"I got Louis in order to form a partnership with Ruud"

[Kevin]

So if these quotes are true he's abandoning the lone striker formation he's worked so hard on to perfect in the past 1-2 years???


By NEIL CUSTIS

LOUIS SAHA claims he had to hit out at Fulham to save his dream move to Manchester United.

The French striker completed his £12.825million transfer to Old Trafford yesterday — but it only came after he turned on the London club who were desperate to try and keep him.

Saha, 25, said: “I had a great chance to play for one of the biggest club in the world and I was very excited.

“When I saw the deal was in doubt I had to step forward and say something. I was not happy and I made them understand that.

“I had to make them understand I was committed to moving to this big club. I stepped forward because I was afraid the opportunity would pass.

“Maybe I shocked them. But if I had not done it maybe the deal would not have gone through.

“I have been waiting for months for this to happen and now I am just glad the deal has gone through.”

Fulham boss Chris Coleman had complained about being bullied into the move, while owner Mohamed Fayed was adamant he would not sell.

But United always get their man and boss Alex Ferguson believes he now has the player to link up with Ruud van Nistelrooy to form a Champions League-winning partnership.

Fergie said: “It was a big thing Louis being eligible for Europe this season.

“Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were a fantastic partnership and probably played an integral part in us winning the Champions League.
“Hopefully we are now going to be that successful again. I got Louis in order to form a partnership with Ruud and it will be interesting now to see how they will both rise to that challenge.”

Saha signed a contract with United to the end of this season plus a further five years.

Ferguson said: “Louis has great assets and very different to anyone else we have here at the moment.

“Without question he will develop into a real quality player. He is quick, has two good feet, is aggressive in the air and has great enthusiasm.

“Louis first came to my attention three years ago when we played them in the FA Cup and he had a very good game.

“He got an injury last season which stopped our interest but we began negotiations again this season.”

Saha is relishing linking up with Van Nistelrooy but will have to wait until next weekend as he is cup-tied tomorrow.

United wanted to prove there could be no allegation of hidden payments in the deal by volunteering where all the monies went.

United paid a £12.825m fee of which £11.5m goes to Fulham, £575,000 to the Premier League and £750,000 to agents.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has warned his players to beware a second shock in nine days — after losing to Wolves last Saturday — when they face Northampton.

The United boss said: “We saw last week what can happen. If you do not take your chances you can lose a goal in a second.

“The headlines are already prepared for us slipping up. We know they are going to get stuck in and we have got to be prepared to get stuck in as well.”
---------------------------

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2004033142,00.html

 

[numlock]

interesting quotes by him. You wonder how he sees it


the most obvious one

ruud and saha and a midfield of giggs-keane-scholes-ole/ronaldo

 

[giggzy]

Ruud'll still be the out and out striker... with Saha behind him... just like what Giggs and Scholes have been doing over the last few months.

Just because you play two 'front men', doesn't mean they'll both be stuck in the box....

anyhow.. I can't see Saha being a first choice player.

Time will tell though, I suppose.

 

[Amir]

It probably means we'll be more flexible. I don't think the current formation will be abandoned. no way.

 

[WeasteDevil]

He knows very well what he is getting into, but I have a feeling that SAF has tried his hand at funny formations, and is going to go back to the 4-4-2.

 

[WeasteDevil]

Proper wingers and all!

 

[giggzy]

Aimar would've been a perfect partner....

Dreams eh?

 

[WeasteDevil]

Aimar would've been a perfect partner....

Dreams eh?

Mmmmmmmmmmm, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

The problem we have is that Ruud is the perfect number 9 and also the perfect number 10. Aimar is one of the best number 10s in the business (the provider).....

We all think in 4-4-2, it's natural, it's the way football was always played.

I dont know anymore, I really dont.

We are going back to 4-4-2 (Prem) I feel with this signing. SAF is having a Yo-Yo. It seems to me that he has put a squad together that can play in the Prem in a very different way to Europe.

There are many on here that think that he is putting in a single system, a single way, I do not think that is the case. I think that the he has assembled a squad capable of truley competing on two fronts without a problem if an injury/suspension four occurs here or there.

I think that we are almost complete for the next 6 years.

 

[giggzy]

Mmmmmmmmmmm, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

The problem we have is that Ruud is the perfect number 9 and also the perfect number 10. Aimar is one of the best number 10s in the business (the provider).....

We all think in 4-4-2, it's natural, it's the way football was always played.

