-zuco-
21-02-2008, 03:10 PM
Paul Scholes and Ryan giggs are two of our longest serving players;
they have been figureheads of the team throughout our most successful
period ever. I have always defended them when in the past people have
slated their performances on the pitch, but today I am doubting my own
judgement and wondering if Sir Alex should be taking a leaf out of
Arsene Wenger's book.
Yes, you read that right!
The reason is that Wenger has a knack of offloading star players at just
the right time. Patrick Vieira left for Juventus, allowing Cesc Fabregas
and Mathieu Flamini to flourish in the center of midfield. Thierry Henry
was sold to Barcelona and Emmanuel Adebayor soon established himself
as a world class striker.
Ferguson on the other hand, seems reluctant to keep the names of
Giggs, Scholes and Neville away from the teamsheet, regardless
of how they play.
This season we have witnessed the emergence of two of footballs'
brightest talents stake a claim for a starting place in our first XI.
Anderson has been a revelation in midfield, while Nani has displayed
the sort of trickery we used to see from Giggs on a regular basis.
They were both instrumental in the destruction of Arsenal at Old
Trafford last week, but when we played against Lyon last night,
Giggs was given the left wing slot and Scholes was named alongside
Anderson as part of a five man midfield.
It showed against City that Anderson and Scholes don’t play well
together so I’m struggling to understand Fergie’s formation and
lineup. We had lots of possession in the first half, but didn’t really
create any chances; barring the one on one Rooney should have
scored. Then in the second half when we went 1-0 down through
a Benzema strike, Nani and Tevez were brought on and we switched
to 4-4-2. The effect was instant, we were suddenly creating
opportunities down both wings, through the middle and actually
looked like we would score.
It seems obvious to me that Anderson is at his best when deployed
as an attacking midfielder by himself. The presence of a second
attacking midfielder seems to throw him off his game and basically
get in his way. Doubling the attacking midfielders doesn’t guarantee
doubling the attacking influence. Anderson is capable of bossing the
position all by himself, as shown by his commanding performances
against the likes of Steven Gerrard and Cesc Fabregas.
Nani has 12 assists this season. That statistic shows why he should
be ahead of Giggs in the pecking order. Giggs has been bombing up
and down the left wing for 15 years and it’s beginning to show.
He wants Sir Bobby Charlton’s appearance record and nobody would
begrudge him the chance to do that, but not to the detriment of the
team, no player is bigger than Manchester United and if we are not
playing well with Giggs on the pitch, Fergie should drop him.
He should retire gracefully at the end of the season.
Nani and Anderson were expected to be brought into the team
gradually, but injuries and suspensions meant they were thrown
in at the deep end much quicker than was planned. The good
thing is they didn’t sink. Instead they have both proved to be two
of our best performers this season. They are influencing our games
massively and Fergie should reward these performances with places
in the starting lineup.
they have been figureheads of the team throughout our most successful
period ever. I have always defended them when in the past people have
slated their performances on the pitch, but today I am doubting my own
judgement and wondering if Sir Alex should be taking a leaf out of
Arsene Wenger's book.
Yes, you read that right!
The reason is that Wenger has a knack of offloading star players at just
the right time. Patrick Vieira left for Juventus, allowing Cesc Fabregas
and Mathieu Flamini to flourish in the center of midfield. Thierry Henry
was sold to Barcelona and Emmanuel Adebayor soon established himself
as a world class striker.
Ferguson on the other hand, seems reluctant to keep the names of
Giggs, Scholes and Neville away from the teamsheet, regardless
of how they play.
This season we have witnessed the emergence of two of footballs'
brightest talents stake a claim for a starting place in our first XI.
Anderson has been a revelation in midfield, while Nani has displayed
the sort of trickery we used to see from Giggs on a regular basis.
They were both instrumental in the destruction of Arsenal at Old
Trafford last week, but when we played against Lyon last night,
Giggs was given the left wing slot and Scholes was named alongside
Anderson as part of a five man midfield.
It showed against City that Anderson and Scholes don’t play well
together so I’m struggling to understand Fergie’s formation and
lineup. We had lots of possession in the first half, but didn’t really
create any chances; barring the one on one Rooney should have
scored. Then in the second half when we went 1-0 down through
a Benzema strike, Nani and Tevez were brought on and we switched
to 4-4-2. The effect was instant, we were suddenly creating
opportunities down both wings, through the middle and actually
looked like we would score.
It seems obvious to me that Anderson is at his best when deployed
as an attacking midfielder by himself. The presence of a second
attacking midfielder seems to throw him off his game and basically
get in his way. Doubling the attacking midfielders doesn’t guarantee
doubling the attacking influence. Anderson is capable of bossing the
position all by himself, as shown by his commanding performances
against the likes of Steven Gerrard and Cesc Fabregas.
Nani has 12 assists this season. That statistic shows why he should
be ahead of Giggs in the pecking order. Giggs has been bombing up
and down the left wing for 15 years and it’s beginning to show.
He wants Sir Bobby Charlton’s appearance record and nobody would
begrudge him the chance to do that, but not to the detriment of the
team, no player is bigger than Manchester United and if we are not
playing well with Giggs on the pitch, Fergie should drop him.
He should retire gracefully at the end of the season.
Nani and Anderson were expected to be brought into the team
gradually, but injuries and suspensions meant they were thrown
in at the deep end much quicker than was planned. The good
thing is they didn’t sink. Instead they have both proved to be two
of our best performers this season. They are influencing our games
massively and Fergie should reward these performances with places
in the starting lineup.