17 November 2001

WANTED: COACH FOR CHAMPIONS

By United Views Columnist - Dangerous Greg

I would be very surprised if Sir Alex continued with the same line-up and formation after the much needed international break. With a terribly mediocre performance against Liverpool (We have to admit some Scousers were probably right when they were singing "Are you City in disguise"), it's very in-character for Fergie to give the team a complete makeover, possibly by bringing in a few new faces (despite the board claiming that Blanc will be this season's last signing).

Make no mistake, Ferguson has never ever been afraid of change. However, this time, it may not be just one or two new players.

First of all, Sir Alex needs to bring in a coach. Eric Harrison may have been at the club for a long time, but he is no replacement for Steve  McLaren, who I believe is a brilliantly creative coach who added a new dimension to United's training process. It's true, Sir Alex has been dilligent in analysing the opposition and finding weaknesses and strengths, but it's the coach's job to implement a creative training regime to make sure the players find it second nature in carrying out the tactics.

I believe that a big reason for Leeds' success is simple - Brian Kidd.

If United are going to improve, they have to start in the training department and not depend on their individual skills, which they have in abundance but have not much to show for it in terms of success.

Just look at Fabien Barthez who is great on the ball, with a world of technical skill (for a goalie, that is). Without the basics of hard football training and mental focus, all that skill is useless. Sir Alex may stick with Fabien, but I'm sure the keeper's attitude and mental focus will improve because of his strong character.

As a good friend of mine pointed out, the main reason behind Fabien's awful mistakes is his weak belief in the players in front of him. If he were confident in them, he might not have come rushing out at every opportunity like a mad fool.

Which brings us to the object of joy for the ABU's- The currently, how should I put it, inept Man United defence.

Wes Brown may be one for the future, but that's all he is - one for the future. For the sake of all that's good, someone please yell at him. Keep him on his error prone toes. He might even be better off on the right to replace that dreadful Gary Neville. To be honest, there isn't anyone in the defence who will take a commanding role because Lauren Blanc isn't the man.

With gutsy Silvestre voicing out strong opinions, perhaps Fergie might be doing the right thing in placing the young Frenchman in the central role. Silvestre might be the man to complete the French version of shouty Schmeichel, yelly Bruce and loudmouthy Pallister. That is, unless Ferguson sells Mikael for being the French version of bigmouthy Stam.

Quite simply, someone new needs to come in. And it's probably not a defender. It's a defensive coach.

Liverpool and Leeds are successful because of this. Along with some good defenders, they have good coaches who transmit a confidence and belief with the system. Dare I say it- Aston Villa might have this belief or dilligence in Peter Schmeichel's influence alone. Arsenal, with all their fantastic individual defenders, aren't as solid as they have always famously been. Why? Quite simply, they do not have Kidd, McLaren, Thompson or even Schmeichel. We need a coach. We also need to sell Gary Neville.

Tactically, in the midfield United are still predictable. Veron does not really add the dimension - he actually slows the pace of the game down compared to Scholes, who, after a pass, makes a lot of runs into space. The effect here is by taking out Yorke and Cole, they have sacrificed some pace in the movement up front as well. For the new formation to work, the midfielders cannot depend on creating chances for Ruud- they must make runs into the box and score. This tactic is used by Barcelona with Kluivert playing in Van Nistelrooy's role, and midfielders like Luis Enrique running diagonally into the area.

That's why Beckham has scored some short range goals - against Lille, Olympiakos and Liverpool. He's the clever one - making the timely runs into the box. Beckham can do no wrong at the moment can he? He's even won the Pool fans over.

That is the key- and it will only work with a good coach who can balance attacking runs with the defensive tracking back within the midfield.

United probably need someone like Edgar Davids who can add some pace into the game with all his endless running and tackling. It was actually Scholes' job before.

As for getting goals, if the formation is 4-5-1, it's the midfield's job to score goals (by running into the box) and if it's 4-4-2, there needs to be pace among the strikers. Van Nistelrooy must play with either Yorke or Cole. If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is to play then only with the return of Giggs or someone to inject pace in the attack are United going to be able to create good scoring chances.

Here's what United should be:

Barthez

Irwin, Silvestre, Blanc, Brown (Brown on the right, Irwin or someone new on the left. Defensive Coach needs to come in)

Beckham, Davids, Keane, Veron, Giggs (All ball winners and hardworkers)

Van Nistelrooy (holds the ball up like Sparky for any of the 5 midfielders to make unexpected runs

I say, buy Davids. If Juve are going to get Scholes, United must get something in return.

And get that coach!

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