I dont know anymore, I really dont.

We are going back to 4-4-2 (Prem) I feel with this signing. SAF is having a Yo-Yo. It seems to me that he has put a squad together that can play in the Prem in a very different way to Europe.

There are many on here that think that he is putting in a single system, a single way, I do not think that is the case. I think that the he has assembled a squad capable of truley competing on two fronts without a problem if an injury/suspension four occurs here or there.

I think that we are almost complete for the next 6 years.

Weaste... doesn't matter what formation you put out, it's really about systems and flexibilty.... I think we're a very flexible side.. regardless of who plays behind Ruud...(personally I think we're a much better side with giggs' pace behind Ruud rather than Scholesy..)

As for wingers, I seriously can't see SAF playing two out and out wingers, in Europe, anyhow.

PS... I don't ever recall United playing with two 'out and out' strikers(this last decade): Cantona, Yorke, Teddy..et al, played behind the front player. The only real difference has been the fact that we've played without out and out wingers....for the past couple of years. But instead we've improved our movement upfront..(and at times it has been breathtaking)

 

[redpie]

anyhow.. I can't see Saha being a first choice player.

Time will tell though, I suppose.

Well, the fact is he will start off as a first choice player. So let us give the guy a chance to wear the red shirt and hear us chanting his name at least before we dismiss him as a squad player and expensive flop.

 

[WeasteDevil]

Weaste... doesn't matter what formation you put out, it's really about systems and flexibilty.... I think we're a very flexible side.. regardless of who plays behind Ruud...(personally I think we're a much better side with giggs' pace behind Ruud rather than Scholesy..)

As for wingers, I seriously can't see SAF playing two out and out wingers, in Europe, anyhow.

PS... I don't ever recall United playing with two 'out and out' strikers(this last decade): Cantona, Yorke, Teddy..et al, played behind the front player. The only real difference has been the fact that we've played without out and out wingers....for the past couple of years. But instead we've improved our movement upfront..(and at times it has been breathtaking)

Yorke (and Sheringham) were then 10. Cole was the 9. No team ever plays with two strikers.

 

[WeasteDevil]

Solskjaer is a 9!

 

[Raoul]

To me the article says that Fergie has always rated Louis and that he has a certain role in mind for him.

 

[Gazza]

I have a feeling the Wolves game accelerated the move. Obviously Saha has been a target for a while but our interest seemed to have cooled since Fulham weren't budging. I think the Wolves game just pushed SAF to go all out for him.

 

[Red-Indian]

:But United always get their man and boss Alex Ferguson believes he now has the player to link up with Ruud van Nistelrooy to form a Champions League-winning partnership.

Fergie said: “It was a big thing Louis being eligible for Europe this season.

“Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were a fantastic partnership and probably played an integral part in us winning the Champions League.
“Hopefully we are now going to be that successful again. I got Louis in order to form a partnership with Ruud and it will be interesting now to see how they will both rise to that challenge.”

I'm not one to question Fergie genius on formations and strategy but I hope that was just a casual comment to build Saha up. I really think the sole striker up front is the way to go and that Ruud is the perfect striker for that with Saha as backup.

Changing to say 4-4-2 is radical change at this stage and we haven't been buying players for that kind of formation. Ruud's the perfect sole frontman and I don't think he'll combine very well with another striker. He's a selfish striker and I like that. He needs a lot of feed coming to him to keep that prodigous strike rate going.

Lets not go there at this stage of the season. If Fergie really feels he'd like to revert to having two full strikers up front, let his do it after letting the players get used to it after practice in the summer. Not in the middle of a good season.

 

[MelvinYeo]

I'm not one to question Fergie genius on formations and strategy but I hope that was just a casual comment to build Saha up. I really think the sole striker up front is the way to go and that Ruud is the perfect striker for that with Saha as backup.

Changing to say 4-4-2 is radical change at this stage and we haven't been buying players for that kind of formation. Ruud's the perfect sole frontman and I don't think he'll combine very well with another striker. He's a selfish striker and I like that. He needs a lot of feed coming to him to keep that prodigous strike rate going.

Lets not go there at this stage of the season. If Fergie really feels he'd like to revert to having two full strikers up front, let his do it after letting the players get used to it after practice in the summer. Not in the middle of a good season.

Agree.

