"I've never played for a draw in my life." - Sir Alex Ferguson
10 years ago - the 2007–08 season was Manchester United's 16th season in the Premier League, and their 33rd consecutive season in the top division of English football. The season was regarded as a success; despite the team's slow start in the league, they won their 10th Premier League title (their 17th top division title overall, just one behind Liverpool's record of 18 but no premier league titles) and beat Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final to claim the European Double.
This thread examines how Sir Alex Ferguson set out his squad (tactics), and how key players, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, helped the team achieve that feat.
Manchester United did not use a specific formation in their amazingly from 2006 - 2009. Sir Alex Ferguson had used a variety of formations – 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 – and probably a few others.
Analysis
During the 07/08 season, United always featured a back four with two deep midfielders, Carrickand Scholes. Ferguson generally used an additional midfield player, with a fluid front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.
They (were):
highly versatile
wonderful understanding in and around the penalty area
understood their defensive responsibilities.
Other key components included there being no real striker (4-6-0 formation) and consisted of hard-working defensive players like Park and Hargreaves.
Characteristics of the Team / Style / Play:
Pressing (a bit)
Slightly deep defensive line
Defending wide
Fast and direct
Playing out of defence
full-backs (Brown and Evra) providing width
interchanging roles and squad rotation (Nani, Giggs and many others getting rotational game time)
An example a hybrid 4-4-2 / 4-4-3 ish formation utilized in the Champions League.
(Note that Ronaldo played on the left in Europe, and the right in the league; additionally Scholes played higher up in the EPL)
Tactics
Champions League
'
Premier League
Other formation used
More Direct Passing + Higher Tempo (fast and direct football)
Pass Into Space
Play out of Defence (starting play from the back)
Work Ball into Box (play patiently, put balls into the box)
Play fairly wider (stretching play & defending wide)
Drop slightly deeper
G: nil
FB (S): Hold Position, Fewer Risky Passes
CD (D): Mark Tighter
BPD (C): Mark Tighter, Pass it Shorter
IWB (A): nil (interchange iwb/wb on att duty, at times evra would either underlap and overlap ronaldo in certain games)
DLP (D) / A (D): Tackle Harder, Mark Tighter
CM (S) / DLP (S): More Direct Passes, More Risky Passes
WM (S): Roam from Position, Cross More Often
IF (S): Close Down More, Mark Tighter, Roam from Position, Get Further Forward
SS (A): Roam from Position
DLF (S): Shoot Less Often, Roam From Position, Move into Channels
Enable player swap with Tevez/Rooney roles
DW (S): Get Further Forward, Roam From Position, Sit Narrower (Park Ji Sung Role)
Conclusion
There is a perception amongst some journalists that Ferguson is not a great tactician, but the more time that passes, the less this seems true. Away in Europe over the past couple of years, United have been devastating, and the way United set out against Arsenal at the Emirates by beating them 8-2 in 2011 shows that Ferguson is able to adapt to changing times and adopt new tactical formulas for success. He has utilised formations like 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-5-1, 4-1-2-1-2 and much more during his long tenure as United boss from 1986 to 2013. However, one principle idea has not changed in the evolution of his tactics - the thirst and desire for attacking and entertaining football.
I've decided to make this post a more short one compared to my previous works in order to make it simple and concise.
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1. Fergie's Red Empire
in Tactics, Training & Strategies Discussion
Posted
why did you use the 3 formation?