke four years ago.
After two seasons on loan at Watford, a cruciate ligament injury wrecked his first season at Old Trafford, a broken finger then cost him a place at last year's Club World Cup in Japan before a thumb injury ended his hopes of appearing on the bench for last term's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
The latter problem was particularly costly given Foster would almost certainly have won two more caps in the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra last month.
Fergie no nearer solving striker conundrum as big kick-off looms large...
United were in action last night in another pre-season friendly as the champions ran out two-nil winners over Valencia at Old Trafford, the star of the show was Antonio Valencia who helped to create a glut of goal scoring opportunities. Michael Owen spurned four good chances, but he was eventually replaced by Macheda on the hour. Wayne Rooney and youngster Tom Cleverly were on target as the Reds enjoyed another useful work-out.
While Fergie will have been delighted with his new signings, the most serious pre-season test will come this weekend when United take on Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley. Ahead the traditional curtain-raiser to the season proper Fergie is still without Nemanja Vidic which must now be a major concern for the United manager. Edwin van der Sarr is also out with a broken finger, but the champions have decent cover in the form of Ben Foster.
Injury problems aside, the most intriguing questions about the new United, post Ronaldo and Tevez, concern how Ferguson will set about re-shaping his team. We have been told that United will play a different way this season, no one (including Fergie one suspects) knows what this actually means, because prior to the Valencia clash Rooney and Owen hadn't featured on the pitch at the same at any point during pre-season, let alone been paired together in tandem as the main strike pairing.
However, last night Owen and Rooney were up front for United and the conclusion is Fergie is still tinkering with his forward-line in search of the most productive combination. It begs the question, who will play up front against Chelsea on Sunday and what will the United formation be?
With Owen being withdrawn on the hour against Valencia it seems almost certain that he will get the nod to start against Chelsea. As for the champions formation, given Chelsea's power in midfield and knowing that Fergie is unlikely to dare to play 442, it's a knocking bet United fans can look forward to Wayne Rooney playing wide left again with Antonio Valencia on the opposite flank in a 433 formation.
Ferguson isn't renowned for his tactical nouse and so can the fans look forward to more of the same regarding tactics ; will United play differently this coming season? For the toughest looking games, Rooney could once again find himself on the left flank; there will also no doubt be question marks about the strength of United's central midfield, as exposed by Barcelona in the Champions League final.
We cannot rule out that Ferguson will surprise us all by opting for a different formation in a bid to get the maximum from his squad, but so far this summer there's been no signs of that actually happening, so chances are we can expect more of the same.
Prestige aside, Sunday's result means little, but onlookers will be looking for signs that Ferguson does indeed have a post-Ronaldo plan, because it's one thing to write off rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City, quite another proving it on the pitch where off the field talking counts for nothing.
United know what to expect from Chelsea and the fact that Fergie is still striving to find his strongest team is no bad thing in some ways; the players will be only too aware that places are up for grabs, so players like Macheda will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to prove that he is worthy of a starting place.
I personally expect United to come off second best on Sunday, but it could be an interesting game if Macheda enters the scene and he is given enough time to show what he is capable of.
While Fergie will have been delighted with his new signings, the most serious pre-season test will come this weekend when United take on Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley. Ahead the traditional curtain-raiser to the season proper Fergie is still without Nemanja Vidic which must now be a major concern for the United manager. Edwin van der Sarr is also out with a broken finger, but the champions have decent cover in the form of Ben Foster.
Injury problems aside, the most intriguing questions about the new United, post Ronaldo and Tevez, concern how Ferguson will set about re-shaping his team. We have been told that United will play a different way this season, no one (including Fergie one suspects) knows what this actually means, because prior to the Valencia clash Rooney and Owen hadn't featured on the pitch at the same at any point during pre-season, let alone been paired together in tandem as the main strike pairing.
However, last night Owen and Rooney were up front for United and the conclusion is Fergie is still tinkering with his forward-line in search of the most productive combination. It begs the question, who will play up front against Chelsea on Sunday and what will the United formation be?
With Owen being withdrawn on the hour against Valencia it seems almost certain that he will get the nod to start against Chelsea. As for the champions formation, given Chelsea's power in midfield and knowing that Fergie is unlikely to dare to play 442, it's a knocking bet United fans can look forward to Wayne Rooney playing wide left again with Antonio Valencia on the opposite flank in a 433 formation.
Ferguson isn't renowned for his tactical nouse and so can the fans look forward to more of the same regarding tactics ; will United play differently this coming season? For the toughest looking games, Rooney could once again find himself on the left flank; there will also no doubt be question marks about the strength of United's central midfield, as exposed by Barcelona in the Champions League final.
