Manchester United 3:0 Tottenham Hotspur

Turnip · Mar 10, 2015

I think Harry Kane could be an issue for us right now, he's on form and scoring constantly, and we're struggling to score at all. Don't want to be one of the "we're all doomed" bunch, but I struggle to see how we're gonna pick up many points for the remainder of the season if we don't win this one, and that feels like a big if.

I think this will be a close match. Their defence is poor, our defense is alright most of the time but suicidal and completely disorganised every now and then. Their attackers are more convincing than ours recently, but I think if we continue playing Rooney up top (preferably without Fellaini at his side, replaced by Mata) we'll be more of a threat.

Think this will be won or lost in midfield, which we could win, it just depends on if Blind/Herrera are on form. Also because of this think we need to see Carrick back, he was bringing a decent amount of stability and experience to us and even picking some good passes forward which is something we seem to struggle desperately with.

So, if our defenders keep their heads the whole 90 minutes and we stop back passing, think we can get the 3 points here. But keeping Kane quiet is gonna be hard, he's making a name for himself so is gonna be trying for more goals in big matches.

Gerald G · Mar 10, 2015

We'll beat them

De Gea
Valencia--Smalling--Rojo--Shaw
Carrick--Herrera
Januzaj--Mata--Young
Rooney

I think it'll be Blind in for Herrera though and possibly Rojo left back with Jones coming in. But I do think Mata will start.

RedDevil@84 · Mar 10, 2015

I dont think we should start Januzaj (unless we hae no other choice). Dont feel he adds anything except making a mess of the small chances he could create.

Bwuk · Mar 10, 2015

I legit have no idea what side we can put out. Our defence is hopeless, and I worry about Kane facing them. Smalling and Jones are both off form, and can't control the ball let alone pass it.

Blind is too immobile to try and mark Erikson out the game. I'd actually consider playing Fellaini deep in this one, ala the man marking job he done to Fabregas. Copy the system the scousers line up with.

De Gea
Jones - Carrick - Rojo
Valencia - Fellaini - Blind - Young
Mata - Herrera
Rooney

Smithy89 · Mar 10, 2015

Bwuk said:
I legit have no idea what side we can put out. Our defence is hopeless, and I worry about Kane facing them. Smalling and Jones are both off form, and can't control the ball let alone pass it.

Blind is too immobile to try and mark Erikson out the game. I'd actually consider playing Fellaini deep in this one, ala the man marking job he done to Fabregas. Copy the system the scousers line up with.

De Gea
Jones - Carrick - Rojo
Valencia - Fellaini - Blind - Young
Mata - Herrera
Rooney

Phil "Man Marking" Jones set for a return?

Also actually wouldn't mind Nani back as far as our wide men go.....

gooDevil · Mar 10, 2015

With di Maria being so poor we might be lucky that he's suspended, it's the only way he won't play.

Since he wasn't getting played in midfield anyway I'm not too bothered.

DeGea
Rafael Smalling Jones Rojo
Carrick Blind
Januzaj Herrera Young
Rooney

Sassy Colin · Mar 10, 2015

marukomu said:
I can't see anything but a loss. We are terrible. As bad as last year.

et tu Maru?

marukomu · Mar 10, 2015

Colin129 said:
et tu Maru?

I just fail to see any improvement in the way we're playing. We never look like scoring, even against the worst teams. Spurs are on form at the moment and we are not.

Plus, I've been stitched up in my job and the boss's breath stinks like shit and he insists on talking to me every day.

Annihilate Now! · Mar 10, 2015

Return of the Cao
It is!
Return of the Cao
Come on!
Return of the Cao
Score no Goals!
You know he's coming back...

Think we'll see a Carrick/Blind midfield with Falcao and Rooney up front.

Kag · Mar 10, 2015

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Rojo Shaw
Carrick Herrera
Januzaj Mata Young
Rooney

Blind needs a rest. He's loitered of late. Mata merits a proper chance and he'll be chomping at the bit to make an impact. We're at home and I fully expect a win.

Varun · Mar 10, 2015

Without Di Maria, we might struggle to break them. Think our only chance of a win is if we keep a clean sheet.

drdoityourself · Mar 10, 2015

gooDevil said:
With di Maria being so poor we might be lucky that he's suspended, it's the only way he won't play.

Since he wasn't getting played in midfield anyway I'm not too bothered.

DeGea
Rafael Smalling Jones Rojo
Carrick Blind
Januzaj Herrera Young
Rooney

Come on, was he so poor prior to the red card? It seems his performance against Arsenal has been rewritten because of his red card. That was one brain fart incident. Involved in everything we created against Arsenal. Young's only contribution was managing to get two fouls against an inexperienced right back but his performance has not been criticized. Most of you seem to favor those who don't take chances and simply get by during games. We'll miss Di Maria, we missed him after he was subbed against Newcastle, I fear we could struggle to create against Spurs.

