Manchester United : Has Ferguson Cracked The Code?

It must be pointed out that mysteries are not necessarily miracles but until one sees the light of the resolution, they seem unworkable and at times impossible. While the majority notice the obstacles, only a few spot the objectives; history records the successes of the latter, while oblivion is the reward of the former.

Season after season and game after game Sir Alex and Man United look for solutions to the problems ailing their progress. While it largely bothers United supporters when Fergie goes on with all the hits and trials, permutation and combinations, it is indeed for the best of the squad and definitely with the best interest of the club at heart. Consequently, there are times when an experiment backfires, as it is indeed after multiple failures that success befalls on the vanquished.

Since the beginning of this season, United squad has been severely hit with injuries and that has often dictated team selections. Nevertheless, this has also provided an opportunity for the manager to mix things a bit and deviate from the norm, a case in point would be Unitedai??i??s flirtation with a midfield diamond to compensate the scarcity of fit wide players and also adding steal to the much under-fire midfield. After initial success, the problems with the narrow approach were obvious as United were being beaten down the flanks and getting the taste of their own medicine. Ergo, for now the diamond seems to have gone back to the safe deposit.

Now, United donai??i??t really have a first eleven these days and it is indeed impossible to go through the rigors of a league season without rotation and without keeping the squad fresh and hungry. Furthermore, every season Fergie usually stumbles upon a formation and set of personnel that he relies upon in the big league games as well as Champions league knock out fixtures.

Ever since the 2006-07 campaign, where United largely put out a 4-4-2 throughout the season and even the players remained much unchanged, there has been a ai???big game formation and elevenai??? and one more. The glorious 2007-08 campaign perfectly illustrates the point where United often deployed a formation tailor-made for Europe and even for big games in the league.

Fergie decided to sacrifice his preferred 4-4-2 formation for a much solid five man midfield with a lone striker on top. Three out of Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes and Hargreaves were trusted to control the central midfield while the hard working Park-Ji-Sung or the evergreen Ryan Giggs was used on the wing. One of Rooney or Tevez started up-front with the flamboyant Ronaldo playing as a winger with the freedom to go forward. This formation got United through against the likes of Lyon, Roma and Barcelona in the knock-out ties and also the big league games such as the one against Arsenal at Old Trafford late on in the season.

Yet again, during the highly successful 2010-11 campaign where United won the league and reached the UCL final Ferguson had cracked the code as he placed his trust on a 4-4-1- formation with a Giggs-Carrick axis flanked by the two wide men. Wayne Rooney played in the hole while Chicharito lead the line. It worked well for the final third of the campaign as teams failed to keep Rooney under check; Wazza in turn provided Hernandez with superb service.

This season too, Fergie might be on to something noteworthy and although the sample size is not conclusive enough to put anything beyond doubt, it does seem that the manger has found his final piece of jigsaw. Up until now United have endured tough away trips to Anfield, Stamford Bridge and the Etihad and for the first time in 99 years won the lot. However, the victory at Anfield was achieved despite the team formation and personnel on the pitch and not as a result of it. Perhaps, that was the epochal moment that Fergie realized the trio of Giggs, Scholes and Carrick on a football pitch wonai??i??t cut it anymore, at least not away from the comforts of Old Trafford. Although Fergie would still do well not to play Giggs in central midfield anywhere anymore, but that is a different can of worms.

The lineup and more importantly the formation that started the Stamford Bridge game would indeed be the eleven that starts most tough encounters for this season, or so it seems. The balance feels right, attack and defense look at par and although things could alter depending on player availability, Fergie has for the time being placed his conviction in this team.

Robin Van Persie is the ideal lone front man par excellence and the success and failure of the approach rests on his shoulders. The Dutchmanai??i??s link up play is second to none in the league and his understanding with Wayne Rooney is already looking impeccable to put it mildly. The former Arsenal captain, showed his class at the Etihad again on Sunday as his brilliant link-up play with Ashely Young set the winger free who in turn provided the assist for Rooney for the opening goal. Moreover, RvP’s ability to hold up the ball allows the team to get out of their own half and put pressure back on their opponents.

The next level is a three man attack with Wayne Rooney in the middle as the perfect link between midfield and attack. Yet again, the Englishman is pivotal with his selflessness and desire to contribute both to defense and attack, lending the balance to the side. In absence of Rooney, Shinji Kagawa could possibly do the same role but it remains to be seen with what effect. Rooney or Kagawa would be flanked by two traditional wide men providing width to Unitedai??i??s attacks and also keeping a check on the opposition full backs. Ashley Young, after much criticism, has blossomed lately on the left wing and has linked up well with Evra, Rooney and RvP. Additionally, Young has always been keen to help his fullback and surely Evra has benefited from his presence. Antonio Valencia nails the right wing and during the derby displayed signs of coming back to last seasonai??i??s imperious form. However, even if Kagawa is played in the middle of the trio, Rooney is expected to be in the line-up albeit on the wings.

Now, the CM berths are easily the most interesting. Although Carrick is mostly a guarantee for one of those spots, Darren Fletcher might push him hard. The other spot looks a tossup between Tom Cleverley and Anderson depending on fitness and form. Cleverley has started the games against Chelsea, Arsenal and City and hence might be the preferred option for now, although, Anderson was in red hot form before his injury and could indeed stake a valid claim. But that is a happy problem to have for Sir Alex and he must be pleased to have those rather than relying on his old guard to bail him out when the going gets tough.

The full-backs pick themselves for now as both Evra and Rafael have been brilliant going forward and increasingly assured in defense. Captain Nemanja Vidic is due back and Rio, Smalling and Jones are all fit too. Evans just before he limped out of the derby was doing his best on both sides of the pitch; the Irish international has taken his game to a higher level with added composure on the ball and even learned to pick out cross field diagonal balls to the flanks. But United do need to defend better as a team for 90 minutes and that is one area that must gravely concern the manager.

With sixteen games of the league season and the knock out stages of the Champions league safely negotiated, United are nicely placed on both fronts. Sir Alex has possibly figured out what works and what doesn’t anymore. From the United point of view hopefully, the manger has taken a punt on the right horses.

Tags: Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United : Has Ferguson Cracked The Code?

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