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Football FanCast columnist Lewis Doe wonders whether the arrival of Michael Owen signifies a change in formation.
Ryan Giggs knows quite a bit about football so when he speaks people tend to listen and he believes that United's new signing, Michael Owen, will bring something to Old Trafford that they haven't had since the departure of Ruud Van Nistelrooy. It remains to be seen as to whether Owen can be just as effective, but the early signs look promising.
Giggs said in The Guardian: "I don't think there was any real scepticism among the players about his arrival. The manager explained that he provides something we haven't got. Kiko [Federico Macheda] is probably the most like Michael in the sense that he is an out-and-out goalscorer but he is still very young. Wayne and Dimitar Berbatov do things outside the box."
"Michael is a pure predator and that is something we have not really had since Ruud left."
Owen has been in a rich vein of form during pre-season with four goals in four games, but the real acid test will come and the perfect time to judge whether he is still the player he once was, will be when the season kicks off in a little over two weeks. I accept you can only score goals against the opposition that is in front of you, but as we know the Premier League is a different kettle of fish and the jury will still be out in some quarters. Owen had a rocky time at St James Park where his reputation has been dragged through the mud somewhat and it's clear that he is desperate to get himself back to where he once was as England's top striker. Fergie clearly believes in him, although he will have to tinker with his formation once again, in order to accommodate him.
With Ronaldo no longer there to provide the goals Fergie is likely to revert to a more tradition 4-4-2, with an out and out goalscorer leading the line. It remains to be seen as to whether it will bring the same rewards as United have been hugely successful with their old striking set-up, but time will tell. If Owen can be just as effective as Ruud was in front of goal during his years at Old Trafford, you do feel they will have every chance.
Will the change of formation be better suited to the players currently at Fergie's disposal? Has Fergie's decision to bring in a natural predator highlighted how much Ronaldo dictated United's play? Is Owen proving the man to fill that void?
http://www.footballfancast.com/blog/...ormation/15282
Ryan Giggs knows quite a bit about football so when he speaks people tend to listen and he believes that United's new signing, Michael Owen, will bring something to Old Trafford that they haven't had since the departure of Ruud Van Nistelrooy. It remains to be seen as to whether Owen can be just as effective, but the early signs look promising.
Giggs said in The Guardian: "I don't think there was any real scepticism among the players about his arrival. The manager explained that he provides something we haven't got. Kiko [Federico Macheda] is probably the most like Michael in the sense that he is an out-and-out goalscorer but he is still very young. Wayne and Dimitar Berbatov do things outside the box."
"Michael is a pure predator and that is something we have not really had since Ruud left."
Owen has been in a rich vein of form during pre-season with four goals in four games, but the real acid test will come and the perfect time to judge whether he is still the player he once was, will be when the season kicks off in a little over two weeks. I accept you can only score goals against the opposition that is in front of you, but as we know the Premier League is a different kettle of fish and the jury will still be out in some quarters. Owen had a rocky time at St James Park where his reputation has been dragged through the mud somewhat and it's clear that he is desperate to get himself back to where he once was as England's top striker. Fergie clearly believes in him, although he will have to tinker with his formation once again, in order to accommodate him.
With Ronaldo no longer there to provide the goals Fergie is likely to revert to a more tradition 4-4-2, with an out and out goalscorer leading the line. It remains to be seen as to whether it will bring the same rewards as United have been hugely successful with their old striking set-up, but time will tell. If Owen can be just as effective as Ruud was in front of goal during his years at Old Trafford, you do feel they will have every chance.
Will the change of formation be better suited to the players currently at Fergie's disposal? Has Fergie's decision to bring in a natural predator highlighted how much Ronaldo dictated United's play? Is Owen proving the man to fill that void?
http://www.footballfancast.com/blog/...ormation/15282