We cannot rule out that Ferguson will surprise us all by opting for a different formation in a bid to get the maximum from his squad, but so far this summer there's been no signs of that actually happening, so chances are we can expect more of the same.
Prestige aside, Sunday's result means little, but onlookers will be looking for signs that Ferguson does indeed have a post-Ronaldo plan, because it's one thing to write off rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City, quite another proving it on the pitch where off the field talking counts for nothing.
United know what to expect from Chelsea and the fact that Fergie is still striving to find his strongest team is no bad thing in some ways; the players will be only too aware that places are up for grabs, so players like Macheda will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to prove that he is worthy of a starting place.
I personally expect United to come off second best on Sunday, but it could be an interesting game if Macheda enters the scene and he is given enough time to show what he is capable of.
Monday, August 03, 2009
United fans get chance to put Alan Hansen in his place in League of Gentlemen...
So then you think you know your football, right? Well now is the time to prove it by joining my Daily Telegraph Football Fantasy Super League aka the "League of Gentlemen". Don't miss this opportunity to pit your wits against some of the UKs top football brains (and Alan Hansen). My Super League has attracted the attention of a former National Football Fantasy League winner, so expect the competition to be fierce.
Bragging rights are at stake, but if that's not enough the Daily Telegraph is offering a grand prize of £150,000 and a weekly prize of £30,000.
To join and get the chance to kick Hansen's butt send me an email via my contact details on this blog (click on my name under contributors) and I will send you an invitation.
The Fantasy League starts on Saturday, August 15th and runs until the end of the season. Terms and conditions apply see the official website for more details.
Telegraph Fantasy League - don't miss this opportunity to put Alan Hansen in his place
Bragging rights are at stake, but if that's not enough the Daily Telegraph is offering a grand prize of £150,000 and a weekly prize of £30,000.
To join and get the chance to kick Hansen's butt send me an email via my contact details on this blog (click on my name under contributors) and I will send you an invitation.
The Fantasy League starts on Saturday, August 15th and runs until the end of the season. Terms and conditions apply see the official website for more details.
Telegraph Fantasy League - don't miss this opportunity to put Alan Hansen in his place
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Could wingbacks provide answer to Fergie's problems?
Fergie says he's going to have to try something different if United are going to hit his target of 100 goals this coming season. The United manager says he expects players like Park and Valencia to do something that they've not done before in their careers that it is to score goals frequently. As far as the South Korean is concerned the idea that he might contribute say ten goals would appear to be doomed to failure from the start.
After a somewhat disappointing first season Fergie says he will use Berbatov in a different way - as the main striker no less - the success or failure of this plan pretty much hinges on the Bulgarian himself and so far he's remained silent, and quite what the former Spurs striker thinks about this new role would be interesting to know.
Berbatov is something of an enigma, he can produce moments of brilliance, but then moments later he can appear to look disinterested and lazy, but during his time in England at Spurs and United he has never looked like an out and out striker. Fergie's solution looks to be a lazy one from the outside looking in, but given we have a manager who plays strikers as wingers (Rooney) and wingers as strikers (Giggs) then nothing should surprise us.
United needed to sign a quick all round centre-forward this summer to complement their existing strike-force, because Berbatov most definitely is not that man.
From a tactical perspective, the fact that most observers will rightly accept the manager does need to do something different, is it not disappointing that Fergie hasn't even tried to do something different in pre-season? It's easy to say "we will simply shove Berbatov up front..." the idea is different, but it isn't exactly radical and worse still it's unlikely to work.
So then what else could Fergie have tried this summer and what other options are there? Fergie could opt for 4:4:2; this formation hinges on having a very strong central midfield pairing - think Ince and Keane and or Robson and Moses. Another vital ingredient is the addition of two hard working flank players. Valencia or Park could be perfect on the right, but for the left flank, you wonder if Tosic or Nani are quite good enough. Tosic looks too small while Nani has flattered to deceive on too many occasions and he doesn't defend well.
As far as the central midfield pairing goes, Fletcher and Carrick do not score enough goals, neither does Anderson. Given the various options at Fergie's disposal it would seem 4:4:2 would only work in the bread and butter domestic games - it is unlikely to yield positive results in the major encounters.
Another option would be to use wingbacks. United have some really pacey attacking fullbacks in the Da Silva brothers and Evra, so providing the defensive trio of Rio Ferdinand, Vidic and Wes Brown could organise themselves then playing three at the back could be another avenue.
