Insights from Sir Alex Ferguson

Found a few notes that may be of interest to some:

Training structure

Training always follows a basic structure as follows:

1)Passing with small sided keep ball games

2)Functional work on possession and passing

3)Tactical and Technical work revolving around Penetration(both creating and preventing)

4)Shooting/Finishing Technique

5)Practice game with 7v7,8v8,9v9 or 10v10

Sir Alex Ferguson believes that training should be set out to maximize "flow" and encourage a high work rate, this is done by keeping players moving as much as possible by including movement at every phase of training. Which is to be done at high intensity to build stamina.

Focus should be placed challenging players technique in game situations involving problem solving around the above format, this is aimed at producing what Sir Alex Ferguson calls "thinking players".

Repetition should be used to create performance habits,"the skill we she in flashes should repeated in training until it becomes consistent".

Players are also coached in how the above flow of training relates to how they "play" in the position they are in. For example midfield players are coached intensively on how to use various passing techniques to increase Penetration.

No mistake in training is allowed to repeated twice, players must accept the need to remove mistakes from performance.

Training sessions are 90 minutes in duration.

During the possession games older players are mixed with younger players to enable younger players to be challenged by higher speed of play provided by older players experience, the same is done for older players to be challenged by the work rate of the younger group. A favorite is the boxes which players are around the outside of a "box" with defenders who must intercept the ball. The older players such as Giggs and Scholes would go round the outside and the younger players would be in the inside. Players enjoy this and sets the feeling for the whole session. By letting the players "play" early in the session. These last for 15 mins in duration.

Goal Keepers train apart from the squad for the first part of the session with with a focus on handling and footwork and reflex saves. They are also coached in long passing to target players which are rotated in games between a forward pushing up, a forward dropping deep of one of the two wing players.

When coaching players to dribble SAF like to have every player "comfortable" with a minimum of 2 different types of dribbles/tricks.

Sir Alex Ferguson pushes his players to constantly refine rythem in play with changing of rythem through passing or individual play worked on.

Fitness Training

The weekly fitness training schedule is worked out depending on the number of games for the week but follows a general pattern built around competing in 1v1, fitness to optimize penetration and sustain a high work rate during play.

With a general cycle as follows:

Monday-strength

Tuesday-aerobic work

Wednesday-speed

The intensity is reduced to prepare for the next game with a focus shifting to injury prevention.

Before training there is normally 15-30 mins of spinning.

Game Preparation

One session per week is done preparation for the next game. This is usually done with a focus on removing mistakes made in the last game or working on a technical/ tactical point Sir Alex Ferguson wants to be "fine tuned" for the next opponent.

A favorite is 4v4 with midfield players working on through passing through gaps in the defending line while defenders must work to prevent penetration by ramaining compact and constricting space for the through pass.

SAF prepares a 45 minute team talk on the morning of the game based around the most important aspects of the oppoents play to exploit or remove. The main focus is tactical strengths and weaknesses first as SAF believes "good managers get there tactics right".

Players are then left alone and nothing further is said with SAF believeing that the most important thing to o when all is said and done is to trust his players on the pitch.

Basic Playing Tactics

Sir Alex Ferguson system of choice is a VERY fluid but simple and well refined 4-2-3-1(or unorthodox 4-4-2).

SAF likes to work with a basic basic back four with changes made to the 6 remaining players depending on the situation.

Wingers will play close to the two central midfield players as well as being able to go out wide should the need arise, this enables the midfield to be tight in terms of preventing the opponents play.

Out of the two strikers one of them will drop back to provide a link and play the "in the whole" position.

A versatile midfield is the key to this system. The midfield is comprised normally of one holding player, a player who can make penetrating forward runs and also shoot from distance, a "creative dribbler" and a player who can cross the ball.

Both strikers work hard at combination play as a pair.

Fullbacks can work on a support basis during the attack behind wingers to maintain support or can over lap following a winger who cuts inside.

Attacks are started from the back with the point of attack determined by passes from the central defenders.

In defense wingers track back to prevent fullbacks being in 1v1 situations.

The main defensive block is a block of the back four and two central midfielders who work along with the tracking back of the wingers to constrict attacking space especially around the edge of the penalty area.

Constant movement in attack, interchange of positions and good 1v1 players are some of the main refinements made to the system.

Penetration is the key aim of this tactical set up.

Possession is kept when possible under the condition that the ball keeps moving which tires out opponents. If you want to beat Manchester United you have to run for it.

