Every team wants a good start to their season and that wish is no different from what Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur want as they head into the 2015/2016 Barclays Premier League.
But what they did not probably want was to start against each other on Matchday 1 of the new season. Such fixtures were usually found halfway through the season. Last term, they met at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day in a match that ended goalless and at Old Trafford in March where the Red Devils put three past the Lily Whites.
But how will it end on the 8th of August?
No one knows but both teams walk onto the ground at Old Trafford knowing that a loss puts them under pressure from the very start of the season. That is something Louis van Gaal will want to avoid especially as he lost his opener to Swansea last season.
[contextly_sidebar id=”kbTcUBAWg9prIFJSEbmLXoWPJnhpXpkn”]The Dutchman has spoken so much of his “philosophy” and he has thrown lots of money into the market to get the personnel he feels can do the job of winning the title once again for Man United.
Memphis Depay,Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian and Bastian Schweinsteiger have been brought in to move the team forward and whether Van Gaal likes it or not,eyes,camera lenses,pens and laptop keyboards will be trained on these players to see how they fare.
The holiday period for the “Iron Tulip” as Van Gaal is called is just about ending.
But that seems to be similar for Mauricio Pochettino. Spurs’ Argentine handler must push his very talented team to its limits and break into elite European football regions. However, that task requires breaking the mental block that impedes Spurs each season. If they can keep Harry Kane away from Man United, who are reportedly interested in turning him into a Red Devil, they will have a shout at a possible top 4 spot.
Possible hot spots in the match.
Schneiderlin vs Eriksen
The Danish playmaker is one of the best in his role in the Barclays Premier League and when he is in a good mood,he can set up his team-mates very,very well. He can also score when the forwards feel like taking an off-day and he did that 10 times last season.
But creative geniuses always have destroyers for company and in Schneiderlin,Man United have a player who has the ability to be a “spoiler”. The Frenchman has his first test of the season and he must prove to all that he is very capable of helping Man United in that area. Afterall,his work allowed Southampton to beat United at Old Trafford last season. More of the same,you would imagine.
Kane vs Man United defence and Rooney vs Spurs defence
The two English men need to start well and keep the numbers coming in for their clubs. Rooney scored 12 while his younger England team-mate Kane put away 21 and the fans will call for more.
How different will they be from last season?
Can Man United’s defence stand up to Kane well again?
Have Spurs learned from last season’s loss to Man United?
Interesting facts:
Man United scored a lot of their goals from last season between the 16th to the 30th minutes and 76th and 90th minutes.
Spurs won 17 points from losing positions last season.
While Spurs scored 47 goals in the penalty area, Man United scored 55 in the penalty area.
Prediction: Man United 2-1 Tottenham.
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By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana