Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham: Full-back errors cost Spurs
A classic game of two halves: the first stale, tight and one that took 28 minutes for a shot – the second open, exciting and stretched. United played poorly in the final third but took advantage of Spurs mistakes.
United lined up in a fairly standard 4-4-2 shape – Ryan Giggs played off to the right of Dimitar Berbatov rather than from midfield, with Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher taking it in turns to venture forward.
Spurs also lined up 4-4-2, although there were switches from the sides that beat Arsenal and Chelsea – Benoit Assou-Ekotto was moved to right-back, Gareth Bale brought back to left-back, Luka Modric went out to the left of midfield, and Wilson Palacios came into the centre. Jermain Defoe continued to drop off when Spurs didn’t have the ball, although with United playing a midfield two rather than a midfield three, his presence wasn’t needed too much.
Nevertheless, the fact that Defoe played deeper for Spurs than Giggs did for United meant that Spurs often had more players in the centre of midfield. To add to this, Modric played very narrow from the left, and Spurs were well in the game until half-time, although they struggled to create any chances.
Modric struggled to put his stamp on the game – shunted out to the left, rather than excelling in the centre alongside Tom Huddlestone, as he did against Arsenal and against Chelsea. Part of the problem was that he was up against Antonio Valencia, who is excellent defensively – on more than one occasion Modric made an excellent diagonal run but was tracked all the way by Valencia.
The most surprising feature of the first half was how rarely United’s full-backs got forward – as against Arsenal and Chelsea, Spurs played extremely narrow, but neither Patrice Evra or Rafael were consistently getting forward to stretch the play.
The second half was more open, and it was no surprise that United’s opener came when Evra finally got forward, and into the penalty area on the left – Assou-Ekotto made a stupid tackle to bring him down, and Giggs scored the subsequent penalty kick.
Harry Redknapp immediately switched things around – bringing on Aaron Lennon for David Bentley, then moving Palacios to right-back, returning Assou-Ekotto to the left, pushing Bale forward and Modric into the middle, making the Spurs side more similar to the one of the past two games.
By this stage Valencia had departed for United through injury. His replacement was Michael Carrick, with United going to 4-5-1 with Giggs on the left and Nani on the right.
And so we had different battles across the pitch suddenly, and most importantly gave Bale the freedom to run at Rafael (with Nani not covering as well as Valencia would have done). Bale forced a corner from Rafael straight away, and Ledley King headed in to give Spurs the equaliser. Rafael – supposed to be marking the far post – moved forward off the line and couldn’t recover in time, as the ball flew past him.
United returned to 4-4-2 with the introduction of Federico Macheda, and this helped catch Spurs out defensively. Assou-Ekotto had gone forward momentarily, Bale covered at left-back, but then completely switched off and failed to track Nani’s run. Macheda made a run towards the ball, drew King towards the play – and then Nani seized on (a) Bale’s lapse in concentration and (b) King moving out of position by following Macheda, to cut in and chip the ball over Gomes.
United’s third was another clumsy foul in the right-back area – this time Palacios run into the back of Nani, and Giggs converted his spot-kick to seal the game.
Should the blame go to Tottenham’s tactics, or the individual errors by their full-backs? Certainly Assou-Ekotto, Bale and Palacios hardly covered themselves in glory, but all three were playing out-of-position when the mistakes were made. Assou-Ekotto was a left-back playing at right-back, Bale a left-midfielder (in recent weeks) covering at left-back, and Palacios a holding midfielder playing at right-back. After two such positive results, switching so many players into different positions was a strange move. It’s also fair to say that the narrow formation that worked so well against Arsenal and Chelsea left Spurs exposed against United’s wingers.
For United, it was another below-par display resulting in a win, and for the second consecutive week their best player was probably Paul Scholes. They simply seem so short of attacking options when Wayne Rooney is unavailable, and Ryan Giggs’ two penalties cover up the fact that he had a very quiet game playing as a forward.
Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham: Full-back errors cost Spurs
Bale is full back.
And a rubbish one. He’s best playing as a left sided midfielder, where he can use his pace and delivery. When he plays at left back he’s positionally poor (Nani’s goal) and succeeds only against weaker teams.
absolutely right. another below par performance by united without Rooney. But ferguson should realize by now that berbatov simply can’t play on his own upfront. he needs another striker. however, Macheda seems to be more of an impact player right now than a full 90 min player and giggs simply doesn’t have the legs anymore for that role. Ferguson has tried Park just behind Rooney on a couple of occasions but i think Nani should be better suited to that role just the way Ronaldo did sometimes for united.
