Alex Ferguson has never played 4-4-2

[ho chi feen]

Apparently so. Listening to The Times' rather excellent The Game podcast there this week, and Gabriele Marcotti brought up the fact that this is what Ferguson said to him once. With Ferguson's former assistant, Second Choice Steve, at hand to confirm or deny this, the question was put to him- during his time at United, did they ever play a conventional 4-4-2? "Not once", was SCS's reply.

[jimmy magee]

complete rubbish. He's always played it. it's worked for him

1999 was the triumph 0f 4-4-2.

after this he tried something other than 442 and Utd were fucking shite.

now its more his team plays high up the pitch in a more adventurous 4-2-4, with fullbacks as wingers. and the forwards in more or less free roles

[ho chi feen]

complete rubbish. He's always played it. it's worked for him

1999 was the triumph 0f 4-4-2.

after this he tried something other than 442 and Utd were fucking shite.

now its more his team plays high up the pitch in a more adventurous 4-2-4, with fullbacks as wingers. and the forwards in more or less free roles

It's 4-2-3-1 usually this year. We used a slightly different variant on that system in the second half on 2002/3 to devastating effect also.

No, you're thinking of when we started fannying about with 4-5-1 in 2001- after McClaren left. He said that they always had something going on, whether it be Giggs pushing up, a second striker playing deep, etc. He said they never once lined out with a flat 4-4-2, and that if people thought otherwise, it just reflected the typical British mindset on how teams are organised.

The overall discussion was on the importance of playing between lines and exploiting the space.

Anyway, here's a link to the Podcast: http://www.timesonline.co.u k/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/

I'm becoming a big fan, even though I still prefer Guardian Football Weekly. Gabriele and Guillem Ballague are big on analysis, which is refreshing for a British show.

[jimmy magee]

mmmm. 4-4-2 in my mind isn't flat. it is use of wingers and at least one linking forward,

ball in midfield---to linking forward---back to mid----into space for winger----ball in the box = 4-4-2

did Blackburn play 4-4-2 in '95 course they did




never played 4-4-2 my hole


edit; nice one for the link, will check it out

[xvis]

mmmm. 4-4-2 in my mind isn't flat. it is use of wingers and at least one linking forward,

ball in midfield---to linking forward---back to mid----into space for winger----ball in the box = 4-4-2

did Blackburn play 4-4-2 in '95 course they did




never played 4-4-2 my hole


edit; nice one for the link, will check it out

exactly.


..what a load of cock.



SCS trying badly to distance himself from any Mike Bassett comparisons.

[MonTheHoops]

You see this can be broken down to strikers, forwards, defensive forwards, support strikers and so on. It's quite complex. Perhaps ebenezer can help us out on this. Over to you eb....

[ho chi feen]

edit; nice one for the link, will check it out

Do, it's a good show. Marcotti is a legend. http://newstalk.ie/newstalk/off-the-ball/downloads/kenslapped.mp3

[ebenezer]

You see this can be broken down to strikers, forwards, defensive forwards, support strikers and so on. It's quite complex. Perhaps ebenezer can help us out on this. Over to you eb....

Oh, look who it is, the Celtpool lover with utter gobbledegook.

I have never used those descriptions in all of my life.

If you can't differentiate between a striker and a forward, you're a complete Noddy.

[MonTheHoops]

Oh, look who it is, the Celtpool lover with utter gobbledegook.

I have never used those descriptions in all of my life.

If you can't differentiate between a striker and a forward, you're a complete Noddy.

Celtpool, that's a new one:confused:

If you can't differentiate between an attacking midfielder and a forward.......

[Rebelred]

hmm, I'd have to say that even with slight variations, playing a striker slightly off another etc, United have definitely played 4-4-2 under fergie.

[RonnyB]

I must have been asleep during 94 & 99 so if they didnt play 4-4-2.

[Forsberg]

It's 4-2-3-1 usually this year. We used a slightly different variant on that system in the second half on 2002/3 to devastating effect also.

