Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester Untied play Spurs tomorrow night in what no doubt will be an entertaining game at Old Trafford.
Whilst it will be United’s second game of the new Premier League season, tomorrow’s game will be Spurs’ opening fixture this season following the postponement of their scheduled opening-day fixture last weekend at home to Everton due to the London riots.
Spurs of course have had a wretched record at Old Trafford and have not beaten us there since December 1989, when a certain Gary Lineker (that fella on Match of the Day) bagged their winner that day.
As I mentioned the other day, Spurs have had abit of ‘bad luck’ down the years in this fixture in the Premier League-era, and you can bet your left hand (and your right if you want to) that Harry Redknapp would love nothing other than for his team to spring a surprise and get at least a point against us.
Certainly Spurs after the recent events going on at Arsenal will be under alot of pressure to finish above their arch-rivals this season and with a good squad of young and experienced players there’s no reason why ‘Arry can’t inspire his team to finish above Wenger’s boys this year.
Aside from having a proven 20-goal striker to partner Jermain Defoe, Spurs will be looking for their midfield to provide them the spark tomorrow night and if Luka Modric plays, then there’s no doubt they can put pressure on our defence.
There’s bound to be incredible pressure going into the game for the two goalkeepers that will play. For United, David De Gea will be under pressure after two high-profile mistakes to perform well on his home league debut whilst Spurs’ keeper Heurehlo Gomes will be under pressure to start the season well.
Brad Friedel was surprisingly signed on a free from Aston Villa and he will be pushing the Brazilian for the goalkeeping gloves this season. At 40 years old, you get the sense that he has not gone there to sit on the bench and rest assured when the Brazilian makes a mistake (as it will happen!) the witty American will step up and produce behind the sticks.
So what can we expect from tomorrow’s game. What will be the key battles on the pitch?
Patrice Evra v Aaron Lennon/Gareth Bale
After losing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic through to injury at West Brom, the return of Evra to our defence will be a major boost and his experience and work-rate will certainly help the rest of our back-line who due to their youth will be under pressure tommorow.
Patrice is likely to skipper the side tomorrow and he will have his work cut out tomorrow night when he’ll come up against Spurs’ pacey wingers Lennon and Bale who will likely swap flanks several times in the game. There’s no doubt Evra has the experience to cope with these two, but will his match fitness allow him to?
Anderson v Rafael van der Vaart
In big games, it’s vital that you win the battle in central midfield. With Luka Modric missing, even more responsibility of course will go on van der Vaart’s shoulders and there’s no doubt with his movement and passing ability he can hurt United tomorrow.
Anderson too has great movement and a wonderful range of passing, but tomorrow he will need to make sure he doesn’t allow the Dutchman time and space on the ball and will need to ‘annoy’ him like a mosquito on a hot night. It’s vital that he can do that as well as setting up attacks for us and the battle between these two individuals could very well settle the game.
Ashley Young v Kyle Walker
Terry Venables has talked-up Walker several times over the last 6-7 months in his weekly columns in The Sun and there’s no doubt after impressing out on loan at QPR and Aston Villa, that the left-back now has a great chance to become a regular for Spurs this year.
Young though will know about Walker well from his time on-loan at Villa last season and there’s no doubt that with that in mind, the winger can call on his experience to run the youngster ragged. If he can do that, then United’s forwards will rightly benefit from the quality of balls United’s no.18 will put into the box.
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In terms of a prediction for the game tomorrow, as I stated earlier on in a predictions article, I can see United comfortably winning the game 3-0. That’s not to say that Spurs will not cause us problems.
I can just see United getting an early goal which I think will settle us down and alike last year’s game at home when United won 2-0, I expect us to control the ball and wrap up the game after half-time.
Of course should Spurs start the game well and score first, well then that will certainly make things interesting. Do they have the quality to control a ‘big’ game away from home when in the lead and will they be able to kill a game off?
I don’t think at the moment they do and even with United having to start with Phil Jones and Jonny Evans in the heart of our defence, our midfield and attack should have enough about them to trouble Spurs’ defence. Home win in this one.
