It is no secret that for the big games, Sir Alex likes to deploy a modern and pragmatic 4-5-1 formation in favor of the traditional 4-4-2 he uses for most games in the league. Berbatov’s repeated absence from the starting line-up in the one striker system is not much of a surprise, but Valencia too hampers the working of the formation due to his style of play as the role of the wide players in a 4-5-1 system is different from that in a 4-4-2 formation.

Valencia is a fairly conventional wide player. He may not have a bagful of tricks but what he has in abundance is pace which he very effectively uses to gain half a yard on the defender and deliver accurate crosses. Add to this his sense of responsibility to fulfill his defensive duties and you have a player perfect for the 4-4-2 system to provide assists for the two front men.

However, in the 4-5-1/4-3-3 system, the wide player plays more in a right or left forward role and is required to cut in and make runs into the box to support the center forward. The versatility of players like Cristiano Ronaldo is an added bonus which then allows the front men to switch positions which is a nightmare for the defenders as they are up against a different player every few minutes.

The ex-Wigan star however, likes to stick to the touch-line instead of making forays into the box and his finishing needs work. Another one of the Valencia’s shortcomings is that he is limited to just one position and Sir Alex too has admitted that he is only comfortable on the right-hand side of midfield.

For the away leg against Bayern Munich, he dropped the Ecuadorian and instead chose to play Nani and Park realizing that these two had the ability to switch positions if necessary and tactically provide him the room to maneuver which allows him to use his substitutions wisely, a significant factor in deciding close games.

Furthermore, even while playing as the lone striker, Rooney does a brilliant job of coming in deep to collect the ball, drawing the central defenders with him which leaves the space to be exploited behind them, a tactic which worked spectacularly in the away game against Arsenal (perhaps United’s best performance of the season) and as expected, Nani and Park were the wide players on this occasion too.

Hence, unless Valencia makes some serious adjustments to his game, tireless Park and vastly improved Nani should be the ideal choice.

Dimitar Berbatov’s situation on the other hand is fairly obvious. It is seemingly impossible to find your way into the team if the only position you’re competing for is occupied by Wayne Rooney. To accommodate him, the only possibly way might be to go back to the system in Ronaldo’s time with Rooney coming in from the left but this would seem unthinkable now that we’ve all seen Rooney’s exploits in his new position as a ‘poacher’ in front of the goal.

This coupled with the fact that Berbatov ideally likes to play behind the striker where he can bring other players into the game leaves the manager with little choice but to leave him on the bench.

Hence, Sir Alex’s biggest problem tactically now is to formulate a system into which both the players can fit effectively. One player has failed to rise to the pressure of playing for a club like Manchester United while the other has already made a mark after just one season but to be effective big match players, they both may need to adapt their game.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Manchester United knew that retaining their Premier League crown was going to be harder than it had been the previous seasons. The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo would have been a kick in the teeth to any club’s ambition.

To make matters worse Tevez left for bitter rivals Man City which meant that Rooney was the sole survivor of the famous ‘Holy Trinity’ which led United to phenomenal success in the past two terms. As the season progressed, the set-backs came thick and fast for Sir Alex’s men but they have done brilliantly to reach the position they currently find themselves in.

Problems

United’s results against Burnley, Bolton and Liverpool were ample proof that they were finding it hard to break teams down and maintain any sort of consistency in their performances. While Valencia seemed too one-dimensional, Obertan was still recovering from an injury and Owen’s performances were ineffectual (except the Man City winner of course).

To add to this, the form of two key players, Nemanja Vidic and Michael Carrick was underwhelming to say the least. Scholes too admitted to the press that he was not satisfied with the performances he was putting in. Both Nani and Anderson failed to live up to the huge expectation surrounding them when they arrived and were frustratingly inconsistent for most of the campaign.

With Edwin van der Sar injured, Ben Foster (initially tipped for England’s World Cup squad by some) put in one disastrous performance after another and was ultimately replaced by Kuszczak who later received praise from both, the manager and van der Sar.