Berbatov can’t play the false nine like Rooney because he lacks the workrate and movement.
Everyone talks about United missing Ronaldo but I think they miss Tevez more. There is not a closer “Rooney clone” in world football than Tevez. He works hard and his movement is superb.
Rafael attacked plenty and I’m sure you mean Ekotto was a left back playing right back rather than a right back playing left back as you have it now.
Nani scored the game turner and won the penalty. He was United’s best player on the day.
Cheers for the correction.
“all three were playing out-of-position when the mistakes were made.”
While true, it is also true that all 3 were having stinkers regardless. Palacios might as well have had a United shirt on.
Looked well set for a draw if not for those terrible challenges in the box.
Remarkably poor quality regardless, maybe the poor pitch? So many badly misplaced passes..
Palacios was awful. Why Redknapp changed a winning team to try and fit him in is beyond me.
Spurs should stick with the system that won against Arsenal and Chelsea, with Modric in the middle, Bale on the left and Lennon on the right. It gives width and creativity through the middle, which they were lacking here.
yes, its the fill backs errors that cost Spurs. Thanks to their wingers.
For united, the first goal credit is to Berbatov, who made a good run. First time i’m seeing him doing that.
Another fact is, when Rooney is there, he was the target man for entire united squad but with berbatov in that position, most of the players are trying to test their luck. You can clearly see it, when united attack…Berbatov is in good position many times but ball was not passed to him.
Again Nani is good in the second half and took his goal very well. Rafael was very good today but his inexperience gave away the goal when he came of his marking position.
Overall, Its a below par performance from United but again walked away with 3points.
For a while there in the second half, it almost looked like a front four with Nani, Berbatov central and Valencia and Giggs wide.
True it was a below par performance by United but the lads did well to get three points in the absence of first teamers like rio and rooney against a red hot Tottenham side who beat a full strength Chelsea, One thing i liked about the game was Managers taking risks and it fairly worked for them especially after SAF introduced Micheal Carrick thinking the game was dusted and ‘Arry sending out Crouchie when he could go for draw.
Top stuff, Great to see such thing especially when you have managers like Rafa and Mancini in the league.
Below par performance?
In what way? A 3-1 win against a team who have been in terrific form is nothing to sniff at. I could understand if it had been an undeserved result but united were good value for the win. What exactly would have been on par? 4? 5?
@Anonymous – The result certainly nothing to sniff at, but the performance overall was fairly disappointing. A lack of inspiration and creativity in the final third was plain to see without Rooney and Berbatov still struggling for confidence.
@ZonalMarking – Fair enough. Great site by the way.
The game showed that Man U have quality through their squad, and that the pressure got to individuals in the Spurs team. Also the pitch reminded me of the Wembley problem, with many of the players being hesitant in movement and very unambitious in possession.
Spurs really have a problem in that they’ve given away 6 penalties in their last 3 away games (3 to Sunderland, 1 to Portsmouth, 2 here). Can any team hope to do well with those sorts of statistics? As far as I can remember, these all were caused by full-backs and midfielders making bad tackles/handballs – the centre backs have been solid throughout. 3 of those were by Palacios clumsily chasing players into the box – previously the Spurs hero, but how quickly will this change?
There have been mentions that Kaboul asked not to be played in this match – otherwise it’s hard not to argue that Redknapp made a tactical blunder by changing a working formula, playing Ekotto out of position on the right. But then if a defender is going to go to ground in the area there’s probably little the manager can do about it. What was surprising was seeing otherwise good defenders fail to get goal-side of opposition players with the ball, inviting direct runs at the Spurs goal. I can’t imagine that was part of the plan – can you be so ‘lost’ playing out of position that you literally forget where your goal is?
Berbatov is obviously going to continue to have problems. He was involved in much of the United buildup play, but seems to get very little credit. He got very little joy against Dawson and King in the air, but when he dropped slightly deeper and started making a few direct runs with the ball, he ended up creating the first goal.
Note: it’s late, any ‘facts’ mentioned above could be completely wrong as I haven’t researched them.
It seems redundant to mention it now, but great site. And great comments too – nice to see people talking about the game rather than slinging insults.
I thought Berbatov had a nice match. The problem with him leading the line is that bar Nani, United don’t have wingers or attacking midfielders that make attacking runs behind the defense and stretch the play when Berbatov drops to receive the ball. Valencia is quick but most of his runs are down the touchline and it’s been a few years since Giggs has troubled defenders with his pace. It’s a problem regardless of the identity of the lone striker as evidenced by the lack of attacking prowess against better teams (Chelsea/Liverpool/etc.) playing with a holding DM, but Rooney’s movement often disguises the fact and opens up space for others. Berbatov plays a different game and needs a partner up front or two wingers making penetrating runs past him to stretch the defense. Unfortunately, United can’t effectively play a 442 (except on rare occasions like these when the opposition also plays two in the center) as only Fletcher has the combination of work rate and technical skill to play as part of a two man CM pair – everyone else works much better as part of three. Personally I’d like to see Ferguson try out a front three of Rooney, Berbatov, and Nani. Play Rooney deeper and to the left of Berbatov, Nani on the right wing and let the two wider players make central runs when Berbatov drops to receive the ball. Just an idea.
@jonathan – I think Rooney up front alone is their best formation. Rooney is clearly outstanding and putting Berbatov in front of him just means he has less space to work in.
Berbatov is decent behind Rooney but you have to take out a center midfielder to put him in.
United’s best front 3 right now are probably Park(defense)/Nani(attack), Rooney, Valencia.
Honestly I like Berbatov, but he just hasn’t stepped up. It’s really a shame, but I can’t put him in their best XI.
I don’t think Berbatov has much of a future at United. He’s just not a good fit for the way they play now.
As a Spurs fan I thought this was a poor performance from us, and Harry really over-thought his tactics. The individual errors were horrible and have been costing us for a while now – how can any team expect to win when they give away two penalties? Indeed, the CBs (Dawson/King/Bassong) were not responsible (though Dawson was responsible for a stupid one against Leeds), but Palacios and the fullbacks have been giving away penalties for a while now in away games. One of those was by a 19-year-old RB which is forgivable, but Palacios and BAE should know better.
Performance-wise we weren’t good either, which has more to do with the overall tactics than individual errors. We should have started with the winning team, with Gudjohnsen in for Pav to link up play and Defoe further forward. Playing Defoe deep makes him rather useless (though I understand he was off the pace because of a minor injury), and Crouch and Gudjohnsen on the same field gives me nightmares. Pav never does much in away games….I know United fans have been moaning about Berbatov, but he’s still an entirely different class to what we’ve got.
I wonder if those Kaboul rumours are true, in which case I’m deeply disappointed in him. I suspect it’s more that Harry really wanted to play Palacios to shore up our midfield in a tough away game, which meant Modric had to be moved to LM. In fairness Modric has had many good games at LM before, including with Bale, so it’s surprising how poor the left side was this time – but I really don’t think Bale is ready to play LB against strong sides yet. BAE was preferred over Kaboul because Kaboul was responsible for Lampard’s goal earlier, and Harry must have thought Nani would cut inside where BAE would be on his stronger foot.
I hope Harry has learned something from this game, and not just that our strikers need upgrading and Huddlestone is still inconsistent. He’s been talking about our lack of tactical options for a while now….well, do something about it this summer.
I’d take Pav over Berbatov any day, and I’m neither a Spurs or United fan. At least Pav works hard.
Though I agree Defoe is better used further forward where he can use his pace to get in behind. Besides, he’s such a good finisher, what use is that when you’re miles from the goal? Get him into the opposition box!
I for one was very confused by Redknapp’s team selection after watching Tottenham perform so well against Arsenal and Chelsea. Thinking about it I can understand that ‘arry was trying to set up his team with pace at full back to counter Nani, Valencia, Rafael, and Evra. However I believe that this negativity led to Tottenham’s downfall in this match.
As mentioned in the article Utd were, again, relatively uninspiring in their performance if not in their result and I think Spurs really could have got something if they would have been more positive. Why change a winning formula? Tottenham were so aggressive and dynamic in their last two games and were rather pedestrian here. Bale looked like a world beater as a left midfielder but was negated by playing at left back. Modric and Huddlestone are also an excellent partnership in the middle as both are very comfortable on the ball. Palacios had a nightmare and gave the ball away on numerous occasions.