Shark · Mar 10, 2015

I'm not confident at all, I think confidence will be further knocked after that Arsenal clash and Spurs will nick a draw, or even beat us.

caisenma · Mar 10, 2015

back four... does it even matter? i'd like rafael back but that's not going to happen.

then...

---carrick - herrera
januzaj - mata - ... young?
---------rooney

bosnian_red · Mar 10, 2015

marukomu said:
I just fail to see any improvement in the way we're playing. We never look like scoring, even against the worst teams. Spurs are on form at the moment and we are not.

Plus, I've been stitched up in my job and the boss's breath stinks like shit and he insists on talking to me every day.

To be fair, there were plenty of improvements against arsenal and in recent weeks in all of our play, its just our finishing lets us down. The first half yesterday was one of our best of the season..
And spurs are in shite form. They barely won their last 2 but went 5 without a win before those 2 wins.

Devil may care · Mar 10, 2015

SirAF said:
Do or die.

I agree, we can't cede anymore ground to our competition for the top 4 at Old Trafford, it has to be a fortress for the remainder of the season.

Sarni · Mar 10, 2015

Truedevil · Mar 10, 2015

Spurs don't scare me, they never do tbh. I think we will bounce back and win this one, LvG will probably drop Fellaini and give Mata a chance which he will take and then magically he will be a starter for a few weeks. It's like LvG is always the last one to notice the obvious, i mean it took him about 5 months until he started using Herrera FFS!

For some reason i also expect Rafael to start but that probably won't happen.

2-0.

gooDevil · Mar 10, 2015

drdoityourself said:
Come on, was he so poor prior to the red card? It seems his performance against Arsenal has been rewritten because of his red card. That was one brain fart incident. Involved in everything we created against Arsenal. Young's only contribution was managing to get two fouls against an inexperienced right back but his performance has not been criticized. Most of you seem to favor those who don't take chances and simply get by during games. We'll miss Di Maria, we missed him after he was subbed against Newcastle, I fear we could struggle to create against Spurs.

I'm certainly holding him to higher standards than I hold Young, to be sure, which I don't think it completely unreasonable. Personally I think he needs to sit for a game or two, you often see in many different sports than a player out of sorts can benefit from a game or two off. I'm hoping it can have a positive effect on him, I've wanted him to get benched for a while now, just to give him a chance at something of a reset.

We will likely miss him, I agree, I'm thinking more about the long term, needing to get di Maria out of his funk. However I do think our cautious offensive approach plays away from his strengths, like with most of our players.

Sandikan · Mar 10, 2015

Ok, so last night was disappointing, but I think we all knew it was a bit of a nice to have.

Sunday is huge. Win this and we can knock Tottenham out of top 4 contention, tick another game off, and make Pool and Arsenal have to live with us.
Lose this one, and you let Tottenham right in.

drdoityourself · Mar 10, 2015

gooDevil said:
I'm certainly holding him to higher standards than I hold Young, to be sure, which I don't think it completely unreasonable. Personally I think he needs to sit for a game or two, you often see in many different sports than a player out of sorts can benefit from a game or two off. I'm hoping it can have a positive effect on him, I've wanted him to get benched for a while now, just to give him a chance at something of a reset.

We will likely miss him, I agree, I'm thinking more about the long term, needing to get di Maria out of his funk. However I do think our cautious offensive approach plays away from his strengths, like with most of our players.

Fair enough, difficult to disagree with this.

SalfordRed1960 · Mar 10, 2015

Orc said:
Hurrikane must be licking his chops.

In Smalling's pocket

SalfordRed1960 · Mar 10, 2015

WyoManU said:
squeaky bum time. Cliches abound but I think that 'every game from now to the end is a cup final' is probably most appropriate. I'm not hopeful.

But n everyone's eyes we are the underdog, so therefore we will win, simples.

Sylar · Mar 10, 2015

Must win. Can see a 2 at the back, but Carrick dropping to babysit them.

Would probably go with something like

DDG
Valencia Jones Rojo Young
Carrick
Herrera Blind
Mata Januzaj
Rooney

Can play it as 442 or 352 depending on whether we have the ball or not.

Ill have to say I know Fellaini will start over Mata but just saying...

MyOnlySolskjaer · Mar 10, 2015

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Herrera Carrick
Valencia Mata Young
Rooney

GlastonSpur · Mar 10, 2015

bosnian_red said:
To be fair, there were plenty of improvements against arsenal and in recent weeks in all of our play, its just our finishing lets us down. The first half yesterday was one of our best of the season..
And spurs are in shite form. They barely won their last 2 but went 5 without a win before those 2 wins.

