United vs. Spurs: Match Preview by James Jaulim

For tonight's match preview I thought I'd give you a spot of variety (and an enhanced level of quality!). So I've asked a good mate of mine - quality writer, huge United fan and was easily the best footballer at our school - to write up a piece for me. So here's James' look ahead to this evening's vital game at OT...

So in a week where we’ve seen a new hero born at Old Trafford, the full debut of our most controversial and talked about signing, speculation over Coleen’s cup size and us buying Nobby Stiles' World Cup and European Cup winners medals, it's back to the Premier League for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur. 

Carrying on from last season Spurs are flying high, just 2 points behind us in the table in 5th and in possession of one of the best midfields in the league. This represents our first match against a potential title challenger this season (who thought we’d be saying that 2 years ago when we poached Dimitar Berbatov from them), and although the key statistics (below) may suggest otherwise, Spurs are a better team than last season and probably the best Spurs side we’ve faced in the Premier League era. 

While second guessing any Sir Alex line up is a doomed task, I fully expect us to put out our strongest back 5 in VDS, Brown/O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra. 

Bar a superb individual Sanli Tuncay goal last week, our defence coped magnificently well with Stoke’s ugly set piece tactics, but I can’t see Evra continuing on the left wing for this game (or ever again for that matter), meaning he should be restored to his rightful position. Right back on the other hand is proving to be a difficult position this season with 4 players already having played there. While Wes Brown appears to be playing his way back into favour with Sir Alex and John O’Shea has had a share of games there, whoever is tasked with the job of controlling the rampant Gareth Bale knows a big performance is needed as there are alternatives knocking on the door. 

Just as our jaws were being picked up off the floor following a mislaid pass from Paul Scholes last week which resulted in the Stoke goal, Michael Carrick against Wolves on Tuesday night gave us glimpses of why we won 3 league titles in a row with him at the heart of the midfield. Incisive passing and good link up play from him offered much encouragement that he is finally regaining his form and confidence which can only be a good thing for a midfield that has been carried by Paul Scholes far too often this season. Once Darren Fletcher too recaptures his form (which is only a matter of time), we should be in good shape in the midfield for the long winter months. Here’s hoping tomorrow is when the pieces start fitting together in the middle of the park.

I think we are definitely overdue a Dimitar Berbatov goal this weekend. Although his performances have been good when he’s not scored, it’s worrying that Berbatov hasn’t scored in the 5 games he has played since his phenomenal hat trick against the Scousers, 3 of which we have drawn when we should have won. With Rooney and Valencia injured, and Fletcher not getting forward last he has done in previous seasons, there is only so long we can rely on Hernandez and Nani to score our goals.

Speaking of Hernandez, he has surely earned his place in the team for tomorrow’s game. Whether it’s his left foot, right foot, head, face or the back of his head, the boy is goalscorer and long may it continue!

Key Statistics.

· Spurs have never beaten us at Old Trafford in the Premier League

· Last defeat by Spurs at Old Trafford was in December 1989, a Gary Lineker winner

· Haven’t lost to Spurs home or away, in any competition since May 2001

· Have won our last 6 games against Spurs (including penalty win in 2009 League Cup final)

· Have scored 11 in our last 3 league games against Spurs

Key Battles.

Rio Ferdinand v/s Rafael van der Vaart – With Nemanja Vidic regularly tasked with keeping Peter Crouch quiet in this fixture, it will be up to Rio Ferdinand to fill the holes created by Crouch pulling out wide, the holes Rafael van der Vaart has proven adept at exploiting so well in recent weeks. With 5 goals already this season van der Vaart is single-handedly disproving Sir Alex’s tired statement that there was ‘no value in the transfer market’ this summer and he is clearly the danger man for Spurs. If Rio keeps him quiet, it will go a long way towards a much needed clean sheet.

Nani v/s Benoit Assou-Ekotto – It’s not a great stretch of the truth to say that Nani has been our best and most consistent performer this season, while BAE is one of the weakest full back in a top half team in the Premier League. If the reborn Nani is on top form we should expect a treat of a performance from him this weekend. 

Patrice Evra v/s Aaron Lennon – In much the same way all United fans hide behind the sofa with both eyes closed when Vidic comes up against Torres or Agbonlahor, Lennon seems to be the one player than regularly seems to have the beating of the best left back in the world in this fixture. Coupled with the relatively poor performances we’ve seen from Patrice since the World Cup, it will be a big test for Frenchman tomorrow, one we hope sets him on the way to recovery of form and confidence.

Odds (Courtesy of Sky Bet).

Man Utd 4/7

Draw 11/4

Spurs 5/1

Best bet

Nani to score first 8/1

by James Jaulim