It really does surprise me how much managers tinker with what to all intents and purposes seems like a winning formula? What could Redknapp have lost if he would have sent his team out the same as the last two matches? Very confusing.
@ ltjbr – aside from the fee, why would Berbatov be in United’s first 11? Clearly they’re most comfortable playing with a 4-5-1, especially in Europe, and Rooney is a vastly more suited player for the striking role in that system.
If Ferguson wanted to play 4-4-2, he should have started Macheda and let Berbatov drop off into midfield. He’s just not a “leading the line” striker – he’s basically a creative forward, he just happens to be quite tall. I quite liked him in partnership with Owen (boo! hiss!) and was annoyed Ferguson didn’t try that more often, playing with an aggressive small forward really suits him. Hopefully that Mexican kid United signed will be able to offer that speed and directness in partnership with Berbatov.
Giggs is woefully out of form since returning from the broken arm, Ferguson is being very stubborn and short sighted in continuing to start him. It was nice to see Rafael get another chance, even if it was his error that resulted in the Spurs goal. Ferguson needs to keep giving him (and his brother) chances to play and learn.
I’m not sure whether this is just me, but when Berbatov plays, it seems as though the Utd players don’t use him as the target for the attacks. When Rooney plays it’s clear that Rooney is the focal point of Utd’s attacks and the balls go to him but when Berbatov plays, his teammates don’t trust him enough to play it to him and go themselves often?
It’s not just you. I’ve noticed it too.
Hi guys,
Love the site, first time posting. Just a few observations about United to see what you think:
1.) Playing Berbatov up front on his own can work, but not against top teams (I would count most of those in the top 8 in that category, except Villa, who are weak in CM so he has more space to work). As a result he needs a partner but I wait to see who it will be. Diouf and Welbeck have pace, Owen has the movement, Hernandez looks like a poacher (but I would guess he will take quite a bit of time in the gym for him to be Prem ready as he looks small). Macheda seems to make an impact every time he plays and I can’t wait to see him develop. Clearly United have tons of young talent up front.
2.) Given this, and how well the team has done this season (above my expectations for sure even if we miss the league) who would you sign for the summer? Luis Fabiano recently said he wanted to join and there are still going to be all the Villa rumours. I’m just not sure we need another striker considering the list above. Better long-term to let some of them develop. Personally I’d prefer an attacking midfielder who can play central AND left. My picks would be Milner (Villa), Silva (Valencia) and I’ve heard good things about Hamsik (Napoli) although I understand he can’t play on the wing.
3.) This brings me onto the squad’s forgotten man (and no I’m not talking about Hargreaves). To me the weakness of the team at times this season has been this problem of supporting Rooney or Berbs from the left. Giggs can’t run all day anymore and has little pace but does have that crucial left foot. Nani does well too, but, being right-footed, he comes inside and often plays more centrally or even drifts over to the right. As a consequence, most of our attacks flow down the right.
The key man to sort this out is Anderson. He is left-footed but mainly a central player who tracks back and breaks from midfield. He is a great passer and crosser with his left and he sometimes drifts out to the wing, which would allow Nani to cut inside. He is also a creative link between midfield and attack, playing in the ‘hole’ when the team has the ball. Admittedly this is all true on a good day but too often he looks listless and sloppy. But he is only 21! My big hope for next year is that he has the “penny-drop” moment as the coaching staff have mentioned with Nani so that he starts to fulfill his obvious potential.
Any thoughts?
Anderson should probably be playing every game, along with Fletcher, with one of Carrick/Scholes/Berbatov (if they go 4-4-2) making up the numbers. The boy’s good.
@drewski – I actually pretty clearly said I would not put Berbatov in their top 11. He just doesn’t fit. Rooney is so good up front he doesn’t need a partner.
Berbatov could play behind Rooney, but it’s really a waste and United is better off playing with 5 midfielders instead.
I know, I’m just not sure what your point is. You’re basically saying that a player who isn’t supposed to be in United’s first 11 isn’t in United’s first 11.