No, you're thinking of when we started fannying about with 4-5-1 in 2001- after McClaren left. He said that they always had something going on, whether it be Giggs pushing up, a second striker playing deep, etc. He said they never once lined out with a flat 4-4-2, and that if people thought otherwise, it just reflected the typical British mindset on how teams are organised.

The overall discussion was on the importance of playing between lines and exploiting the space.

Anyway, here's a link to the Podcast: http://www.timesonline.co.u k/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/

I'm becoming a big fan, even though I still prefer Guardian Football Weekly. Gabriele and Guillem Ballague are big on analysis, which is refreshing for a British show.

The Guardian has has really gone downhill. It's just a big joke-off now... It can still be entertaining but at the expense of any proper chat about the game.

Marcotti is fantastic even if he does try to create conflict where none exists but he makes up for it with his ribbing of that idiot Ballague for being a Liverpool spokesman

.

Their interviews are very good as well. ... Much more insightful than the usual SKy sports news cliche ridden interviews... The one with Harry Redknapp a few months back was especially good

[Fr. Turncoat]

I'm becoming a big fan, even though I still prefer Guardian Football Weekly. Gabriele and Guillem Ballague are big on analysis, which is refreshing for a British show.

listen to both, the times one is fine except for Balague. His attempts at humour fall flat all the time. His pronunciation is terrible too. In this week's pod I was amazed to hear that Wes Brown had got to the FA Cup semi-final - West Brom!!! And if I hear clooooob once more. Too much of a Liverpool fan for my liking too! Marcoti is, on the other hand, a top journalist.
The Guardian one is class. Always hits the nail on the head, IMO.

by the by, you are on the right road yourself - saw your piece in the UCC express - a very nice style. Kudos to you, sir!

[Lamps]

listen to both, the times one is fine except for Balague. His attempts at humour fall flat all the time. His pronunciation is terrible too. In this week's pod I was amazed to hear that Wes Brown had got to the FA Cup semi-final - West Brom!!! And if I hear clooooob once more. Too much of a Liverpool fan for my liking too! Marcoti is, on the other hand, a top journalist.
The Guardian one is class. Always hits the nail on the head, IMO.

by the by, you are on the right road yourself - saw your piece in the UCC express - a very nice style. Kudos to you, sir!


how's your spanish?

[Fr. Turncoat]

how's your spanish?

de puta madre. Bastante bien para insultar un gillipollas como tu.
Vete ya, oigo Pol llamandote.

[ho chi feen]

de puta madre. Bastante bien para insultar un gillipollas como tu.
Vete ya, oigo Pol llamandote.
Nice ownage.

[BlueSkies]

Any of your articles online ho chi?

[ho chi feen]

Any of your articles online ho chi?

The UCC stuff? Not as far as I'm aware anyway.

[ho chi feen]

Actually, stall there is this one:

http://eejitry.blogspot.com/2007/12/thinking-mans-footballer-ahead-of-his.html

Neal Horgan interview the week before the FAI Cup. No text showing up for me though when I click on it now. :? Maybe it's my browser?

[BlueSkies]

Actually, stall there is this one:

http://eejitry.blogspot.com/2007/12/thinking-mans-footballer-ahead-of-his.html

Neal Horgan interview the week before the FAI Cup. No text showing up for me though when I click on it now. :? Maybe it's my browser?

lol, black background and black text, I may be able to copy and paste I suppose.

[MonTheHoops]

Actually, stall there is this one:

http://eejitry.blogspot.com/2007/12/thinking-mans-footballer-ahead-of-his.html

Neal Horgan interview the week before the FAI Cup. No text showing up for me though when I click on it now. :? Maybe it's my browser?

Me neither. Constructive criticism from your editor ;)

[ho chi feen]

lol, black background and black text, I may be able to copy and paste I suppose.

Ah, Is that it? They've changed blogger lately. I had the text white but can't be arsed fiddling around with http code right now. :)