AS strangely-comical tweets flew between Gary and Philip Neville this morning, it was hard for a Manchester United fan not to get sentimental at days gone by. When players like Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis were sold in the summer of 1995, some angry United fans were oh-so close to popping those veins protruding on their foreheads. Hughes in particular was an Old Trafford hero, scoring brilliant goals in big games, and also coming up through the United youth system in the early 1980’s.
Sir Alex Ferguson however, had predicted that his team was coming to the end of its lifespan. In 1991 he witnessed a successful Liverpool team fail to hold off a vicious Arsenal title challenge, and the Division 1 trophy went to Highbury rather than the often customary home of Anfield. It was obvious that Kenny Dalglish’s men had aged slightly too much, and that an overhaul of the Liverpool squad was needed.
Not that this was an easy task. With Dalglish quitting his post at the end of the 90/91 season, former Anfield battler Graeme Souness was soon in line to take over the managerial role. However, despite blooding youngsters such as Mike Marsh and Steve McManaman, the team struggled, and securing signings such as Mark Walters, Dean Saunders and sigh, Torben Piechnik, Souness failed to keep up the high standards that the Kop faithful had been used to. The emergence of Ferguson’s United as a force was hard for Liverpool fans to take, but supporters still believed that they would be back as title contenders sooner rather than later.
Liverpool have come close to winning the league of course since Dalglish left, but promising-looking title-charges in 1997, 2002, and 2009 fell short. A trip down the M62 to Ferguson’s Old Trafford however, sees a very different story to a team rebuilding itself. Since Ferguson’s appointment in 1986, the Scot has shown enormous commitment to bringing through youngsters, and also carefully monitoring the youth system already set up at Old Trafford.
Ferguson initially did this with minor success. ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’, (not the best name in the world) included the likes of Tony Gill, Russell Beardsmore and Mark Robins, whilst promising wingers Guiliano Maiorana and Lee Sharpe were bought from Histon and Torquay respectively. Beardsmore and Gill showed promise in the 1988/89 season, whilst Robins was a revelation in the 1989/90 season, outscoring Brian McClair and scoring numerous important goals - notably the winner in the FA Cup semi-final replay against Oldham.
Lee Martin, a big-nosed young full-back who got the winner in the FA Cup final replay against Crystal Palace, looked set for a bright career in a red shirt, but lost his form the following season, and was most notable for a clumsy own-goal at home to Montpellier in the European Cup Winners Cup. Only the hip-shaking Sharpe managed to be a big part in Ferguson’s future United squads, as United finally won the title in 1993. The club has gone on to win the league a further 10 times, with respect for Ferguson as a manager unrivalled in the modern game.
Despite almost leaving his United post in 2002, Ferguson has sought to remain manager at United as long as his health and enjoyment in the role persists. The end of Ferguson’s managerial career, however, is on the horizon, and when he does finally retire, the Scot is likely to make a surprise announcement in the summer months rather than a mid-season announcement. He did this in the 2001/2002 season, and United ended up without a trophy and in need of careful handling. Ferguson even had to watch rivals Arsenal clinch the title at Old Trafford as Sylvain Wiltord was on target in a 1-0 victory that was hard for United fans to take. The strain on Ferguson's face as almost much as much as Martin Tyler's vocal chords as Arsenal took the title.
The importance of Ferguson at the helm cannot be overstated, and to be frank, United may never be the same once he quits the Old Trafford hot-seat in favour of his favourite whisky-stained chair in his Cheshire home. Critics have been quick to point to the weaknesses of the United team this season, despite the club reaching the Champions League final and being within touching distance of yet another Premier League title. Admittedly, despite the squad as a collective being effective enough to take them far, it is clear certain individuals face an uncertain future as United players.
Dimitar Berbatov may be losing his hair, but has enjoyed his most successful season in a red shirt, but thanks to the emergence of Javier Hernandez, and the Bulgarian must now settle for a place on the substitute’s bench. Midfielders Michael Carrick and Anderson are incredibly inconsistent in imposing their authority on the game, whilst Paul Scholes’ increasing tendency to see red rather than a passing opportunity is becoming infuriating.
Thus it is clear that despite players like Nani, Hernandez and Edwin Van der Sar having undeniably brilliant seasons, United’s success has come thanks to their manager’s organisation and motivation. The trust in the red-faced Scot to give them the best possible chance of on-field success is reassuring, and the experience Ferguson has in title run-ins and big European nights is mind-blowing.
But what happens when Ferguson does leave? It’s safe to say the self-labelled ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho will be a strong favourite to replace him, with many pointing to his Champions League record and similar attributes to Ferguson that makes him an ideal replacement. United fans’ keenness on Mourinho as a future boss often correlates with how Mourinho is currently performing. After winning the Champions League with Inter Milan last season, many called for the Inter boss to come back and manage at Old Trafford once he was finished winding Barcelona up at Real Madrid.
