This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full League Record of Spurs v Man Utd

Prem          Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home           7   1   2   4    8-10    5
Away           6   0   1   5    2-11    1
=========================================
Total (Prem)  13   1   3   9   10-21    6
=========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  51  20  19  12   89 -64  63
Away (Div 1)  51   9   9  33   55 -101 28
=========================================
Total(Div 1) 102  29  28  45  144 -165 91
=========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   4   2   1   1   10 - 3   5
Away (Div 2)   4   1   2   1    3 - 3   4
=========================================
Total(Div 2)   8   3   3   2   13 - 6   9
=========================================
Total (Prem)  13   1   3   9   10-21    6
Total (Div 1) 102 29  28  45  144-165  91
Total (Div 2)  8   3   3   2   13 - 6   9
=========================================
Grand Total   123 33  34  56  167-192 106
=========================================

So, after nine months, it comes down to a horrible choice that leaves us in a cleft stick. If we win, then Arsenal might win the championship but if we lose, that lot have again won the championship. Only three teams have won the Premier League so far since it was formed at the beginning of the 1992-93 season. Blackburn Rovers won it once and Arsenal won last season. On the other hand, if we win, we might have a top ten finish.

What is there left to say about Manchester United? They have dominated British football far more than any other club has ever achieved other than, perhaps, Liverpool in the 1980s. When Huddersfield Town and Arsenal dominated the 1920s and 1930s, football was not the stress filled business it has since become in the affluent 1990s. Manchester United have had great teams in the past but none were as dominant as today's squad. Purists may argue that Busby's teams placed a far greater emphasis on entertainment than Ferguson's teams have but Busby's teams did not play in a game dominated by tactical thought.

Personally, I think Busby's teams had the better individuals, particularly so in respect of Best, Law and Charlton, and to a lesser extent, Crerand. There was no more exciting sight than seeing a Charlton thunderbolt threatening to demolish the opposition's goal as it rocketed past a statuesque goalkeeper. Nor was there anyone so excited to score as Dennis Law except for one goal he scored for Manchester City against Manchester United in the spring of 1974 .... Best could have been the greatest player in the world yet threw it all away on birds and booze.

For younger readers of this preview, it must seem inconceivable there was ever a time when Manchester United were *NOT* the better team in the Greater Manchester area. But there was a time when Manchester United set up various unwanted records and came within a single point of being relegated to the old Third Division (North), in season 1933-34. But within two seasons they were back in the top flight and have remained there ever since, apart from one season in the mid-70s. Much of the credit for that must be attributed to Busby. When Busby was appointed manager in 1945, Old Trafford did not even exist as the German blitz on Manchester had demolished the old structure. It took three years of argument with the planners before Manchester United could return home to Old Trafford. No one who remembers Old Trafford from the dark days of the late 1940s would recognise the ground today.

A glance at the statistics above will tell a story of dominance by Manchester United. Spurs have only won 10 games at Old Trafford. They surely will not add to this on Sunday, much as I would love to see them do so, even if the anonymous team from the other end of the Seven Sisters Road won the championship in the process. There is too much riding on this fixture from a Manchester United point of view for any other result to be considered. Indeed, if this was horse racing and Spurs were the surprise winners, there would undoubtedly be a stewards enquiry!!!

So, the only speculation possible is the margin by which Spurs will lose. Much will depend on who the back four are and how fragile Walker's confidence in goal is on the day. Our back four will face a stern examination of their credentials and will do well to restrict the home side to two late goals. Certainly, I will be very surprised if Spurs can score one goal given the hapless pair we are currently playing up front! It would be comical if Spurs were to produce their best performance of the season and Armstrong was to be the hero of the hour by scoring the winning goal ..... but six pink pigs flying in Manchester United's latest playing strip are more likely to be seen flying over Old Trafford than for any goals to be scored by any of Tottenham's players ....

At least, we are in much better shape than we were this time last year ..... Something that can sustain us until we begin the new season in August!

Cheers, Brian

· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Follow @spursodyssey