Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United: View from the oppo

Manchester United travel to under fire Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet for the 179th time on Sunday, as United look to heap more misery on under boss André Villas-Boas, following Spurs’ demolition against Manchester City last weekend. The North London club are currently 9th in the table and despite a good start to the season, Villas Boas finds himself on the back of two defeats and the third worst goal scoring record in the league.

Only Crystal Palace and Sunderland, who occupy the bottom two spots, have scored less goals this season. When you compare Spurs’ 9 to City’s 34 or Arsenal’s 24, he highlights just how much they’ve struggled up top this term. United will be hopeful to go one better than last season, when David De Gea’s weak punch resulted in a last minute equaliser.

David Moyes will be full of confidence following the excellent 5-0 away in Leverkusen this week and will be looking to close the gap at the top following a disappointing performance and result against Cardiff City last weekend. Both Robin van Persie and Nemanja Vidic are both expected to return to action following injuries that have kept them out of the last two fixtures.

We have another great view from the opposition with Jo Chilton, a Spurs season ticket holder. You can follow Jo on Twitter @Chipchop17‎. Here we discuss a top five without United, life after Gareth Bale and Spurs legend – Danny Blanchflower.

1) So what’s happening at Tottenham after Sunday’s thumping? Crisis?
I wouldn’t call it a crisis. With the exception of the City game we have been pretty solid at the back, whilst not having our first choice left back and letting a perfectly good one go out on loan. Going forward we do have massive problems, I’d go as far as to say that we’ve been awful. We have no creativity and no dynamism in our movement making it very difficult to break teams down.

2) Is AVB the right man for the job and if so, where will you finish this season with him in charge?
If you’d asked me that at the start of the season I would have said yes, now I’m not sure he is long term. That said I think that it would be foolish to get rid of him at this stage so I’d say he will have until the end of the season. The next week is critical because after we play you we have Fulham away and Sunderland away and we need 3 points from both those games.

3) Roberto Soldado has been criticised since his move from Valencia. What have you made if him so far and will he eventually make a good signing?
It’s obvious that I don’t watch a lot of Spanish football because I have no idea how he scored so many goals in La Liga! He looks like he can finish nicely but he doesn’t do anything else. A lot of people are telling me that he’s the type of player who gets on the end of crosses and that our system of inverted wingers doesn’t suit, but I think that he doesn’t have the necessary combativeness for the Premier League. The one thing he’s got going for him is that he isn’t Defoe.

4) Would you take Gareth Bale back instead of all the signings you made or will they eventually click?
I’m probably going to get killed for this but I would go for Bale. Watching a player like him play was fantastic, I wish he could have realised his potential at Spurs. I hope that the new signings click but when you sign six new players in one window it’s unlikely that they will all work out.

5) What have you made of United this season and in particular the 5-0 win on Wednesday?
If Moyes finds a way of getting Kagawa, RVP and Rooney playing well, together, you’ll do well. The problem is I don’t think he can. The rest of the team has serious problems, Carrick and another from Fellaini, old man Giggs or Jones is not what I would call Man United midfield. At the back Rio and Vidic are past there best and in my opinion the back ups aren’t up to it.

6) How will you lineup on Sunday and do you have a prediction?
I don’t have a clue how they’ll line up. I don’t think AVB knows his best team. If I was him I would go for:
Lloris
Walker
Dawson
Chiriches
Vertonghan
Sandro
Dembele
Lamela
Sigurdsson
Townsend
Adebayor

1-0 Spurs, stop laughing.

7) If you could take one united player to Spurs who would it be?
I despise Rooney and RVP so I’ll take Kagawa . Shinji in behind Adebayor that’s something else!

8) Who is the greatest Spurs player to ever wear the shirt and why?
Danny Blanchflower was a midfield playmaker and the talisman of our great double winning side. His grace and style on the pitch came to symbolise the Tottenham way.

9) How do you think the top five will look in May?
1. City
2. Arsenal
3. Chelsea
4. Spurs
5. Liverpool

Haha!

10) Do you have any promising youth players coming through the ranks we should look out for?
Well, Tom Carroll is currently top of the championship with QPR. He’s been injured for quite a lot of the season but will be a good player.