However, his recent antics against Josep Guardiola’s men have not exactly put the Special One in the best of lights. His negative tactics were already a concern for some United supporters, but his attitude and behaviour of late has now given fans food for thought as to whether they want him being the head of their club. Ferguson has been involved in his fair share of controversy of late, but to be fair to United fans, Ferguson is their manager, and Mourinho is not. They are entitled to do a Tammy Wynette and stand by their man.
United however, despite having a hard job to decide who comes in for Ferguson, will most likely play it safe. The decision-makers of the club will go for success and experience, and with Mourinho making no secret of his admiration for Ferguson and the United legacy, the man from Portugal should inevitably be United manager upon Ferguson’s retirement.
His appointment unfortunately would be a black mark on the club. United have the chance to reverse the trend of English clubs appointing non-British managers, and to set a precedent for future clubs to follow. If major foreign clubs like Barcelona can appoint managers with little experience yet still be successful, then so can United. Guardiola had only managed Barcelona B for less than a season when it was announced by the club that he was to manage the senior side. Suddenly, the tough task of managing average players such as Lionel Messi and Xavi has made Guardiola one of the most sought-after managers around.
In fact the Spaniard had replaced Frank Rijjkaard, who, before managing Barcelona, had only managed the Dutch national team in Euro 2000, and then lasted only a season at Sparta Rotterdam, relegating them in the process. Yet four years later he is suddenly managing Barcelona to Champions League success in 2000. Experience? Pedigree? Go figure.
Guardiola was of course a former Barcelona player, and his appointment in 2008 pleased fans who would rather see former heroes manage their club rather than an outsider who has no connection with the club. It is thus amazing how some United fans laugh at the possibility of appointing an ex-player as manager. Appointing club icons like Eric Cantona or Gary Neville would be seen by some as a risk due to their inexperience as a manager, but let’s not forget, not only would these men be assisted by a fantastic and experience coaching team, they would also have a squad at their disposal brimming with world-class players. They would also have the full backing of fans who used to chant their name. If Mourinho struggled after a few months it would be a major shock if the majority of United fans didn’t want him out.
Of course, there are some ex-United players out there who do have substantial amounts of managerial experience. Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes were key players in United’s double-winning side of 1994, and have years of Premier League experience between them. Critics would doubt their credentials due to the lack of silverware they have achieved, but let’s be honest, how often do clubs like Wigan, Sheffield United, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers win league titles? Had Hughes been given time at Manchester City he would have undoubtedly got the club into the Champions League, but he was cruelly removed from the managerial role after just 18 months in charge.
Football in the modern era however, could be the decisive factor in determining what happens at United. Respect is the key. United supporters are proud of their club’s traditions, and point to this as a reason players are happy to play here and give their all. However, make no mistake, this is down to Ferguson, and Ferguson only. Players stay to play for the most successful club manager in England, and the respect given to the man from Govan is unparalleled.
Showing posts with label Steve Bruce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Bruce. Show all posts
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Refreshingly Direct?
The never-say-die attitude of the Premiership again came to the fore yesterday, this time at the Stadium of Light, as Darren Bent’s late, late goal denied Arsenal of what would have been an excellent three points against Sunderland. Arsene Wenger was perhaps justified in his complaints about how much stoppage time was played, but he must be cursing the slack defending that again cost his side a valuable win. As Bent punished yet another sloppy clearance by Gael Clichy, Wenger must have had flashbacks to St Andrews two seasons ago, when Clichy gave a ball away in his own area then proceeded to concede a penalty against Birmingham. The penalty, duly converted by James McFadden, was a dagger in what was a realistic Arsenal title challenge back in 2009. It also prompted a hilariously childish rage by William Gallas, who showed such apparent passion for the Gunners as an Arsenal captain that day, that he now plays for rivals Tottenham.
Although Arsenal ended the game with 10 men, and thus can point to utter misfortune that they conceded the goal when they did, they never really seemed comfortable with what was being thrown at them. Steve Bruce favours directness in his tactics, with two strikers being supplied by two wide men. Indeed, it is perhaps this attacking set-up which explains Sunderland’s success in home fixtures, whilst their success on their travels is sporadic at best. When the Stadium of Light is at full-volume, the directness of Bruce’s tactics seem to work in tandem with a crowd that try to suck the ball into the opposition’s goal, encouraged by their side’s eagerness to move forward. You do get the feeling however, that some Sunderland fans are just relieved to see the ball as far away from the bumbling defensive partnership of Titus Bramble and Anton Ferdinand as possible.
Such is the fashion in the modern game to set up with a five-man midfield and build play slowly through possession, it was somewhat refreshing to see a team achieve success in direct play, turning defence into attack quickly and efficiently. However, this set up has attracted criticism from football purists, especially when clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona have proved you can play pretty football and be successful.
Thus it is rare when tactics that are completely the opposite are employed in the Premier League. Whereas clubs like Wigan and Blackpool have attempted to try and play a passing style, other clubs have adopted a hugely contrasting approach. Stoke City in particular play a style reminiscent of many team in the 1980’s, a decade which saw teams like Wimbledon punt long balls up to their centre forwards. Even Arsenal, a team who easily play the best football in the Premiership in the modern era, were advocates of the long ball approach under George Graham way back in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Such a strategy was hated by fans and critics alike, but it gave particular problems to centre-backs, who had to deal with aerially-dominant forwards like Mick Harford, John Fashanu and Andy Gray. Everton in their defence played some great football and were highly successful in the 80’s, but then again Fashanu and long-ball merchants Wimbledon were also successful, beating ‘Pass and Move’ Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final. Only Gary Mabbutt would be one to not praise Fashanu’s footballing career, as the former Spurs defender was on the end of a nasty elbow by the former Gladiators presenter in the early 90’s.
In the modern game you could almost compare Stoke’s success at avoiding relegation to the feats of ‘The Crazy Gang’, such is the power and finance of the Premier League’s top clubs. Of course, there are other clubs that have done well to stay up over recent seasons, but none have achieved the success with such an extreme direct style of play. The simple art of dealing with a long ball into the area was natural to the defenders of 30 years ago, but foreign defenders used to playing against neat and tidy opposition, who keep the ball on the floor, are not used to deep, high deliveries coming into their penalty area. One couldn’t imagine the youth coaches of Real Madrid and Barcelona spending hours on the training ground instructing young defenders to head balls away from inside their six-yard box.
Premiership audiences have seen football evolve into a more technical game since the league re-launched itself in 1992. Thus when Stoke, (or anyone who La Liga-bound Sam Allardyce manages) do launch long balls into the oppostion's penalty area, from positions where most clubs would take a quick, short free-kick, the result is refreshingly enthralling. Clubs who find success with this tactic may develop this strategy further if they remain open to inventiveness. Why not increase the height of a long free-kick pumped into the penalty area, making it drop down into the danger area like an atom bomb? Attacking centre-backs will be then be competing against the centre backs from the defence – an equal tussle that could easily result in the type of confusion already seen at the Britannia Stadium most Saturday afternoons thanks to deliveries from Matthew Etherington and ridiculously long throw-in's by Rory Delap. There’s no doubt utilising the unique qualities of Delap have been relatively successful since Stoke were promoted, thus if team’s don’t have a Cesc Fabregas or a Mikel Arteta, why not bypass the midfield and instead launch long balls into a set of giant 6 ft 7 strikers? Deal with that Wenger.
Critics of course may point to the successful clubs of recent years playing with totally different tactics. The likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have played some scintillating football and won many, many games. Tony Pulis however, not only realises that he doesn’t have the cash at Stoke to buy players like Fabregas, but is innovative enough to know that there can be another way to play and compete against Premiership opposition. Allardyce was the first to show signs of complete innovation when rules regarding off-sides were amended five years or so ago. He consequently positioned two players standing way off-side during free kicks, who were allowed to remain onside as long as they didn’t touch the first ball played into the box. Indeed see here for such a goal that caused so much bedlam, that it caused Ian Walker to score a calamitous own goal.
You only have to look at Chris Samba’s goal for Blackburn yesterday against Fulham to see a goalkeeper and defence struggle against an unusual tactic, in this case Paul Robinson’s giant punt. Of course, many referees would have seen the blatant foul by El Hadji Diouf, but it’s not the fault of Diouf or the much-maligned Allardyce that the goal was allowed to stand.
In open play, the danger of the long ball is that you run the risk of losing possession quickly and consistently, and if you are up against top quality opposition you may not see the ball again for 2 to 3 minutes. However, in set piece situations, even a harmless-looking free kick 80-90 yards from goal, there is no reason not to send up the big men, as you would a corner kick. It might not be pretty, and fans may have something to say when they are forking out 50 quid for a match ticket, but if winning is all-important, then as long as it stays within the legalities of the game, then surely any tactic to win is as justifiable as the next tactic. Create the chaos, anything could happen.
Although Arsenal ended the game with 10 men, and thus can point to utter misfortune that they conceded the goal when they did, they never really seemed comfortable with what was being thrown at them. Steve Bruce favours directness in his tactics, with two strikers being supplied by two wide men. Indeed, it is perhaps this attacking set-up which explains Sunderland’s success in home fixtures, whilst their success on their travels is sporadic at best. When the Stadium of Light is at full-volume, the directness of Bruce’s tactics seem to work in tandem with a crowd that try to suck the ball into the opposition’s goal, encouraged by their side’s eagerness to move forward. You do get the feeling however, that some Sunderland fans are just relieved to see the ball as far away from the bumbling defensive partnership of Titus Bramble and Anton Ferdinand as possible.
