I was approached a few days ago by someone I did not know at all, but a conversation was struck as this person sported a Manchester United number 11 jersey on his back. It indeed is amazing to think that the Welshman has achieved such a feat, hitting the golden age of 40 just a day ago. And it all isn't just Ryan Giggs and his golden age, this man can still strut his stuff. To those in doubt, do catch the replay of Man Utd's trip to currently the 2nd best team in the Bundesliga (doubt it'll last for long though after that showing).
With that being said though, tonight' game will certainly be a belter, and will pose many questions as to how far David Moyes has come as Man. Utd. coach, conceivably even banishing memories of Morgan Amalfitano's dummy to land David De Gea on his behind.
Tottenham will no doubt come into this game needing to prove themselves, as they've not justified the splurging of more than a 100 million pounds, with more than half of that going to acquire the duo of Erik Lamela (30 million) and Roberto Soldado (26 million), and both have not convinced one bit. What a stage to put it right. To think that Sergio Aguero has scored more goals than the whole of the Spurs team is astounding to say the least. No doubt Gareth Bale is being missed severely (he just scored a hat trick, mind you) but there is justifying to do, and that has to come from Andre Villas-Boas.
The team isn't all that bad actually, quite the contrary. To think that they have the likes of Jermain Defoe up front, with a quartet of midfield maestros in the shape of Eriksen, Dembele, Paulinho and even Holtby, much stronger than what the reigning champions can put out in their first 11. Only Michael Carrick I would think, is good enough for a place in Tottenham's trio in the middle of the park. That's where this game tonight can be won and lost.
Moussa Dembele has to play, and Villas-Boas will deep down affirm, that he made a mistake keeping the Belgian on the bench against the slaughter by Man City. With the ball at his feet, and a cultured left peg at that, Dembele at times is like a gazelle in the way he floats past players in possession of the football, plus he has a great physique to go along with it.
Paulinho should patrol in front of the Spurs defence and negate the threat of Wayne Rooney. United's number 10 has to be denied space or the side from Old Trafford will run ragged against the Spuds. Eriksen should start if fit, or Gylfi Sigurdsson must come in for him. Lewis Holtby has the legs but lacks guile to unlock the door of the top defences in town.
For once, AVB could perhaps start with Jermain Defoe, flanked with Townsend and Lennon on the left and right wings respectively. That's what Spurs had last season, blistering pace on the break. With Soldado, they can't do that as he's a 'box player', and only sparks into life in the 18-yard box. Outside that, he's as good as a sitting duck. Putting Townsend on the left wing will help the Spurs attack as it'll curb his insistence on coming in on his left foot and letting fly. England's winger has had the most shots on goal but has scored only once thus far this season.
With all due respect, Michael Dawson should be benched for this game, he's too slow in the mind at the top level. Vertonghen is screaming out to play in the centre of that defence, alongside Kaboul. Naughton and Walker to take the remaining two places in the back four.
United will be looking to go in for the kill tonight, knowing the defeat could not only take Spurs out of the equation for the title race, but probably knock the stuffing out of them, so much so they might even struggle to make the top four. Look at Liverpool and Southampton's form.
Rooney and Giggs will be raring to go, but so will the likes of Nani, who put in his best performance of the season in Germany when he also bagged a goal against Leverkusen.
If the score is still blank at half time, the crowd could turn against Villas-Boas and his players. However, get a goal in the 1st half hour, and this could be a cracking game. They have it all to do Spurs, and there's something in me which says they might just surprise a few and bag the points at the Lane tonight. 2-1 Spurs (sorry United fans!)
Till next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment