[Henrik Larsson]

We'll win 3-1.

 

[golden_blunder]

We'll win 3-1.

Wish I could share your optimism

 

[Lewis.no.9]

I think If we play Mata, Herrera, Carrick with Rooney uptop we should win this. Its going to be close and tight regardless. Spurs could turn up to really smash us.

 

[Red Devil BB]

Since we started our run of good form (past 18 games, 40/54 points), we have always won the next game after a defeat. I am confident we will beat Tottenham. We will be a wounded animal, we are underrated, they are underrated, we are at home, we are Manchester United.
Even if we do win, the majority will probably still complain about something. Maybe Smalling's boot will fall off and people will have a go at him for not being able to fasten his shoelaces. Or maybe Valencia will get a nosebleed after a collision and people will say he is time wasting.

 

[Red Devil BB]

Home game tends to mean home win.

Of course someone will come along and twist some stat to show how our home form is actually a trick of the mind. Weve been rubbish, every minute of every game after all. Spurs like every otherside on earth have been breathtaking.

Something like that anyway.

I watched Liverpool get a thrilling 0-0 draw at home to Blackburn. They played so amazing. We look like a pub team in comparison.

 

[Dazzmondo]

Predicted Lineup:

_________________________________________________________

1. de Gea

2. Rafael 12. Smalling 4. Jones 17. Blind

25. Valencia 16. Carrick 21. Herrera 11. Januzaj
8. Mata

10. Rooney
__________________________________________________________

Bench: 32. Valdes, 3. Shaw, 5. Rojo, 31. Fellaini, 18. Young, 49. Wilson, 9. Falcao
Predicted Score: Man Utd 2-1 Spurs (Rooney, Mata, Eriksen)​

 

[GlastonSpur]

I read that Rojo is an injury doubt ... will he be fit to play?

Predicted Lineup:

_________________________________________________________

1. de Gea

2. Rafael 12. Smalling 4. Jones 17. Blind

25. Valencia 16. Carrick 21. Herrera 11. Januzaj
8. Mata

10. Rooney
__________________________________________________________

Bench: 32. Valdes, 3. Shaw, 5. Rojo, 31. Fellaini, 18. Young, 49. Wilson, 9. Falcao
Predicted Score: Man Utd 2-1 Spurs (Rooney, Mata, Eriksen)​

Why would you play Blind at LB ahead of Shaw?

And don't you think that a midfield trio of Carrick, Herrera and Mata - as you have it - might get over-run and leave your defence exposed?

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Red Devil BB]

When Rojo attacks down the left, Young joins Mata in the middle and Herrera plays behind Rojo and Young.
When Valencia attacks down the right, Januzaj joins Mata in the middle and Herrera plays behind Januzaj and Valencia.
When Young or Januzaj get down the wing, Herrera can get forward and join Rooney in the box, with Young or Januzaj awaiting back post area.
Blind or Carrick can drop into defense as ball playing CB to make a flat square of BlindHerrera-SmallingCarrick or HerreraCarrick-BlindSmalling.
Smalling puts all his focus on marking Kane for 90 minutes and let's the rest of the team deal with all other players. Herrera hunts down Eriksen any time we are not in possession.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Just read that no team has ever gone unbeaten in the PL era vs ManUtd for 6 straight matches, which Spurs can do tomorrow.

I don't feel like breaking any more of these types of records after last season...

 

[Red Devil BB]

Just read that no team has ever gone unbeaten in the PL era vs ManUtd for 6 straight matches, which Spurs can do tomorrow.

I don't feel like breaking any more of these types of records after last season...

Man Utd are undefeated in 29 of their last 31 matches against Tottenham in all competitions.

 

[Livewire1974]

Tomorrow is D-Day for the "philosophy", anything less than a win means the clock will be ticking towards the eventual LVG exit.

 

[Red Devil BB]

What are the odds on beating Tottenham, beating Liverpool and then losing at home to Aston Vanilla?

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

What are the odds on beating Tottenham, beating Liverpool and then losing at home to Aston Vanilla?

 

[Roboc7]

Think it will be a draw, expect fellaini to start with rooney again and januzaj in for di Maria only change unless rojo and young aren't fit. Falcao was probably given a run out for the reserves to maybe stake a claim to play but he was so poor I think he messed it up and I don't see him starting any of the other big games so no point bringing him into the side.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Think it will be a draw, expect fellaini to start with rooney again and januzaj in for di Maria only change unless rojo and young aren't fit. Falcao was probably given a run out for the reserves to maybe stake a claim to play but he was so poor I think he messed it up and I don't see him starting any of the other big games so no point bringing him into the side.

The fans will go ballistic if it is a draw. Especially if we don't go for it.

 

[Dazzmondo]

I read that Rojo is an injury doubt ... will he be fit to play?


Why would you play Blind at LB ahead of Shaw?

And don't you think that a midfield trio of Carrick, Herrera and Mata - as you have it - might get over-run and leave your defence exposed?

Because Shaw is still struggling for fitness. Rojo is also a doubt. Young is a similar case as he's returning from a slight knock I believe. More likely they'll be on the bench and get 20-30 mins if any. No, I don't think that midfield will be overrun because Carrick can play a defensive/sitting midfield role (basically the same role Blind plays) and Herrera is an energetic box to box midfielder. With that midfield-3, they should also dominate the possession against Tottenham since all 3 are among the best passers in our team. It also wouldn't be the first time Blind has played lb for United and with the numerous minor knocks to our defenders would make sense. Also, van Gaal's decision to replace Herrera with Carrick at half time against Arsenal hurt our performance imo and took a lot of our creativity out of the game. It's pointless having both Carrick and Blind in midfield imo. If any player will be different, it might be Fellaini for Mata but if that's the case he'll play as second striker, playing off Wayne, not as a defensive midfielder so I'm not sure where your idea of this midfield getting overrun comes from.

 

[Magnus]

De Gea
Rafa Smalling Rojo Shaw
Mata Herrera Blind Young
Falcao Rooney

 

[Yorkeontop]

De Gea
Rafa Smalling Rojo Shaw
Mata Herrera Blind Young
Falcao Rooney

Mad Swede indeed.

 

[Magnus]

Mad Swede indeed.

Give me your team mate.

 

[Yorkeontop]

Give me your team mate.

The only player I have an issue with is Falcao with that line up. I think we have finally stumbled on our most efficient configuration, namely speaking, playing with 1 up front.

 

[hbgreg]

Very small chance we win this.

 

[David Court]

Spurs in their last 6 against the top 6: Won 2, Drawn 1 and Lost 3.

Those 2 wins were before mid December. Hardly reflective of current form, 3 months on.

Since December 28th against top half table teams, 3 losses and 3 draws

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

--------------De Gea
Rafael---Smalling--Rojo---Shaw
----------Carrick---Blind
----Valencia---Mata---Young
--------------Rooney

That's what I'd like to see, but more likely that Valencia plays RB and Januzaj plays on the wing. Herrera might come in for Mata, Rojo could be at LB with Jones at CB. So, as always, tough to predict just what kind of lineup we're gonna see tomorrow.

 

[Tyrion]

We'll either be bored by a poor but winning performance or excited by an amusing but tragic Caf meltdown in response to a United loss.

 

[darko]

The reverse fixture was maybe the best performance United put in this season. If it wasn't for Lloris, United would have smashed Spurs. But this is a new match. it will be a tough one and they will have to be ready to fight for the points.

 

[Red Devil BB]

Falcao to come off the bench and score a couple of goals to round off an entertaining 5-1 win
Just like Netherlands v Spain

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Those 2 wins were before mid December. Hardly reflective of current form, 3 months on.

Since December 28th against top half table teams, 3 losses and 3 draws

You can't just pick and choose a set of games to prove your point. Fact is, we're higher than them, and for a reason.

