Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United: 6 Factors That Can Change the Game

Three more months until we come to the end of a yet another eventful Premier League season and Manchester United fans have never been more up on their toes. Every win keeps us nail-bitingly close to Manchester City, who are looking forward to winning the Premier League for the first time since 1967. The Red Devils, on the other hand, are in pursuit of their 20th league title.

Needless to say, the stakes don't get any higher.

United face Tottenham Hotspur on March 4th at White Hart Lane, the first of their remaining 12 matches this season.

We look at some realistic factors that can change the game this Sunday.

Complacency

A more recent word being used to describe United's playing style. What is worse is that it isn't entirely inaccurate.

Last week's match against Norwich City was a nervous affair for United fans. Although Wayne Rooney was out, things started well enough as an unmarked Paul Scholes scored from Nani's cross at the fifth minute.

Things should have gone uphill from there, but they didn't.

Norwich showed great spirit throughout the match and ultimately equalized in the 83rd minute. While Ryan Giggs' picture-perfect finale at injury time made the old romantics misty-eyed and people are now talking about how Giggs saved the day (which he did), it cannot be denied that the situation of such a close shave should not have arose in the first place. The equalizer did light the fire in United's belly, who played the aggressive attacking football I had grown up watching and loving.

They created almost the same number of chances in the last 10 minutes as they did in the entire match. Of course, it was a gamble, with half the team in Norwich's half, but it paid off. This is precisely what United need to do more often rather than resting on their laurels of a single-goal lead, especially now that they have their players and can do better than grinding out 1-0 victories.

Norwich created their fair number of chances as well during the game and scored once. One of the better teams could have easily scored more. Unfocused, lazy football was not what United were supposed to play after a one-goal lead in an away fixture. Come May, the difference between the winners and runners-up may very well boil down to goal difference and we should not mind not having clean sheets as long as we score a bunch of our own.

The (Over)Confident Welbeck

I am only but impressed with young Danny Welbeck and the variety of attacking options he has brought to the table this season. He, no doubt, has Sir Alex Ferguson's trust, given he is the third-choice striker over Dimitar Berbatov.

However, he does occasionally get carried away with some unnecessary dribbling. While the young Mancunian shows the coolest of heads on occasions, he has also missed a rather sizable number of sure-shot goals. Last week, an unmarked Welbeck somehow missed a goal five yards away after receiving a cross from Giggs.

This is not to say that Welbeck is not good at what he does, which would be downright
ridiculous.

He needs to keep up his confidence but more importantly keep focus and a cool head, especially during those one-on-one battles, which he seems to find himself in quite often. The 21-year-old thankfully has an able mentor in Ferguson and no doubt will grow indispensable for United in the years to come.

The Rise of David de Gea

Praise the Lord, David de Gea is finally playing the way everyone always knew he was capable of.

The young Spaniard at last assured the United faithful with his spectacular save (of the season?) against Juan Mata's free kick and has consistently performed well ever since. If he carries on like his recent performances and with the years he has ahead of him, who's to say he won't?

De Gea was always criticized for being ineffective in the air. Not anymore. Last week, he stood up to a bombardment of crosses from Norwich and made a series of impressive acrobatic saves and confident punches. His form and services will prove vital against Harry Redknapp and Co.

He always had the talent; now he has the confidence too.

Scott Parker, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart

While the new England captain won't be facing United due to a red-card suspension, Rafael van der Vaart hasn't been effective, as evidenced from the 5-2 loss at the Emirates. Gareth Bale, who has been in top form, is doubtful with an injured hamstring.

United undoubtedly have a more effective midfield on paper, which really should be the difference-maker.

However, do remember that it will be White Hart Lane and Tottenham's only defeat at home was in August against City when they lost 5-1.

The Arsenal Way

Last week, Arsenal went from 2-0 down at halftime to winning 5-2 in an amazing comeback against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. Tottenham played some quick-paced football in the first half depending largely on Emmanuel Adebayor and Louis Saha.

However, the 2-0 lead at halftime did not necessarily reflect that Tottenham played some of the brilliant football that they have been known to play this season. Their defending was appalling, especially later in the game and their offside trap and defense was ineffective against a fast Theo Walcott.

Knowing we have our own quick-footed goal poacher, Javier Hernandez, it would be wise to start off with him.

Aerial Passes

As a United supporter, I can only view aerial balls with a certain irony. While United's own defense constantly struggles against them, especially now with Nemanja Vidic out, this is also the way most goals have been scored by United, thanks in large part to the talented wingers we have in Ryan Giggs, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Nani.

United should stop playing their clumsier version of tiki-taka and just focus on getting the ball as far up ahead as possible. They have all the striking talent who know what to do thereafter.

Conclusion

United have had their share of dominance and failure during this season. They had started the season with a bang, winning the Community Shield against City and remaining unbeaten for eight consecutive matches, beating Tottenham 3-0 at Old Trafford on the way.

Danny Welbeck had been spectacular in that match with a goal and a brilliant back-heel assist. He will hopefully pick up where he left. Wayne Rooney has found his killer instinct that he had possessed in the beginning of the season, David de Gea looks more assured than ever and then we always have Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
 
This season, United saw a frustrating injury record which took a toll on an already crippled midfield. This has been a team of the very young, the very old and few in between.

But as of this moment, United are at the second position, just two points behind City, which is simply amazing.

The battle for the trophy rages on, one game at a time.

Ol' United.