The focus of the system is on simple european tactics worked with the work ethic and physicality of traditional British football.

During a fixture pile up a day of rest would be removed making it look like this:

satureday-match

sunday-strength

monday-aerobic

tuesday-speed

wednesday-match

thursday-strength

friday-aerobic

satureday-match

Bear in mind emembers of the squad that dont play in midweek pile ups train by the normal schedule.

Session planning

Sessions are planned early in the morning with SAF and his staff at the desk(7am starts). The team is made up assistent manager, first team coach, goalkeeper coach, fitness coach and specialist skills and technical coach. SAF plans the sessions with feedback on the best method of reaching the goal for that day.

In terms of the session the 15 minutes keep ball games are player lead, this a "letting of steam" kind of thing like I said letting them PLAY before work, much like school boys would do blasting balls about and shooting into the net or at each other(mainly Scholes and Rooney blasting balls at people when their not watching).

After this Rene Meulensteen(skills coach)briefs the players,using various diagrams and other things he is careful to pay attention to learning styles. He then takes the players through training designed to challenge certain skills in a fresh way. He was brought in to ensure that technique training is as modern as possible.

The goalkeeper trains separably until the practice games, designed by assistant manager and first team coach.

In terms of coaching for SAF its about observation and imagination. He observes and if he wants anything changed his team changes it. His fitness coach is there to give feedback on how to build fitness into any game, Meulensteen will be on hand to adjust the drills on a problem solving basis. SAF is a big fan of solving problem through technique.

As for team training on practice games they use the INTEGRATED METHOD with every player in the position they play in, parts of the pitch are divided of with players solving problems based on how they might have to solve them in a game based on that position. These are made as global as possible.

Sir Alex Ferguson Passing and Movement Triggers

SAF introduced a few changes to his 4-2-3-1:

-Fullbacks operating with Wingers as a pair down the flanks

-Changing the passing style to be closer to how Arsenal move the ball

The examples and principles below were used to promote a better method of ball movement.

Basic Principles

Before using triggers there are certain principles which his players will use:

-Pass the ball in triangles

-Play from constricted space to open space on the weak side or down the flanks

-2 central midfield determine horizontal passing build up

-Fullbacks determine vertical passing build up down the flanks

-The back 4 and Central 2 midfield players can hold the ball if needed until change of tempo for attacking

-Forwards act as a pair and Fullbacks act as a pair with Wingers midfield players act a pivot this done to enable many passing options in the above format which allows for many players to play above the line of the ball on the attack.

-Build up is alternated between combinations of long and short passing depending on the situation but still acting on triggers

Triggers

Triggers fall into certain types:

-Attacking the opponents weak side

-Changing tempo

Attacking on the opponents weak side

Center backs determine the direction to attack by the following:

Both full backs move diagonally closer to the half way line to present an option for the pass, the first pass to the Fullback from the Cent re back is the trigger to the Fullback and Winger on the OPPOSITE side that the ball will be switched for attack down the opponents weak side, the Fullback and Winger move Up the pitch to present width in space.

The second trigger is who the Fullback passes the ball to, this determines which player on the opposing flank the ball will be switched to and the movements of either the Fullbacks and Wingers in support of the switched pass. Should the Fullback pass the to Winger this will be followed by a fast pass to the central midfield player triggering the run of the opposite Fullback into space to receive the ball while the Winger cuts inside to create space. Should the ball be passed to the midfielder this is a trigger for the Winger on the opposite side to make a run into space to receive a long diagonal pass while the Fullback supports.

Should a midfield player receive a pass back from a Center Forward this triggers a movement from the winger on the weak side to make a run down the flank to prepare for long switched pass while the Fullback over laps to create space.

These can be used in the opposing half closer to the penalty area to allow for switches creating 1v1 encounters on the opponents weak side.

Changing Tempo

Tempo of the game and the speed of build up is determined by the Central midfield players. An immediate pass from the back line to Central Midfield players. A pass to a Midfield player triggers the Wingers to move to stretch the width and prepare for faster one touch passing combinations around the opposing third. The aim is to stretch the opposing teams to open up gaps to attack. Full back push up closer to the touch line to provide out lets for potential crosses and diagonally passes to the opposite Winger.

Training

Allot of is spent on functional training and pattern work to enable triggers and patterns to practiced until finely tuned. These are only used to provide a foundation to aid the players own decision making and initiative. Possession is essential to master this method other wise it will compromise the principles of play.