 

[David Court]

You can't just pick and choose a set of games to prove your point. Fact is, we're higher than them, and for a reason.

Very true but recent form is arguably if greater impact than that over a longer period of time, wouldn't you say?

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Very true but recent form is arguably if greater impact than that over a longer period of time, wouldn't you say?

Not when you're selecting games scattered over different parts of the season. You want to know a teams form? Then look at the last 5 or 6 games. However, at this time of the season, form is not a variable.

 

[David Court]

Not when you're selecting games scattered over different parts of the season. You want to know a teams form? Then look at the last 5 or 6 games. However, at this time of the season, form is not a variable.

I wasn't quoting over different parts of the season.

In the last 10 weeks Utd have played 6 matches against top half table teams losing 3 and drawing 3.

I deduce from that your form is unconvincing. I guess you are suggesting your form is good? I'm not sure many of your fellow fans would agree with that.

Anyway, let's revisit this analysis after your next 6 matches, shall we?

Either you are right or you're not.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

I wasn't quoting over different parts of the season.

In the last 10 weeks Utd have played 6 matches against top half table teams losing 3 and drawing 3.

I deduce from that your form is unconvincing. I guess you are suggesting your form is good? I'm not sure many of your fellow fans would agree with that.

Anyway, let's revisit this analysis after your next 6 matches, shall we?

Either you are right or you're not.

Again, form against top half teams, what does that even mean? How can you possibly establish anything from games scattered over the last 10 weeks? Why not look at all our games and then compare to Spurs?

Since the turn of the year, in the league, we've won 5, drawn 2, lost 2. 17 points from 27, given our objectives, isn't all that bad.

 

[Sandikan]

You can't just pick and choose a set of games to prove your point. Fact is, we're higher than them, and for a reason.

what if the reason is that they've played harder games, and are only a tiny amount of points behind?

 

[Red Devil BB]

what if the reason is that they've played harder games, and are only a tiny amount of points behind?

If a team has played harder games it's because they were not playing good enough themselves.

 

[gooDevil]

Here is a look at how we've fared this season against the current top 7 teams:

United 1-1 Chelsea
City 1-0 United
Arsenal 1-2 United
Southampton 1-2 United
United 3-0 Liverpool
United 0-0 Spurs
United 0-1 Southampton

 

[Sandikan]

If a team has played harder games it's because they were not playing good enough themselves.

Not quite sure I agree.

if you've played City, Chelsea and Arsenal away, and your rivals haven't (for example) that's simply about fixtures.

6 of our 10 could be classed tough. And that's before you mention the Pardew and Sherwood effects.

Still...let's go and beat Spurs first, we owe them one

 

[Red Devil BB]

Here is a look at how we've fared this season against the current top 7 teams:

United 1-1 Chelsea
City 1-0 United
Arsenal 1-2 United
Southampton 1-2 United
United 3-0 Liverpool
United 0-0 Spurs
United 0-1 Southampton

I see a nice green pattern to come

 

[Di Maria's angel]

what if the reason is that they've played harder games, and are only a tiny amount of points behind?

We're 28 games into the season. Therefore, Spurs and ourselves have played each team once, and we're higher than them.

 

[Red Devil BB]

If think Gods decided that Arsenal would beat us in the FA Cup to balance out us doing the double over them in the league this season and costing them their Champions League place.

 

[Red Devil BB]

Not quite sure I agree.

if you've played City, Chelsea and Arsenal away, and your rivals haven't (for example) that's simply about fixtures.

6 of our 10 could be classed tough. And that's before you mention the Pardew and Sherwood effects.

Still...let's go and beat Spurs first, we owe them one

It's not important who you play. A "good" team might play poorly and a "bad" team might have a great game. All that matters is whether you walk away with 3 points at FT whistle. The opponent is irrelevant. We are team full of quality footballers and if we perform we can beat anyone.