By December, United were faced with an almost unprecedented injury crisis. United had 8-9 defenders injured for some matches in that month and at one point against West Ham their back four read – Fletcher Carrick Evra Giggs. Expectedly, the team dropped points with poor results against Fulham, Villa and Birmingham affecting their League campaign while the loss to Leeds ending their pursuit of the F.A. Cup.

Further gloom surrounded Old Trafford when the true state of United’s finances were brought to the public fore. This was followed by a series of media speculations about solutions and takeovers. The despondent fans started the Green and Gold Movement to protest against the Glazers. Green and Gold scarves are a common sight in ‘Theatre of Dreams’ now.

Turn-around

Although there doesn’t seem to be an immediate end to the financial issues, United’s misfortunes have retracted in the past couple of weeks. The credit for that, as for all the right things United have done this season, goes to Wayne Rooney. It was his injury time goal to send United through to the finals of the Carling Cup and silence the ‘noisy neighbours’,(for the time-being) that galvanized the team and electrified the fans. From then on the team put up the ‘performance of the season’ to completely outclass Arsenal and then drubbed Portsmouth by five goals.

Also, the new 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation Sir Alex has deployed for the big games seems to be working wonders. Nani has put in some astonishing performances in the past few games. In fact his form has been so good he has kept Valencia out of the team, probably their most consistent performer after Rooney this season. Equally important is the fact that Michael Carrick seems to have regained his form and confidence, both lacking since the Barcelona game. Not only is Rio Ferdinand fit again after a long injury lay-off he has also been handed the national team’s captaincy, certain to invigorate a player whose place in the team was being questioned by some critics.

The news is good not just from within the club. As unfortunate it may be for football in general, it’s a blessing for United that while Terry is facing a personal life crisis, Ashley Cole is out with an injury for at least 3- months. Arsenal’s back to back losses to United and Chelsea mean that they are out of the title race. Chelsea’s loss to Everton handed United a chance although they couldn’t fully capitalize as they drew their match against Villa, however putting up an excellent performance despite having a player sent off, the results further closed down the gap on the top of the table.

Tipped as favorites by many in their clash against Milan, United head into the tie high on confidence while Milan have had some poor domestic results off late. One point behind leaders Chelsea but with a home game against them, the players must feel good about their chances heading into the time of the season that really matters, especially since United seem to he hitting top form now.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

For a long time, the scouting networks of most European giants have concentrated on the talent coming out of the youth academies in South America, in particular Brazil and Argentina, and Northern and Western Europe. But now the lesser known teams from the East are catching up with their Western counterparts and leading the stake in churning out wonder-kids is Serbia.

Since the break up of Yugoslavia, Serbian football has been plagued by a host of  problems including lack of financial resources, racism and hooliganism. But the Vidic’s move to Manchester United has triggered a chain of transfers resulting in several Serbian U-21 and U-17 level players being exported from the national league to bigger clubs. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting prospects coming out of Serbian football.

1. Adem Ljajic

At the age of just 16, ‘Bambi’ had lucrative offers from clubs like Inter Milan, Spartak Moscow and Ajax. However, he decided to continue in the Serbian league as he wanted ‘to give something back to a club that gave him everything’.

Bestowed with the nickname “Little Kaka”, the teenage sensation was brought to the world’s attention when Manchester United secured the then 17 years old’s services. The deal however collapsed and the player has since moved on to Fiorentina.

A product of the Partizan Belgrade youth system, he’s considered among the brightest young talents in Europe. The attacking mid-fielder is blessed with excellent vision and complete technique. He can also be used on the right-wing given his pace and dribbling ability. With a strong character and a will to learn, it’s only a matter of time before he makes news again for his ability rather than his transfer controversy.

2. Danijel Aleksi

A player who managed to earn himself a cap for the national team before he celebrated his 17^th birthday would have to have some special talent. He made an astronomical rise from the U-17 level to the senior level in the year 2008, playing at the U-19 and U-21 levels as well, all in the same calendar year. He is the first player to do so.

Technically brilliant and well rounded off, the striker attracted the attention of clubs like Arsenal, Real Madrid and Villarreal but preferred a move to Eredivise or Bundesliga as the first step of his career. However, he finally decided to join Manchester City after a trial at the club, but the deal collapsed due to work-permit problems. Ultimately he was signed by Serie A outfit Genoa in January 2010 and the player expressed a sense of relief as the uncertainty over his future had been resolved. Onto the football field now!

3. Slobodan Rajkovic

Having made his club debut at just 15 for OFK Beograd, the defender nicknamed “The Big Man” was signed by Chelsea for 5.2m euros, a record fee for a player below 17 years of age. Initially on loan to PSV Eindhoven, he failed to gain much first team experience there due to lack of playing time. He was then loaned out to FC Twente.

Widely touted as ‘the next Nemanja Vidic’, his progress has somewhat been hampered by controversy. Banned for a year for supposedly spitting at the referee at the Olympics, he appealed to FIFA maintaining that he was innocent. His punishment was later reduced to a ban from only international matches. He is now continuing his progress at FC Twente and his loan deal has been extended till June 2010.

4. Nikon Jevtic

Describing his attributes in words would in-fact be doing injustice to his incredible talent. Just take a look at the videos circulating on the internet showing the player at his breath-taking best at a tender age of 11, which left even Sir Alex Ferguson in awe of him.  He even tried to sign him before FC Shalke 04 swooped in for the 14 year old prodigy in 2008.

One of the most desired talents in the world of football; he was previously signed by Valencia at the age of just 11 and has also featured for the Stuttgart and Austria Vienna youth teams. A sensational dribbler, he can use both feet well and is amazingly composed when on the ball. Honored with the nickname of “El Maestro” by the media, he is known to have scored six goals against the Stuttgart U-15 team, at the age of just 10!

5. Alen Stevanovic

This 18 year old (born to a Swiss immigrant father) has been dubbed the “Serbian Zidane” by the media, some indication how highly he is rated. He was snapped up by Inter at the age of just 18 after having played for FK Radnički Obrenovac and Radnički Novi Beograd in Serbia. The ambitious teenager who earlier rejected offers from Sampdoria and Torino knowing that a bigger club would come knocking on his door, has already expressed his desire to feature more often for the Inter first team after having made his debut against Siena on 9^th January.

6. Neven Subotic

Subotic is a 21-year-old defender who currently plays for Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He began his professional career with Mainz and caught the eye of the bigger clubs with some excellent performances in the 2007-08 season. The following summer, his manager at Mainz took up the job at Borussia Dortmund and was the main reason behind Subotic’s move to the same club.

Subotic’s first season there was a massive success and his mature performances cemented his status as the biggest defensive prospect in Germany. A debut for the national team followed as he came on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Romania in March 2009. He came under criticism in the Serbian media as his performances for the national team didn’t match his club level performances but the youngster is improving all the time and is certainly a future star.

A tall, imposing figure at the heart of the defense, the 6ft 4 inch player is strong in the air and a good reader of the game. With Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all linked to the player, the likelihood of him remaining at his current club are remote, especially as he is expected to feature in the World Cup.

7. Filip Djuricic

At the age of 16 Red Star Belgrade were offering to pay him a higher salary than any other player in their squad as the player was considered the brightest talent coming out of Serbia along with Ljajic and Aleksic. Now 18, the central mid-fielder has moved to SC Heerenveen, after having a trial with Manchester United and a spell at Greek club Olympiacos. He has a goal every two games ratio for the Serbian U-17’s and captains the team.

8. Nemanja Matic

The 6 feet 4 inches tall Serbian international was signed by Chelsea in 2009 from Kosice, where he had spent three previous years. He made his Premier League debut on November 21, 2009 coming on in the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton. Physically strong and technically gifted, the left footed playmaker should have no problems settling into life at Chelsea with colleague Ivanovic there to help him.

Despite the obstacles, Serbian football has manager to produce a host of youngsters who are touted as the brightest talents for the future and have European giants queuing up for their signature. Serbia is currently top of their group in the European U19 Championship and the U21 team was the runners up in the FIFA U21 World Cup in 2007. The performance of youth teams is ample proof that Serbian football is heading in the right direction.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

On this day 23 years ago, a certain Alexander Chapman Ferguson was appointed as the manager at Manchester United. Today Sir Alex is the most decorated manager in British football history.

His tactical genius, inspirational personality and tremendous focus have put him in a league above others. Probably the only indispensable chink in the Man United armory, his achievements speak for themselves but to dominate the game for two decades takes more than just tactical astuteness and good man management skills.

Eye for talent

“If we look after him the right way he is going to be one of the stars of football.”- on Ronaldo

Sir Alex’s ability to unearth raw talent and develop them into superstars is probably unmatched, though Arsene Wenger too is accomplished in this regard. What separates him from the rest though is that he doesn’t just spot a player’s skill; he can also judge one’s character and ability to perform under pressure. This was seen in the Champions League final when, Anderson, a teenager in his first season at the club, stepped up and coolly converted his penalty whereas, some more experienced and accomplished players failed to do so. Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Vidic and Ronaldo were all relatively unknown when they arrived at the club but were instrumental in the European cup wins. Cantona, Schmeichel and van der Sar were signed in bargain deals.

Discipline

“You can never allow the players to run the football club and you can never allow the supporters to run the football club. Somebody has to be in charge, and the manager is the best man.”

He is known to maintain very high standards both on and off the pitch. His strict policy has seen superstars like Beckham, Stam and Nistelrooy thrown out of the club when they crossed the line. He also managed to bring the best out of Cantona, who had previously been involved in several scuffles with teammates and bosses. He has also helped hot-headed players like Rooney and Ferdinand get a grip over their temper. His now famous “hair-dryer treatment” has been lashed out to some of the biggest names in football.

Protecting his players

“Wayne understands, as Ryan Giggs understood and Cristiano understands, we will not ask him to climb the mountain tomorrow. The big danger with young players is always that you ask too much of them too quickly. We will let him mature and develop as easily as we can.”

Though a tough taskmaster, he has always protected his players during their rough patches. He kept Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney away from over-exposure to the media when the burst to the scene as “Wonder-kids”. He has constantly protected Rooney despite criticism for his lack of goals, stood behind Cantona during his infamous Kung-Fu kick incident and saved Ronaldo from the public’s wrath after the 2006 World Cup

Hunger for titles

“At the end of this game, the European Cup will be only six feet away from you and you’ll not even able to touch it if we lose. And for many of you that will be the closest you will ever get. Don’t you dare come back in here without giving your all.”- At half-time in the 99 Champs League final

Sir Alex is a born winner. He hates loosing and instills the same feeling in his players, an attitude which has seen his team win the Champions League final after trailing for most of the game and on another occasion saw Utd bounce back from a 3-0 deficit at half-time against Spurs to win 5-3. He has postponed retirement plans on several previous occasions insisting that he still has the desire to win more titles.

Whether it was the problem of getting his team accustomed to the different style of play in the European tournament in the 90’s or the more recent issue of the Rooney-Tevez pairing up-front, Sir Alex has always managed to find a way out of difficult situations.

When he started out his rivals were the likes of Souness, Venebles and Dalglish who despite being about the same age have faded away which shows that he has constantly evolved with the changing cultures in the football, in the process introducing revolutionary ideas and tactics (and even phrases like “squeaky-bum time”). While his attitude and tactical knowledge have put him at the top, it’s his personal drive and ability to evolve which have helped him stay there for more than two decades.

Eccentric style

“They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I’ve got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!” on Arsene Wenger

Sir Alex has at several times used the media to his advantage. Now famous for his mind games and mischievous swipes at opposition managers, he on several occasions has also lavished praise on his players in public. Never one to be afraid of taking a gamble, he dropped Jim Leighton ahead of the 1990 FA Cup final, signed a certain Eric Cantona, already famous for his indiscipline, and replaced most of his double winning squad with youngsters, in 1994, which prompted Alan Hanson to say “You’ll never win anything with kids”. Just like this time, he has forced his critics to eat their words on several occasions.

When this fiery Scot took over a talented but title hungry Man Utd in 1986, his sole aim was to knock Liverpool “off their perch”. 23 years on, he has achieved so much more. He has taken the club to heights that were not reached even during the time of the legendary Sir Matt Busby.

Unlike several other managers who now lay more emphasis on a patient and disciplined approach, as the financial stakes increase constantly, he has achieved it all while playing “the beautiful game” the way it should be played. As famous for his catchy one-liners as for his style of chewing gum, Sir Alex is held in the highest esteem among fans and rivals alike.

With his declaration that he wants a third Champions League title before retirement (straight after he won his second!), the man who reportedly was about to be sacked in 1990 has once again warned his rivals that the fire in him still burns.

“Alex has given Manchester United the most fantastic ride, and he has made the club what we always thought it was – number one” – Sir Bobby Charlton

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Liverpool have not won a league title in 19 years and up until last season they didn’t come close to even challenging for the title, with Chelsea emerging as the premier rivals to the trophy which Man Utd have won 11 times in 17 years. The domination of United had taken the sting out of one of the oldest rivalries in football but the occurrences of the last season have certainly heated up matters between the two clubs.

The History

The rivalry between the two most successful clubs in England transcends football. Its roots were formed back during the days of the industrial revolution. In the early 1800’s, Manchester was taking giant strides on its way to becoming an industrial hub. However, a lot of its raw material had to be shipped to England which could reach Manchester only via the port of Liverpool.

The system worked fine until Liverpool slapped a tax on all goods that were brought in through their port for the various importers in Manchester. Manchester retaliated audaciously and constructed an artificial canal which allowed goods to reach them directly. A ship, representing the canal, has made its way onto the badges of both Manchester clubs, United and City.

The hatred between the Mancs and Scousers (named so because apparently they used to survive on a cheap beef stew called ‘scouse’) is mutual, but the rivalry on the football field actually didn’t start until the decline of the other club from Merseyside, Everton.

After the WW II both clubs have had periods of domination over the other. United dominated the 50’s and clinched the 60’s by winning the European Cup under Sir Matt Busby, even though both teams won two League titles in the decade. The 70’s and 80’s saw the utter domination of Liverpool, with them going on to become the most successful club in English football history. With the turn of the new decade, the tables turned and United won 7 of next 11 titles and carried that success into the new millennium. Liverpool haven’t won a league title in 19 years but can still boast of being the most successful club in England with 5 European titles.

Recent Encounters

In recent times however, Sir Alex’s men have stamped their authority on the encounters. After Danny Murphy’s goal in 2004, no Liverpool player had scored a goal against Man Utd in the EPL till Ryan Babel broke the deadlock last season. United’s league doubles over their rivals along with a few 4-0 and 3-0 score lines had somewhat taken the excitement out of the contest.

Last Season

At the beginning of the last season, Man Utd were coming off the back off the double winning season while Liverpool ended another trophy-less season in a disappointing fourth position. Right at the beginning of the season, Liverpool stunned United by coming back from 1-0 down at Anfield to win 2-1 and handed Rafa Benitez his first victory over United in the Premier League. They followed this up with a wonderful run and found themselves well ahead of United come January.

Mid-way through the season came “Rafa’s Rant” when he launched a scathing personal attack on Sir Alex, the master of the mind-games. It was followed by both managers trading blows at every pre-match press conference. Ironically though, Liverpool’s form took a dip following the remarks and handed United the lead in the table.

Then came the day which no Man Utd fan would like to recollect. Liverpool came to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ and humbled the champions 4-1 in a shocking display from the home team. Another defeat, of the once seemingly ‘Unbeatable’ Utd, in the following game set up a fascinating title chase.

However, United ended up lifting the Premiership trophy and more importantly equaled Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles and to the delight of the United faithful, Liverpool were the team they trumped over 38 games to earn it

Last season, the two clubs battled for supremacy on various levels, new signings Robbie Keane vs. Dimitar Berbatov, United’s flair vs. Liverpool’s discipline (although it turned out to be the opposite towards the closing stages of the season), Sir Alex vs. Rafa. United certainly had the last laugh but the double over United and the exciting title chase has certainly rekindled the hopes of the Liverpool faithful. The official season review of Man Utd mocks Rafa as it ends with- “The 11th time in 17 glorious seasons and the 18th title overall. AND THAT’S A FACT!!! !”

The rivalry never really died but the previous season has just brought the spark back into the biggest rivalry in English football.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News