That's not correct. Spurs won 3 of those prior 5 league games (before winning the last 2), including beating Arsenal. Or to put it another way, we've won 5 of our last 7 league games and lost just once, away at Liverpool.

theyneverlearn · Mar 10, 2015

Wishful thinking...

de Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Carrick
Herrera Mata
Januzaj Rooney Young
___________________________________

Godfather · Mar 10, 2015

We have literally no threat from the wings. Januzaj and Young as the only choices available is making me cry

Lewis.no.9 · Mar 10, 2015

Just like Arsenal, Spurs are overdue a Win against us. Lets be honest this is THE best time to play us. Tottenham will be right up for this. I can defo see Kane scoring for them, Also see Lloris having a great game. I expect Rooney to score one but I dont see us scoring loads etc. Our finishing/creating for the most part has been so poor. With Di Maria suspended too it will be tough.

For me If spurs win this then we 100% wont be getting top 4 this year. Because I see the Liverpool game as guarantee loss too.

SalfordRed1960 · Mar 10, 2015

Lewis.no.9 said:
Just like Arsenal, Spurs are overdue a Win against us. Lets be honest this is THE best time to play us. Tottenham will be right up for this. I can defo see Kane scoring for them, Also see Lloris having a great game. I expect Rooney to score one but I dont see us scoring loads etc. Our finishing/creating for the most part has been so poor. With Di Maria suspended too it will be tough.

For me If spurs win this then we 100% wont be getting top 4 this year. Because I see the Liverpool game as guarantee loss too.

The best time to play us was at WHL earlier in the season when they were flying and we were stumbling. They bottled it big time against us, and we should have been out of sight in the first half. Admittedly they got better in the second half when we changed formation. Spurs had their wins over us last year. Normal service will be resumed.

Mali_Zeus · Mar 10, 2015

Lewis.no.9 said:
Just like Arsenal, Spurs are overdue a Win against us. Lets be honest this is THE best time to play us. Tottenham will be right up for this. I can defo see Kane scoring for them, Also see Lloris having a great game. I expect Rooney to score one but I dont see us scoring loads etc. Our finishing/creating for the most part has been so poor. With Di Maria suspended too it will be tough.

For me If spurs win this then we 100% wont be getting top 4 this year. Because I see the Liverpool game as guarantee loss too.

Nothing like Arsenal, we havent beat them at OT for a while now. Since 2011. I think. So they're not exactly overdue a win.

DB17 · Mar 10, 2015

We were quite good when we played them at White Hart Kane, poor finishing let us down.

Mali_Zeus · Mar 10, 2015

Truedevil said:
Spurs don't scare me, they never do tbh. I think we will bounce back and win this one, LvG will probably drop Fellaini and give Mata a chance which he will take and then magically he will be a starter for a few weeks. It's like LvG is always the last one to notice the obvious, i mean it took him about 5 months until he started using Herrera FFS!

For some reason i also expect Rafael to start but that probably won't happen.

2-0.

I agree with most of your post but 5 months is too much.

Herrera was starting as a late as December then got frozen out a bit and now is a starter again.

Lewis.no.9 · Mar 10, 2015

I still think they could at least grab a draw which would be pretty awful for us. 3 points is obviously crucial. Lets hope we recover strongly from the FA cup loss.

100 · Mar 10, 2015

If Fellaini starts this i'll begin to lose faith.

Ish · Mar 10, 2015

100 said:
If Fellaini starts this i'll begin to lose faith.

You might as well start now then! Coz I can just about guarantee that he will.

bosnian_red · Mar 10, 2015

GlastonSpur said:
That's not correct. Spurs won 3 of those prior 5 league games (before winning the last 2), including beating Arsenal. Or to put it another way, we've won 5 of our last 7 league games and lost just once, away at Liverpool.

I mean in all competitions. Was surprised when I saw it but you did go 5 without a win. Though 4 of those were in the space of 10 days or something like that.

KiD MoYeS · Mar 10, 2015

de Gea
Valencia Smalling Rojo Shaw
Herrera Carrick Blind
Januzaj Rooney Young

Fail to win and I'll all but give up on fourth to be honest.

sunama · Mar 10, 2015

marukomu said:
I can't see anything but a loss. We are terrible. As bad as last year.

You have a poor memory my friend.
Last year, every game we played from Jan 2014 onwards - many people were dreading a sound beating. Moyes was out of ideas and the only idea he had was to buy a new team. He basically admitted that he could not get anything out of the current crop of players. LVG has never said this. At present, there is hope that we will improve.

Lewis.no.9 · Mar 10, 2015

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