I do prefer 4-4-2 now, but unless Fergie wants to change his mind after keeping faith in it after we won nothing in 01-02, it will still be 4-2-3-1

 

[Red15]

Great to hear that he's going to give RVN a chance to have a permanent striking partner at last. I would assume that'll mean Giggsy will be on the left, Ole/Ronaldo on the right with Scholesy dropping back to CM. I'm sure he won't totally abandon the 4-5-1, but he clearly doesn't see Saha as simply an expensive back-up to RVN, so it'll be interesting to see how Saha will fit into the 4-5-1 formation.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

question...with saha entering the picture and fergie hoping for a strike partnership to build up.. hes obviously more than just a backup for ruud.. where then does scholsey play..and if in the midfield..then does keane have the legs to play a lone defensive midfielder....

something like this??:
- --------RUUD --------------------
------------------ SAHA/Ole---------
GIGGS------SCHOLES----------RONALDO/fletcher/phil neviile
---------KEANE----------------------

 

[GazMufc]

I heard the press conference yesterday on Sky Sports News and Fergie said that he wanted Louis to partner Ruud! I personally hope this will be the way we play now cos playing with one up front is one of the mst frustrating formations i have witnessed!

 

[RUnited]

Don't think SAF plans to go back to 4-4-2 just yet.

my guess is:

-----------------RVN---------------
----Giggs-------------------Saha---
---------------Scholes--------------
----------Keane-------Phil----------

Saha is quick and has two good feet, so I see him playing in a similar role to Ronaldo for the time being. Don't be surprised if Saha is used on the wings like how Ole was used last season.

Fletcher doesn't seem up for it this season. Ronaldo can't play every game. Ole is not going to be very fit until atleast March which by then could be too late to pick up the pace and the intensity of all competitions.

 

[giggzy]

No team ever plays with two strikers.

Inzaghi and Sheva? (both are line leaders.....)

Altho I agree, it's best to have a specialised 9 and a 10. TBh I've always felt that Saha was a out and out striker.. ie no 9... so can a partnership work with those two?? (same reason why I doubt Ronaldo and Ruud woud work, Ronnie seems to be more of an out and out striker nowadays. )

 

[kkcbl]

I do hope Fergie's comments mean he'll be more flexible switching from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 when the need arises - at present, he doesn't have the players to switch to 4-4-2 after abandoning the system 2 seasons ago & going for broke with 4-4-1-1.

Teams are not stupid - they learn our style & find ways to counter - nowadays, teams flood the midfield with 5 & even their strikers pressure our defence & hope for quick counter-attacks or mistakes from our defenders & if they score, they go back into defensive mode - we don't seem able to counter this type of play or have the players especially when we keep playing with only one striker who's always surrounded by 2-3 defenders & we've only been able to overturn a score once this season - we couldn't come back on 4 different occasions once we went 0-1 down!

 

[MelvinYeo]

I do hope Fergie's comments mean he'll be more flexible switching from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 when the need arises - at present, he doesn't have the players to switch to 4-4-2 after abandoning the system 2 seasons ago & going for broke with 4-4-1-1.

Teams are not stupid - they learn our style & find ways to counter - nowadays, teams flood the midfield with 5 & even their strikers pressure our defence & hope for quick counter-attacks or mistakes from our defenders & if they score, they go back into defensive mode - we don't seem able to counter this type of play or have the players especially when we keep playing with only one striker who's always surrounded by 2-3 defenders & we've only been able to overturn a score once this season - we couldn't come back on 4 different occasions once we went 0-1 down!

Agreed

 

[WeasteDevil]

The point is, I dont think that we ever needed to change the system in the Prem, 4-4-2 always worked for us, it was in Europe that it didn't.

Look how many points we won the league by before Ruud came and he started changing the system. Cole-Yorke were deadly.

Trouble was, he didn't really have the team capable of switiching between different systems back then, so he went with the 4-5-1 on both fronts, now I feel he does have the team flexible enough to move from one to the other quite easily, even in the middle of a match. So, I will not be surprised to see the 4-4-2 return far more regularly (actually starting) than in the past couple of seasons.

 

[Red15]

I do hope Fergie's comments mean he'll be more flexible switching from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 when the need arises - at present, he doesn't have the players to switch to 4-4-2 after abandoning the system 2 seasons ago & going for broke with 4-4-1-1.

