Date: 21st January 2013 at 3:55pm
Written by:

Nemanja- a definite starter in Saturday

Not since the final day of the 1994/95 season has a draw of this nature felt like a defeat. We all remember that day, right? Swiftly moving on….

Going to White Hart Lane is a tough trip for any club – but history made United favourites due to an outstanding record, and the fact revenge was on the agenda after the 3-2 home defeat to Spurs back in September.

Sir Alex opted for a fairly narrow side with width coming from the full backs allowing Welbeck, Kagawa and Cleverley to wonder in little pockets of space.

Of those three mentioned it must be said that young Danny had an outstanding game. He showed great skill and pace leaving Tottenham defenders on their back-sides at times; yet it was his end product as always, which lacked.

Despite conceding a 93rd minute goal – I would put this down as the best defensive display of Manchester United’s season.

Again, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were colossal at the heart of the back four, with David De Gea proving his worth between the sticks.

There are very fine lines between success and failure in football; especially when you are a goalkeeper – and up until the 92nd minute our Spanish shot stopper was my pick for man of the match.

De Gea was commanding in the box and pulled off a string of uniquely fine saves – however the game ended with him lacking in strength to claim a ball in the air, leading to the equalizer.

For a goalkeeper, the 92 minutes of perfection was undone in that one moment which cost United two vital points.

I refuse to be overly critical of De Gea as he was immense until that point – but as we all know with goalkeepers, it is all about single moments.

Against Liverpool last week, Rio Ferdinand edged the man of the match choice ever so slightly over Nemanja Vidic – but this week it is the other way around.

Our Serbian captain showed why he remains the best central defender in the world and why keeping him fit is so important to the club.

He won everything in the air, he was quick across the floor and he threw himself in front of anything he could.

Nemanja Vidic did not deserve to be on the end of conceding a goal yesterday – both he and Rio Ferdinand rolled back the years and showed the Premier League the difference between good defenders and world class defenders.

At this moment it feels like 2 points dropped, but come May, this could be viewed as a vital point won – a point won by our centre halves.

To respond to me directly I am on Twitter: @NathonW

 

One response to “MAN OF THE MATCH – SPURS (A)”

  1. Jon Wilmot says:

    You have to feel for Evans – he’s been excellent this season but Sir Alex will struggle to see past Vidic and Rio for the big games now. What’s impressed me most is their ability to deal with short, nippy strikers – Suarez and Defoe. Their strength in the air is obvious but they have been equally impressive on the ground. To think Rio has been overlooked for England for Phil Jagielka is laughable.