Such is the fashion in the modern game to set up with a five-man midfield and build play slowly through possession, it was somewhat refreshing to see a team achieve success in direct play, turning defence into attack quickly and efficiently. However, this set up has attracted criticism from football purists, especially when clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona have proved you can play pretty football and be successful.
Thus it is rare when tactics that are completely the opposite are employed in the Premier League. Whereas clubs like Wigan and Blackpool have attempted to try and play a passing style, other clubs have adopted a hugely contrasting approach. Stoke City in particular play a style reminiscent of many team in the 1980’s, a decade which saw teams like Wimbledon punt long balls up to their centre forwards. Even Arsenal, a team who easily play the best football in the Premiership in the modern era, were advocates of the long ball approach under George Graham way back in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Such a strategy was hated by fans and critics alike, but it gave particular problems to centre-backs, who had to deal with aerially-dominant forwards like Mick Harford, John Fashanu and Andy Gray. Everton in their defence played some great football and were highly successful in the 80’s, but then again Fashanu and long-ball merchants Wimbledon were also successful, beating ‘Pass and Move’ Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final. Only Gary Mabbutt would be one to not praise Fashanu’s footballing career, as the former Spurs defender was on the end of a nasty elbow by the former Gladiators presenter in the early 90’s.
In the modern game you could almost compare Stoke’s success at avoiding relegation to the feats of ‘The Crazy Gang’, such is the power and finance of the Premier League’s top clubs. Of course, there are other clubs that have done well to stay up over recent seasons, but none have achieved the success with such an extreme direct style of play. The simple art of dealing with a long ball into the area was natural to the defenders of 30 years ago, but foreign defenders used to playing against neat and tidy opposition, who keep the ball on the floor, are not used to deep, high deliveries coming into their penalty area. One couldn’t imagine the youth coaches of Real Madrid and Barcelona spending hours on the training ground instructing young defenders to head balls away from inside their six-yard box.
Premiership audiences have seen football evolve into a more technical game since the league re-launched itself in 1992. Thus when Stoke, (or anyone who La Liga-bound Sam Allardyce manages) do launch long balls into the oppostion's penalty area, from positions where most clubs would take a quick, short free-kick, the result is refreshingly enthralling. Clubs who find success with this tactic may develop this strategy further if they remain open to inventiveness. Why not increase the height of a long free-kick pumped into the penalty area, making it drop down into the danger area like an atom bomb? Attacking centre-backs will be then be competing against the centre backs from the defence – an equal tussle that could easily result in the type of confusion already seen at the Britannia Stadium most Saturday afternoons thanks to deliveries from Matthew Etherington and ridiculously long throw-in's by Rory Delap. There’s no doubt utilising the unique qualities of Delap have been relatively successful since Stoke were promoted, thus if team’s don’t have a Cesc Fabregas or a Mikel Arteta, why not bypass the midfield and instead launch long balls into a set of giant 6 ft 7 strikers? Deal with that Wenger.
Critics of course may point to the successful clubs of recent years playing with totally different tactics. The likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have played some scintillating football and won many, many games. Tony Pulis however, not only realises that he doesn’t have the cash at Stoke to buy players like Fabregas, but is innovative enough to know that there can be another way to play and compete against Premiership opposition. Allardyce was the first to show signs of complete innovation when rules regarding off-sides were amended five years or so ago. He consequently positioned two players standing way off-side during free kicks, who were allowed to remain onside as long as they didn’t touch the first ball played into the box. Indeed see here for such a goal that caused so much bedlam, that it caused Ian Walker to score a calamitous own goal.
You only have to look at Chris Samba’s goal for Blackburn yesterday against Fulham to see a goalkeeper and defence struggle against an unusual tactic, in this case Paul Robinson’s giant punt. Of course, many referees would have seen the blatant foul by El Hadji Diouf, but it’s not the fault of Diouf or the much-maligned Allardyce that the goal was allowed to stand.
In open play, the danger of the long ball is that you run the risk of losing possession quickly and consistently, and if you are up against top quality opposition you may not see the ball again for 2 to 3 minutes. However, in set piece situations, even a harmless-looking free kick 80-90 yards from goal, there is no reason not to send up the big men, as you would a corner kick. It might not be pretty, and fans may have something to say when they are forking out 50 quid for a match ticket, but if winning is all-important, then as long as it stays within the legalities of the game, then surely any tactic to win is as justifiable as the next tactic. Create the chaos, anything could happen.
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