Three at the back. Possible line up:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rio Vidic Brown ++++++++++++++
+++++++++++ Rafael ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Evra +++
++++++++++++ Valencia ++ Fletcher ++ Carrick ++++
+++++++++++++++Rooney (or Owen) Berbatov (or Macheda)+++++++
Playing three at the back is the most difficult system of all to implement because it relies on the intelligence on five defenders to do the right thing at the right time. One of the issues centres on the third central defender who is in danger of becoming under-employed when facing a 4:5:1 formation (Chelsea - who often employ just Drogba as the main striker), to counter this, one of the three central defenders has the option of pushing further up the pitch into by the opposition's attacking third. Of equal importance is when and when not to attack from the wingback perspective.
The biggest problem with playing three at the back is the system takes time to adapt to and that Fergie freely admits he is no tactical genius. It would take a coach of who has total belief in different systems (Louis Van Gaal or Mourinho) and so in all probability the very idea would never get beyond the tactics board (assuming there actually is one)...
The United manager also has the option of deploying 4:5:1, but here again who would be the main striker? It would have to be Owen, because at least he has pace. Do not be surprised if Fergie opts for 4:5:1 in the not too distant future.
With all that said, we United fans love Fergie, we love his tactics - even if on paper they don't make a lot of sense because he's brought us a lot of success and joy down the years, but it wasn't for nothing that not so long ago the fans named him 'Tinkerbell' and you do wonder if that moniker will be used more frequently in the weeks ahead...
After a somewhat disappointing first season Fergie says he will use Berbatov in a different way - as the main striker no less - the success or failure of this plan pretty much hinges on the Bulgarian himself and so far he's remained silent, and quite what the former Spurs striker thinks about this new role would be interesting to know.
Berbatov is something of an enigma, he can produce moments of brilliance, but then moments later he can appear to look disinterested and lazy, but during his time in England at Spurs and United he has never looked like an out and out striker. Fergie's solution looks to be a lazy one from the outside looking in, but given we have a manager who plays strikers as wingers (Rooney) and wingers as strikers (Giggs) then nothing should surprise us.
United needed to sign a quick all round centre-forward this summer to complement their existing strike-force, because Berbatov most definitely is not that man.
From a tactical perspective, the fact that most observers will rightly accept the manager does need to do something different, is it not disappointing that Fergie hasn't even tried to do something different in pre-season? It's easy to say "we will simply shove Berbatov up front..." the idea is different, but it isn't exactly radical and worse still it's unlikely to work.
So then what else could Fergie have tried this summer and what other options are there? Fergie could opt for 4:4:2; this formation hinges on having a very strong central midfield pairing - think Ince and Keane and or Robson and Moses. Another vital ingredient is the addition of two hard working flank players. Valencia or Park could be perfect on the right, but for the left flank, you wonder if Tosic or Nani are quite good enough. Tosic looks too small while Nani has flattered to deceive on too many occasions and he doesn't defend well.
As far as the central midfield pairing goes, Fletcher and Carrick do not score enough goals, neither does Anderson. Given the various options at Fergie's disposal it would seem 4:4:2 would only work in the bread and butter domestic games - it is unlikely to yield positive results in the major encounters.
Another option would be to use wingbacks. United have some really pacey attacking fullbacks in the Da Silva brothers and Evra, so providing the defensive trio of Rio Ferdinand, Vidic and Wes Brown could organise themselves then playing three at the back could be another avenue.
Three at the back. Possible line up:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rio Vidic Brown ++++++++++++++
+++++++++++ Rafael ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Evra +++
++++++++++++ Valencia ++ Fletcher ++ Carrick ++++
+++++++++++++++Rooney (or Owen) Berbatov (or Macheda)+++++++
Playing three at the back is the most difficult system of all to implement because it relies on the intelligence on five defenders to do the right thing at the right time. One of the issues centres on the third central defender who is in danger of becoming under-employed when facing a 4:5:1 formation (Chelsea - who often employ just Drogba as the main striker), to counter this, one of the three central defenders has the option of pushing further up the pitch into by the opposition's attacking third. Of equal importance is when and when not to attack from the wingback perspective.
The biggest problem with playing three at the back is the system takes time to adapt to and that Fergie freely admits he is no tactical genius. It would take a coach of who has total belief in different systems (Louis Van Gaal or Mourinho) and so in all probability the very idea would never get beyond the tactics board (assuming there actually is one)...
The United manager also has the option of deploying 4:5:1, but here again who would be the main striker? It would have to be Owen, because at least he has pace. Do not be surprised if Fergie opts for 4:5:1 in the not too distant future.
With all that said, we United fans love Fergie, we love his tactics - even if on paper they don't make a lot of sense because he's brought us a lot of success and joy down the years, but it wasn't for nothing that not so long ago the fans named him 'Tinkerbell' and you do wonder if that moniker will be used more frequently in the weeks ahead...
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