Man Utd v Tottenham - 12:45 Sat 8th Aug

[Stevencc]

A nice juicy tie to kick things off.

Spurs are actually due to play another friendly today (Wednesday) while United have already wrapped up the pre-season and returned home so we should have the fitness edge.

I'm slightly concerned that Van Gaal will persist with Blind at centre back, Depay as the number ten and Mata as the right winger in a 4411.

Narrow United win or a draw.

 

[smat]

I was going to say I can't wait for this, but then I remembered I've got guests coming to stay and won't be watching it. Or any other game.

1-1.

 

[SALTIRE]

Went for 3 - 1 Manoo.

 

[Christian Slater]

Rooney and Kane score in a 1-1 bore.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

2-2. United will surrender a 2-1 lead late on.

 

[Nath]

I'd like to see Mata play in his favoured position for this one. Towards the end of last season he was effective in a wider role, however behind a striker is where he can do the most damage. If the Pedro deal is wrapped up in time, it'd be nice to see him play instead of Young.

Rooney
Young - Mata - Depay
Schweinstager - Schneiderlin/Carrick
Shaw - Jones - Smalling - Darmain
De Gea
​

That would be my preferred starting line-up. I fancy us to beat Spurs comfortably. They've failed to strengthen much over the summer.

3-1, United.

 

[G-Dragon]

United 2 - 0 Spurs. United will be too strong for them at home.

 

[SALTIRE]

Indeed. Got Manoo at -1 to beat Spurs especially with the latter's two games through the week. Think it will be comfortable for the sods.

 

[Whitechapel]

I'm going with a 4-0 win to Man Utd.

 

[Jackinky]

I'm going for a tasty 2-2.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

LVG confirms that LVG won't start against Spurs.

 

[smat]

No surprise there really.

More newsworthy is the fact that De Gea won't play. Surely he's off then?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

 

[danbylfc]

Kane to seal his move to united with a brace 1-2

 

[Christian Slater]

What a shambles. You can't thump your chest all summer at Madrid and then fold the day before we play. Now Johnstone, a player we were about to loan to Preston, is likely to start. An inexperienced 'keeper behind a crap defence. The preperation is amatuer.

 

[SALTIRE]

Why would Johnstone start when you bought Romero? I assume Valdes is persona non grata so won't be starting.

 

[Christian Slater]

He might but he'sonly just arrived. If van Gaal is true to form then he'll go with Sam.

 

[Stevencc]

De Gea doesn't seem the type to pull a Tevez/Sterling/Di Maria and refuse to play or train so I'm guessing either Van Gaal is being honest about protecting De Gea after some of the criticism he has received with regards to his mental state or De Gea to Real is done deal and LVG wants to give another keeper some game time.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

Bit of a risk to start Johnstone if true, especially after the bad start they made last season.

Went for 2-0 United in the predictor so I'll stick with that for now.

 

[PatchLatics]

Prediction:
Manchester United are usually slow starters to new campaigns. This is why I think the match will finish 1-1. Rooney is United's main attack (If Van Gaal plays him there) but as we all know Rooney always starts the season overweight and isn't totally match fit. Blind at centre back is probably the choice if Van Gaal doesn't want a pairing of Smalling and Jones. I still don't rate Blind as a player. Slow, slow thinker, immobile and if he plays at centre back a mistake or two will come out of his suspect positioning. In my opinion Schneiderlin is Man Utd's best acquisition this summer and I think it will be a midfield pairing of him and United's most important player within the last few years - Carrick. These two will have to do a job and stop the ball being supplied to Harry Kane and keep Eriksen quiet so Man Utd's leaky defence doesn't get breached. If they do this I think United will have enough power to get a goal.

Romero is likely to play in goal surely and what I have seen of him (or what little I have seen of him) is wouldn't fill me with great confidence especially as fans have now become used to David De Gea's excellent ariel ability and calmness at the back. He in my opinion has a shaky defence so can see some blunders and communication errors if he indeed does start.

Depay outside of the box finish from a Mata pass in the first half.
Harry Kane free header from poor defending by Blind/Smalling's CB partner.
Spurs to hit the woodwork with Eriksen.
Lloris to save Spurs.
Schneiderlin/Bentileb/Rose certain bookings if start.
Schneiderlin Man of the Match.

1-1.

 

[mistermagic]

Reckon Spurs' dealings in the transfer market will turn out alright. They got rid of most of the deadwood (Capoue, Chiriches and, erm, Stambouli) and bought decent players Alderweireld, Trippier and Wimmer. I honestly hope Trippier has a good season and confirms his status as one of the brightest prospects in his position.

2 hours to kick-off. United lost the opening game last season and I don't see this being plain sailing. 2-2.

 

[Stevencc]

Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Young, Depay, Mata, Rooney

 

[silvergull]

The amount of money United have spent in the past 2 years, how the hell do they go i to the season with Romero Blind Smalling and Young all starters?! United fans concerned by this?

Kane could year that back line apart. I thought Herrera was second to only De Gea last season. He clearly improved he way United played last year. Also odd to see mata on the wing and depay up front.

 

[Mr. Scruff]

Because Smalling is great.

Im not crazy about Blind at cb but at least Smallings physicality should compensate for his lack of pace and height. It might just work. Him and Jones would have been awful though.

As for Herrera every United fan is asking the same thing. We will again have to wait for injuries so Van gaal can pick his best team.

He should clearly be the third midfielder with depay out wide and Young dropping to the bench.

It seems we will sign Pedro so Herrera or not we should be much better and I think we need to make at least that signing to avoid a scrap for fourth again.

 

[Stevencc]

Vorm
Walker Alderwireld Vertonghen Davies
Dier Bentaleb
Dembele Eriksen Chadli
Kane
​

Man United will win by over 3 goals.

What makes you say that? Kane and Eriksen vs Smalling and Blind (particularly Blind) is a worry for United and your defence, Walker aside, is strong. Not sure what Dier is doing in midfield though.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

'Daley Blind won just 45% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last season.'

 

[Stevencc]

'Daley Blind won just 45% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last season.'

And Kane is pretty handy with his noggin.

 

[SALTIRE]

Come on Spuds!!!!!!!!

 

[Stevencc]

With Dier playing where he is I think we're effectively playing 541 with him probably man marking Mata. Neither Dembele or Eriksen do as well out wide and tend to drop in central so we'll show little to no width on one side of the pitch. I doubt Kane will see the ball much.

I hope you are right there!

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Romero not played at all for United or at all competitively in 2015.