Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester United travel to Spurs on Sunday to face Harry Redknapp’s side at White Hart Lane and with that in mind it’s worth taking a look at these three players who we should be wary of going into the game.
Gareth Bale
Last season’s PFA player of the year winner is without a shadow of a doubt Spurs’ best player and someone who United’s entire defence will be fearful. He has hurt teams down the middle more this season than just the flanks.
Bale has been so vital to Spurs’ success over the last two seasons and whilst he is by no means the finished article yet, he’s got the ability to cut open teams at will and has a powerful shot on him that punishes opposition defence.
Aside from the fixture between the two sides at White Hart Lane last season, United have kept the winger pretty quiet over the last couple of years, but Bale is a man for the big-occasion and would love nothing more than to shine against United.
Aaron Lennon
Despite only being 25 years old, it’s easy to forget that Lennon going into this season has been at Spurs for six years now after joining from Leeds in 2005. There’s no doubt he has the pace to trouble defences but his inconsistency has let him down.
Time and time again over the last couple of seasons, he has frustrated both fans at his club and England with his poor decision making with the ball and his inability to put crosses into the danger area which a player of his experience should be able to do.
Despite that though, he should not be written off as he has played well against United in the past, most famously in the Carling Cup final three years ago when he ran Evra ragged down the left. Alike Bale, he cannot be given time and space to cause problems.
Rafael van der Vaart
One of the best talents to have come through the Ajax academy in the last two decades, van der Vaart shone for Spurs last season after joining them on transfer deadline day from Real Madrid in a major transfer-coup for Redknapp.
Through no fault of his own, despite some good performances he was unable to maintain a starting place in Spain. Straight away he adapted to the Premier League and hurt teams with his imagination and technique made up for his lack of pace.
The Dutchman will not have the time and freedom he usually gets in midfield this weekend, thanks to Scott Parker being suspended, but he is still a major threat for Spurs and will trouble from set-pieces as well as his late runs into the area.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
