The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 220 It is impossible to satisfy the second

"We will never be satisfied with second place in the league, the Red Devils' goal is always the championship."

——Ferguson

The Red Devils unfortunately lost the league title and received a lot of criticism and doubts, but Ferguson's team still attracted the attention of the entire football world.

Starting from this season, the Red Devils appeared in front of everyone with a new look.

Ferguson spent a long time and countless efforts for the team's rise. This season, he determined the wing attack as the signature style. Ferguson introduced an offensive tactic with Giggs and Kanchelskis as double wings plus Robson and Ings as midfield support.

This is the final lineup and tactical style after he came to the Red Devils at the end of 1986, after years of recruiting and cleaning, trying out multiple positions and innovating the playing style. Ferguson rebuilt the team from all positions, boldly cleaning out the original players, and almost the entire team was replaced except for Robson. In this process, Ferguson ruthlessly expelled many core players and even many players who were loved by fans. After spending a huge amount of money to introduce his favorite targets, he actively promoted Lee Sharpe and Giggs from the youth training and rebuilt the team.

The introduction of players, the cultivation of playing methods, the establishment of style, the running-in of players, the tacit understanding of the team, and ultimately the continuous pursuit of overall improvement, this is Ferguson's strategic thinking.

Since arriving in Manchester in November 1986, he has actually started to rebuild this once glorious team. He has received strong support from the board of directors, many opportunities for trial and error, and the most precious time, and finally he has the confidence to show this team full of offensive enthusiasm to everyone.

Starting from the introduction of McClair to the joining of Mark Hughes; from giving up Strachan to introducing Paul Ince; from digging out Maiorana and Lee Martin to launching Lee Sharpe and Giggs; from introducing Leighton to signing Schmeichel, from giving up McGrath to abandoning Davenport, he even directly gave up Wallace, Davenport, Whiteside... Finally, he used Bruce and Pallister to build a steel defense, introduced Parker and Irwin as the two sides of the gate, used Kanchelskis and Giggs to develop a double wing tactics, used Robson and Ince to build a midfield barrier and support for the frontcourt, and the bottom of the backcourt; used Mark Hughes and McClair to act as the spearhead, and introduced Schmeichel, who truly possesses the level of a modern goalkeeper, to protect the goal... Ferguson assembled the team at this stage and built a strong team that can truly compete for the championship.

Ferguson had a very difficult six years since the end of 1986. He was almost fired, and fans even put up banners at home. He won the FA Cup and then responded to the doubts with the European Cup Winners' Cup. This season, he almost won the championship by finishing second in the league, and won the Super Cup and League Cup to prove his strength.

From 11th place in Ferguson's first season at the Theatre of Dreams to the undisputed second place this season, Ferguson's team has won the recognition of the media and scouts. Ferguson has brought about huge changes in strength, team, temperament, and even every aspect of the team. Every player has great confidence, strong fighting spirit, and hungry desire.

A Red Devils team that is capable of competing for the league title, a Red Devils team that represents an emerging force, is rising fiercely.

Ferguson led the Red Devils to rise with a new style of play rarely seen in English League One teams. This style of play was marked by Ferguson, emphasizing integrity and rapid attack, which was Ferguson's greatest characteristic. This was reflected in the characteristics of this team's playing style, which emphasized rapid advancement on the wing and emphasizing both wings to penetrate the opponent through the wing and create opportunities in front of the goal.

Ferguson brought a breath of fresh air to the English League One. This kind of wing play had been used by players like Liverpool's Barnes and Leeds United's Dorigo before, but most of them were only a small part of the team's overall tactics, and unlike Ferguson, they did not regard the wing as their greatest strength.

In this season, Ferguson used the standard 442 formation, sometimes changing to 433. The change from 442 to 433 is nothing more than reducing one attacking midfielder and adding an intercepting player, and the forwards become Hughes, McClair and Giggs. Ferguson still played more in 442, with goalkeeper Schmeichel, defenders Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, and rotation players including Donaghy, Blackmore, Lee Martin, etc.; the four midfielders are Kanchelskis, Robson, Ince, Giggs, and the rotation players are Webber, Phelan, Lee Sharpe. The forwards are still the old partners Mark Hughes and McClair.

This lineup emphasizes wing attack, but also pays attention to the key role of Robson and Ings in the midfield. Covering and intercepting, advancing and inserting from behind all require the support of the midfield.

The Red Devils' attack this season was very resolute, which also made unfamiliar teams suffer. The Red Devils' double wings were extremely sharp, especially Giggs's sudden emergence, fast speed, flexible rhythm, charming feints, and skillful footwork, which made almost every team's right back and midfielder on the right suffer. Kanchelskis's advance was also sharp. He relied most on high speed and simple and efficient quick changes of direction. The left-wing defender couldn't even block it with his body. The two winger-like wingers of the Red Devils continued to launch fast attacks and became Ferguson's sharpest weapon. In front of their breakthrough ability, all obstructions were difficult to take effect. The Red Devils' wing attack was opened, and Hughes and McClair had more scoring opportunities in front of the goal.

McClair, who is best at seizing opportunities in front of the goal, was even nicknamed "the king of picking up leaks" by the media in the middle of the season, which on the other hand shows how sharp and fierce the Red Devils' attack is.

The Red Devils' strength on both sides is not only in the vertical direction. Ferguson's team can even rely on the strength of the two flanks to widen the width of the field and use the tactics of changing direction to attack the weak side while breaking through in depth.

This is already a more complex and sophisticated tactical structure.

This season, the Red Devils strengthened their fast attacking tactics on the wing, which made every opponent in the league feel daunted. The Red Devils exerted strong pressure on the opponents on both sides, and the midfield would be relatively relaxed. Especially Robson, he now does not need more organization, does not need to penetrate the opponent's hinterland, and does not need to constantly entangle with the opponent in the midfield area, which not only reduces injuries, but also helps to arrange physical strength reasonably. Ince is more responsible for defense, and this season he has not had many opportunities to play the advantages of the offensive end, which makes the Red Devils' hard attack in the middle lack highlights.

The Red Devils used offense as defense, Irwin played well on the defensive line, and Schmeichel quickly adapted to the English environment, which greatly improved the quality of the Red Devils' defense. Compared with previous seasons, the only hidden danger in the Red Devils' defense line may be the defense on the right side.

The Red Devils started a frenzy of grabbing points at the beginning of the season. The red torrent swept almost the entire league. The fast attack and the attacking firepower of both wings, the grabbing points and shooting of Mark Hughes and McClair in the middle, all made the team's offensive fierce, majestic and powerful. Ferguson led the team to achieve 12 unbeaten games at the beginning of the season, setting a new record for the best start in nearly 20 years. In fact, Ferguson's style of play was only defeated in front of the La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, and he has always played domineeringly in the domestic league.

In the English League One, facing the Red Devils' sharp breakthroughs on the wing and the rapid firepower of the midfield and frontcourt, many teams that used to play hard and long passes died ugly. Only those teams that were prepared and contracted their wing defense had a chance to survive. The Red Devils played until the end of 1991, and only lost to opponents who were not particularly strong in the league because of bad form and bad luck. Looking at the six league games that the Red Devils lost throughout the season, three of them were concentrated in the death schedule after the 6th round. Most of the other time, the Red Devils were always able to reap the expected fruits of victory.

The only difficulty Ferguson had was that the team's lineup was too dependent on the midfield 4 and the two forwards. There were almost no suitable replacements for these four players, and there were no substitutes for the two forwards. Whether it was Donaghy, Phelan, Webber, or Lee Sharp, Ferguson, or Robbins, they were all completely unsuitable.

The Red Devils couldn't hold on at the end of this season, not because of tactical mistakes. The core reason was the heavy blow of the intensive schedule. When they urgently needed rotation at the end, there were no more substitutes left. Also, they really lacked luck.

At that time, the English football world was already exclaiming that Ferguson had brought a new impact to football. Many media outlets specifically analyzed and discussed Ferguson's tactical innovations and gave him high praise.

The Red Devils won 42 of the 21 league games, drew 15 and lost only 6. Although the Red Devils played very badly in the final stage, it does not mean that the Red Devils' style of play was unsuccessful. In the season summary, many critics in the English media believed that compared with the Red Devils, the White Army's style of play was closer to the traditional English tactics. They relied heavily on Strachan's breakthroughs, McLister's connection in the midfield and frontcourt, and Lee Chapman's outburst. The team still did not show any new ideas in tactics. Leeds relied on Strachan for breakthroughs and advancement in the middle. In fact, they rarely attacked, and they did not play as fast and dazzling as the Red Devils. They just played more counterattacks, long passes and lobs, and played simple tactics well.

Leeds United won the championship because they gave up other games early and focused on the league. Looking at the Red Devils' schedule of playing 7 games in 4 days, and then looking at Leeds United's rhythm of playing almost every Monday, no one would think that Leeds United benefited from the schedule.

The Red Devils lost the championship, and although the fans of the Red Devils felt sorry, they still gave the team a high evaluation. The fans were also very happy with the progress of the Red Devils. This is a team that insists on attacking and plays with tactical style.

Even the most critical fans admit that Ferguson has brought the Red Devils to a very good level.

Although the team is not yet fully mature, Ferguson firmly believes that this is the right path, a path that will definitely lead to success.

The Red Devils are getting better and better, but Ferguson also knows that the team faces strong challenges in front of technical super teams such as Leeds United and Liverpool. The Red Devils did not completely dominate in these matches, with one draw and one loss to Liverpool, two draws to Leeds United, and two draws against Arsenal. In front of these opponents with strict tactical discipline and strong individual technical ability of players, the Red Devils did not gain more advantages, whether it was breaking through the wing, flexible expansion and contraction of the three lines, or the control of the overall rhythm. Even if Giggs and Kanchelskis broke through the wing, the Red Devils still lacked offensive power in the frontcourt, and Mark Hughes and McClair had few ways to deal with stronger defenders.

The Red Devils scored 42 goals in 63 league games throughout the season, ranking fourth among all 22 teams, behind Arsenal's 82, Leeds United's 74 and Sheffield United's 65. Relatively speaking, the Red Devils have the strongest defense in League One this season, conceding only 33 goals in the league.

Ferguson's team lacks attacking firepower. Mark Hughes and McClair are both strong enough, but it is obviously not enough for the Red Devils to play a whole season with only two main strikers. Do the Red Devils need to introduce a strong striker?

Ferguson certainly hopes to have such a first super striker, who has a strong body, is fast enough, has a good sense of position, has a keen sense of smell in front of the goal, can receive the ball with his back and break through the front, can advance past opponents, can use himself as the axis to pull teammates to continue pressing forward, and can control the rhythm... Such a super striker will directly enhance the Red Devils' offensive power and raise the strength of the entire team to a stronger level.

But such a goal is obviously a bit unrealistic. Is there such a talent in the youth team? Harrison and Kidd can't do anything about it. The striker Thornley in the youth team obviously doesn't have such ability.

Ferguson still has to find another way.