Manchester United Are There for the Taking

Spurs are coming off two massive league wins, and they are all the more impressive considering they came directly after being dumped out of two cups competitions, including a final. Manchester United meanwhile have also been dumped from their final cup competition, and we need to pounce on our top fours rivals immediately.

To start, we need a strong performance from our back four and in particular our center defensive combination, be that be the preferred pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier or a change with Federico Fazio replacing the young Englishman. Either way, Spurs’ defending needs to be stout. We need to stop giving up goals and letting teams have a chance if we’re to challenge for a top four spot.

United are without Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao is on a terrible run of form and unlikely to be selected. That leaves Wayne Rooney being employed as a lone striker as he was against Arsenal on Monday. This makes the efforts from the wing defenders and holding midfielder all the more key.

If Danny Rose and Kyle Walker can prevent United from sending quality crosses into the box, Rooney could feel like a man on an island. Angel Di Maria misses the game due to suspension and that has to help Tottenham’s confidence. Add to that Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason and their ability to frustrate opposing midfields, and Rooney’s chances of getting quality service dwindle even further. With Juan Mata seemingly in Louis Van Gaal’s doghouse, where is the service going to come from? Marouane Fellaini? I think all Spurs fans would be pleased to see the big Belgian in there as opposed to the Spaniard.

As for our attack, United look frail at the back. The blunder at the back against Arsenal happened under little or no pressure and I would love to see Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Andros Townsend, and Nacer Chadli run at these guys all day long, and force them to make decisions.

The biggest stumbling block to all these factors going Tottenham’s way is the goalkeeper. David De Gea is world class and it will take a great strike or two to beat him. Luckily, we have the aforementioned Kane and Eriksen.

I’m looking for an all-out barnburner at Old Trafford on Sunday. Manchester United are there for the taking, will Spurs be able to jump on them from the start and take advantage of their disappointment of being knocked out of the FA Cup?

Who knows, but if Spurs play the way they are capable of playing, they can take three points at the Theatre of Dreams. Come on you Spurs!

 

We definitely have a good chance and like you I was watching Utd taking risks at the back salivating at the prospect of our front 4 pressing them.

But.

I think we'll struggle with their long ball tactics to Fellaini. Might mean Fazio who comes with his own problems...

Still I fancy at least a point, hopefully all 3!

#COYS

 

I would say if one of our CBs need replacing it should be JV - he has played with a host of partners, Dawson, Kaboul, Fazio, Dier, and we have never achieved a defensive unit - maybe the lack if communication comes from him. I have been impressed with Dier and think he could be a future leader.
Take 3 points on Sunday and it is the end for LGV - they will be in a fight with Stoke for 7th place in a few weeks. Hard to believe that some fans were disappointed when he sold himself to MU.
Onward and upward.

 

This is an absolute must win game. The last two wins have shown the fight we have in the team and against United we must play at a high tempo and press to take the spoils.
United look slow and are very poor at the back meaning that if we play at pace, we could not only beat United but beat them well.
If we are to hang out on to the slim hope of top four and champions league next season, we MUST take nothing less than 3 points.

COYS!!

 

Great oppurtunity to beat Utd at Old Trafford, they look well below par, we must go there with confidence and determination. They have a woefuk midfield at the moment and i can see us bossing the game, it will be about turning our possession into goals ! Coys.

 

Di Maria got what he deserved the other night, absolutely pathetic and he wasn't the only one.
Manu do seem to be lacking in tempo lately and also going for the long ball over the top which might work against us with our FBs getting forward so much. This could be a good contest with Rose and Walker up against the likes of Young and maybe Valencia. In the last few games we've been spreading the ball around and using our width a bit more and as a result we've created some good opportunities. There's going to be goals in this one.