3 Reasons (Although there were 11) for Spurs Conquest

1.  Speed of Play

With Daley Blind at left back and Michael Carrick treading passes from the middle of the field, the dynamic play of United past came back to life! In Carrick, Herrera and Mata, United have 3 players with passing vision to give Rooney and company something to run for. The first goal was a classic passing flow that culminated with Fellaini’s goal.

While Blind has been one of United’s most consistent performers, the accusatory finger has sometimes been pointed in his direction by those complaining of lack of speed in United’s game. On the other hand, his playing left back adds reliability and creates opportunities coming out of defence. His lack of speed is balanced by his keen positional sense and having a hard working winger like Young makes this a potent combination worth exploring.    

It has been some time since the Old Trafford faithful have been entertained and the victims come in the familiar shape of Spurs who are close to conceding their challenge for the top 4.   

2.  Familiarity Breeds Security

Last week I mooted the idea of reverting to Jones and Smalling at the heart of defence. Despite their recent calamities and Jones’ contriving to almost score via an own goal early on, these two young-ish men have played together at club and national level before. In as much as they still need work, there was a sense of familiarity at the back, not to mention physical strength that will certainly come in handy against Liverpool this weekend.

This same familiarity showed in the way Carrick fitted back seamlessly into the team and conducted a lesson in passing that cannot be lost on United’s new boys.

There was familiarity too in the way that Rooney has been powering through opposition defences and scoring goals worth every penny paid to England’s  and United’s top striker.  

3.  Something  to Fight For

By the time United took to the pitch, it was clear that a win would take them within 2 points of their City rivals. Less importantly was Mourinho dropping another 2 points as Chelsea stumbles towards the finishing line. If we win all our remaining games, 2^nd place is a certainty, the title – still almost too far to conceive. Before I am accused of being overly bias, because my lens are definitely tinged with red, let’s consider what a 9 game winning streak looks like. A win at Chelsea will pull us within 5 points of the Blues. Given Mourinho still has games against Arsenal and Liverpool, the optimist in me refuses to lie down and die quietly.   

I don’t know for sure what Rooney said in the dressing room before the Spurs game. And even if I were a fly on that wall, I don’t speak scouse. But I am sure of one thing – there is something to fight for and the rewards will vindicate this team. People will remember this as the season we rebounded from the loss of Alex Ferguson, the birth of Van United.

Or we could fail and it would be back to the transfer market for the Glazers…