Spurs Demolish United - Was the Tactical Match Preview Accurate?

I suggested a Spurs win 2-0 or 2-1, I said Spurs could score early and late in Man Us vulnerable times and I suggested Dalot and Mazraoui could have trouble, both were booked within 37 minutes.

Manchester United 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur: A Complete Demolition Job at Old Trafford

Well, what a day for Tottenham fans. 

We went to Old Trafford, usually a place of trepidation for any club and absolutely dismantled Manchester United in their own backyard. 

It’s not just the scoreline of 3-0 that stands out, it’s the sheer dominance we showed from start to finish.

A Dream Start

The game couldn’t have started any better. 

Within the first two minutes, Micky van de Ven, who was outstanding all game, showed the attacking prowess that made him such an exciting summer signing last season. 

He surged forward from deep in our own half, brushing off United’s attempts to halt him and sent a perfect low cross to Brennan Johnson. 

The fellow new boy kept his composure to tap in for the first Spurs goal, his 4th of the season, 4 in the last 4 games and we were up 1-0 almost before United fans had even settled into their seats.

Dominating the Midfield

The midfield battle was key and we won it comprehensively. 

With James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur pulling the strings, United couldn’t get a foothold in the game. 

We controlled possession with 61% of the ball and our movement was too much for Erik ten Hag’s side. Even €50.00m United summer signing from PSG, Manuel Ugarte, making his Premier League starting debut, couldn’t disrupt our rhythm.

Maddison was instrumental in everything we did, demanding the ball, driving forward and drawing fouls, one of which led to Bruno Fernandes’ sending off. 

United’s captain was shown a straight red card just before halftime for a reckless knee-high challenge on Maddison. 

From that point on, it felt inevitable we’d secure the points.

Ruthless Second Half

The second half started perfectly, with Dejan Kulusevski firing home within two minutes of the restart. 

The Swede latched onto an inch-perfect cross from James Maddison and volleyed it in off the inside of the post. What a finish. 

The United players looked shell-shocked. At 2-0, the game felt beyond them, especially with ten men.

United tried to rally, with Alejandro Garnacho and Matthijs de Ligt both going close, but they were half-chances at best. 

Andre Onana, who was arguably United’s best player on the day, made a couple of great saves to prevent us from running up the scoreline even more.

But the cherry on top came in the 77th minute. 

A corner from Lucas Bergvall, who’d only just come on for Timo Werner, found its way to Pape Matar Sarr, who nodded it down for Dominic Solanke to poke home from close range. 3-0. Solanke's third goal of the season, scoring for the third game in a row.

Absolute scenes in the away end!

Back-to-Back Wins at Old Trafford

What’s more satisfying is that this was not a smash-and-grab performance. 

We outclassed them in every department. 

The stats tell the story: 24 shots to their 11, 10 on target compared to their 2 and an xG of 4.67 shows that we could have scored even more. 

United’s woes are deepening under Ten Hag and it’s great to see that Spurs are taking advantage.

A Bright Future Under Ange

It’s early days in Ange Postecoglou’s reign still, but performances like this make you believe that we’re building something special. 

We’re up to eighth now, just three points behind Chelsea in fourth playing football that is exciting, dynamic and forward-thinking. 

Spurs fans have been waiting a long time for a team that plays with this kind of verve and purpose. 

Ange’s tactics and management style are getting the best out of the players and that’s what we all want.

Standout Performances

• Micky van de Ven: A rock at the back and an attacking force going forward. His 70-yard sprint to set up the first goal was a thing of beauty - and the second time this season!
• James Maddison: Dictated the tempo and constantly probed at United’s fragile defence. His creativity and drive were pivotal.
• Dominic Solanke: Showed his predator’s instinct to score our third and lead the line superbly in Son’s absence.
• Dejan Kulusevski: Constantly involved, causing United’s defence no end of trouble. His goal was a lovely finish and capped a fantastic all-round display.

The THBN Wrap Up

The message from today is clear: Spurs are a team on the up and United are in disarray. But we can’t get ahead of ourselves, consistency is key and we need to build on this result in the coming weeks. 

If we keep playing like this, though, there’s no reason we can’t push for that top-four spot and give ourselves a real shot at silverware this season.

On a final note, let’s savour this victory. 

It’s not every day you see Spurs demolish United 3-0 at Old Trafford. 

For those of us who’ve seen some difficult trips to this ground in the past, today was a sweet, sweet afternoon. Were you watching Mr Ferguson!

Comparison of Match Preview and Actual Match

You can find the Man U v Spurs match preview detailing United weaknesses and how Ange could exploit them at the link provided.

1. Match Result and Outcome:

• Preview Expectation: The preview predicted a close contest, with Tottenham having a good chance of getting a result, possibly a 2-1 win or a high-scoring draw like 2-2.
• Actual Outcome: Tottenham won convincingly with a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, exceeding the expectation of a narrow win or draw, but United did go down to 10 men in the first-half.
• Analysis: The preview correctly anticipated a competitive match but did not foresee the extent of Tottenham’s dominance, which led to a comprehensive victory. The final scoreline of 3-0 highlights how Spurs outperformed even the most optimistic predictions.

