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Tottenham Hotspur 1:1 Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

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Fri, 19 June 2020 @ 8:15pm BST
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    Mr Smith said:
    When did he do that? Pogba's best performances under Ole surely came in the first 10 or so games in charge, when he played in a 3 with Matic and Herrera?

    Like I say, I'm not sure if it's about bigger vs smaller opponents, but rather what the opponents tactics are. If the opponent is a pressing side, I don't want Pogba playing too deep. But if they sit back, then he's almost perfect in a deeper role, spraying passes left and right.

    Given Jose's sides are more of the latter, I think we can get away with him and Bruno playing together against Spurs.
    Click to expand...
    He played on the left center Midfield Herrera on the right Matic DM
     
    DDG

    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw

    Matic

    Pogba Fernandes

    James Martial Rashford


    I think Ole will look to attack Spurs's back line with a very pacey attack, hence why I included James. Thoughts?
     
    IRELANDUNITED said:
    DDG

    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw

    Matic

    Pogba Fernandes

    James Martial Rashford


    I think Ole will look to attack Spurs's back line with a very pacey attack, hence why I included James. Thoughts?
    Click to expand...

    A lot depends on how sharp the lads are looking in training. E.g maybe Williams is Sharper than Shaw, Fred sharper than Maric etc. I have a feeling with the lack of crowd and 1st game back it will be a slower tempo possession based game. The 5 subs could be key.... best not conceded 1st or Jose will park a double decker bus.
     
    IRELANDUNITED said:
    DDG

    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw

    Matic

    Pogba Fernandes

    James Martial Rashford


    I think Ole will look to attack Spurs's back line with a very pacey attack, hence why I included James. Thoughts?
    Click to expand...

    This is what I would do, although personally I would consider swapping Fred in for Matic. He's not a specialist like Matic but he's played there for the majority of this season and been our best midfielder while doing it. Spurs' dynamic players are all in the creative positions Matic will be covering - Son, Alli, Lamela, Moura. Any of them might fancy their chances of going straight past him. Fred has more pace and energy to jockey and recover.

    Also technically I think you've got Pogba and Fernandes on the wrong sides of the midfield, not that it matters. They both do tend to drift wide sometimes: Pogba to the left, Fernandes to the right.
     
    God knows what system Ole will go with, but I'll be worried/surprised if he decides to experiment with a new system at this stage of the season.
     
    IRELANDUNITED said:
    DDG

    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw

    Matic

    Pogba Fernandes

    James Martial Rashford


    I think Ole will look to attack Spurs's back line with a very pacey attack, hence why I included James. Thoughts?
    Click to expand...
    I can see Ole going with that Front 5.
    Iirc James gave Vert pacy problems last meeting.

    Problems
    1. Matic may face Son the most, that worries me. Fred or McT are better.
    2. Surely Mou knows Bailly's tendencies in making risk plays and weakness in the air so that is also worrying, rather have Lindelof play.
     
    Makes sense, Spurs away with Jose probably isn't the game to start him in. There are 5 subs so he'll no doubt come on in the second half.
     
    Mr Smith said:
    Laurie Whitehall at the Athletic reporting Pogba unlikely to start against Spurs. Reasons cited are obviously fitness, tactical requirements, and the need to "earn" his place back in the side.

    https://theathletic.com/1871928/2020/06/15/paul-pogba-bench-spurs-bruno-fernandes-manchester-united/

    Good overall analysis of the pros and cons of playing him and Bruno together as well.
    Click to expand...
    I don’t really understand the ‘earn his place’ narrative at all. He was playing well pre-injury. How is his situation any different from Rashfords? Will he have to earn his place too?
     
    IRELANDUNITED said:
    DDG

    AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw

    Matic

    Pogba Fernandes

    James Martial Rashford


    I think Ole will look to attack Spurs's back line with a very pacey attack, hence why I included James. Thoughts?
    Click to expand...

    Our back line is in incredible form so I wouldn't bet on a pacey attack working. We haven't conceded a goal for 3 months.
     
    Posh Red said:
    I don’t really understand the ‘earn his place’ narrative at all. He was playing well pre-injury. How is his situation any different from Rashfords? Will he have to earn his place too?
    Click to expand...

    If we have players in his position that are playing amazingly well and we're winning games, of course he has to.
     
    Tom Cato said:
    If we have players in his position that are playing amazingly well and we're winning games, of course he has to.
    Click to expand...
    I take your point, but we were winning games without Rashford (convincingly as well) before the break. Obviously he still goes straight back into the side, and for me it’s the same with Pogba.
     
    People will believe what they want to believe. My money is on Pogba starting the game. This whole "earning his place" narrative being thrown around is just ridiculously hilarious to me.
     
    I really think it’s best to carry on with what was working before lockdown. At least for the first game or two. Everyone playing FIFA thinking Bruno and Pogba will start together and immediately become the greatest midfield in history, frankly I could see it backfiring. Let’s Pogba come off the bench and see how it goes.
     
    El Zoido said:
    I really think it’s best to carry on with what was working before lockdown. At least for the first game or two. Everyone playing FIFA thinking Bruno and Pogba will start together and immediately become the greatest midfield in history, frankly I could see it backfiring. Let’s Pogba come off the bench and see how it goes.
    Click to expand...
    I’d agree. Analysis of the first games in Spain show teams struggling for fitness later on and a lot of creative players being replaced so he’d be perfect for that 60/70 minute sub role along with pace like Greenwood.
     
    Santoryo said:
    People will believe what they want to believe. My money is on Pogba starting the game. This whole "earning his place" narrative being thrown around is just ridiculously hilarious to me.
    Click to expand...
    It's a direct quote from a source at the club in the article...

    If you're implying the club is deliberately giving out false information to cast doubt over our potential team sheet, i suppose thats plausible.
     
    Posh Red said:
    I take your point, but we were winning games without Rashford (convincingly as well) before the break. Obviously he still goes straight back into the side, and for me it’s the same with Pogba.
    Click to expand...

    I think, at least for me, the difference is that Rashford was our best player and produced the end result in goals. The midfield tandem is a bit harder to gauge, but the fewer parts you change of a winning side the better. I don't disagree that Pogba is our best player, but i accept that he shouldn't be shoehorned in. None of the midfielders who played prior to the lockdown deserve to go out of the team purely based on rank. I assume that the manager and coaching staff has made observations and decided this is the best option.

    It's also a bit merciless to have a fresh and hungry Pogba to come on when the oppositions feet are tired.
     
    Tom Cato said:
    I think, at least for me, the difference is that Rashford was our best player and produced the end result in goals. The midfield tandem is a bit harder to gauge, but the fewer parts you change of a winning side the better. I don't disagree that Pogba is our best player, but i accept that he shouldn't be shoehorned in. None of the midfielders who played prior to the lockdown deserve to go out of the team purely based on rank. I assume that the manager and coaching staff has made observations and decided this is the best option.

    It's also a bit merciless to have a fresh and hungry Pogba to come on when the oppositions feet are tired.
    Click to expand...
    Yeah fair. I heard a rumour that Pogba and Bruno played together in a friendly. If that’s true then it is a dead cert for me that Ole has seen enough in training to start both of them. Four days time and we will know for sure either way :drool:
     
    Posh Red said:
    Yeah fair. I heard a rumour that Pogba and Bruno played together in a friendly. If that’s true then it is a dead cert for me that Ole has seen enough in training to start both of them. Four days time and we will know for sure either way :drool:
    Click to expand...

    Or seen enough to know he cannot start both of them Vs Spurs. Maybe against the lesser teams. We lost 2-1 in a friendly. Yes, it is a friendly but we scored a penalty goal. It seems we lacked creativity and open at the back... familiar signs.
     
    El Zoido said:
    I really think it’s best to carry on with what was working before lockdown. At least for the first game or two. Everyone playing FIFA thinking Bruno and Pogba will start together and immediately become the greatest midfield in history, frankly I could see it backfiring. Let’s Pogba come off the bench and see how it goes.
    Click to expand...
    Agreed.

    Anyway having both Pogba, Bruno fit now allows us to have a lot more tactical options. And surely this make things much harder for our opponents to guess our XI and prepare according to.
     
    romufc said:
    Or seen enough to know he cannot start both of them Vs Spurs. Maybe against the lesser teams. We lost 2-1 in a friendly. Yes, it is a friendly but we scored a penalty goal. It seems we lacked creativity and open at the back... familiar signs.
    Click to expand...
    You’re really pissing on my cornflakes man! You could well be right though, I’m sure.
     
    Mr Smith said:
    It's a direct quote from a source at the club in the article...

    If you're implying the club is deliberately giving out false information to cast doubt over our potential team sheet, i suppose thats plausible.
    Click to expand...
    Why would club's sources start giving quotes about our potential tactics in upcoming crucial games. Either it's not true or the club is playing mind games.

    Not to mention the reasons given as to why Pogba wouldn't start don't add up much. "Earn his place", sound like something anyone would make up given realistically Ole and his coaching stuff aren't naive enough to be thinking that way. I'm sure they are smart enough to understand that Pogba, one of the best player, if not the best in the squad ought to play if ready and fit, this whole earning his place narrative is something I expect on FM.

    As for fitness and momentum, Pogba alongside the rest of the team have had 3 months with no football. We've essentially started a new season in terms of fitness which means things like momentum and fitness level prior to the interruption are out of the window. We've basically starting anew in terms of fitness and momentum.

    And tactically, Ole and his stuff would know and understand that tactics will be made around fitting his best players which include Pogba. So this notion that Pogba can be left out due to tactical reasons, or earning his place sounds ludicrous to me.

    The article itself sounds speculative to me. Either ways, Friday is not that far off and we'll see what happens. Meanwhile I'm confident Ole intends to start his strongest team which will include all his best players. I'm quite sure Pogba starts.
     
    Posh Red said:
    You’re really pissing on my cornflakes man! You could well be right though, I’m sure.
    Click to expand...

    I am certain we will see both in action at some point. We have 5 subs to be used so pretty confident we will see both on the pitch at some point during the Spurs game.

    Personally, I feel it would a be gamble to big to play both in an away game to Spurs. This is a huge game for us.
     
    We have 5 subs so I think Pogba starts on the bench for this one. Gives us an option coming on in case we need him to make a difference, or if Bruno can't complete the 90 mins. Rashford from the bench too would be my bet. With that many subs the entire game could be flipped on its head so that will be in Ole's thinking too.
     
    balaks said:
    Our back line is in incredible form so I wouldn't bet on a pacey attack working. We haven't conceded a goal for 3 months.
    Click to expand...

    I know Maguire's been getting most of the press but so much of this comes from having an RB who is actually an RB. Even when Valencia was good, he would be caught out regularly and usually just bailed himself out with his pace, Young always put in a shift but again he was never an RB, having AWB has just put a stop to the onslaught that used to happen down that side.
     
    tomaldinho1 said:
    I know Maguire's been getting most of the press but so much of this comes from having an RB who is actually an RB. Even when Valencia was good, he would be caught out regularly and usually just bailed himself out with his pace, Young always put in a shift but again he was never an RB, having AWB has just put a stop to the onslaught that used to happen down that side.
    Click to expand...

    He will probably be up against Son which will be an interesting matchup then.
     
    Relfy said:
    We have 5 subs so I think Pogba starts on the bench for this one. Gives us an option coming on in case we need him to make a difference, or if Bruno can't complete the 90 mins. Rashford from the bench too would be my bet. With that many subs the entire game could be flipped on its head so that will be in Ole's thinking too.
    Click to expand...
    No chance. I’m assuming he is as fit as all the other guys. He and Bruno have to start and given every minute available to form their relationship. Entire team has to be built around this relationship.

    If OGS can make it work, and cajole Pogna into consistent greatness, it will win is the league next year.
     
    Laurie Whitwell has reported that Pogba will be on the bench with something to do on fitness and earning his place. As much as I support this sentiment, I was really looking forward to Brogba :(
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Bruno Fernandes image Bruno Fernandes 55% of 301 votes

Runners-up

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Score Predictions

254,15,64
  • Man Utd win
  • Tottenham win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 25% Tottenham 1:2 Man Utd
  • 19% Tottenham 0:2 Man Utd
  • 13% Tottenham 1:3 Man Utd
  • 11% Tottenham 1:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Tottenham 0:1 Man Utd
  • 4% Tottenham 0:3 Man Utd
  • 4% Tottenham 0:5 Man Utd
  • 4% Tottenham 0:0 Man Utd
  • 4% Tottenham 2:2 Man Utd
  • 2% Tottenham 2:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Tottenham 0:4 Man Utd
  • 2% Tottenham 2:1 Man Utd
  • 1% Tottenham 2:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Tottenham 5:5 Man Utd
  • 1% Tottenham 2:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Tottenham 1:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Tottenham 1:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Tottenham 4:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Tottenham 5:0 Man Utd
Compiled from 333 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Tottenham
  2. Man Utd
Possession
39% 61%
Shots
10 12
Shots on Target
3 6
Corners
7 6
Fouls
17 18

Referee

Jonathan Moss

Man Utd Lineup

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