Weekend Outlook (09 Sep 2006)

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

"...Spurs has never won at Old Trafford dating as far back as 1989..."

- JayWalk, 09 Sep 2006

It great to get back to domestic fixtures after a break in the name of Euro 2008 Qualifiers and I am happy to report that all the seeded teams have performed up to expectation. It was certainly heartening to see the French team exact revenge on the Italians with a thumping 3-0 victory. Frankly, I felt that the French should have won the World Cup but penalty kicks can be such a cruel way to decide the outcome of a game. Oh well.

Anyway, good news is that everybody more or less returned from international duty unscathed and I am not just refering to our own boys. Just glad there was no injuries.

Further news for ManUtd is that Fergie and Giggs both pick up award for Manager of the Month and Player of the Month respectively. Both have been loyal servants to the club but ironically, while Fergie is going to the stage for the 16th time, it was Giggs' first after more than 600 premiership games. Nonetheless, it is heartening to see Giggs finally getting the recognition that he deserved.

Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, has been a huge disappointment. Perhaps we placed too much hope on them for they have been absolutely stellar during those pre-season friendlies. Just when we thought Martin Jol has finally turned the corner, Spurs opened their season like a fuddy duddy mid-table candidate.

Spurs to finish 5th this season? Hah! I don't think so!! I think Everton would stand a better chance with O'Neil's Aston Villa, Redknapp's Portsmouth and Pardew's West Ham United lurking closely behind as dark horses for that 5th spot. Spurs would probably finish behind them, at the rate that Spurs are playing.

JayWalk The Talk: Good news from the Physio's Office as Captain Neville should be fit to start. Heinze and Vidic both started training yesterday but it would still be a while before they will get back onto the pitch in the Reserves Team. Smith is slightly ahead of them as the blonde striker just completed 90 minutes of Reserves game during midweek. However, it is unlikely Smith will feature in the bench, let alone a place in the starting sheet. Given the horrific nature that Smith's leg was broken, it is certainly wiser not to rush back into the Starting XI. Smith is young and still has many years of fresh legs to go. Let's not end it prematurely with an over-eagerness to play him. Having said that, with Scholes and Rooney still serving their suspensions, it looks like it will still be Saha, Giggs and/or Solksjaer leading the attack with Michael "The Man To Watch" Carrick taking the "CON".

On the Spurs' side, I think Tottenham Hotspur was duped into buying Malbranque. Spurs must have been desperate to buy an injured player just so that they can beat the transfer deadline. So after spending 2 million Sterling, you get a player carrying a hernia and tagging a sizeable medical bill. Not a good deal if you ask me.

On a more positive note, Spurs' Skipper, Ledley King, is fit to return to the starting sheet and together with the aggressiveness of Bulldog Davids and the scoring prowess of Robbie Keane, Spurs would certainly be putting up a credible fight. Despite starting for England in midweek, I doubt if Defoe can get off the bench today. Jol would most likely opt for an Irish-Egyptian strike duo since Berbatov is also out with a groin injury.

JayWalk The Walk: Spurs has never won at Old Trafford dating as far back as 1989. Does Gary Lineker ring a bell? If you do? You are just like me. LKK. Lao Kok Kok. Hahahaha.....

Jokes aside, bookies are looking at yet another victory for ManUtd to go 4-for-4 as a 1-ball handicap is given to away team and a 1.90 decimal odds for the home side to over come it.

The outcome of this punt would be decided if Spurs is able to score. I have no doubt that ManUtd would be able to score 2 two goals easily but a leaked goal would square this punt on account of the handicap.

I would go for ManUtd today but a smaller wager just to be on the safe side. In the mean time, do look at Arsenal and Blackburn for both look like better winners in their respective fixtures.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.