Preview Panel - Manchester United

Welcome to our latest Preview Panel as we prepare for the trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday (4.30pm).

Introducing the panel...

Paul Robinson - One of the most popular players of the modern era, goalkeeper ‘Robbo’ joined us from Leeds United in the summer of 2004, and within months, was England’s number one. He lifted the League Cup in 2008 and made 175 appearances for us between 2004-08. He also famously scored a goal against Watford in March, 2007. He earned 41 caps for England. Now a regular across a number of media platforms, Paul was a pundit with Premier Sports for Thursday’s Europa League play-off win against Maccabi Haifa.

Ben Haines - Spurs fan, Creative Director at 90min and a regular on Five Live, Ben is a familiar face to all Spurs fans in his role as presenter on our popular matchday show N17 Live.

James Ducker - James knows United inside-out in his role as Northern Football Correspondent for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.

What have you made of United so far this season?

Robbo: “They’ve made an indifferent start. I thought they were poor at home to Palace (lost 3-1) and to concede three goals at home is very unlike them. You look at the performance at Brighton last weekend, okay, they won (3-2), but they still conceded goals. They were better back at Brighton in the League Cup (won 3-0) in midweek, but I’ve not been convinced by their form in the Premier League. I think it’s an excellent time to play them.”

Ben: “I think they are such a mixed bag. I always think with United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there will always be the best bits of having a legend in charge, in that he’s definitely sorted out mentality, attitude, but the issue is there’s also a little bit of a question around quality, and tactics, in terms of what is their philosophy? What is their structure? Their shape? And consistency - they will perform brilliantly in a big game, then equally, as they almost did against Brighton last week, drop points where they shouldn’t.”

What is the key to this game?

Robbo: “I think it’s about stopping United’s attacking threat and then you look at the players we have now in the final third, the options... Jose has used the players cleverly this week, rotated the squad and he’s got minutes under their belts. I honestly think, in the short term, it’s a bit of an advantage to be playing so many matches. I was there for the match against Maccabi Haifa on Thursday and the players look fit, they look strong and actually, they are getting back to full fitness by playing games. I make Spurs the favourites.”

Ben: “The biggest thing will be that belief in midfield. When United came to us first after the restart (1-1 in June), I thought we held them at bay, and we played very well in terms of structure and organisation. As Jose has said, the game isn’t out of control just because you haven’t got the ball, and everything felt very much in control. Having Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in there now with that solidity and calmness, that’s important, the form Tanguy Ndombele and Gio Lo Celso are in, if we win that midfield battle it gives us the platform to go on and win the game. I do feel it will be different at Old Trafford this time around.”

Memories of Old Trafford...

Robbo: “I have one main memory, and that’s the Pedro Mendes goal that never was (Pedro ‘scored’ from half-way as Roy Carroll spilled his shot over the line, but the ‘goal’ wasn’t awarded in a 0-0 draw) back in January, 2005. Today, we’d never see anything like that with goal-line technology and VAR. To this day, I remember it as clear as a bell. I could see it had gone over the line from the other end of the field! That’s my biggest memory of going to Old Trafford with Spurs. It was a fortress for United back then. Let’s just say I enjoyed playing for England at Old Trafford a bit more during my time!”

Ben: “Instantly, a worst memory. Pedro Mendes, every time. The look on Roy Carroll’s face. He was like a kid who has just smashed his mum’s best china and she’d caught him trying to brush it under the carpet. It was just incredible. Actually, I have two. The other memory was 2012/13, we won 3-2, the day Gareth flew past Rio Ferdinand, and I just thought ‘we’re not scared of United’. I used to go there thinking if we got a draw, it would be brilliant. I don’t feel that way now, and that’s a lovely feeling!”

From the Red corner...

What have you made of United so far this season?
James: "They have been poor, there is no other way of spinning it. They were caught cold during their opening 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford but it was still alarming to see the amount of times they conceded possession cheaply and their susceptibility to Palace's speed and aggression on the counter attack. Brighton were also much the better team last Saturday but paid the price for their profligacy. They hit the woodwork five times - the most any team has done in a single Premier League match since Opta started recording such statistics in 2003. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself admitted the 3-2 win was undeserved. There was a response of sorts back at the Amex Stadium in midweek when they won 3-0 in the Carabao Cup, but Brighton made nine changes."

What will be key to winning this game?
James: "Tottenham have the pace, poise and cutting edge up front to break quickly and run at United's defence, which has struggled so far and needs more protection from the midfield. I suspect we will see more and more teams trying to isolate Vincent Lindelof or Harry Maguire this season because neither are comfortable being run at one on one. In that respect, I wouldn't be surprised if Eric Bailly comes in for Lindelof because he offers more speed and aggression, although he can be rash so Solskjaer has a lot to weigh up there. United's front three have yet to get going - Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial have both looked very subdued - but Marcus Rashford did score a fine solo goal against Brighton."

Who should we look out for?
James: "Bruno Fernandes is the player who makes United tick but Palace did an excellent job of neutralising the Portugal midfielder and United can look short of imagination if Fernandes is off his game or well shackled. The front three have the potential to conjure something and Greenwood, like Harry Kane, has that special knack of taking his shot early so goalkeepers can't set while still being able to generate great power and accuracy. Give him space in and around the penalty area and he will hurt you. Paul Pogba scored a free-kick against Brighton in the League Cup but he doesn't look comfortable in a deeper midfield role and needs to start delivering consistently. His 'pre-season' was disrupted after he contracted coronavirus, though, and he's looked short of match fitness. United have had a very difficult transfer window but the squad urgently requires quality reinforcements."