#2 Adaptability
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson always believed in rebuilding his squad from time to time. Never relying too much on a single set of players, his more than efficient scouting and youth development systems produced world class talent more often than not.
He had a four-year squad revamp plan – if I might call it so – to keep the average age of his side in check and to make sure the club didn’t fall short when it came to integrating continental flair with home-grown talent.
Ferguson saw the league evolve as times changed. Over the course of 26 years he was in charge at Old Trafford, Ferguson overcame Blackburn Rovers’ big money, Liverpool’s heritage, Arsenal’s football purism and the relatively recent surge of Chelsea and Manchester City to consolidate Manchester United’s position among the European elite.
Bill Shankly
After initial success, Shankly stayed loyal to an ageing set of players in Yeats, St John and Hunt. Putting his faith in them cost Liverpool heavily as the club slumped into top-flight mediocrity.
Shankly’s successor Bob Paisley once said that Shanks should’ve been way more ruthless with players who were past their prime. It was only after Liverpool’s debacle against second division side Watford in the 1971 FA Cup final that Shankly set about rebuilding the club.
Towards the end of his management career, Shankly did sign a few outstanding talents in John Toshack, Ray Clemence and local youngster Phil Thompson, who later went on to achieve greatness under his successor Bob Paisley. Most significant was the acquisition of Kevin Keegan, who scored a century of goals for Liverpool.
Winner of round 2: Sir Alex Ferguson