@Itjbr – Rooney is good enough up front on his own but United don’t support him well enough against the top clubs. And Berbatov doesn’t play well behind Rooney. Their respective games work better when Rooney plays initially as the deeper of the two and makes runs beyond Berba when Berba drops to receive the ball as is natural and most effective for him. Playing Rooney up high alone is the result of needing three central midfielders because only Fletcher has the capability to play in a two man pairing, not having the goal threat from the wings, and not having a goal threat from midfield. It’s why Gibson has played as many games as he has, because even though his distribution and positioning are not nearly good enough, he offers the possibility of goals from the middle of the pitch. Rooney scores more goals when he plays up high, but he influences the game to a greater degree when he plays slightly deeper and can dictate play with his passing ability.
My money is on Ferguson buying a midfielder in the fashion of De Rossi or Hamsik rather than a world class striker. Unless someone like Luis Fabiano is available on the cheap of course.
First of all, great work, great site
Honestly, I was furious while watching this game. We showed Man U FAR too much respect in that first half, just concentrated on stopping a team that never even got started. Redknapp’s post-match comments said it all really, he thought we’d blown a massive opportunity to get a point. In other words, we weren’t actually going for the win.
The individual mistakes were infuriating, but I can overlook those. What I found criminal was the fact that we went a goal down, brought on some width and pace in Lennon, pushed Bale forward….and then just started lumping balls up to Crouch. Where was the sense in that? At 1-1, we had a chance to put the ball on the floor, and give our wingers (one of whom is absolutely on fire at present, the other who has given Man U fullbacks a torrid time in recent encounters) an opportunity to run at the defence and create something. Instead, Gomes kicks the ball out of hand up to Crouch, Man U regain possession easily, and walk the ball up to score the 2nd.
The default route-one option whenever Crouch is on is extremely frustrating, and ‘Arry does it time and time again
“Below Par performance from Manchester united ” i feel this is a bit harsh on man u prespective
Tottenham fielded a much more defensive team formation at old trafford than their previous tow games against Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, while MAN U opted for a more conservative attacking teams by playing gigs behind Berba instead of playing a recognized striker ” Macheda”
the two above reasons limited MAN U clear cut chances in first half while Tottenham failed to creat even a half a chance in the same half since they were concentrating on not to conceed a goal rather than scoring one.
I agree with some of the post that the midfield players when ROONY is playing most of their passes, crosses is directed to him, while when BERBA is playing they tend to try their own luck even more.
What i feel is really missing from united squad is a creative midfield player (play maker) who can provide long, short, lop precis and unexpected passes some one like KAKA (if this a high profile player) we can have some one like modric,
I have also noticed this season attacking style/option was some how limited specially in the first half of the camping it was dramatically improved since NANI came back to a good form and start to give more options in attacks.
I can see why United would want Modric, but there’s no way he’s leaving Spurs now they’ve finished fourth.
Kaka is actually, oddly enough, a more likely one, but I can’t see him leaving Madrid after just one season. Van der Vaart makes more sense. He’ll almost certainly be leaving Madrid this summer as they’ll spend again.
I have to say I completely disagree with the view that Utd were uninspired. This is the kind of routine, comfortable win they were picking up with Ronaldo in the team, with Rooney in the team, for the history of this utd squad, without people calling them uninspired.
Ledley King’s effort was Tottenham’s only chance – whereas Utd had Berbatov’s close range chance blocked, had Fletcher miss Berba’s knock down by mere centimetres, and looked by far the most likely to create something.
Giggs got put through about five times (by Scholes) behind Dawson but the passes were either slightly off, or Giggs – who’s in awful form, though the press will never point it out (if he were Nani, he’d be slated) – messed up, miscontrolled or timed it wrong.
As a few people have mentioned, Berbatov’s main problem in this game is that he’s not the go-to man. He was making a clear effort not to drop too deep, to make runs into the box, and was in clear space on a number of occasions, but he’s not the first option his teammates are looking for – there’s no trust.
The only one who does look for Berba straight away is Valencia, and neat Valencia-Berbatov interplay has provided some of the best Utd goals of this season (which Rooney finishes off, and thus gets all the credit for.)
He just needs people to put him on the ball, and make some runs for him. He was even winning his headers over King and Dawson (the knock-down for Fletch was but one) and his running was impressive.
I think with wingers who can defend like Park and Valencia, the 4-4-2 could really be a viable option (Scholes is on his way out – so there’s no sense in planning your principal tactics around his deficiencies). Fletcher, Anderson, Hargreaves (fingers crossed) can all function in 4-4-2, Carrick too, when he’s’ not in one of his formless funks.
