· Brian Judson's Preview
· Last Year's Game -
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 7 2001-2
Last Six Premiership results:-
Man Utd
Man Utd 1 0 West Brom
Chelsea 2 2 Man Utd
S'derland 1 1 Man Utd
Man Utd 1 0 Middlesbrough
Man Utd 0 1 Bolton
Leeds 1 0 Man Utd
Spurs
Everton 2 2 Spurs
Spurs 1 0 Aston Villa
Charlton 0 1 Spurs
Spurs 2 1 Southampton
Fulham 3 2 Spurs
Spurs 3 2 West Ham
Pos. Pl. W. D. L. F-A. GD Pts
2 Spurs 6 4 1 1 11-8 4 13
10 Man Utd 6 2 2 2 5-5 0 8
There can't be a better time to play Man Utd than now, can there? They have lost their last two league games, and have three of their top midfield players missing (Keane, Scholes, Butt), along with Ruud Van Nistelrooy being doubtful. Well, no - that does still give them Veron, Beckham and Giggs available, and Forlan broke his duck at last in their Champions League game, albeit with a penalty kick.
Sadly, Spurs injury decimation goes on. Taricco, Perry, Gardner and Ziege have been added to the injury list. Perry will definitely miss out, whilst the others should be regarded as doubtful. I understand that Dean Richards will play despite a continuing shoulder problem. Steve Carr (hamstring), Ledley King (hip), Neil Sullivan (broken thumb), Alton Thelwell (groin) and midfield quintet Darren Anderton (knee), Gus Poyet (knee), Stephen Clemence (Achilles), Steffen Freund (hamstring) and Tim Sherwood (knee) are all definitely missing. The club have denied the rumours that Sherwood will be going to Portsmouth, although they admit the interest exists. Sherwood has not played any competitiive football for Spurs this season.
As you can see in Brian's preview, Spurs have never won a Premiership game at Old Trafford, and have a dismal away record there. Yet, when was the last time we went to this ground five points above the hosts, knowing that even if we lost, we would stay above them?
I'll guess at a Spurs side in a 3-5-2 as follows:- Keller; Richards, Doherty, Thatcher; Davies, Bunjevcevic, Redknapp, Acimovic, Etherington; Sheringham, Keane, with subs Hirschfeld; Gardner, Ziege, Iversen, Ferdinand. You never know which of the so-called doubtfuls might start the game unexpectedly.
To win would be a fantasy, and the best I can hope for is a draw. I'll go for a 2-2.
