Manchester United kick off the new season by hosting Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow afternoon. Supporters will be eager to see the new signings and will be hoping for a similar result and performance that saw tomorrow’s opponents blown away 3-0 at Old Trafford last March.
Three of our writers have offered their predictions and how they think the side will line-up for tomorrow’s match.
Reginaldo Rosario
The Premier League is finally back, and it kicks off with a bang, with United and Tottenham Hotspur opening proceedings at Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal will be hoping his side will be ready and firing on all cylinders and three points are essential in order to put pressure on United’s title rivals from the get go.
However, the uncertainty surrounding David de Gea in the build-up to the start of the season has dominated headlines, and with the Spaniard being dropped by van Gaal due to the uncertainty surrounding his future, you can’t help but feel worried about the defence and how they’ll perform without the solidity of De Gea behind them.
But Spurs also have problems of their own, having only flown back to London on Thursday afternoon after being stuck in Munich after their participation in the Audi Cup. Fatigue will be a major issue for them, and that’s why United will get all three points, albeit after coming from a goal down.
Predicted Score: Manchester United 2 (Memphis, Rooney) Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Kane)
Kane Greenaway
Like everyone else I cannot wait for the new season to begin, and I’m confident that United will begin it in more convincing fashion than they did twelve months ago. Arguably they take on more formidable opposition in Tottenham Hotspur than Swansea City, whom they faced on the opening day of 2014/15, but Louis van Gaal and his team will be bettered prepared to earn three points and I have every faith that they will complete the job.
There is an unsettled feel to the squad with Angel Di Maria departing and David de Gea looking likely to do the same in the near future. I’m sure Louis van Gaal had hoped to have his squad as he would have liked before the start of the season and avoid the transition that the team undertook right up until deadline day last summer.
This may well have an effect on the team’s performance tomorrow but I think there is enough class there to win the match although it will be difficult. Tottenham are a decent side but, Harry Kane aside, they offer little inspiration and United should have enough to see them off. It will be interesting to see how the new signings fit in and what they offer tomorrow afternoon.
Predicted Score: Manchester United 2 (Rooney, Mata) Tottenham Hotspur 0
James Browning
Well, we’ve made it through a rather arduous summer, helped in part by the Women’s World Cup, which I thought was great to watch! However, nothing compares to seeing the boys in red week in, week out!
I was at Old Trafford this year for our home game against Spurs and the first half was the best I saw us play all season, with Smalling a particular standout in my opinion – and I’m predicting more of the same.
Unlike Kane above me there, I think the dressing room will be calmer with di Maria out of the way – having unhappy players causes disruption. The players are all tight-knit, with the new boys fitting in well already, from what we’ve seen.
My main worry is the centre-back pairing. I think Jones-Blind would struggle to deal with Kane’s intelligent runs, but throw Smalling in the mix and the concentration is suddenly a lot better; it’ll be interesting to see what van Gaal gives us.
Attacking-wise, we’re completely sound. I fully expect Mata, Rooney and Memphis to hit the ground running and Luke Shaw’s overlapping runs will be key.
Predicted Score: Manchester United 3 (Rooney, Memphis, Mata) Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Kane)