2. Tactical Dynamics and Key Battles:

• Preview Focus:
  • Midfield Control: Emphasis on James Maddison’s ability to link play and exploit spaces left by United’s midfield.
  • Spurs’ High Press: Predicted that Tottenham would employ a high press and look to disrupt United’s build-up.
  • United’s Vulnerability to Counters: Highlighted United’s weaknesses in transition and the potential for Spurs to exploit these with quick counter-attacks.
• Actual Match:
  • The midfield battle was indeed pivotal, with Maddison playing a key role in controlling the game until his injury. United struggled to deal with Tottenham’s pressing and dynamic midfield trio.
  • Spurs effectively executed a high press, forcing United into mistakes. This was evident in the numerous turnovers and the early goal.
  • United’s vulnerability to counters was exposed multiple times, with Spurs scoring early and then adding two more in the second half by exploiting defensive gaps.
• Analysis: The preview accurately identified the key tactical elements that defined the match. Tottenham’s midfield control, pressing and exploitation of United’s defensive lapses played out as predicted.

3. Expected Performance from Key Players:

• Preview Focus:
  • Expected strong performances from James Maddison, Son Heung-min, and Brennan Johnson to lead the attacking line.
  • Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were highlighted as key players for United, with Fernandes’ role in midfield being particularly important.
• Actual Performance:
  • Spurs: Brennan Johnson and James Maddison were influential in the early stages, with Johnson scoring the first goal. Maddison’s creativity until his injury was instrumental in dictating play. Son didn't play.
  • United: Bruno Fernandes was sent off before halftime for a reckless challenge, drastically reducing his impact on the match and leaving United with no creative outlet.
• Analysis: The preview correctly pointed out the key players, but Fernandes’ red card was unexpected and played a significant role in the match’s outcome. This reduced United’s midfield presence and allowed Spurs to dominate even more.

4. Defensive and Set-Piece Vulnerabilities:

• Preview Focus: Predicted that United’s backline, especially the centre-back partnership of Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt, would struggle against Spurs’ pace and fluidity in attack. Set-piece deficiencies were also mentioned as a potential area to exploit.
• Actual Performance:
  • United’s defence struggled to cope with Tottenham’s attacking movement. All three goals exposed different defensive lapses, with Martínez and de Ligt often caught out of position.
  • Dominic Solanke’s goal from a set-piece situation highlighted United’s weakness in defending set-pieces, as the preview suggested.
• Analysis: The defensive vulnerabilities of United’s centre-backs and their inability to handle set-pieces were accurately predicted. Tottenham’s goals came from open play and set-pieces, demonstrating their exploitation of these weaknesses.

5. Tactical Report for Ange Postecoglou:

• Preview Focus:
  • High Press on Onana: Suggested that Spurs should apply pressure on André Onana, who can be prone to errors under pressure.
  • Exploiting Full-Backs and Half-Spaces: Targeting Dalot’s flank and the right half-space to pull Martínez out of position and create goal-scoring opportunities.
• Actual Execution:
  • Spurs did press Onana and United’s defence effectively, forcing rushed clearances and turnovers.
  • Tottenham’s attackers frequently targeted Dalot’s side, with Johnson and Maddison operating in those spaces, stretching United’s defence and creating scoring chances.
• Analysis: The preview was spot-on with its tactical advice. Postecoglou’s Spurs executed a high press and targeted United’s defensive weak points with great success.

6. Specific Match Strategies:

• Preview Focus:
  • Predicted that Spurs would look to exploit early vulnerabilities in United’s defensive organisation and aim to score early and then press home their advantage in the second half when United would likely push forward and leave gaps.
• Actual Match Events:
  • Spurs scored early, with Johnson’s goal in the 2nd minute. The second and third goals came early and late in the second half, which fits the preview’s prediction of Tottenham exploiting United’s fatigue and desperation as the game progressed.
• Analysis: The match followed the script laid out in the preview regarding scoring patterns and game strategy, with Spurs taking advantage of United’s defensive lapses at optimal times.

Overall Analysis of Accuracy:

The preview provided an excellent tactical breakdown and prediction of the match. 

It correctly anticipated the tactical themes, the influence of key players and the vulnerabilities of United’s defence. 

Although the exact scoreline of 3-0 was not predicted, the preview’s emphasis on Tottenham’s potential to exploit United’s weaknesses and secure a positive result was fully validated by the match’s outcome.

The only significant discrepancy was the extent of Tottenham’s dominance, as the preview anticipated a more balanced contest. 

In reality, Spurs were far superior and United’s disjointed performance, compounded by Fernandes’ red card, made it a one-sided affair.

Overall, the preview’s tactical insights and predictions were highly accurate and aligned closely with the actual events and outcome of the match.

COYS