The Big e-Spurs Preview - Tottenham vs. Manchester United

It's time for Spurs to find another Willem Korsten. 'Who!?' some younger readers might say. Well, he scored twice the last time Spurs beat United at home - in 2001. In the 15 years since, the Red Devils have made 14 unbeaten visits to White Hart Lane.

Follow e-Spurs!

e-Spurs on Facebook - Click Here

e-Spurs on Twitter - Click Here
e-Spurs on G+ - Click Here
e-Spurs on Instagram - Click Here
e-Spurs on YouTube - Click Here

*e-Spurs are looking for THFC fans as writers of match previews/reports, opinion based articles and nostalgia pieces. Interested in this opportunity? e-mail e-spurs@live.co.uk.

Tottenham Hotspur v. Manchester United - Venue: White Hart Lane

This should be a tougher trip against the second favourites for the title. Long gone are the days when Sir Alex Ferguson could motivate United for such a game with 'Lads…it's Tottenham!'

Every weekend from now until the final day of the season, Spurs will play after Leicester have done. Will that bring added pressure? Would-be champions must show that it's welcome.

The Opposition

Full Name: Manchester United Football Club

Nickname(s): The Red Devils

Short Name: MUFC

Founded: 1878; 138 years ago, as Newton Heath LYR F.C.

1902; 114 years ago, as Manchester United F.C.

Ground: Old Trafford

Capacity: 75,653

Owner: Manchester United plc (NYSE: MANU)

Co-Chairmen: Joel and Avram Glazer

Manager: Louis van Gaal

League: Premier League

Current Position: 5th

Website: Club home page

The Last 5 - Tottenham

Premier League - Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham

Premier League - Tottenham 3-0 Bournemouth

Europa League - Tottenham 1-2 B. Dortmund

Premier League - A. Villa 0-2 Tottenham

Europa League - B. Dortmund 3-0 Tottenham

The Last 5 - Manchester United

Premier League - Man Utd 1-0 Everton

Premier League - Man City 0-1 Man Utd

Europa League - Man Utd 1-1 Liverpool

FA Cup - Man Utd 1-1 West Ham

Europa League - Liverpool 2-0 Man Utd

View of the e-Spurs Podcast Team

Jason's View

After last weeks top-3 qualification boost/title damaging point at Anfield we turn our attentions to Manchester United.

19th May, 2001, 2 Willem Korsten goals and 1 from Les Ferdinand gave us our last victory over Manchester United at White Hart Lane. It really is time to put right that appalling record. Since then, P14, W0, D6, L8.

In all that time, particularly after the infamous 3-5 game the following season, it was only the 1-1 draw in 2007/08 season where Tevez equalised with the last touch of the match that we have really looked like taking the 3 points. All 6 draws at WHL since our last win have actually been within the last 8 seasons, so we have stopped being the pushovers that Ferguson so famously mocked with his ‘Lads, it’s Tottenham’ quote. But now, it’s time to win. We’ve done it at Old Trafford finally, now for WHL.

Man U have of course struggled throughout this season, never reaching the fluidity that they displayed so regularly for many years. Instead, they’ve relied on defensive strength with Smalling having an excellent season, and of course, so often on the performances of David De Gea. We know ourselves what it’s like to feel our best player is actually our goalkeeper!

Their away form has been inconsistent, P16, W6, D4, L6, F19, A20. Hardly anything to strike fear into us.

You have to feel that if we play our own high tempo game, play with that intensity we showed in recent home games against Swansea, Bournemouth that we will have enough chances to comfortably win the game, but, it’s up to us to be ruthless and take those chances, and make sure De Gea doesn’t have one of those afternoons that he had a few seasons ago when he single handedly played us only for Dempsey to score that Fergie time leveller in the snow.

With the clever play and passing of Mata, and the pace of Martial and Rashford, United themselves will have one or two big chances in the game, and it will be up to Hugo to make sure he himself shows the form he did in that first half on Boxing Day last season.

In terms of the title race, we really are in that simply have to win category, which in itself makes us a little more open as we chase games maybe even earlier than ideally we’d like to. A win against United gives us a 12 point cushion, with only 18 points available to them afterwards, and you feel that then would be enough to secure a top-4 place. Defeat, the gap is 6 points and they have a game in hand. Suddenly it could be squeaky bum time for us to even make the top-4. This is a very big game indeed.

Regardless of the title, ending the home hoodoo with United, the away hoodoo with Chelsea, the record points tally, and of course finishing above our South London rivals for the first time are 4 targets I really hope we achieve over the next few weeks.

I’m going for a 2-0 win, but hoping that De Gea doesn’t come up with one of those super human days!

Stat Attack

- The last three games played between the sides at Tottenham have been drawn.

- Spurs have recorded victories in four of their last five league games at White Hart Lane (D1).

- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 14 league trips to White Hart Lane (W8, D6), since a 3-1 defeat in May 2001.

- Mauricio Pochettino's men have conceded a league-low 25 goals, Manchester United have let in the second fewest with 27.

- Tottenham have recovered a league-high 19 points from losing positions.

Teams News - Tottenham

Tottenham could be boosted by the return of defender Jan Vertonghen, he has missed the last three months with a knee injury,

Erik Lamela is likely to be recalled after he missed last week's draw at Liverpool with a knock.

Teams News - Manchester United

Manchester United trio Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are all available after recent injuries.

Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw are still out, whilst Daley Blind is a doubt with an unspecified knock.

© e-Media Group 2016 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group

Share on Google Plus