Oct 26
Fergie to polish United’s rough diamond.
In football, perhaps more than it other team sports, managers face a crucial decision as they try to accomodate a particularly talented player into a well-oiled system.
So it was surprisingly that Sir Alex Ferguson declared that United might ditch their traditional 4-4-2 to adopt a “diamond” formation, with a player sitting as shield in front of the back four, one playing in the hole between the two strikers, with the remaining two midfielders deployed more centrally rather than “hugging” the touchlines.
Sir Alex hinted that the decision would allow United to make the most out of Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley’s abilities, modern generation midfielders who enjoy having the ball at their feet as much as roaming around the pitch without it.
While other managers have previously thinkered with their formations to maximise one of their players’ potential (look no further than Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho), for United it would constitute a monumental change for the classic 4-4-2 is as commonly associated with the Old Trafford outfit as the stadium itself.
“If it turns out we play the diamond consistently, it would be revolutionary because it is going against our history, but the level of the game in England and Europe now is so high that making yourself unpredictable is going to be a strength.
“Teams will have to think if we are going to use two out wide or the diamond, because we have players capable of doing both things,” said Sir Alex.
For all his qualities Ferguson has often had his tactical expertise criticised. Too many times, claim his detractors,he’s failed to tactically read a game, too often – particularly in recent years – he’s selected puzzling line-ups, refusing to deploy some players in their favourite positions to sacrifice them to the altar of tactical rigidity.
As his club stormed its way through the past two decades by almost never diverting from their 4-4-2 formation (bar a serious flirt with 4-5-1 in the 2009-10 season), Sir Alex’s main concern was to find players that would fit the system rather a system to fit a particular player, hence the decision to replace Kanchelskis with Beckham, Ronaldo with Valencia and so on.
With central midfield being the only area of the pitch were Sir Alex has been unable (or unwilling, according to a growing section of United fans) to find a replacement and with European football evolving more and more towards a “total football” in which, as Spain demonstrated at the European Championships in the summer, not even strikers can consider themselves untouchable, it’s time for United to follow the trend.
In football, parting with a tradition is often considered to be an error, but in this case, hanging on to the past would simply be a cardinal sin.
Dan (@MUFC_dan87
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Tags: Manchester United
The_Philosopher (408)
Redrich (221)
Opti (209)
Stephen (150)
Moscow (147)
Take Rooney out of the equation and there are no more formation experiments. If we sold him to Anzhi Makhachkala then we could play Kagawa without having to sweat over Rooney losing fitness on the bench.
I’m not saying we should sell him because Rooney is a game changer. But he is also getting in the way of this kind of formation: 4-3-3 with Young, RVP and Valencia upfront. Cleverly, Kagawa and Anderson behind them. And the usual suspects at the back
Rooney and Scholes. Get rid of them and we won’t need to tinker with our formation.
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how can you even think about selling rooney he is best striker. he is best player and future captain for united and england. so if you are a united fan and you are thinking about selling rooney then you are insane dude
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In terms of midfield partnerships. Carrick Anderson worked well last season. So did Cleverly Anderson.
Why is Anderson doing so much bench time?
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For the first time, I think we should play 4-4-2 against Chelsea especially with Kagawa injured:
De Gea
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Valencia Carrick Anderson Nani
Rooney RVP
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@Moscow: You know, i remember me and someone else on here bringing up a list of our previous 7 odd games against chelski, which proved that everytime we lined up 4-4-2 the resutlts were generally positive, against the results we seemed to get when opting for a 4-5-1 etc which were generally poor.
Not saying 4-4-2 is the way forward, but chelseas midfield is hardly amazing with lampard and mikel, and the chance to play rooney and rvp up top in their favoured positions together, just looks too good an opportunity to pass on.
Of course if we did go down that route, then we’d probably only line up with giggs and scholes in the midfield again just to piss away that advantage wouldnt we
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@tonymontanna4united: we’ll get smashed if we go 442… who will screen our un-solid defense? Who will keep possession?
Diamond PLEASE:
De Gea
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverley
Rooney
Chicharito RVP
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@Opti: Weve played the diamond and weve not had much protection either mate.
Get your point though. Tbh im still not sold on the diamond. Its a step in the right direction, but id really prefer either a 4-2-1-3 with kagawa in the hole and a front 3 of nani, rvp and rooney in a free role on the left side, or a simple 4-3-3 much the same.
With kagawa missing id like to see the former. Something like:
——De Gea——-
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
—–Carrick——–
-Cleverley-Anderson-
—Nani-Rvp-Rooney
But i doubt we’ll see that. Im having nightmares we’ll see scholes AND giggs starting on sunday. I hope not, but you never with fergie these days. His mad selections are becoming far too frequent an occurence these days.
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@tonymontanna4united: If Scholes and/or Giggs both start then I reserve the right to call Fergie a fool. Last season’s title decider still gives me the shudders.
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@Opti: Only one player screens the defence and that is Carrick. Fletcher is past it and we might as well go with a basic formation where everyone knows their roles. Valencia has never played in central midfield for us and Cleverley offers no defensive shield.
Starting Chicharito would be a mistake in my opinion RVP and Rooney as a partnership alone is enough striking threat. Instead of one more striker we need cover for other areas.
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Those Stretty ender fans for the Braga game were fookin fantastic. They were on song, even when we were down, and they were so supportive and generous to Nani when he came on. I was so proud of those Stretty fans on the night, and as it was a midweek game, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were local lads. Nani has been so down, and can hardly raise a smile, so for the Stretty’s to get behind him as they did, not on his back at all, I love you fookin stretty enders – I salute you guys, your tops lads –
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The diamond is the new wave and Fergie has no other alternative but to adopt it in some way.
I still think he’ll flip-flop until he feels comfortable about it, and also because as he’s stated, the unpredictability of not knowing how we line up, is a weapon.
Have your best predictions, but we do have players that can move in and out of both formations, and for those that can’t, it might mean an extended stay on the bench.
It will not only be a work in progress but a exercise in manipulating the squad for whats needed against a particular opponent. And even though the popular opinion is that we lack a dominant MF, we do have good depth and a fair spectrum of talent there. If we are to become fluid with our MF formations, then we do have the squad to do it!
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Ok here’s a question for you….
Is it a 4-4-2 Diamond or a 4-3-3 Diamond?
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@Ian: The diamond is good because it allows us to play 3 of our 4 strikers. Just for that id say the diamond.
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Fergie will go for a draw. Personally I would like to see us go 4-4-2 with Carrick annd Cleverley in midfield, with Vally out wide. RvP and The Boy Wazza up front. For me we should go with the philosophy of we know we are going to concede, but we will score more than you.
Fergie will try and strangle the game, Giggs and Scholes in midfield is almost a dead cert I am afraid…….
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The diamond formation may work against bottom feeder teams but good sides will just attack us down the flanks and have a field day against defensively suspect full backs such as Evra, Buttner and Rafael.
What I’d far rather see is a 4-4-2 with Welbeck on the left wing cutting inside and Rooney dropping deep. Especially now Kagawa (who I thought was utterly crap as a central midfielder and has seemed out of place ever since Rooney returned from injury) is injured.
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If scholesy and Giggs play we will get beaten for two very good reasons, scholesy is at his best when he is given space to play, which he will not get space at Chelsea. When scholesy is pressured these days he does daft things, and gives away fouls leading to free kicks in dangerous areas, and this is costly against top teams. Giggsy just concedes possession ALL THE TIME in the big games, so I am not for him playing in the top games anymore!
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We could have Giggs playing in central midfield today alongside Carrick!!! That for me would be something to behold
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