Teams are not stupid - they learn our style & find ways to counter - nowadays, teams flood the midfield with 5 & even their strikers pressure our defence & hope for quick counter-attacks or mistakes from our defenders & if they score, they go back into defensive mode - we don't seem able to counter this type of play or have the players especially when we keep playing with only one striker who's always surrounded by 2-3 defenders & we've only been able to overturn a score once this season - we couldn't come back on 4 different occasions once we went 0-1 down!

I for one am really happy that we'll probably see 4-4-2 in the league now. But I don't know why we had to wait for the purchase of Saha to go back to that system. Ole/Ruud did really well together a couple of years ago, and for some reason we just abandoned that partnership.

 

[mu77]

I have a feeling the Wolves game accelerated the move.

if not that then the 0-0 vs the barcodes or maybe the 0-1 away win vs boro or the 1-2 away to bolton - MUFC haven't been fluid up front for about 2-3 weeks TBH.

 

[crappycraperson]

what happens to forlan now?
how many chances is he gonna get
i am not a big diego fan , ahh i am not even a small diego fan
but if Man Utd wants to keep him, he needs to get more time in game .

 

[MclarenMP4]

Ruud can also play well in a 4-4-2 system because he plays it in his international team with Kluivert & it was quite effective for them @ home to Scotland
It does give us the flexability to play with different formations as we can now effectively play 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 & 4-4-2.

 

[MelvinYeo]

Ruud can also play well in a 4-4-2 system because he plays it in his international team with Kluivert & it was quite effective for them @ home to Scotland
It does give us the flexability to play with different formations as we can now effectively play 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 & 4-4-2.

Kluivert was on the bench while Ruud was up front on his own while VDV and Sneijder in the hole.

Kluivert came on and receieved boos I think when the game was won

 

[Festan]

The point is, I dont think that we ever needed to change the system in the Prem, 4-4-2 always worked for us, it was in Europe that it didn't.

Look how many points we won the league by before Ruud came and he started changing the system. Cole-Yorke were deadly.

Trouble was, he didn't really have the team capable of switiching between different systems back then, so he went with the 4-5-1 on both fronts, now I feel he does have the team flexible enough to move from one to the other quite easily, even in the middle of a match. So, I will not be surprised to see the 4-4-2 return far more regularly (actually starting) than in the past couple of seasons.

Agreed.

I also think that the 4-4-2 formation is better suited for Forlan and Bellion. None of them is a "lone striker" I think.

I wont be surprised if we will play 4-4-2 in the majority of the PL-games and maybe 4-4-1-1 in the majority of the CL-games.

I think that Saha/RvN can be one of Europes best "partnership". That both of them also can play as a "lone striker" dosent make it worse

Now Fergie has more to choose from then before. I think this can be the boost that leads to win the Premiership just in front of Arsenal (again)

Plz excuse my crappy English. Not so easy to think in English for me att 3:30am

 

[mia_striker]

Finally.. a new signing.. This will be my formation if i was SAF

RvN - Saha

Scholes


Giggs Ronaldo

R.keane


O'Shea Silvestre Brown G.neville




We dont need P.neville in the middle. and why did fergie buy liam miller.. when is he going to play him? FERGIE BUY ROBBEN..

 

[MelvinYeo]

Liam is gonna be the next Keano..

 

[thewelshconjurer]

I agree but ...... I think that we should obstain from saying Miller the next Keano. He will be just Liam Miller and not Liam "Keano 2" Miller. Keano is Keano and Miller is Miller simple as that. I am not saying that he will be better or worse but ... DIFFERENT.

 

[lchk]

Can't see Saha being a link striker - he's at his most effective upfront alongside a strike partner.

Thank God we didn't land that Defoe midget

 

[Rams]

I agree but ...... I think that we should obstain from saying Miller the next Keano. He will be just Liam Miller and not Liam "Keano 2" Miller. Keano is Keano and Miller is Miller simple as that. I am not saying that he will be better or worse but ... DIFFERENT.

is miller the next keano then?

 

[lonbwoy]

by the way can saha play for us in the later stages of the fa cup even though he has played for fulham in it??

 

[Rams]

only if he behaves himself

 

[RedRonaldo]

I still have doubts.
If Saha was bought as a striker partner rather than a backup for Ruud, then we don't we spend a few more millions on a worldclass striker rather?

 

[lonbwoy]

Yeh but which world class player can we get who hasn't played in the CL??.

 

[kkcbl]

Yeh but which world class player can we get who hasn't played in the CL??.

Viduka - far better striker at a far cheaper price!