Rooney as a more advanced ST could work in a Berbatov partnership. I really hope they don’t sell him this summer – he could play a big part in the shaping of what is still a transitional team.
Carrick’s too lethargic for the 4-4-2. Anderson’s a better choice, he’s got energy and his positional sense will improve with games. Wouldn’t be surprised if United bring in a couple of midfielders in the summer too.
I don’t think it was ‘routine’ or ‘comfortable’, though. Take away two stupid challenges in the penalty area, and United don’t win…and they only retook the lead when Ferguson sent another striker on – fair enough, but hardly a routine victory.
ZM,
I completely disagree, it was both comfortable and routine. They won by 2 clear goals, albeit in the last 10 minutes, and Spurs had hardly any chances, ie. comfortable, provided they got some goals. Routine implies that they were unspectacular, which they were, but they outplayed the opposition and hence got the result.
This is a tactical website, and thus using the implicit “what if” argument about getting 2 penalties is redundant. They did for the simple reason that they put Spurs under a great deal of, and this is the key word for the United team this season, collective PRESSURE. Thus mistakes from the 2 hotheads on the Spurs team, while not inevitable, were likely. Nani’s skill and movement was always likely to trouble BAE. Clearly Ferguson believed this and Redknapp hoped otherwise. Ferguson was proved correct.
Pressure has been the great theme of the season for United. It is the effort, the pressing in key areas, that has been their trademark this season rather than the dynamism of Ronaldo or the workrate of Tevez in the previous 2-3 seasons. This is Fletcher’s greatest strength as a player and explains why has developed such a conspicuous role in the team. Do you really believe that the record number of own goals this season has simply been by accident? No, it comes from the build-up of pressure which gets into the heads of opposition defenders, causing them to make mistakes they normally wouldn’t, combined with quality delivery from wide areas. Yes the deftness of Macheda’s touch was what created the goal, but it was Nani’s hard-running that was its more direct cause. This United team simply tires teams out on a regular basis. Not all the time, but often in games where they have to grind out the win.
The “two stupid challenges” were by the last line of defence. Past Assou-Ekoto Evra was through on goal
and Nani was running straight at goal when he decided a penalty would be easier.
It’s not like the penalties were for shirt-pulling at a corner, or something equally stupid – they were last-ditch tackles.
Another “what if:” What if the ref notices that King is forcing down Carrick’s shoulders? – would United have even needed a 2nd and 3rd goal?; What if Rafael was concentrating, and didn’t wander from his post? etc. etc. etc.
A team with stupid defenders makes bad tackles, a team with bad finishers misses easy chances, few games’ scores are certain if you wish basic facts out of existence.
Arguably, if we “take away two stupid challenges in the penalty area” United win, with Evra and Nani as goalscorers.
But as Willy G says, there’s no point in “what ifs”. If United hadn’t got their goals by penalties, they would have to have looked for them by other means – and we’ll never know how that would have panned out. Personally, I think they could’ve found them comfortably.
Utd have never been a first-half team, and yet people act surprised if they’re not leading by the 60minute mark. I’ve never understood it.
P.S This seems as good a place as any to say I love this site. I sadly know of nowhere else that does what you do.
You’d have my respect if only for avoiding the excessively sycophantic angle that Mourinho gets from the paper press in exchange for the good quotes. This was the only place I saw it said that Mourinho played basically his standard formation, and his players played well, rather than talk of a “tactical masterclass” backed up by zero evidence, with no mention of a player’s performance except for Messi.
I mention that game because for me it summed up everything I currently hate about the English football press – sycophancy and ignorance dressed up in hyperbole. Your site is a light in an extremely dark place, with only the Guardian as a moon to your sun. Keep fighting the good fight.
Thanks Dekker,
But I will take issue with you too about the Inter-Barca game. It was a tactical masterclass. Not based on the creation of some ingenious new formation, true. But commenting that only formations and the use of width and space between units is not the only kind of tactics. Mourinho drilled his players incredibly well on how to utilise the formation to exploit Barca’s deficiencies, turning their strengths (ball retention, wide-men cutting in to challenge full-backs’ concentration) and neutralised them, making the team seem predictable and get frustrated, and using his own side’s strengths (Maicon’s raids down the right, Eto’o’s pace, Sneijder’s vision and Milito’s workrate) to execute an excellent counter-attacking gameplan. (sorry for the excessively long sentence)
True, the English media likes to hail the execution of a good gameplan by foreign coaches because most pundits don’t understand them. Yes they are Mourinho sycophants in this regard. But still, you have to appreciate the man and his attention to detail. He had every Barca player and playing trend scouted and successfully counteracted them. That, my friend, is most definitely tactics. He is also a phenomenal motivator, but why separate the two in this instance of perfect harmony.
