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The Pep myth

He never signed a decent goalkeeper until the football agency of Stretford/Olsen & that former centre half got going & he signed Schmeichel.
Loads to criticise Ferguson over, but that is a weird one.

He never signed a decent goalkeeper, until just 5 years into his 27 years there when he signed one who would turn out to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of the Premier league era
 

Ferguson had one way of playing?
He played various different formations and variations at different times. 1999 team played 4-4-2, later teams played 4-3-3. Even in 4-4-2, he played with different central midfield and striker combinations depending on requirement. Keane went from box-to-box to holding midfielder. Irwin went from right to left back. Scholes dropped deeper as he got older. He man-marked Pirlo with Park in Europe.Cantona and Sheringham played more as a 10. Cole and Yorke played as pair of strikes. Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo played as front three. Could go on....
Ferguson was not always a pleasant bloke, particularly when crossed, but he created and tweaked many excellent teams.

Guardiola is presented as some sort of genius when he had most success playing Cruyff tactics and with added "luck" of La Masia producing Messi, Iniesta, Xabi, Busquets, Pique and Puyol et al....
They are positional changes though? Irwin moving from RB to LB doesn't change the way they played. Keane doing less running after a serious knee injury didn't change the way they played.

Man United played 442 for a good 15 years. They briefly played 451, then 433 in big games with Rooney/Tevez/Ronaldo, then back to 442 in his last few years. Even when they changed formation they still got the ball out wide, attacked the wings and got crosses in. Whereas Man City have made numerous tactical tweaks over the years - very wide full backs to inverted full backs, Stones stepping into midfield, false 9 to poacher Haaland, Cancelo becoming their main provider from left back to then Ake playing as a 3rd centre back from left back to Gvardiol as a sort of CB/winger hybrid. Etc.

I'm not saying either was better or more revolutionary than the other. I'm saying Fergie sold players once they started to decline and replaced them with similar to freshen things. Whereas Pep has mostly held on to the same core but evolved their style of play instead to keep things fresh.
 
excellent post...what you are describing is how Pep is a better coach than ferguson, and ferguson a better manager..which Im sure Fwerguson would be happy with as he never really worked as a coach in his life..always the manager
 
Ferguson never gained any coaching qualifications.
If the EUFA coaching qualifications are what each and every manager obtains - how come the foreign coaches seem to be better than the British ones who gain the same qualifications?
 
Ferguson never gained any coaching qualifications.
If the EUFA coaching qualifications are what each and every manager obtains - how come the foreign coaches seem to be better than the British ones who gain the same qualifications?
Not only does alex ferguson have the UEFA pro licence...he has taught others on the pro licence course
 
Not only does alex ferguson have the UEFA pro licence...he has taught others on the pro licence course
He has certainly spoken at various coaching courses.
I found this -
Ferguson is exempt from having to secure a UEFA pro-licence himself as he was already managing in the top flight before the rule was introduced.
Source -
No mention of coaching courses here -
Only this from Largs -
 
He has certainly spoken at various coaching courses.
I found this -
Ferguson is exempt from having to secure a UEFA pro-licence himself as he was already managing in the top flight before the rule was introduced.
Source -
No mention of coaching courses here -
Only this from Largs -
Here is alex ferguson as part of his coaching seminars for UEFA describing his coaching qualifications..https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/026e-1393ddbe1c5f-6e7b43cd9fe4-1000--sir-alex-ferguson-s-coaching-advice-for-uefa-students/
tramsfermarkt says his qualification is the pro license...he may not have needed it but been smart enough to get it
 
Always say put these so called top managers in a side at the foot of league 2 with crumbling ground, porta cabins for changing rooms and boberly school field for training ground. That'd sort out I they're really 'geniuses'
 
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