Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Thread

Lets be clear. Noboady's saying that not having Vidic and Rio doesn't weaken us. We're saying that it does not weaken us by much and that it is not something to pin your hopes on.

 

I think having both Rio and Vidic out is a big loss - usually we have at least one of them to provide experience and leadership in the centre. But then Evans has a few seasons experience under his belt, and seems to have learnt from his errors over the last couple of seasons. I think it'll be tight, and we'll probably concede, but then Spurs are missing some first choice defenders and midfielders as well (Palacios is also out?), so I expect they'll ship a few too.

I'm going for 2-1 or 3-1 Utd.

 

It will be an interesting match that we should win. I think people are over reacting to the absence of Vidic and Ferdinand in the match because we have Jones and Smalling available for the match.

Also think it will be interesting how De Gea performs in the game.

 

De Gea really needs a good game to get his confidence up. Its a big ask for that to happen against spurs though. We really need to control the game and ease the pressure off him.

 

Favours? You expect Liverpool to compete with United?

 

Especially if the ref does Utd a favour and screws Spurs as usual.

 

No matter how United fans try and sugar coat it, you're still missing 3 of your first choice back 4 and that is a negative.

Your record at home, record against us for both results and favourable refereeing decisions are a positive.

It's an interesting game regardless.


Oh and at a Liverpool fan considering us beating Utd a favour. A few expensive signings doesn't instantly make you title challengers.

 

You guys will score. I have no dount about that for the reasons many of you have mentioned. Can you beat us? That is much harder. Also dont overplay the refferees input. Lightning cant strike 3 times surely. Not that i think either of the past two mistakes cost you the game. At least they were not the biggest cause.

What i mean by that comment before i get virtually shouted at was that your team should have reated better. When we got a unfair pen 2 years ago it pulled the score back to 2-1. you lost 5-2. Your fault. What happened last year is less clear cut if i remember correctly but Gomes should not have assumed the a free kick had been given (even if you deserved one) and he should have been more attentive. If he had played that safe there would have been no harm done and were you not losing anyway?

 

i think giggs in that role will increase the pressure on the back 4

i think cleverley offers better defensive duties

vidic and rio will be missed, there is no doubt. however their replacements are more than able
our attacking threat will worry spurs. last season we allowed teams to pressure us, so far this season the indications are of utd of old, 442 and attack

 

Giggs is better defensively in terms of positioning, mostly due to experience, but I'm not sure if he has the legs to get back and defend all day. Cleverly and Anderson still are a bit weak defensively.


Side note to spurs fans. Robbie Keane scored on his Galaxy Debut. If you cared.

 

Jones, Fabio and Smalling are all capable of dealing with Spurs' toothless attack. My only worry is that the likes of VDV will definately test De Gea from Long range.

Still, we have enough quality and more match fitness - Hearts didn't exactly push Spurs to the limit did they. I expect a comfortable 2-0 win that will get Spurs fans crying out for a quality striker.

 

fixed.

 

Exactly how did the ref hinder spurs in their last visit to old trafford?

 

Do you really want to go into that again?
You won't agree anyway, so what's the point?

 

I won't agree because the ref was blameless. (Y)

 

No, he wasn't.
He didn't indicate that he had played an advantage, so when his linesman told him that there had been a handball, he should have given a free-kick to Spurs.

You won't accept this, so I'm not sure why I'm bothering to be honest, but he messed up.

 

Did the linesman raise his flag to indicate there had been a breach of the rules?

Doesn't really matter anyhow, United had the game won before Nani's goal.

 

Did the linesman raise his flag?
Yes.
The game was over before Nani's goal?
There was about ten minutes left in the game, assuming an average amount of injury time.

 

He also didn't blow his whistle, one of the first things you get taught as a kid playing the game is play to the whistle. The goal was comical, but Gomes was more at fault than anyone for expecting a free kick even though he hadn't "officially" been give one.

 

You're right, he didn't give a free-kick.
He also didn't indicate that he was playing an advantage.
That's why he should have awarded a free-kick when his linesman pointed out that he'd missed an offence.

Gomes didn't cover himself in glory, but the mistake was made by the official.