I don’t think King was forcing down Carrick’s shoulders. Carrick doesn’t even make an effort to get off the ground. Other than that, though, your points are sound; these “what ifs” are pointless.
I think bringing Crouch was a mistake as tottenham then had no pace threat up front which allowed united to push forward.
@ZonalMarking –
Sure, but take away Rafael wandering away from the near post and Utd win 1-0. And both of those challenges prevented solid scoring opportunities.
Also, after watching a replay of the first penalty, I think Bentley (if I correct on my id) was more at fault than Assou-Ekotto. He stood on the edge of the box and watched Evra make his quick run into the box without moving. Yet another reason why the hype of him as the new Beckham was ludicrous. And Dawson’s positioning on Nani’s run that resulted in the the second penalty was terrible. England are in trouble if he plays at the WC – he’s not nearly good enough to play against top-class attackers.
Whoops, forgot my name… Jonathan
To be fair, if Dawson goes it’s more to do with a lack of quality English centre halves than Dawson’s form.
When the choices are Dawson, Lescott and Upson it doesn’t take much to get picked. King’s inability to play too many games in a row rule him out and Sol Campbell’s age probably goes against him.
@Anonymous – Yes, but no-one is claiming it was a “comfortable point” for Spurs.
@ZonalMarking – I don’t know, I think it was a fairly comfortable victory accounting for the quality of the opposition. I don’t think you can simply look at the time of the goals. United were slightly on top in the first half and easily the better of the two teams in the second half and I don’t think the result reflected anything other than a professional display from United.
what feel about the united team is same. We do not need any more strikers. Just need a strong midfield player. I recon united suffered more this season only when the mid-filed was poor.
When they are in form or winning matches, they played 4-4-2 but Berba was dropped to collect and spray the ball. Its the combination of passes from Berba to Valencia and Nani resulted in all Rooney Headers and tapping. So, its very clear that we are missing this kind of player in the midfield and hope that SAF will bring one this summer.
Great analysis of the game – the only commentary I’ve seen correctly attributing United’s goals to Tottenham’s defensive lapses, particularly Bale’s failure to pick up Nani’s run.
As a Spurs fan, the result was disappointing, but this analysis shows that the margin was not as great as it looks, and Spurs can be proud of the tremendous progress they have made this season.
Agree 100%.
I think it was pointed out on RTE’s analysis that Rafael came off the post because Jonny Evans had left Pavlyuchenko open when he went to head the ball and missed. Rafael moved to cover the open Pavlyuchenko and was thus displaced when King got the header on target.
What I find most interesting was the centre midfield battle. Scholes was able to come deep and collect the ball from the defence continuously and gave United a great platform to attack from. Comparing Scholes movement and passing abilities to Mikel and Denilson who performed similar roles in the previous two matches shows maybe how Man Utd had such control of the game compared to Chelsea and Arsenal against Spurs.
The Chelsea game also saw Dawson win many headers over Drogba and thus limited one of Chelsea’s main attacking routes, especially under pressure. Man Utd had two different ways to deal with this, Berbatov was actually quite successful in the air and secondly United used the space of Old Trafford and the pace of Giggs, Nani and Valencia to actually play long balls over the heads of the defence to allow runs past them, thus limiting Dawson and Kings effect on the game.
I would also like to know if the pitch dimensions played a part in the limitations of Palacios and Huddlestone in midfield. Is White Hart Lane a tighter pitch (as it appears on tv) than Old Trafford and therefore does the space in OT force the Tottenham midfield to be better all round footballers? Just an idea.
Think you’re spot on about the way Dawson, in particular, prefers an aerial battle to a game with pace and movement. Look at Arsenal when Van Persie came on compared to when it was Bendtner up front on his own. Spurs looked more like conceding against Van Persie with his movement than Bendtner aerially.
Also a good point about Scholes. His passing range is better than Mikel and Denilson, so he can effectively launch attacks from deep. It’s similar to Pirlo playing the “quarterback” at Milan. Denilson and Mikel can’t do that.