Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United: Five Talking Points
Rooney is United’s savior yet again
Even with the arrival of Robin Van Persie, Rooney showed just why he is their most influential attacker with two goals that took his goal tally to 10 for the season. His two goals also took him into 5th place on the list of All-time Leading goal scorers in the Premier, League, past Robbie Fowler. And it was a Fowler-esque finish that got him there, as a ricochet off Walker landed in his path and Rooney was there, alert as ever, to pounce on the loose ball.
His second was a penalty, which he calmly slotted right down the middle as the pressure was mounting on him and ensured that he had sole custody of the fifth spot and is now just 4 behind Lampard in fourth. Although, he scored two goals, he showed yet again that there is more to him, than just goals, as he had almost thrice the amount of touches as Spurs striker Soldado and there were only three players on the park, who had touched the ball, more than the English forward. His form, will be crucial for Moyes and United as they looks ahead to a tough couple of games in the coming week.
United lacked any creativity from the middle of the park
After a sublime display two days before his 40th birthday, Ryan Giggs wasn’t even in the squad for the game and with Carrick already injured, it meant Phil Jones once again deputized in central midfield, this time, alongside Tom Cleverley. Before the start of the game, Moyes would have been tempted to play with Fellaini and Jones, to combat the physicality of the Spurs midfield, but the Scotsman didn’t take that risk.
For all his industry and his ability to put his foot in, Phil Jones isn’t the player who is capable of creating chances. In the game, he was defensively solid, making 3 tackles, clearances and interceptions each, and was influential in helping the attack, whenever possible and created the chance which lead the first equalizer. Whilst Jones was influential, Cleverley on the other hand, the man tasked with the responsibility of creating chances, was almost non-existent. After a disappointing performance, he must be starting to think that his days at the club are numbered. After all, for all of his promise, all he did, for most of the game was pass sideways and backwards and on a few occasions, was caught on the ball. Although United got down the wings, in the center of the park, they lacked any real creativity and Moyes must be hoping for the return of either Giggs or Carrick, before too long as the fixtures start coming thick and fast.
Both managers can take plenty of heart from the performance
At the start of the game, there were more than a few Spurs fans, calling for AVB’s head. And a defeat here would have heaped more pressure on the Portuguese manager, and as difficult as it is, to fathom, a loss here might have even cost him his job. For Moyes on the other hand, his side came into this fixture unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions and fresh from a thrashing of Leverkusen in midweek. Whilst defeat might not have meant the end of the world for him, it would have certainly diminished any hopes that his side had of, fighting for the title.
At the end of the day, the draw seemed to suit either manager, but it was no more than what either team deserved. On the back of a humiliating defeat by City in the League last weekend, AVB would have been hoping for some sort of response from his side. Spurs started the game brightly and although conceded the equalizer twice, looked a lot more fluid in attack, and on more than one occasion, were unlucky that there were no takers for some delightful crosses. Whilst AVB got the response he was looking for, Moyes will travel back to Manchester, with the unbeaten run still intact and pleased with his side’s defense.
Kyle Walker turns from Hero to Villain in the space of 90 minutes
Football, they say, is a funny old game. You can go from being a hero to a villain, in the matter of a few minutes. Kyle Walker found out all about that, in the game against United. After breaking the deadlock with a wonderful free-kick in the 18th minute, his first goal since April 2012, it was his error that led to Wayne Rooney’s equalizer. The goal was a much needed one, for both AVB and Spurs, and one that took a lot of pressure off their backs.
But a cross in from Phil Jones from the right wasn’t properly cleared and it ricochets off Walker and onto the path of Rooney, who was on hand to tap the ball home. Spurs were on the ascendancy up until that point and a momentary lapse in concentration by the English fullback meant that they surrendered the advantage to United. And although Walker had a pretty decent game apart from that, he will continue to be haunted by that mistake, which presented United with a way back into the game.
Return of Vidic gives United defense some much needed solidity
Before the start of the game, Moyes would have been particularly pleased at the prospect of his captain and leader on the pitch, coming back into the starting XI after injury. And although, United conceded two goals, they were both very good finishes, that neither the defense, nor the goalkeeper, De Gea could have done anything about.
Apart from the two goals, United looked solid at the back and Vidic was a reassuring presence in the center of defense. It was Smalling, however, who will walk away with all the plaudits as he put in a fantastic performance both defensively and offensively. He made 9 clearances, more than anyone on the pitch, and was behind only Jonny Evans in terms of successful tackles in the game. It was not just his defensive performance that stood out, some of his link-up play with Valencia, especially in the first half, were a delight to watch. And although United didn’t keep a clean sheet in their 10th straight away game, Moyes will be delighted with his defender’s performances.